Friday OT - The Big Cheese
- Thread starter Angie
- Start date
At about 3:40 it's an interview with Jools Holland and Andy starts to explain some pedal effects. It's pretty cool to hear how a lot of the effects on the records were done right at the guitar and what a technician Andy was (is).
100% serious. Frankly, I thought it was my strongest selection and was mad that I didn't post it first.
I think Berry left in, like, 1997 (right before "Up," if I remember correctly, because they used a drum machine on it). Stipe started being more coherent (and reedy) around the time of "Life's Rich Pageant" back in the mid-late 80s. I think their true ensemble sounds were earlier on, in the very beginning.
I agree regarding "balance." I love the thread topic, but R.E.M./Stipe might not be the strongest example (sorry, @Angie --- please don't hate me). Buck's guitar style is a key part of the sound (especially in first few years it set a distinct core), as is Mike Mills' harmony blend with Stipe.
Nope, I actually secretly agree.
Buck and Mills are key, as was Berry. Berry was probably the most disposable, as they went forward without him... but it wasn't the same. I wanted to use it as an example because, at first blush, R.E.M. is Stipe's vehicle... but it's not. Similarly, just imagine the Pixies without Kim Deal singing "Gigantic," or rocking ass on the guitar. 
It's not as easy as it seems sometimes, is it?I do agree with this (I posted above) - I think there are very few ensemble bands where the sum is not greater than the whole!
Alabama Shakes is a great one, and being proven right with Brittany having success as a solo artist currently
One could say that Queen is nothing without Freddie Mercury - which is true, but Freddie Mercury was also nothing without (and solo from) Queen. I feel like Lynne needed ELO as a vehicle? Does that make sense?
Yeah, that's the funny part of "Jeff Lynne's ELO", he plays every instrument so he doesn't even need the vehicle anymore!
We could also do one along these lines that, contrary to popular thought, is a one person band. I'm sure a list of those would garner some surprising ones.
This is the correct answer. Not only does Jack not need a bass player, he managed to pull off the genius that is the White Stripes with about 1/2 a drum player.
Here's something I find interesting.....the Yardbirds had Clapton, Page, and Jeff Beck. First of all, who plays lead? (I'd argue Beck is the finest guitarist of the three, with Clapton a distant third) Second, when did the band disintegrate, and why? (I'm sure several of you know the story, I just haven't researched it.) But I'd argue that this was likely the greatest collection of guitar talent under one roof, ever.
Another outlier, just because they're one of my favorite bands - Pink Floyd. After Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall the band broke up....not completely, just that Roger Waters went his own way, mainly because he was obsessed with making social statements with his music, while the other three just wanted to rock and roll.
And it turned out the three were more (commercially, anyway) successful. Waters tried to get back in, but was politely rebuffed. I think Gilmour, Mason, and Wright had had enough of Roger tooting his own horn by then.
And it turned out the three were more (commercially, anyway) successful. Waters tried to get back in, but was politely rebuffed. I think Gilmour, Mason, and Wright had had enough of Roger tooting his own horn by then.
Traveling Wilburys has to be in the conversation.
Noel Gallagher was Oasis. He doesn’t need his brother to sing the songs.
VU did do a non-Reed LP, but it doesn't truly count -- Doug Yule was only actual band member involved (and Yule wasn't among the original lineup, so no founding members played on it).
To the direct question, Reed definitely engineered the train. Full-band contribution can't be ignored, though, building its sound, particularly Cale and the unique drumming of Mo Tucker. (And Nico, I guess).
