A New Obsession...Fuck No!
I do this every time I get "interested" in new music or just some one/band I am rediscovering.
So last weekend I made my way to Seward to visit my mom. While I was there I was looking at the rack of mixed Cds and DVDs on the wall. I noticed there was a Cd still wrapped in the cellophane packaging. Nice mom, how long have you had that cd? 2 years?
So the Cd sitting there peaked my curiosity and I pulled it out. What do you know it's "The Cars - Complete Greatest Hits". I am looking at the Cd and thinking 'So What?' It's just The Cars. I started to think 'Do I like any of their songs?" Yes and I can count them on one hand, "Drive" and "Let's Go". I felt since it hasn't been listened to and I really would like to hear some classic rock music, I asked my mom if she wouldn't mind me listening to it since I didn't think she ever would, being in plastic wrap and all. She didn't. So when I left Seward on my way home I popped the Cd in since I knew it would take me a while to get home.
Here is what I can tell you, I felt cheated. I felt cheated because of 2 seperate reasons. One, there were songs on the disc that I have heard before but had a better appreciation for like "Just What I Needed" and "Dangerous Type". Rick Ocasek's writing is pretty amazing. He could turn some cynical, self loathing rock song into a singable tune like "My Best Friends Girl" to "You're All I Got Tonight". I felt cheated of this because I have heard the songs before but just passed them off as mediocre songs. No they really aren't. They are staples of an era of songs that have made music all for the better with great guitar licks and synths weaving along the beat.
Reason two, Ben Orr. He is the voice/bassist of The Cars I like or love. He is the voice of "Drive" and Let's Go". Apparently Rick Ocasek had stated that whenever he felt like the song was more of a ballad or just needed that emotion to heard he gave it to Ben to sing. Ben's voice was suited to those. Why do I feel cheated of Ben? Because I didn't have the appreciation for him when I saw him performing here in Alaska at the State Fair. I knew the songs but didn't know much about the music of The Cars or the other songs him and Big People were performing. I got to see Ben Orr in his last performance before he passed away from us of pancreatic cancer.
How do you listen to a group you thought were just another rock n' roll band with such a heavy heart.
You just do and with wide eyes and ears at full operating capacity to hear the sweet sounds of Elliot Easton's guitar solos, David Robinson's power drumming and Greg Hawkes erie keys and synths.
I even heard the song "Hello Again" and had to pull off the side of the road because I didn't believe for a minute I was hearing The Cars still blasting through my speakers. Never thought for a moment that song was them. Then again it did sound like them, the familiar synth work and drumming. I was shocked and proceeded to start driving again.
But now since I have listened my ears are longing to hear something similar and new from them. God No! I can't afford to go and buy any or just one album of theirs and be satisfied for a year. Fuck that! I am just going to have to constrain myself from getting anything Cars related. :P Never thought for a moment that I would contemplate buying a Cars album. Now the big question is which one?
Well I know it won't be their first one cause I know all the songs off that album being on the radio except for 2. I think I might start on their second release "Candy-O" cause I only know 3 off it.
Then I can work my away around or through the rest.
So there, The Cars are invading my quest for new music. Well, New/Old Music. I have wanted to listen to more recent music like The Decemberists, Mute Math and Jet. They will just wait a while so I can get my fix of classic rock out of my veins.
So last weekend I made my way to Seward to visit my mom. While I was there I was looking at the rack of mixed Cds and DVDs on the wall. I noticed there was a Cd still wrapped in the cellophane packaging. Nice mom, how long have you had that cd? 2 years?
So the Cd sitting there peaked my curiosity and I pulled it out. What do you know it's "The Cars - Complete Greatest Hits". I am looking at the Cd and thinking 'So What?' It's just The Cars. I started to think 'Do I like any of their songs?" Yes and I can count them on one hand, "Drive" and "Let's Go". I felt since it hasn't been listened to and I really would like to hear some classic rock music, I asked my mom if she wouldn't mind me listening to it since I didn't think she ever would, being in plastic wrap and all. She didn't. So when I left Seward on my way home I popped the Cd in since I knew it would take me a while to get home.
Here is what I can tell you, I felt cheated. I felt cheated because of 2 seperate reasons. One, there were songs on the disc that I have heard before but had a better appreciation for like "Just What I Needed" and "Dangerous Type". Rick Ocasek's writing is pretty amazing. He could turn some cynical, self loathing rock song into a singable tune like "My Best Friends Girl" to "You're All I Got Tonight". I felt cheated of this because I have heard the songs before but just passed them off as mediocre songs. No they really aren't. They are staples of an era of songs that have made music all for the better with great guitar licks and synths weaving along the beat.
Reason two, Ben Orr. He is the voice/bassist of The Cars I like or love. He is the voice of "Drive" and Let's Go". Apparently Rick Ocasek had stated that whenever he felt like the song was more of a ballad or just needed that emotion to heard he gave it to Ben to sing. Ben's voice was suited to those. Why do I feel cheated of Ben? Because I didn't have the appreciation for him when I saw him performing here in Alaska at the State Fair. I knew the songs but didn't know much about the music of The Cars or the other songs him and Big People were performing. I got to see Ben Orr in his last performance before he passed away from us of pancreatic cancer.
How do you listen to a group you thought were just another rock n' roll band with such a heavy heart.
You just do and with wide eyes and ears at full operating capacity to hear the sweet sounds of Elliot Easton's guitar solos, David Robinson's power drumming and Greg Hawkes erie keys and synths.
I even heard the song "Hello Again" and had to pull off the side of the road because I didn't believe for a minute I was hearing The Cars still blasting through my speakers. Never thought for a moment that song was them. Then again it did sound like them, the familiar synth work and drumming. I was shocked and proceeded to start driving again.
But now since I have listened my ears are longing to hear something similar and new from them. God No! I can't afford to go and buy any or just one album of theirs and be satisfied for a year. Fuck that! I am just going to have to constrain myself from getting anything Cars related. :P Never thought for a moment that I would contemplate buying a Cars album. Now the big question is which one?
Well I know it won't be their first one cause I know all the songs off that album being on the radio except for 2. I think I might start on their second release "Candy-O" cause I only know 3 off it.
Then I can work my away around or through the rest.
So there, The Cars are invading my quest for new music. Well, New/Old Music. I have wanted to listen to more recent music like The Decemberists, Mute Math and Jet. They will just wait a while so I can get my fix of classic rock out of my veins.