Its funny it was only August when I was asked to write a review for rock nyc. Just four months ago and in that brief amount of time so much has changed and I have learned so very much. It began with a review of Weezer and evolved to me sitting face to face ( or ear to ear) with the artists who fill my mind and my ears on a daily basis. Through the good and the bad this has become the rec-room of my brain fully equipped with shag rug and lava lamp.
With the guidance of Iman and Michael I have learned how to gracefully weather criticism (though off blog my WTF’s have filled their in boxes as I have stomped my feet and cursed my way through others inability to debate and rather attack). I have had side bar conversations with co workers and friends of friends on the topics we’ve covered. Defending it to my death. I believe in Rock NYC and the writers involved. I’m really rather honored to be in their presence. Theirs is talent, mine is gut.
I bring this crap up as I am presently defending the Magpies opinions (although I just discovered rather awesomely that she is full well of doing it herself).
Personal taste and ideas are so very precious and so very strong. I always thought it was me but the more people I speak with and the more people who feel the need to jam their opinions down my throat, the more I realize music is passion. Good or bad, back the hell up if you piss off a Springsteen fan or if you get an album release date wrong.
Initial response is to retaliate.. well mine was, but now with these 4 months of rock and roll boot camp I weather it almost aloofly and I dig it. I feel mature.
So anyway last week I wrote a piece on how music affects my mood. I used a Queen quote Leave it in the Lap of the Gods….and that may have come from Imans Groucho quotes, or the connection to the Night at The Opera, Day at The Races lps… not sure but
Where am I going with this?
WHERE THE HELL ARE THE MAD PROPS FOR QUEEN (* that was the worlds biggest intro*)
Queen ruled the 70s the buck toothed Freddy Mercury with a pipes of a freakin GOD rocked the world and the minds of millions. I as a tiny rocker clearly remember Sheer Heart Attack as one of the most killer lps ever. Stone Cold Crazy is STILL on my play list. How I loved the falsetto, the harmonies and even the spoofing of (think Waynes World) of this amazing band.
Brian May the poodle haired guitarist made his guitar bleed I swear if there is rock music that doesn’t sound ‘dated’ this is it.
Hell you cant go to a sporting event without a bit of We Will Rock You. Although in the 80s they got a bit too club dance as a whole this band held true from start to finish. The now infamous “no synths” statement on their lps so fans would know this masterpiece was made with guitars not computers.. amazing.
Still strong were the vocals and the range as accurate and powerful even in illness. Musically held together by 3 men with amazing talent and diligence. I am struck by the consistency of product produced. All three of my siblings saw them live not sure why I got left out but I did. I remember clearly the talk around the table of how theatrical and engaging they were live. I hate that I didn’t get to see them
Queen released fifteen studio albums in their career a boat load of live and some nifty compilations. They were ripped off by Vanilla Ice and as I mentioned earlier are immortalized in pop culture.
So in closing. I’m gonna go rediscover Queen again. Pre ‘The Game’, and leave you with yet another quote by Queen to live by:
I ponder on the lesson of
My lifes insanity
Take care of those you call your own
And keep good company
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