Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site spar.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!spar!ellis From: ellis@spar.UUCP (Michael Ellis) Newsgroups: net.music Subject: Long and Varied Pieces (Alienation dutu, SST Tour) Message-ID: <124@spar.UUCP> Date: Sat, 9-Mar-85 00:54:59 EST Article-I.D.: spar.124 Posted: Sat Mar 9 00:54:59 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 11-Mar-85 04:48:30 EST References: <67@tekadg.UUCP> Reply-To: ellis@spar.UUCP (Michael Ellis) Organization: Schlumberger Palo Alto Research, CA Lines: 64 From Davidl: >I heard Husker Dufus up here a couple of nights ago... always thought the >guitar player had an electric 12-string. What I discovered was, he was >playing a Gibson Flying-V or some clone thereof, and using two very beat-up >effects boxes - an Electro-Harmonix "Small Clone" chorus, and an MXR >distortion box. I liked his sound. > >Sean, you may as well give up on anyone talking about music in net.music.. Those who have missed the changes in music over the past ten years would do well to catch the SST tour -- it played here last week, and I believe it will continue nationwide for a while. The bands on this tour (Husker Du, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, Saccharine Trust and others) rank among the most creative in current American rock and roll. The worst part about the tour is that they're ALL wonderful. Who has time to catch five bands? Admission was, incidentally $7.50. The Meat Puppets performed music from their upcoming 3rd Album. These guys are constantly unpredictable, this time merging jazz harmonies and astonishing psychedelic effects into their already peculiar country- thrash sound. My guess is that their creativity derives from a dislike of playing the same music for very long. Consequently, they sound just awful at their old music, and open stargates with their new. The Pups do not play existing styles -- they only invent new ones. The Minutemen's style has complex rhythms, weird harmonies, an eerie low-key angst, punctuated by surprising starts and twists. Originally, they were known for fast-and-furious 60-second songs, and I lost touch with their style when they were in transition. Their restless style was engaging, their techique precise. Husker Du has received its share of attention in the past few months. They played hard, fast, l o n g, and with great exhuberance. Six sides of new material (Zen Arcade, New Day Rising), and so little time! -michael -ps Found in a recent net.music article: >Here is the Village Voice 1984 PAZZ & JOP CRITICS' POLL >as published in the issue dated February 19, 1985. > >Albums ... > 8. Husker Du: "Zen Arcade" ... >14. Minutemen: "Double Nickels on the Dime" ... >20. Meat Puppets: "Meat Puppets II" ... >Singles > 4. Husker Du: "Eight Miles High" Two and a half years ago Husker Du and the Meat Puppets seemed to be secure in their obscurity, the epitome of `publically unacceptable'. Funny how fast times change.