The Smiley Smile Message Board

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/9155514

"People are gonna hear music this year."

Does it still matter? Did it ever matter? Will I lose my bet that said JD Salinger's Hapworth book would come out before Chinese Democracy?

If it came out I think it would make a difference.  There aren't many rock stars the world cares about anymore, but Axl is still held up to God like status especially at Rolling Stone.  Axl is the second best song writer in the band behind Izzy Stradlin so if the bands line-up is great and he's had all this time to write great songs there's no reason why this album shouldn't be amazing.  I was scheduled to see him the show after the Philly riot last time and if he would tour...well I'd be there.

DLR

I'm a huge fan of "Appetite" and "Appetite" only, the rest of GNR is by and large misguided pomp and pisswind. (I think I just coined "pisswind" but that's precisely what it is.)

I will however check out "Chinese Democracy" if it ever drops and consider checking out a tour, if that ever happens.

First of all, pisswind is the greatest word I've read in a long, long time, and I congratulate you on your invention!

I'm in the same boat, though, regarding the album: I don't really think it will be worth a damn, and haven't cared (musically) a bit what happens to GnR since I was about 16 years old...but I'll buy Chinese Democracy on curiosity alone.

I find it hard to believe ANYONE didn't enjoy the acoustic side of Lies.  UYI were overblown, but I still like'em.

DLR

How about the thousands (or millions?) of people insulted by the lyrics? Do you find it hard to believe they didn't like it?

f*** 'em if they can't take a joke.

So wouldn't releasing another G'n'R album just be more pissing into the, um, pisswind?

yeah, but winds change sometimes.

I still prefer to be upwind of the whole G'n'R trip.

The only GnR'ers worth a damn currently have Scott Weiland as their vocalist as Velvet Revolver, which is a *huge* step up the evolutionary ladder.


F*ck that! SMiLE came out and  Pink Floyd played together again, and Chinese Democracy still hasn't come out.

I'm not arguing that. I just said it seems easy to believe that they didn't like it.

I don't see what Smile and Pink Floyd have to do with me (maybe) losing my bet.

Nothing, just made me realize  how long that blasted thing has been discussed. I mean, SMiLE came out, and Axl still can't get his sh*t together?! That's just weak. Axl seriously needs to give it up. Nobody cares anymore.

It continues being written about, so somebody must. Hell, I admit that I do, and I don't even think there's more than about a 1% chance I'm going to like it. My tastes having changed in the past decade or two, I don't even like most of the GnR I liked when it came out the first time. But I admit I'm still curious about it.

Two things need to happen for VR to be truly great: The band needs to let Weiland a) write songs and b) shoot up.

The songs Axl did (for that Arnold Schwarnegger movie "End Of Days) with the new Gn'R sucked hard. Sounded like bad Trent Reznor, sort of like merdaty techno and a lot of screaming. I have no doubt that this Chinese Democracy album is total garbage. I read in the New York Times that 11 million dollars have been spent making the album over a ten year period.

Plus: if it does come out, who the hell are his band anymore? Buckethead: bye bye. Tommy Stinson: bye bye, he's with the reformed Soul Asylum. What, a drummer? Is that what's left? A drummer, some dodgy fake cornrows to mask a bald head, some creepy plastic surgery, and people still care?

Meh. And I was one of the biggeset GnR fans I know. I agree: the best GnR related band has Weiland for their singer. Their NEXT album will undoubtedly be righteous. The last one was pretty righteous, but lacked hooks. I see some minor greatness in their future.

Granted, "Illusion" had plenty of pisswind, but it was still a great, ambitious f-ing record. Lies was almost perfect, really, and I really like the Spaghetti Incident as well.

Velvet Revolver is a joke and the only good thing Weiland ever did (besides being arrested) was Tiny Music.

DLR

What?! Please tell me your joking.

And don't *even* get me started on David Lee Roth and what he has "accomplished".

Weiland's solo album was brilliant.
But so was ALL of DLR's work with Van Halen.

Yes, on both counts.

I was referring to DLR's solo career, and his brief reunion with VH.

 ;D

I agree. And I doubly agree that VR just needs hooks-- most of the music of that album was finished before they brought in Weiland.

Including the vocal parts and melodies?
Because that's how the first albums by Pearl Jam and Garbage were done as well, and those vocalists sure brought the hooks to the table.
I think Weiland needs drugs, as you noted before.

Well I haven't followed the VR story too closely but Slash and the boy's long search for a vocalist was well documented in the press. Scott probably didn't want to stray too far away from what was already established within in the songs placed in front of him. Who knows how long the other guys noodled about on some of those riffs? I for one wouldn't get in the way of Slash's pisswind.

Now, Stone Temple Pilots... if they ever get their act back together and tour I'm definitely there for that show. I actually caught a (rare) Weiland solo gig at a radio festival in DC in 1998 but wasn't quite hipped to Weiland solo or STP at the time.

Weiland was clean during the recording of Shangri-La Di Da ( the last STP disc), but relapsed on tour. During those sessions, the band recorded IMHO their best music- Weiland admitted in a Rolling Stone interview that Pet Sounds was their chief inspiration. Love the quote at the end ..."But I look better in a dress than Brian Wilson does".

Now, for the first VR disc...Weiland was using. He didn't clean up until the album was nearly finished.

I love "Shangra La Dee Da"-- it's their second best album, close behind "Tiny Music" and most people haven't heard it.

They were no great shakes live. One of the worst drummers in rock.

If you're talking about STP, I disagree. Eric Kretz wasn't a bad drummer at all.

He didn't hit the damn drums hard enough. For my ears.

I'm probably botching these terms all to hell but I think Kretz's drumming on Purple damn near makes the record-- it's polyrthymic and somehow Arabic and adds a flair to the band that other pseudo grunge acts have lacked.

That's what Lester Bangs and I said when we got Ian drunk for his birthday.  It had a definite puke-on-macadam vibe.

First off Eat'em and Smile is as good as any Van Halen album period.  BTW he has the largest free radio show on the east coast so I think that counts as something.

Supposedly VR recorded the "best instrumental GN'R album" of all time with Izzy Stradlin before Scott came on board. I would much rather have heard that.   I won't take away anything from the Tiny Music era, but after that release they were really insonsistant.  Especially No. 4.  STP never did anything Redd Kross or Enuff Z'Nuff didn't do better sorry.

Next up VR is making a concept album, how much you wanna bet it's about how much Scott hates the press?

DLR

Word.

Double word! I've been listening to Redd Kross a lot lately, specifically the "Switchblade Sisters" EP. "What's Wrong With Me" has gotta be the best thing the band ever did!

And speaking of the Kross, any fans of the Quick here? (Ian, surely ... ) The Quick wrote every trick in the Cheap Trick power-pop book. Great, overlooked band.

Of course, The Quick are just incredible.
What Redd Kross stuff do you have, Boxer?

Appetite is AWESOME.  Perfect blend of blues and punk with a heavy helping of obsession with the female anatomy.

UYI 1 & 2 are really good as well.  They're not "pisswind".

Spaghetti Incedent...pure garbage...or pisswind. 

We're gonna milk that word!

The list of "VIP's at the particular show Axl was interviewing at sounds like Moron Central.   Those people are hot items if you consider yourself trailer trash.

Looks like I better check out the Quick cause I love me some Cheap Trick

DLR

Just checked amazon...are they only available on vinyl?

You'll love 'em.

help

Lessee, Redd Kross ... I think I got everything, in one format or another. "Teen Babes" I got on cassette, same with Tater Totz, which I just burned to CD. Have you heard that one? It's got Cherie Currie doing "Instant Karma" and all other kinds of Beatles wack. Another great, lost Beatles-related Redd Kross track is their BBC version of "It Won't Be Long" that uses the Quick's arrangement. Killer!

The Quick! I knew you'd dig the Quick! Have you heard the Untold Rock Stories disc with their assorted demos? Staggeringly great ... "You, Yeah You" ... "Jimmy Too Bad" ... they just defy hyperbole. Hard to believe the singer went on to sing the theme from "Friends" -- ugh. But the Quick! The Quick!

DLR: This is the one to get, dude:

(http://www.naturalenergylab.com/old_gospels/img/Quick_300.jpg)

Try here:

http://www.cherryred.co.uk/revola/artists/quick.htm

Yep, got that. Incredible.
Glad you dig the Kross. I love the Totz too, I was there at the Beatlefest show where they did the 20-minute Don't Worry Kyoko and got booted off the stage.

You can't beat the opening one-two punch of Redd Kross's Show World: "Pretty Please Me" and "Stoned"