The Kings of Greatness!!

With this post I'm going to go music on yo' ass! Yeah, that's right "on yo' ass!" Since I am an insanely-obsessed fanatic about music (almost to the point where I would murder someone who disagrees with my tastes), I decided today's topic should be about my favorite pastime.

First of all, my friend and I were discussing the new Foo Fighters album this weekend. I haven't bought it, nor do I care to, nor do I really care to expand on the band AT ALL (that's how much they mean to me), but the discussion was interesting. He happens to like the Foo Fighters alot, which is fine, but I feel that I have graduated from the rock-influenced-pop that they put on their albums. I guess to me, they are just too radio-friendly. They're that band that gives radio it's edge, because he was "that guy who played in Nirvana...so he must be cool." They're the band that is supposed to give someone credibility who normally listens to Puddle of Mudd, or Staind, or any of the 4 million other bands who won't let grunge die a dignified death... play minor chords and talk about how their "Daddy was a piece of shit." They have words like "pain, breakdown, darkness, etc." in their songs. It's all been done before...basically. But radio plays this shit, so we must all listen to it right? I choose not to.

Anyways, he likes the Foo Fighters, and although I did like their first album and the song "Everlong" (it really doesn't get better than that song...you know you like it), their novelty has worn off with me. I think they sound like a tired band on the downward swing of their career, but I guess I could be wrong...but don't count on it. That last comment was a beautiful segue into my general hostility about music and my superior attitude about it. Which is totally bullshit...if a song is good you should like it...just like that...that's what Nick Hornby says anyways. The fact that Dave Grohl wrote every single audible note on the first Foo Fighters album is enough to grab my respect for a lifetime, because he wrote the whole enchilada. Not a single person had anything else to do with that album, which I find amazing. Most bands are fortunate to make an album where they can dip into several talent pools from the other members to make an eclectic sound of different tastes and melodies...not Dave. He did this all by his lonesome. I think that's great, which leads me to the whole point of this post.

I have no respect for artists who don't write their own music. Believe me, writing music, lyrics, harmonies, melodies, the music itself, is one of the hardest things to do. Mainstream country, which I get to hear everyday at my new job, is rampant with lyric-stealing bastards. They're thieves in shiny shirts, leather cowboy hats, and camel-toe producing pants. I actually can't believe people want to listen to this crap. How can somebody possibly think this is good. With anybody who doesn't write their own music, all you're doing is rooting for a singer. Is it okay to admire somebody's voice, absolutely, but I think you're selling the real artist's short. That's not to say that the people who write for these singers are writing insightful material, because most of it is shit...let's face it.

But I hate it when people say things like, "But Bob Dylan's voice is shit." Really...I didn't notice....YOU STUPID FUCK, ITS SUPPOSED TO BE! You think his lyrics would have had the same effect if Tony Bennet was singing:
Pointed threats they bluff with scorn, suicide remarks are torn
From the fool's gold mouthpiece, the hollow horn
Plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying
I mean come on. You should actually listen to what he's saying. I guess I think listening to just the voice of the human is a superficial way to enjoy music. Is it wrong, no...but I choose to find out what the hell it is this guy/girl is trying to tell me. Let's find the symbolism or allegory in this song and figure out what to do with it. Anyways...

I'm convinced the King's of Leon are the new Credence Clearwater Revival (who is the most American band of all-time). Some people have never even heard of the King's, but that's understandable. They're huge in England, which doesn't surprise me being that the Brits have infinitely better tastes in music than do Americans (but we definitely destroy their ass in the arena of tasty food, and revolutionary wars). They have a unique sound to them and that's what draws me to them...their sound...as a whole. Upon first listen you might think..."geez, it sounds like the lead singer drinks straight moonshine from a bathtub still and smokes cigarettes through a straw." But that's just it. It's their whole sound. Their southern-influenced, garage rock, is a great Credence-like answer for the new American heartland. I realize I'm tooting their horn just a bit, but I think they are the most "American-sounding band" of the last twenty years (at least since The Replacements), which is an oxymoron since they are barely recognized in the States and are huge in England...once again proving my point about the limeys. If you want to know a little more about Cory, listen to the Kings of Leon. They describe my personality through music. Someday, I hope to write an album that sounds half as cool as their two albums..and hopefully, Volkswagon will use one of my songs for their Jetta commercials...

"Cowgirl king of the rodeo let the good times roll,
Let the good times roll...."

Cory Will