Comments on: Tournament of Rock: Asobi Seksu vs. Paul Steel – finals

By: Dr. Slammy

Dr. Slammy — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:15:16 +0000

Okay, fascinating. I hit MySpace to check out MEW (I can’t stand not knowing what people are talking about when it comes to music, so thanks for mentioning them). If you’re intent on classifying, I think you’d definitely file them as a Prog/Art Rock band. That ’70s Prog scene is clearly their primary influence. That said, there’s no doubt they’ve been listening to the Shoegazers. It’s especially evident in the guitars on the first song I found, “New Terrain.” That sort of screeching effect you hear is VERY My Bloody Valentine. Not so much on “Introducing Palace Players,” and “Beach” almost reminds me of Death Cab for Cutie – who are great, but not Shoegazer. Sort of indie pop, on that at least. On the whole they insist on the structures and fidelity of Prog, but have also imported some Shoegazer in ways I’ve never heard anyone attempt before.

Interesting, to say the least. I need to listen some more.

By: Dr. Slammy

Dr. Slammy — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:04:57 +0000

I don’t know MEW, but in general Shoegazer tends to be pretty much the opposite of prog in most ways. Progressive relies on technical musicianship and a significant degree of audial fidelity, whereas Shoegazer bands trade in noise. Prog bands try to get as much of the noise as possible out of the way of the signal, while Shoegazers bury the signal within the noise.

Compare Yes to the godfathers of Shoegazer, My Bloody Valentine, for a quick and illustrative comparison.

By: nikto

nikto — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:45:37 +0000

The way “shoegazer” music and bands are described, it sounds to this 50+ rocker,
that 70s Prgressive bands could fit that description. Bands like Gentle Giant and Yes, to say nothing of
such experimental bands as Henry Cow and Hatfield and The North.

I just went to a live concert of a great “shoegazer” band—MEW, from Denmark.
They are a wonderful, talented band. In fact, they kind of remind me of Yes and Genesis,
at least somewhat.

So to me, Shoegazer sort of equals “Progressive, or experimental, and w/good musicianship.

By: Ubertramp

Ubertramp — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:50:30 +0000

Don’t let him fool you, Russ. I’m the nicest guy ever. A blues singin angel.

By: Dr. Slammy

Dr. Slammy — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:02:38 +0000

Mike enjoys antagonizing me. The hassling I take here is nothing compared to the abuse he dishes out in e-mail.

By: Russ Wellen

Russ Wellen — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:32:29 +0000

Assuming it’s good-natured ribbing between Ubertramp and Dr. S. Meanwhile, shoe-gazing is nothing compared to musicians who turn their back on their audience, as Miles Davis was known to do on occasion.

By: Ubertramp

Ubertramp — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:55:40 +0000

Nice to see I have a fan base.

By: Dr. Slammy

Dr. Slammy — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:43:08 +0000

Thanks for dropping by, Mike. I’ve been sitting around all morning wishing that some idiots would post something.

By: Ubertramp

Ubertramp — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:41:34 +0000

I don’t remember Myshel staring at her feet and I doubt she thinks the world sucks. Therefore, ergo, ipso facto, STE is dreampop, not shoegaze.

By: Dr. Slammy

Dr. Slammy — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:00:05 +0000

I don’t think it has anything to do with the world sucking, so you can keep your revisionism to yourself.

However, the term DID arise as a result of the on-stage demeanor of many early shoegaze bands, who seemed to stare at their feet a lot while playing. This genre has been around since the late 80s and has as its genesis bands like My Bloody Valentine, Jesus & Mary Chain and Cocteau Twins. The lines get a little blurred, actually, because shoegazer overlaps considerably with a similar genre known as dreampop. Lush bounces back and forth, as did Space Team Electra (a huge favorite with some around S&R – in fact, STE is where I met Mike Sheehan; so you might argue that without shoegaze there would be no Scholars and Rogues).

More here…

By: Not Enough Time In The World « From Laurel Street

Not Enough Time In The World « From Laurel Street — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:13:13 +0000

[...] July 11, 2009 by fromlaurelstreet Two gypsy women, Palestine, c.1893. Photograph by Sebah and Joaillier. (Library of Congress)There really is not enough time. Last.fm makes me wish I could make more hours in my day. I discovered it when I came across Scholars & Rogue’s Tournament of Rock. [...]

By: karen marie

karen marie — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:36:59 +0000

I’m late to this particular party, but in my opinion Gogol Bordello was robbed.

By: Terry Hargrove

Terry Hargrove — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:42:23 +0000

I am ashamed to say that I had not heard of any of the bands in this competition. The last time I went to a concert was in 1998. I took my 10-year-old daughter to a Hanson concert. The less said about that ordeal, the better. I have to get current, but now I know where to start..

By: Ubertramp

Ubertramp — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:58:39 +0000

It’s cause they stare at their shoes while they sing. Cause, like, the world sucks and stuff.

By: Russ Wellen

Russ Wellen — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:41:25 +0000

Went with the shoe gazers again.

Not sure what that means. Is it like navel gazing? Or like when Catholic school boys stared at girls’ patent-leather shoes in hopes of seeing their panties reflected in them? (Showing my age.)