Gen Xers tweak geezers' sacred cows

Albuquerque Tribune ^ | 7/9/04 | J.M. Baról

[qam1]

Like any organized religion, rock 'n' roll has its own dogma.

Rolling Stone magazine is the gospel.

Any male singer with big lips is worth glorifying.

To be a true guitar player, one must learn the intro to "Stairway to Heaven."

Elvis Presley was, is and always will be king.

With those tenets come a slew of albums as holy as the Bible. "Born in the U.S.A.," "Tommy," "The Dark Side of the Moon" and - amen, hallelujah - "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."

But it's time, says a restless group of music critics, to look those canons straight in their beady little platinum eyes and flick them off their pedestals.

In the new book, "Kill Your Idols: A New Generation of Rock Writers Reconsiders the Classics," that's exactly what they do: debunk - no, annihilate - the myth of rock ¹n' roll righteousness.

"Rock 'n' roll's the devil's music, right? So it's absurd to treat it like a religion and have this canon that it's made of saints that we can't criticize," the book's creator and co-editor Jim DeRogatis says in that jaded, edgy tone only a rock music critic can get away with.

Thirty-four music writers - mostly in their 20s and 30s and mostly under the Spin/Rolling Stone readers' radar - took on the challenge of debunking society-in-general's cherished albums.

"Call it a spirited assault on a pantheon that has been foisted upon us, or a defiant rejection of the hegemonic view of rock history espoused by the critics who preceded us," DeRogatis writes in the introduction.

One of the book's contributors is Leanne Potts, a former Tribune reporter who now writes about pop culture for Albuquerque's morning newspaper.

Her target of choice? Lynyrd Skynyrd's debut album "Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd."

What? How could one of the most memorable rock albums in history, one that includes "Gimme Three Steps," "Simple Man" and "Free Bird" - hello! "Free Bird"! - be on anyone's worst-album ever list?

For Potts, 38, her contempt for the 1973 album is less about its sound - although she writes that Ronnie Van Zant's lyrics "lack the sort of telling details that make a good song great" - and more about the Southern stigma that came with it.

"I didn't like the whole American-by-birth, Southern-by-grace-of-God ethos that had come to be associated with Southern rock bands like Skynyrd," writes Potts, who was born and raised in Alabama.

"I wanted none of Skynyrd's talk of down-home values. It sounded like Moral Majority code speak, and this teenaged member of Greenpeace and fan of musical minimalists such as the Ramones and Devo was having none of this Confederate-flag-waving, axe-wielding mob of rednecks in bell-bottoms."

And just like that, Potts buzz-saws through an institution no critic has had the gall to berate under his or her breath, let alone in a much-anticipated 300-page paperback - a book that received tyrannical criticism on the Internet weeks before its release.

Potts admits she was only 7 when the album came out and didn't start listening to it intently until she was 15 - a ploy to impress her Skynyrd die-hard boyfriend.

But she resents the notion that just because she didn't grow up with the baby boomers, she wouldn't know what Lynyrd Skynyrd or any other music of the time was all about.

"It sticks in my craw that rock is so skewed to the boomers," Potts says. "Like 'You don't know; you weren't there,' in this condescending tone, like we were born too late.

"Skynyrd's album is the one I thought of partly because of the southern connection. Because they were classic rock and because I lived in the South, they were gods. They were always there."

One of the writers - DeRogatis' wife, Carmel Carrillo - chose not to efface an album. She instead came up with a list of songs each of her ex-boyfriends cherished, therefore killing their idols.

It's important to note that just because the writers protest their least favorite album doesn't mean they dislike that band. DeRogatis, for example, who targets the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," says one of his all-time favorite albums is the Fab Four's "Revolver."

The majority of the book is criticism of albums from the '60s and '70s, a few '80s and '90s releases, and one from 2003.

So what's the gripe with classic rock?

"The business of canonizing things is a real particular baby boomer trait," DeRogatis says from his home office in Chicago. "It's the generation most reluctant to give up their youth and their place in history.

"Gen X never believed the hype."

DeRogatis, a 39-year-old pop music critic at the Chicago Sun-Times, shopped the book's concept for a couple of years but soon realized publishers weren't interested in books of all-negative reviews.

"But one of my favorite books is my colleague Roger Ebert's collection of all his pans," says DeRogatis, who finally landed with Barricade Books. "When I read a negative review it makes me think about my own perspective. I'm looking for another idea. I'm looking to be challenged."

Delve into DeRogatis' history as a writer, and it's no wonder he took on such an edgy project. According to reports, in 1996 DeRogatis was fired as a senior editor at Rolling Stone magazine for writing a blazing critique of a Hootie and the Blowfish album. His review was replaced by a much happier one.

"I'll confess that in the midst of editing this collection, I had a brief crisis of conscience when I wondered if this book was too much of a childish exercise - the rock-critic equivalent of the bratty kid wiping his snot on the blackboard in feeble protestation of the injustices of third-grade life," he writes.

But in the end, "Kill Your Idols" happened, and DeRogatis "couldn't be prouder."

"It was a labor of love," he says. "It's an odd thing to say about a book about bands these writers hate."

So does even DeRogatis have his own sacred cows?

"I may have had a problem if someone in the book tried to take apart Kraftwerk or Black Sabbath or Velvet Underground," he admits.

For Potts, two of her all-time favorite albums are U2's "The Joshua Tree," and Nirvana's "Nevermind" - two albums that showed up in the book.

But she's OK with it.

"I love the spirit of argument," she says. "I don't understand people who get angry about music. Part of the benefit of music is we sit around and talk about it."

*** TARGETED IDOLS

The following albums are taken to pasture in "Kill Your Idols."

"Pet Sounds," the Beach Boys (1966)

"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," the Beatles (1967)

"Smile," the Beach Boys (1967)

"Sweetheart of the Rodeo," the Byrds (1968)

"Tommy," the Who (1969)

"Kick Out the Jams," the MC5 (1969)

"Trout Mask Replica," Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band (1969)

"Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs," Derek and the Dominos (1970)

"Ram," Paul and Linda McCartney (1971)

"Untitled ('IV')," Led Zeppelin (1971)

"Harvest," Neil Young (1972)

"Exile on Main St.," the Rolling Stones (1972)

"Desperado," the Eagles (1973)

"Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd," Lynyrd Skynyrd (1973)

"The Dark Side of the Moon," Pink Floyd (1973)

"GP/Grievous Angel," Gram Parsons (1973/1974; rereleased in 1990)

"Blood on the Tracks," Bob Dylan (1975)

"Born to Run," Bruce Springsteen (1975)

"Horses," Patti Smith (1975)

"Exodus," Bob Marley & the Wailers (1977)

"Rumours," Fleetwood Mac (1977)

"Never Mind the Bollocks . . . Here's the Sex Pistols," the Sex Pistols (1977)

"Double Fantasy," John Lennon/Yoko Ono (1980)

"Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables," Dead Kennedys (1980)

"Imperial Bedroom," Elvis Costello and the Attractions (1982)

"Born in the U.S.A.," Bruce Springsteen (1984)

"The Best of the Doors," the Doors (1985)

"The Joshua Tree," U2 (1987)

"It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back," Public Enemy (1988)

"Nevermind," Nirvana (1991)

"Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness," Smashing Pumpkins (1995)

"OK Computer," Radiohead (1997)

"Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," Wilco (2003)

[qam1]

"Untitled ('IV')," Led Zeppelin (1971)

I can't comment on Led. I've never been able to figure them out. Such crap. Such gold. And now look at them.

Let me guess, You are a Rush fan. I've noticed the only people who don't like Zeppelin are Rush fans.

But I would add Aerosmith, Eagles, Steve Miller, Rod Stewart and Elton John to the list of crappy over rated bands/preformers

For songs "Bye, Bye Miss American Pie" and "Paradise by the Dash Board light" would be the worst overrated songs ever.

[SoCal Pubbie]

"If a generation is normally defined as being 20 years, as you claim, good luck in explaining why your definition starts in a year that ends with 6. "

Two words for you: War babies.

[Hawkeye's Girl]

Oh man, those people are the worst. They rarely judge a new album on its merits. Instead they just listen to see if sounds like the last album, and if it doesn't, they trash it.

Exactly! Albums should sound different. Otherwise why bother making more than one?

Furthermore, Metallica's been called sellouts since Ride the Lightning came out. I like all their albums, and that's all that matters to me. I am truly sorry not everyone can enjoy their entire catalog.

[SoCal Pubbie]

If you were born in 1963, you ARE a boomer!

[humblegunner]

FEAR!!!!

I see you leave me no alternative.
I must now call up the darkest of all metal gods,
UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER!!!

Balls to the wall, man.

[The Scourge of Yazid]

The most neglected and under-appreciated rock song of all time?

I'm glad that you asked.

It just so happens that I have it right here.

Why, it's:

PARTY HARD!!!

It contains soothing melodies, complex lyrics and a message that needs to transmitted across the globe.

I think that its propagation just may achieve "peace in our time."

[-YYZ-]

Don't be stupid. I was a Rush fan before I knew s#$@ about Led Zeppelin. Heck, Rush started off as a heavily Zeppelin influenced heavy rock trio - ever listen to their debut album? Rush, in particular their second phase including Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures and Signals is the music of my youth. Didn't care as much for a lot of their later stuff, although their last album was pretty strong. I love the classic Zep, too.

[The Scourge of Yazid]

Lars Ulrich:

Did you just imply that "not everyone can enjoy our catalog?" I'm so suing your ass!

[radiohead]

no one has taken these twits to task for daring to criticize Led Zeppelin!

Most people remember where they were when Kennedy was killed. I remember where I was the first time I heard Stairway to Heaven. Good googa mooga, what a song.

Right now I'm listening to Lou Reed, 'Rock and Roll' from Rock n Roll Animal. Yeah it's corny, but the refrain, "Her life was saved by rock and roll." has always been right on point for me. Lord help me, I love this music, from Tull, to Lou Reed, to Ozzy to Bowie, to Billy Corgan and tons of stuff in between, I love rock.

I like to drive my own little Gen Xer nuts by cranking it up and yelling, "Come here and listen to some real music. You might learn something." Drives him crazy, but every once in a while I'll hear him listening to some of 'my' music. Makes me feel like friggin' Yoda, man. (wipes a tear away)

[The Scourge of Yazid]

Who's got big balls?

They've got big balls!

Who's got big balls?

We've got big balls!

But I have the biggest balls of them all!

AC/DC.

Kick it!

[The Scourge of Yazid]

You "love rock?"

Gee, going by your screen name, I never would've guessed it.

Will wonders never cease?

[uglybiker]

In other words, I have a stereotypical view that this band is not politically correct therefore I give their music a bad review. This is how you review music?

She's buckin' for a job at Rollin' Stone. She'll fit right in.

[vetvetdoug]

A client of mine sang backup for Elvis on that song, A little Less Conversation. She says that Elvis was a professional and extremely talented when it came to gospel and rock and roll music. She also sang backup to Percy Sledge's When A Man Loves A Woman, Elvis' Kentucky Rain, In the Ghetto, & Suspicious Minds. She backed up Clapton and Harrison for the Concert For Bangladesh, Leon Russel on the album The Shelter People, Paul Simon on Kodachrome. Cher on Half Breed, and backed up vocals on many of Albert Kings' albums. When she tells me someone has talent, I believe her. Some wet behind the ears bigmouth writer that has yet to write and sing a single song has no place criticizing music.

[The Scourge of Yazid]

THE HIPSTER'S HANDBOOK.

It's all in there.

Everything you need to know in order to accurately classify obnoxious, imperious liberal twits, and put them into the correct taxonomic order.

[expatguy]

Nice one ;-)

[sully777]

If you found a wormhole in the universe
that allowed you to go back in time
and watched the progression of all music, including rock
then listen to every type of rock genre
compared each song with each other musical genre
you'd come away thinking
three things that are absolutely true:

One, Spin, Rolling Stone, or any other music rag are taken seriously??? When did that happen in the real world? I can see great leaders coming together at an international conference and one says to the other, "I got me the new Rolling Stone dude." The other responds, "Spin says Rob Zombie is set for a comeback."

Two, Nirvana is not good, even in a bad way, no matter how many shotguns or wacks at the bong. Nirvana bites. Crapola. Lazy stupidity at it is weakest effort. Music to commit suicide to. Horribly overhyped.

And three, journalists for such rags are the biggest bunch of self-absorbed, know-nothings that ever walked this planet. Ever watch Vh1 productions with these twits giving their "expert comments" on music, oozing with sardonic intonations of superiority.

Well, much like me right now. Horribly entertaining, dude.

[vikk]

yeah, to the metallica fan who pines for the black album, I say, "death to false metal!!"

[The Scourge of Yazid]

VH-1 BEHIND THE MUSIC:

Kajagoogoo.

Their precipitous rise, and their dramatic plummet to earth.

[qam1]

Most people remember where they were when Kennedy was killed. I remember where I was the first time I heard Stairway to Heaven. Good googa mooga, what a song.

I can't remember the exact 1st time I heard Stairway, But I clearly do remember when I was like 5-8 years old (Born 1970) I used to love the Immigrant Song, Stairway, Black Dog, Kashmir and Trampled Underfoot. I didn't know who Led Zeppelin was back then and I am not sure I even knew they were by the same group but I clearly do remember enjoying those songs at that age. (At the time my father worked far away so I would be in the car with my mom picking him up so I got to hear all these long songs). It wasn't until High school when I dated a girl who was into Zeppelin that I put the songs I used to like with the group

[spodefly]

"I'll confess that in the midst of editing this collection, I had a brief crisis of conscience when I wondered if this book was too much of a childish exercise - the rock-critic equivalent of the bratty kid wiping his snot on the blackboard in feeble protestation of the injustices of third-grade life," he writes.

Sounds like it to me.