The Worst Best Albums – 1 Rumours (Fleetwood Mac)
Mar 10, 2010 Rants
One in a short series covering well known and popular albums that I can not stand……..
What is wrong with Rumours ?
The first thing is that it is not Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood was and always will be the band with Peter Green, not a band without the man with the golden guitar. Yes, he was off somewhere on planet Green but to continue the band without him was like the Stones without Brian Jones (OK, like the Stones without Keef).
Something else I really, I mean really, disliked about this version of Mac was that they were so smug. Smugger than the smuggiest thing in the world. smugger than a cat that had all the cream and then found even more cream. I thought that they were a bit full of themselves……
As you will remember, Green was in Mayall’s Blues Breakers having replace Clapton. Mayall gave Green some time in a recording studio as a gift and with Fleetwood and McVie (who were also in the Blues Breakers) he recorded 5 songs and Fleetwood Mac were formed. They were a blues rock band. They were supberb.
With Rumours Mac placed themselves firmly at the forefront of soft rock. Soft rock, rock with a pretty face, tea and cumpet rock, rock without attitude. That is their main crime against rock.
Those, very personal objections aside what else is wrong with an album that contained so many hummable tunes?
The production is too slick, the harmonies too, well harmonic, the songs steeped in honey (with no lemon). Rock should be relevant and scratchy. It should make you think, not sleep. It should not be suitable to use a s lift (elevator) music. It should be music not musac.
I know that I am in a minority of 1. I know that Rolling Stone, Q, Mojo, and the rest of the universe all believe this to be one of the best records ever produced.
They are wrong.
Fleetwood Mac’s line-up consisted of guitarist and vocalist Lindsey Buckingham, drummer Mick Fleetwood, keyboardist and vocalist Christine McVie, bassist John McVie, and vocalist Stevie Nicks
Tags: fleetwood mac, john mayall, peter green, rock and blues, worst albums ever, worst records ever
2 Resolutions Broken!
Feb 5, 2010 Rants
When I started this blog I promissed myself 2 things;
1. I would never, never, talk about politics (well, this is supposed be about music)
2. I would never talk about ear hole music (folk) or C&W (the devil’s music).
So, 2 resolutions broken. Folk and politcs.
David Jones is a well respected folk singer in the UK, and here he is singing a classic anti-capitalist, left wing song. I know nothing about the chap that he is supporting, and do not care particularly. All I know is that it resonates of “The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist” (an essential book in everyone’s political education) and is a song that I sang in my youth at political rallies. The song kicks in at about 5.50 (ish).
Tags: david jones, folk, rock and blues
La Toya was Right Michael Jackson Murdered
Jan 11, 2010 Rants
Back in June, just after his death Lat Toya Michael Jackson’s sister claimed that he had been murdered. It wuld seem that she was right.
The death certificate was amended on August 31st by the medical examiner, Christopher Rogers, the cause of death now reads ‘homicide’. It talks of “acute Propofol intoxication” and “intravenous injection by another”. There was no evidence of illegal drugs in Michael’s body at the time of death and he was in relatively good heath for a man of his age.
This is, potentially, very bad news for his doctor Conrad Murray. It is thought that he is to be indicted on a charge of ‘involuntary manslaughter’. The police are talking about a charge involving gross negligence saying that the care given to Michael was way below the standard of care normally given by physicians.
The coroner found that propofol was given to Michael without any medical need or the recommended resuscitation equipment being in place. Propofol depresses the breathing, heart rate and lowers blood pressure.
Murray was in Michael’s rented LA mansion when he died and tried to try to revive him when he was found unconcious. Through his spokemen Murray has issued a cautious ‘no comment’ to the speculation that he about to be charged. The spokesmen went on to repeat that Murray neither prescribed or administered anything that should have caused Michael’s death.
For a successfull prosecution the prosecuter woiuld have to prove that there was a reckless action that created a risk of injury or death. Where the accused is a doctor there are also other issues such as was the patient made fully aware of the risks and did he accept them?
When (if) Murray is charged depends on a few things such as how soon can a grand jury be convened and how long will the DA’s review of the evidence presented by the police take. The police investigation was largely completed in December and it included interviews with medical proffessionals much attention being given to expected standards of care.
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Tags: conrad murray, derek acorah, michael Jackson, michael jackson murdered, michael jacksons death, rock and blues
Ronnie and Mick to Meet
Jan 5, 2010 Rants, Uncategorized
It would seem that the proposed Stones tour is still in danger of not going ahead because of fears for Ronnie Wood’s health.
As has been widely reported Ronnie has an alcohol problem and it is this that has cast a shadow over the proposed tour. Mick is, as we all know, heavily involved in the organisation and running of the tours. Micro managing them to a rediculous extent according to some reports from previous tours. In any event, he will want to be sure that Ronnie is up to it.
It should not be forgotten that they are also old friends and Mick must be concerned on a personal level. As for Ronnie 2009 has been a year that he must want to forget. He divorced his wife Jo towards the end of the year and moved in with his young girlfriend Ekaterina Ivanova. Since then he has moved out after a disagreement outside a restaurant in Surrey, allegedly, resulted in him choking her (maybe it was an inept attempt at the Heimlich maneuver squeezing the throat rather than the abdomen).
The daily Express was told “Mick and Ronnie will talk things through in the New Year. They are old friends and Mick will obviously do everything he can to help him. But when it comes to the Stones, Mick has a real eye for detail and always ensures things run like clockwork. He’ll need to be convinced that Ronnie is still up to the job. Hopefully everything will work out, as it would break Ronnie’s heart if the Stones had to perform without him.”
Although there would be all the old jokes about locking up your grannies if the Stones do tour I would love to see them on the road, again. My caveat would be that they should strip down the shows. Forget the pyrotechnics, let the music light up the stage. Their best album for some time was ‘Stripped’ and that was a very simple affair. Were they to do that and go back to their blues roots I would be first in the queue for tickets.
From Stripped, this is classic.
The highlight from the album was this, Told yer that they were still good playing blues…..
Tags: Ekaterina Ivanova, mick jagger, rock and blues, rolling stones, ronnie wood
Michael Jackson Speaks!
Nov 9, 2009 Rants
So the seance with Derek Acorah and the Tweance with Jayne Wallace have come and gone. What did he have to say, what was his message to the world?
He told Jayne Wallace that he was singing ‘Heal the World’ when he was contacted and was sorry that he could not fulfill the gigs arranged for the O2 Arena in London.
Derek Acorah managed to get some more information from him. This seance had 4 ’super fans’ with Acorah. This would attract Michael more than just Acorah by himself, apparently. At least that makes sense. I would be more likely to go to meet 4 people that liked me rather than go anywhere to meet Acorah by himself……
Michael told the fans of his love for them, and some of them wept. (It seems that no ‘realty’ TV programme is complete without someone crying, be it a game show, house makeover, fashion makeover, facial makeover).
Acorah said the singer wished he had been laid to rest by his icon Marilyn Monroe. It is of course no secret that Michael had a statue of Marilyn in the gardens of Neverland and was a huge fan of the tragic actress. Acorah then said that Michael said ‘I wished to lie alongside her. I suppose it’s of no consequence.’
Michael also said through Acorah that he wanted to receive the fans’ love, that it was paramount that he did so. He also said that he was slowly adjusting to his new spiritual life and spending time with his grandparents. he would take time to look after his 4 new friends who were with Acorah at the seance.
All 4 of the super fans were affected by the seance. One said that when she looked into Acorah’s eyes she could see Michael. There were tears and emotion, as you would expect as they were desperately wanting to contact Michael. My beef is not with those fans who all miss their idol, it is with those seeking to make money out of this bogus show. The show was a ratings hit for Sky with some 607,000 viewers.
As an aside, a few days ago I wrote about Derren Brown criticising Acorah and this seance. What he actually said was He wrote: “Can you honestly imagine anything – anything – more anus-invertingly unpalatable than this? I hate myself for drawing attention to it.” Well, the medium has hit back saying; “He’s looking for publicity! He always does it. Every time. I don’t know why he wants to do it that way. We are worlds apart – Derren Brown is a magician and an illusionist. He can’t do what I do and I certainly don’t claim to do what he does. He’s riding the publicity off my back.”
It’s all handbags at 100 yards. I suppose that Derren Brown did benefit from the publicity but then so did Acorah. And it is true that Acorah could not do what Brown does but it is untrue that brown could not do what Acorah does.
What would it take?
The identity of the 4 super fans were known. It is easy enough to google and research the impersonator’s performances and chose one to comment about, especially if MJ had been there, there would be a record. Talking with the super fans during the days before the broadcast would reveal bits and pieces that could be used, interpreted and researched. Some generalities about loving the fans, a comment about being buried next to Monroe, impossible to prove, or disprove but likely to be believed by the fan base. Add to that the lighting, the super fans’ expectations and desires who could fail to pull this off?
Tags: acorah and jackson, derek acorah, michael Jackson, michael jackson seance, rock and blues
This Is It! Today’s the Day Michael Jackson to Speak to Derek Acorah
Nov 5, 2009 Rants
Finally, it seems like it has been a long time coming, Derek Acorah will attempt to reach Michael Jackson this Friday tonight at 10.00pm on Sky 1 (UK time).
The Live Seance will be presented by Acorah and June Sarpong. As far as I can tell Sarpong is a pretty TV presenter good at her job but with no knowledge or expertise in contacting the dead. (Mind you as I do not think that you can talk to the dead how could she have experience?)
The Seance will be the culmination of a night long series of programmes that will rehash the Jackson phenomena. Cynics (of which I am one) say that it is all a way of cramming the schedule with cheap TV about an enormously popular artist. Nothing wrong with that.
Let me quote Sky’s publicity for the programme;
“Preceding the main event, Michael Jackson: The Search For His Spirit will take fans on a biographical journey of the music legend delving deeper into both his psyche and his inspirations, and previewing some of the tactics and triggers that will feature in the séance. Sarpong, will be joined by Bobby Marchesso, one of America’s leading psychics, and close friends of Jackson including Thriller video co-star Ola Ray, Ian Halperin, author of controversial Michael Jackson Biography Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson, and his spiritual healer Reverend June Gatlin, with more contributors to be confirmed in due course.”
” Close friends including Ola Ray” Isn’t that the Ola Ray that sued Michael jackson on 5 may 2009 for royalties owed to her from the “Thriller” video that was released in 1983?
Halperin was quoted as saying that Michael would be dead within 6 months because of on going health issues in December 2008. Claims roundly attacked and denied bythe Jackson entourage at the time. He also arranged for the biography, not uncritical of Michael, to be released in July 2009 saying “I timed it because I knew around this time he was a candidate to die. I’m being totally up-front about that.” Upfront but a “close friend” I think not.
Gatlin says that she spoke to Michael every couple of months and last saw him in April 2009. She also says that he was in the process of changing his will.
Marchesso started life as a presenter of an early morning ‘news’ show that was light hearted and an easy. He decided that his talents would be better used as a Psychic and life coach (Q: Who actually needs a life coach? A: People with too much money, too much time on their hands, and no purpose….) At some point he was also a cop, apparently. He worked with Julie MacDonald to try to ‘talk to serial killers’ such as Ted Bundy. (Look, if Houdini could not come back to talk to his adored mother after promising to do just that. If Conan Doyle could not find one, just one, genuine medium although he was a believer trying to find one……….It’s all BS)
As Sky says of the night of programmes;
“These programmes provide a unique opportunity to celebrate Michael Jackson’s life, learn more about the music legend and possibly find out his final message to the world.”
As I say;
“Tell it to the marines.”
Tags: Bobby Marchesso, derek acorah, michael Jackson, michael jackson seance, rock and blues
OMG The X Factor!
Nov 3, 2009 Rants
This Saturday I did something I had never done before, and will never do again.
I watched the X Factor………….
It was not my fault, honest, Jane and I went for dinner to her sister’s and we did not realise that she is an avid viewer.
I feel so ashamed, I feel dirty.
My impressions? Dreadful, so bland. This was supposed to be the rock programme. Not a pebble in sight. A Lenny Kravitz look a like did a decent imitation. Two gormless, and strange, twins murdered ‘We Will Rock You’. They should be arrested. There was a soul number and someone tortured ‘Come Together’.
For those that have not seen it here is the formula. There are 2 judges that pretend to dislike each other. There are the 2 female judges who are there to add ‘glamour’ and seem to know little about real music. The acts are people who would be good at a local karaoke, not ‘good’ just good compared to me singing at a mike…..
The audience is made up of friends, family and people with taste bypasses. (The audience is obviously given some sort of payments for each whoop, cheer, and clap – there can be no other explanation of their response).
Of the acts,
Lucie (the pretty one) has a reasonable voice and almost avoided doing terminal damage to to “Sweet Chil’ ‘o’ Mine”. Although it was off putting to hear “sweet child” and sweet English pronunciation rather than Axl’s “Sweet Chil’ ” and slippy delivery.
Stacie (the one with teeth). Apparently, the revelation of the week was that she could walk and sing – at the same time! Also, her definition of rock is obviously very broad, very. Ugh.
Danyl (playing the victim card this week) The only victim was some song by Wet, Wet, Wet….. Dire
Joe (pretty boy) I have no recollection of him, must say something….
Lloyd (The prettier boy). Sang “I kissed a girl”. Dreadful song, dreadful performance, cringe making awfulness.
Jamie (The rocker) Lenny Kravitz should take out a contract on him.
Olly (The Smarmy one) Smarmed his way through “Come Together”. I wonder if he knew how it was supposed to sound? If he did it was ignored, strange arrangement. So bland he should dress in beige.
John and Edward (The comic relief) Nothing funny about this duo or their performance of “We Will Rock You”. They got the lyrics wrong, the melody, the ethos, Christ it was just dreadful. There should be a law against this!
Guess what? I will not watch another edition of this ‘entertainment’ show.
Tags: Danyl, dire tv, Jamie, Joe, John and Edward, Lloyd, Lucie, Olly, rock and blues, Stacie, x factor
Derek Acorah, Michael Jackson, Nothing New Under The Sun
Oct 28, 2009 Rants
Derek Acorah filming a seance and trying to contact Michael Jackson is not the first time programmes for TV have been made in which mediums have tried to reach the departed famous. (my original post here)
In 2006 a pay to view TV seance programme was made in which the object was to contact John Lennon. The show – which cost $9.95 (£5.60) to watch – was made without the consent of Lennon’s estate or his widow Yoko Ono. The result? John came through and had a message for us all. It was, “peace… the message is peace”
No surprise there then. Look, all of us could have predicted the result, does that make us all mediums, or psychics, or whatever?
I note with interest that the makers of the Lennon seance programme made one with Lady Dianna as the objective in 2003. The result of that on? She was having fun, again no surprise there either.
I am somewhat surprised to find that the subscription for Dianna’s seance was more than for Lennon’s. Actually, perhaps I am not. There does seem to be a constituency for stories about Dianna (who died in 1997) The Daily Mail (a national ‘newspaper’ in the UK) had yet another front page lead about here just last week…….
If you can not wait until December for the seance with Michael then there is some hope for you. It seems that there will be a seance on Twitter on 30th October. Called a “Tweance” it will be available on Twitter from 10 a.m (GMT). I am not sure of the format, if you can ask questions or whatever, so if you are interested give it a go just search for @tweance on Twitter.
The Psychic is Jane Wallce part of the ‘Psychic Sisters’ who provide consultations in Selfridges (London) and have appeared in the world renowned Psychic TV cannel….
If you have been trying to tweet Michael Jackson over the last few weeks without even a squeak of success, might I sing you a song of hope? A remarkably forward-thinking psychic has decided to hold a seance on Twitter. A “Tweance,” if you will. According tothe Sun newspaper , Jayne Wallace, who claims to have been a psychic since she was (at least) 7 years old, will be available to every member of the world’s tweeting population on October 30, between 10 a.m. and noon British Miserable Autumn Time (that’s 3 a.m.
Tags: derek acorah, jane wallace, john lennon, lady diana, lady diana seance, michael Jackson, rock and blues, tweance
Derek Acorah’s Michael Jackson Seance
Oct 18, 2009 Rants
I honestly do not know what to say about this story.
Derek Acorah, a TV medium (he says that he contacts the spirits of the the departed) is to hold a seance and contact Michael Jackson’s spirit.
My position on spiritualism is quite simple. I believe that when you are gone you are gone. No heaven, no hell, reincarnation would be nice but I do not buy that either. So in the spirit (sorry about the pun) of objectivity I watched one of Ocarah’s programmes last night, well, part of one to be exact.
This is what happened. There was a small audience of people who had suffered losses. They had all brought objects connected to their departed and Acorah picked them up in turn to tune into the vibes from the dead. One woman had brought a set of darts. This is what Acorah deduced.
1. The departed was a man (few women play darts).
2. The departed liked to win (how many dart players play to lose)
3. The departed’s first name began with a ‘S’. (to be fair, it was the surname that began with an S. Unless I miss my guess ‘S’ is one of the most common letters with which names begin in the UK – Smith, Singh, Steven etc.)
The woman was interviewed later and was very impressed with Acorah. She wanted to hear from her son. She believes that her son could be contacted. She was obviously desperate for comfort.
So, was I convinced by this performance? Of course not.
Now, what is it with this seance? Is it an honest attempt to contact MJ? Well, it might be but bearing in mind that Acorah was attacked in the national press in 2005 over the editing and some would say dishonesty of his programme ‘Britain’s Most haunted’ I doubt it. Surely, it is only just about the money, just like the new record, the release of a film of his rehearsals, etc.
Derren Brown who is a mentalist that performs on UK TV said in his blog. “Can you honestly imagine anything – anything – more anus-invertingly unpalatable than this?” Derren wrote. “I hate myself for drawing attention to it.”
To say that TV in the UK has plumbed new depths would be wrong, there have been many, many depths. But this is up there (or down there) with the best (or worse) of them.
Tags: derek acorah, derren brown, michael Jackson, rock and blues
Someone, Please Stop Kelly Rowland!
Sep 15, 2009 Rants
There are wonderful songs, there are good songs, there are OK songs, there are bad songs, there are dreadful songs.
And then there is ‘When Love Takes Over’
Dreadful song, dreadful voice, and amazingly annoying.
When I looked up the lyrics (below) I was really surprised to find that there were any, other than the one hook line “When love takes over”. In fact, they are just there to allow whats-her-name sing the chorus. This is an increasing trend in pop songs. The purpose of a pop song is not to entertain and to inform it is to sell a CD, download, whatever.
Look at this song. Two verses (the bit where the songwriter is meant to tell the story and the chorus is sung (badly) 3 times. Oh yes the line “When love takes over” is also repeated until my eyes want to bleed.
The lyrics
Its complicated, it always is
That’s just the way it goes
Feels like the way it is so long for this
I wonder if it shows
And under water now i can breath
It never felt so good
Cause i can feel it coming over me
I wouldn’t stop it if i could
[Chorus]
When love takes over yeaaah
You know you can’t deny
When love takes over yeaaah
‘Cause something’s here tonight
Give me a reason I gotta know
Do you feel it too?
Cant you see me here on overload
And this time I blame you
Hmm looking out for you to hold my hand
It feels like I could fall
Now love me right, like I know you can
We could lose it all
[Chorus]
When love takes over yeaaah
You know you can’t deny
When love takes over yeaaah
Cause something’s here tonight
(tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight ….)
I’ll be loving all the time, it’s true
Cause I want to make it right with you
When love takes over, when love takes over
When love takes over, when love takes over …
Over, over, over ….
[Chorus]
When love takes over yeaaah
You know you can’t deny
When love takes over yeaaah
‘Cause something’s here tonight
I have been known to take a virulent dislike to songs ( I could cheerfully strangle Kid Rock) but there is something uniquely horrible about this brain worm.
She has to be stopped and someone must take David Guetta’s crayons away before he writes another formulaic song like this.
Tags: kelly rowland, real rock and blues, rock and blues, when love takes over, worst song in the world
