I was having a chat with someone last night. He then began to wax lyrical about an album by a band that I’d never heard of whose music heralded the era of The Band. He loved it so much he said it had never been off the turntable. We shared a moment. I know how that feels. Then as I went off he said, “The old ones are always the best.”
I was annoyed at myself. I should have said, No. But instead I quietly nodded and smiled. It’s not true. It’s never been less true. On the way up the stair I thought about this and considered ten things I might have said. The French have a name for this feeling – L’Esprit d’Escalier. The quick one liner you wished you’d said to some smart Alec who has just given you a cheap put down. The smart quip you never thought of as you squirmed awkwardly at some second rate joke by someone you don’t even respect. Literally, the wit of the staircase. Aah regret.
But the old ones are not the best. I could easily play lots of new music and only new music. There are great new things being constantly created all the time and many of them quickly become modern classics – that’s the magic of pop music. Last night on the way home from the show I played Ray LaMontagne’s new album for the first time. It’s stunning. I’m bringing it in next week and you’ll get a chance to hear it. Believe me – the new ones are every bit as good as the best.
Is it true Ray LaMontange lives alone in a remote cabin in the woods somewhere like Montana..?
On the subject of radio – I recently heard a comment that myspace is the new radio. I kinda like that…
I think most people who state that the old ones are the best would probably also be the same folks to rail how the world’s falling apart and that all things aren’t what they used to be. It’s a form of sugar-coated nostalgia of an imaginary world seen through a sepia lens that never really existed in the first place.
There’s so much great old and new music out there to be appreciated, and it’s just sad that so many folks miss out on either through a rather narrow, contemporaneous view on the world. The Doctor has much to teach these people but luckily, even without a TARDIS to hand, Late Lounge listeners are in on the secret.
I have a confession to make… i missed last night’s show. Its only the second time i’ve missed the show, missed the opening night as well. I got a message through on myspace alerting me to Crash My Model Car were doing an acoustic gig in the CCA in Sauchiehall Street and went along and heard them. Ali the bass player used to be in one of the youth groups i helped lead and many years ago i encouraged him when he first started playing guitar… it wasn’t long before he was better than me and trying his hand at every instrument going and sounding good on most of them.
I saw them play live on three of their visits to Aberdeen but it has been almost two years since the last time i’d seen them. In that time they’ve changed name and the line up, done sessions for Vic Galloway and Celtic Connections, headlined the unsigned bands stage at T in the Park (which sounds cool til you work out they were playing at the same time as the Pixies and the Strokes on mainstage!), been signed up by a major publisher who had a major label lined up to release the debut album and then on the eve of the release they were dropped and have spent the last year trying to get the album released on another label or put it out themselves.
They were just getting back from Glastonbury when they got told on Monday they had the CCA acoustic gig 3 days later. It was a small crowd and a totally new set of songs from what i had heard previously but i am pleased to say they were great. I took along a pal who hadnt heard of them and he said he’d go back and see them next time.
Just when you were thinking this sounds a bit like the Counting Crows or whoever else there was some twist just round the corner. Iain Morrison the leaders singer played some Celtic whistley things a few times which sounded magic but i think Ali stole the show as the final song ended with him blowing into what looked like a wee toy keyboard thing (I am sure Davey Scott will have one!).
Bumped into Ali’s dad this morning and he said the band were off to do gigs and radio stuff in Stornoway for the weekend and were packing up in Glasgow and then driving through the night to get get up to the ferry in time and they’d be sleeping in the van.
Anyway… Crash My Model Car are on myspace and well worth googling. New single and the debut album are due out over the next few months.
Sorry for rambling.
OK I am the “OLDEST” taking part here and have had a music background that runs from performance in symphonic choir to broadcasting to watching a son who never demonstrated an interest in music take up classical and folk guitar fueled by his fathers gift of perfect pitch. Who knew, he alway had a bat, a ball and glove in his hands.
I love it all and that is why I enjoy Late Lounge….there is so much of what I enjoy along with the conversation.
Don’t get a swelled head…..I found the whole BBC Scotland because of Sibelius and a symphony series.
hi again
i know what you mean. i often want to kick myself. i am the master of the come back line.
i amaze myself how some of the most fantastic
thinks come to tongue.
trouble is my brain seems to fire it out, minutes too late. always leaving wish if only.
anyhow the old ones are not always the best and neither are the new. reference yourself here ricky
raintown is in my opinion probably the best debut album i’ve ever heard any band put out.
it was the most coherent and flowing i have ever listened too. i have in my time bought at least 30 copies of it. you see if i’am playing it, people who would never dream of buying modern, music pass comment. then there is mum, relations freinds oh get us a copy of it.
then take your later stuff fantastic though it is when i played it to the same people they had a love it or hate it attitude.
me i find it much more grown up and it sounds more where my life and probably yours is at now.
i think music is what it makes you feel like.
there is definately no old uns being best.
i think like ourselves music has to mean something and like myself being a photographer it changes with you. music and imagery are the most powerful emotive art forms and thus is a personal thing and there is no right or wrong.
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I just got my own USB rocket launcher 🙂 Awsome thing.
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You can get the gadget here: http://tinyurl.com/2qul3c
Check out the video they have on the page.
Cheers
Marko Fando
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Fridays you can really get lucky and make off like an Amazon bandit – I’ve seen discounts
there as low as 75% off sticker price.
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