[By Subject] [By Date] [By Sender] [Prev] [Next]
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 1994 18:50:49 -0400
From: Chris Camfield <ccamfiel[at]-remove-undergrad.math.uwaterloo.ca>
Subject: Condition Blue = Masterwork
Do people on the list generally feel that Waiting For The Love Bus is a
*letdown* after Condition Blue? In my opinion, Pat hasn't had an uneven
album since Big Planet Scarey Planet, which got overproduced by whoever it
was (I tried to access the WWW page - is it down?).
I'm really beginning to hate the "novelty music" label that gets pasted
on Pat's humorous songs. I *would* label most of what he wrote before
Fishcoteque as novelty music, but is all music that is humorous automatically
(borderline) novelty music? Isn't Burglar of Love a cool song? How about
She's On Drugs? Besides whether a song has good music and good lyrics,
what does it matter if a song makes you laugh or smile? Sheesh. Most
pop music is unending drivel about love, in 1001 different variations.
I'd rather have humour than yet another bad love song, how about you?
But I'm sure mainstream pop stations would choose another bad love song
over a genuinely funny JB song. *smirk*
It's interesting (to me) that two points of contention about Condition Blue
are paralleled in discussions on other mailing lists I read. I won't go
into a huge amount of detail, but both Condition Blue and Sting's The Soul
Cages were inspired by pain and were self-therapy (and the fans on the
mailing list who consider it his best solo work are in the majority), and
Crowded House's Together Alone also has long instrumental endings to songs
which in its case were put there purposefully, as part of an effort to give
the album more of the live energy of the band.
Christopher Camfield (ccamfiel[at]-remove-undergrad.math.uwaterloo.ca)
"Oh Sweetwater, sometimes it feels like ancient Rome..." (The JBC)
"Hey now, hey now, don't dream it's over..." (Crowded House)