Roundabout
Listening to the local dinosaur rock station playing “Roundabout” by Yes for the umteenth time. I’m trapped, as KCRW, the NPR station I listen to by default, is in pledge drive mode.
I detest Yes and other ‘classics’ like Queen, but I’m probably in a minority. However, I did learn from my dentist that Freddie Mercury was Indian; ethnic pride is a powerful thing.
My 16-year old burns CDs of the Doors, Cream, Guns n’Roses, and in an nod to ‘modernity’, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. So the babyboomer pig in a python has controlled the next generation’s musical tastes. But we’re losing the dads we rebelled against, from Gerald Ford to Jack Palance. The father figures are gone; that’s us now, G-d help us.
Yes, babyboomers rule–but increasingly, we rule alone.
February 2, 2007 at 9:44 pm
I like Yes with some exceptions; the stuff I like is basically up to and including close to the edge. The drummer in the Fragile era, Bill Bruford, was in a modern incarnation of King Crimson, he’s a formidable serious player. “Heart of the Sunrise” was used in Buffalo 66 to great effect.
There are many artists/bands who exist on my precipice between “justified by their best work” and “unforgiveable for the worst.” Chicago, Billy Joel, and there you’ll find Queen. The earliest stuff I heard was real good — “Keep Yourself Alive” — at least one record is among the top 500 at least — “Pressure,” with Bowie — some middle period stuff is interesting or has some specialized value — “My Best Friend,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” as performed by Wayne and Garth and friends. But then there’s the unforgivable, throw-the-radio-out-the-window blight — Another One Bites The Dust, We Will Rock You.
The guitar player is actually pretty good.
Where does RHCP really fall in the history? Their artistic peak, at least in my consciousness, was around 1990 - Blood Sugar Sex Magic.