[kj] the essence

[Alexander Smith]

I make no secrets about my guilty pleasures. And I don't mean to pick  
on Jo who started this particular thread, but citing the hackneyed  
ol' chestnut that is "Like a Rolling Stone" as a "quintessential rock  
anthem." I mean -- come on, people -- isn't that why PUNK rock was  
invented? To topple those yawnsome sacred cows?

I mean, KISS remains one of my favorite ever bands -- and cranked out  
a number of worthy "quintessential rock anthems" in their day (my  
pick of theirs would invariably be "Shout It Out Loud"), but at least  
Kiss are knowingly stupid and ridiculous, wallowing in the shallow  
vapidity of RAWK and spectacle -- not that piously folky/hippy  
freedom rock crapola that is Bob Dylan. Go smoke a doobie in your VW  
van with a tye-dye wearin' Jack Keroac disciple if you're gonna throw  
that tripe on.

  But in terms of a rock anthem as a fists-aloft, hell yeah mission- 
statement, I'd sooner cite:

"BLACK TO COMM" by the MC5
"Blank Generation" by Richard Hell & the Voidoids
"Cretin Hop" by the Ramones
"Jocko Homo" by Devo
"Lust for Life" by Iggy Pop
"White Riot" by the Clash
"Pretty Vacant" by the Pistols
"Something Better Change" by The Stranglers
"Overkill" by Motorhead
"Rise Above" by Black Flag
"Drop The Bombs" by Cop Shoot Cop


...hell, even "Antmusic" by Adam & the Ants has more oomph and  
resonance than fuckin' "Like a Rolling Stone".

Sorry, Jo. Rant over.

Alex in NYC





On Sep 4, 2007, at 4:37 PM, Brendan Quinn wrote:


> Oh come on, ELO?! Boston? Your guilty pleasures are well known. And  

> anything as good as Hendrix / Led Zeppelin / etc doesn’t, and will  

> never, count as a guilty pleasure.

>

>

>

> Can’t stand The Who though, and wouldn’t call that an anthem ;p

>

>

>

> From: gathering-bounces at misera.net [mailto:gathering- 

> bounces at misera.net] On Behalf Of Alexander Smith

> Sent: Tuesday, 4 September 2007 11:15 p.m.

> To: A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)

> Subject: Re: [kj] the essence

>

>

>

>

>

> I never would have guessed that the Gathering was such a hotbed of  

> classic rock warhorse appreciation.

>

>

>

> Alex in NYC

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> On Sep 4, 2007, at 1:24 AM, JStrisino at aol.com wrote:

>

>

>

>

> Won`t Get Fooled Again, The Who

>

> J

>

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