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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | Miles Goosens <outdoorminer@mindspring.com> |
| Subject | Re: enz/finn |
| Date | Mon, 03 Feb 2003 15:41:50 -0600 |
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At 12:18 PM 2/3/2003 -0600, Michael Bennett wrote:
>Both Miles and Kelly seem to have a very reductive take on Tim Finn's
>songwriting. This is the guy who wrote great straight ahead pop tracks like
>"Bold As Brass" and "I See Red" (the latter which essentially saved Split
>Enz's career). And TIME AND TIDE is truly a testament to Tim at his best.
>"Six Months in a Leaky Boat" is simply a brilliant song and he has plenty of
>others on the album.
They don't click with me, sorry. I don't think that's being reductive. I
think that's saying that this guy's outlook, style, and musical
proclivities don't jibe with my own.
Do keep in mind that we're far afield here from my James Taylor rant last
month -- it's not like listening to Tim Finn's music makes me want to have
him eaten by wild jackals. I just really don't need to hear anything else
by him, since he has so consistently failed to interest me despite years of
me trying to like him. I can see why people like what he does, but it's
not to my taste.
Same thing with Sparks -- the theatricality and oddball histrionics of the
Mael Brothers are a big part of what a lot of people like about 'em, but
for the most part, those are the qualities of theirs that get on my
nerves. (I like R. Stevie Moore's cover of "Fletcher Honorama" far more
than the original version!)
If anything, I wish I *did* like these folks, as it would put me in step
with a lot of people whose opinions I respect as well as with artists I
*do* love who were very inspired by them, and it would give me even more
stuff to enjoy. I sure didn't expect to end up being lukewarm on
T.Finn/Enz and Sparks, but as Joaquin Andujar was wont to say, "youneverknow."
People I also wish I liked better: Todd Rundgren, Dwight Twilley, and
(turn your eyes away now! NOW!) Big Star. Again, not *dis*likes, but not
things that fill me with joy and excitement either.
>I also wouldn't be so harsh on his collaborations with Neil. I don't think
>that great songs like "Weather with You" and "Eyes of the World", just to
>give two examples, could have happened without their special blend of
>talents.
What's the Tim contribution to "Weather With You"? I'm not being sarcastic
-- I'm curious about what non-Neil quality you hear in the song that makes
it special. "Eyes of the World" I can live without, easily.
later,
Miles
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