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| From | "Jaimie Vernon" <bullseyecanada@hotmail.com> |
| Subject | Re: Burying Hooks |
| Date | Sun, 08 Jan 2006 12:13:38 -0500 |
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At Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2006 11:57:41 Jimmy Prell
><< >Plus, I can think of few bands less likely to be Audities faves,
>because
>it
> >seemed like part of Pavement's whole thing was that when they had a song
> >that had actual pop hooks (and they occasionally did: "Cut Your Hair,"
> >"Shady Lane," "Range Life," "Summer Babe," etc.), they'd do everything
>they
> >could to bury them. <<
>
>Jamie Vernon (I think):
>
> >> This was always my problem with Jesus And Mary Chain....they had so
>much
>commercial potential intentionally destroyed for the sake of hipness. >>
>
>Well, that's an extremely cynical take on it. Sometimes bands "bury" hooks
>because though it may lack in immediacy, the subtle versions can be more
>interesting on repeated listens and therefore enduring. Some folks like
>their hooks
>big and up front, but for me I find that many of those "instantly catchy"
>songs
>tend to be almost-as-instantly disposable.
It's one thing when you're John Wesley Harding or Lou Reed treading the line
of the melodic hook and couching it in avant-garde or subtle nuances of a
pop structure. It's another thing when you take a good, melodic song and
wash it in feedback, and bad production techniques to deliberately disengage
the listener. My reaction to this is not cynicism, it's disappointment in
their lost opportunity to engage me, or probably a lot more potential
listeners. I'd throw My Bloody Valentine, The Cynics, Husker Du, Sonic Youth
and a whole rash of other self-realized/self-important acts in there as
well.
I just don't see the point in producing work that only YOU, as the creator,
can stand listening to. Why insulate yourself in a musical form that few
people appreciate? I'm sure I could have turned a lot of people on to the
Jesus And Mary Chain had they, y'know, released a song that didn't make you
want to stick a pitchfork in your eye or decapitate your next store
neighbour after the first 45 seconds.
I'm not looking for pristine Beach Boys pop melodicism here. I'm looking for
some semblence of melody in a pop format even if it means disjointed guitar
chords or atonal delivery. Bury it in self-indulgence and I'm moving on...
Jaimie Vernon,
President, Bullseye Records
"Not Infecting Our Customers' Computers Since 1985!!"
http://www.bullseyecanada.com
http://www.bullseyerecords.com
Author, Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia
http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/
http://www.myspace.com/jaimievernonsmovingtargetz
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