Sunday Edition: Tonight We're Going To Give It 35%

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Here's your question and answer of the week from the Punknews Formspring:

Q: Do you have a single favorite band? If not, do you mind being asked to pick one? Same for albums.

A: I totally do. THE ROLLING STONES, baby. I have to give insane props to the stones because they ratcheted up rock music by a factor of 90 in the early 60's, merged rock with soul and gospel, have evolved with each release through rock, soul, country, disco, punk, funk, dance, and so much more, and have like a million awesome albums. Plus, they destroy it live.

People like to name check bands that were only around for a few years before breaking up, or only have one or two greta albums, and then say "Just think of what they could have achieved!" (I like those bands, too.) But, the thing is, the Stones DID achieve what their early releases suggested. They achieved that, revolutionized rock music, and then KEPT going for another FORTY years, and kept making awesome music. Not every Stones release is good, but at least they tried and took a lot of risks. A lot of people like to favor flash in the pan bands because that's easy. Joy Division won't ever make a bad album because it's impossible. by contrast, the stones had the guts to keep going and keep trying new things. For me, longevity wins out and man, the Stones STILL rock.

My favorite album is The Stones' Some Girls because it represents so many things. First and foremost, it is an awesome album. But it also shows the stones tackling new styles, like funk-disco, punk, and 70's style country, and making it their own. Plus, "Beast of Burden", baby. BEAST. OF. BURDEN.

The stones doing punk in the late 70's. What could be better, music wise? Nothing.

Also, they released one of the funniest music videos of all time before music videos were even a thing. Just look at how melancholy Charlie Watts looks. JUST LOOK AT HIM!

Close runners up, in no order, and in an incomplee list, would be: AC/DC, Judas Priest, The Clash, Sex Pistols, Ramones, GWAR, Slayer, Lee Scratch Perry, Misfits, Samhain, Danzig, Billy Joel, Elton John, Yellowman, Gnarboots, World/Inferno Friendship Society, Bauhaus, Amebix, Jello and Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Ice Cube, Ice-T, NWA, Public Enemy, Digital Underground, The Coup, Funkadelic, Mikey Dread, Rush, Joy Division, Bad Brains, Mischief Brew, Pink Floyd, Zounds, Frank Zappa, Dwarves, Bob Dylan, Sublime, Led Zeppelin, Mott the Hoople, David Bowie, Celtic Frost, Queen, Ceremony, Stevie Wonder, The Damned, Beastie Boys, Dexys, Peter Tosh, Minor Threat, Rudimentary Peni, Crass, Vivian Girls, Babies, La Sera, Johnny Cash, Choking Vicim/Leftover Crack, Junior Murvin, Max Romeo, Sam Cooke, Frankie Valli, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, The Cure, No Doubt, and MEEEEELLLLLLVVVVVIIIIIIIIINNNNSSSSS!!!!!!

Really, the point of all this is, is to keep your mind open about music. I recommend giving everything a chance and if you don't like it, revisit it later. I used to hate Parliament/Funkadelic and now I'm a maniac. I find that at some points in your life, you just don't have the experience to be able to appreciate what a certain band is doing at a certain time in your life and you can't hear their intentions. Would you believe that I used to not like the Melvins? It's crazy, but true. When I first heard Houdini, I thought it was boring. I came back to "Nude with boots" years later and it totally clicked. Man, I am glad that I kept an open mind and re-checked.

Don't waste time hating music. Keep searching for those golden jams. There are more than a life times worth out there.

-John G

p.s. I am still trying to appreciate Hot Water Music and their ilk, and man, I am just not getting it at all. We are on like year five here of me just hearing a bunch of sedate guys with throaty voices sing about things that I don't care about. Same with Jawbreaker. I feel like everyone in that band has an iron deficiency. Same with bands like Captain, We're Sinking and all those guys. But, hell, I could be wrong. Maybe those bands ARE good and I just can't hear it yet. Maybe one of these days I WILL get it. The quest for sweet jams continues indefinitely. Until then, Amebix singing about ancient pagan rites it is. WE ARE STRAINING AT THE LEASH!!!!!

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