I understand Sonic Youth can be an acquired taste but without them and REM, I seriously doubt you are doing your column. Sonic Youth along with REM were the first underground/alternative/college rock bands to sign to a major label. Sonic Youth was an early champion of Nirvana's Bleach and was the main reason Nirvana signed to Geffen, and the rest is history. Sonic Youth continued to out out great records on Geffen into the 2010's long after the alternative crash.
All about the Toad, I am, Matt! As I wrote in November '22 (including "All I Want" in a "Want" Playlist, following it with Jellyfish's "All I Want is Everything"!): "Never before on Santa Barbara, CA natives, Toad the Wet Sprocket, I leapt on this song when it was released (1992) a year after its parent album, 'Fear,' came out, and proceeded to catch up on their album catalog, and even bought a collection of their video singles on VHS!
"For my money, this song matches or exceeds, the angst, 'seriousness' and earnestness of REM’s 1991 'Losing My Religion' (with Toad’s music video, a year later, occasionally echoing similarly stark visual elements of REM’s, with a different director)."
In other words, to my 37-year-old ear (at the time of their '92 "All I Want" single release), I was hearing it, and soon thereafter, hearing much more of their catalog, and hearing them SO all about melody, harmonies, and catchy songs, MY power pop sensibilities was appreciating them, no end, for their pop songcraft!
I can only imagine their "alt" and "rock" labels are largely due to their youngish age, and the fact that they were creating their music for an audience almost half my age at the time! But, my adoration of them and their music was based upon how (and who) I grew up hearing and appreciating! I have a feelng, if Glen (especially) and band were asked about their (pop and songwriting) influences, more than a few would overlap with mine, growing up!
Your Gin Blossoms alignment was so spot on....knowing, as you do, how I feel similarly about them, it's clear to hear the similarities, I think, in each band's attack....in other words, whatever limitations the of-that-era genre tags (rock, alt, alt rock, etc) are obliged to attach to the Blossoms and Toad, the guts of what they're really doing can't be hidden or disguised! They have firmly planted their pop flags well within view, unabashedly and unashamed!
Even (especially?) an artist like the 2018-to-the-present Roosevelt....he's in his 30s, and is "forced" to play in the 21st century "synth pop"/"dream pop"/"shoegaze"/ whatever lanes, simply because of the era we just happen to be in...but, HIS songwriting/playing sensibilities are so rooted in 1978....as he (and Nile Rodgers) will happily tell you!
I understand Sonic Youth can be an acquired taste but without them and REM, I seriously doubt you are doing your column. Sonic Youth along with REM were the first underground/alternative/college rock bands to sign to a major label. Sonic Youth was an early champion of Nirvana's Bleach and was the main reason Nirvana signed to Geffen, and the rest is history. Sonic Youth continued to out out great records on Geffen into the 2010's long after the alternative crash.
Agree 100%! I guess my intent didn't come across the way I hoped when I wrote it. So I'll try again:
Sonic Youth: Amazing, trend-setting alternative band who helped define a generation of music.
"Bull In The Heather": Not a representative example of their otherwise really good catalog.
Even generationally great bands have meh songs. 😇
All about the Toad, I am, Matt! As I wrote in November '22 (including "All I Want" in a "Want" Playlist, following it with Jellyfish's "All I Want is Everything"!): "Never before on Santa Barbara, CA natives, Toad the Wet Sprocket, I leapt on this song when it was released (1992) a year after its parent album, 'Fear,' came out, and proceeded to catch up on their album catalog, and even bought a collection of their video singles on VHS!
"For my money, this song matches or exceeds, the angst, 'seriousness' and earnestness of REM’s 1991 'Losing My Religion' (with Toad’s music video, a year later, occasionally echoing similarly stark visual elements of REM’s, with a different director)."
In other words, to my 37-year-old ear (at the time of their '92 "All I Want" single release), I was hearing it, and soon thereafter, hearing much more of their catalog, and hearing them SO all about melody, harmonies, and catchy songs, MY power pop sensibilities was appreciating them, no end, for their pop songcraft!
I can only imagine their "alt" and "rock" labels are largely due to their youngish age, and the fact that they were creating their music for an audience almost half my age at the time! But, my adoration of them and their music was based upon how (and who) I grew up hearing and appreciating! I have a feelng, if Glen (especially) and band were asked about their (pop and songwriting) influences, more than a few would overlap with mine, growing up!
Your Gin Blossoms alignment was so spot on....knowing, as you do, how I feel similarly about them, it's clear to hear the similarities, I think, in each band's attack....in other words, whatever limitations the of-that-era genre tags (rock, alt, alt rock, etc) are obliged to attach to the Blossoms and Toad, the guts of what they're really doing can't be hidden or disguised! They have firmly planted their pop flags well within view, unabashedly and unashamed!
Even (especially?) an artist like the 2018-to-the-present Roosevelt....he's in his 30s, and is "forced" to play in the 21st century "synth pop"/"dream pop"/"shoegaze"/ whatever lanes, simply because of the era we just happen to be in...but, HIS songwriting/playing sensibilities are so rooted in 1978....as he (and Nile Rodgers) will happily tell you!
Thanks, Matt!🎵
I like TTWS and of course the My So-Called Life reference!
Thanks for covering Toad the Wet Sprocket, have always loved their sound.