Testing...1,2...3 Lyrical depth series, part one...

Disclaimer: The following post may contain commentary that could lead to the assumption that I dislike David Lee Roth and/or Van Halen. I like them both, though perhaps differently than other artists and certainly less frequently.

Quite a few years ago, the following quote was attributed to David Lee Roth:

Music journalists like Elvis Costello, because music journalists look like Elvis Costello.

That quote comes to mind today when I listen to music by Costello or Van Halen - though I spend very little time listening to the latter. Roth made that remark at a time when his star was perhaps shinning a bit more bright than Costello's. Both artists had more of a live like there's no tomorrow attitude about them. My intent isn't so much intended as a comparison, but rather to illustrate how ironic the way things have turned out. In those days, Roth was a bit of a high school bully - and let's face it, kids can be mean. We mature, things change. Elvis Costello has his lunch money back now, dig?

Hindsight is always 20/20 and Roth was probably a much bigger star in those days, while Costello had an odd combination of prolific writing and an almost Sex Pistol aura about him - which seemed to suggest his moment of fame would be brief. Let's not even get into the Columbus, Ohio incident, or the ten year ban from SNL - those are every bit as bad a look for Costello as a remark like Roth's was for him and/or his band. Roth's remark bugged me, but at the same time, it was easy to dismiss it. It was only natural for him to appear so much larger than life. Considered smaller and less popular/handsome, Costello kind of had to do what any kid who gets tired of getting picked on does - fight back. While I can't say that I've ever spent the same amount of time listening to Van Halen as I have listening to artists such as Costello that have a bit more substance, I can't deny that Roth and Van Halen made their marks too.

Musically speaking, I like everything about Van Halen - well, perhaps not the Gary Cherone period, but I can't fault them for trying to keep the ship on the water. For a heavy, high energy rock band, VH was awesome - both with Roth and with Sammy Hagar. I love Alex Van Halen's playing - and the fact that VH has been his gig for his entire career. Eddie is a great guitarist. Michael Anthony was a great bassist in VH. Great stuff - even if there's none of it in my collection, because I just don't reach for stuff like that often enough that it's important to have around. I even went to see them in concert - though it was the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge tour. By that stage in their careers, I might have thought a title like that was more than a little late in coming. Kind of seems like it would've been a tittle better suited to either the Sex Pistols or the punk vibe that Costello had in his early work - but that's just it really, Costello or the Pistols would have simply dropped the F bomb without any dancing around trying to be clever. What did you say? You heard me!

Roth and Costello were a bit like the tortoise and the hare fable in those days. Damn near anyone would've said that Roth would easily win the race, or that he already had - no matter how much quicker Costello counted his tunes off in concert compared to his records. Thing is, it wasn't a race. Comparison needn't show up at the party and it only does when one person wants something different than another wants. For the moment there might only be room for one. I don't like to buy into that notion much, but even in a perfect musical world, I can only listen to one at a time. Artistically speaking, Roth may not have aged as gracefully as Costello has. That doesn't change the fact that he made a huge splash in the ocean of rock-n-roll. It's just that the art lasts longer than the artist. Early Van Halen tunes still have the energy they had when they first came out.  If indeed Costello ran a much slower race, he ran at a pace that has (thankfully) allowed him the time to create with much more depth - and it's that depth that make him the kind of artist I listen to and admire much more often. It does more for me, I think more and it moves me more - and in numerous ways.

As much as Bob Dylan's lyrics stand alone for me for the numerous reasons they do, Costello's are not far from Dylan's. Costello has called himself the Scrabble champion of rock-n-roll. It's a bit deeper than that to me, but as long as the intellect is there, it's cool. Loads of great lines, some of them smack you in the head to make their point, some of them are subtle and make you think - provided lyrics aren't taking an inconsequential turn.

It's interesting that wikipedia, gospel of the new millennium, (he typed, hoping the sarcasm dripping from his hands would become obvious to the reader) says that part of the reasons behind Roth and Van Halen splitting up was due to Roth wanting to write songs that were more lighthearted and about partying and sex, Eddie wanted more serious lyrical depth. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not sure VH got any closer to that once Roth was gone. Wait - I am sure they didn't. In part two of this experimental series, I'll touch a bit on some lyrics, some powerful lines, the easy and the perhaps not-so easy and more thought provoking ones. Why? No real reason other than the fact that it's my blog and I can do whatever the hell I want on it. I like it when music makes me think quite a bit - and lately that happens a lot. Peace, good people, peace.

Can't Stop It/Why Would I Want To?

My addiction to expanding my music library continues - it has to really, I don't think I could stop it if I wanted to. I guess I could cave to not having a physical collection of compact discs, MP3s and videos that I find so enjoyable and inspiring - but there are just some things that it feels better to have. A rather large musical library is one of them. Somewhere between the feeling of being in a record store and hearing something other than what I came in to buy and the convenience of MP3s, sits an appetite for different music, different because it doesn't currently reside in my physical collection - and there's enough appeal in it that makes me want it and the times I may choose to listen to it.

I gotta have it. It has to be there and it means something to me. It means enough to look for it with an insatiable need - and that need is almost always accompanied by the desire/need to know at least a little bit more about other songs by the artist. I have nothing against a good hit single but for the fact that such songs are usually chosen by someone else and I don't like the fact that so many other good songs go largely ignored and unnoticed by the majority of people. I guess I just like knowing a bit more and ultimately appreciating a bit more out of an artist. I still find it a bit frustrating that there is so much good music out there that most people will never give a fair chance to - but I've come to terms with it. And I'm willing to share music that I enjoy, but my own enjoyment is not going to be influenced one way or another by someone else's - at the end of the day, my ears can't enjoy it for anyone else.

I suppose if I thought about the small fortune I've spent on recorded music up to this point it might concern me - but here's the thing: it's got to be there....here, wherever I am. It has to be there to blanket my day in whole or in part. It's not the easiest addiction to explain, but for me it's the best one to have. To me, a music collection has to grow and expand and sometimes in ways that are so similar that growth goes unnoticed - to most others. I have a friend in Nashville who says he likes playing drums, loves playing songs. I'm pretty sure his music collection dwarfs mine, and he says that he still feels like he doesn't have much to listen to sometimes. I can relate to that. I like songs, love 'em actually - lots and lots of songs.

Great songs can do any number of things and I'll take any of it, all of it - and as much as I can get my hands and ears on. Every time I think my collection will suffice just the way it is, something finds me - or I find it. From that point it's onward - more, always more and it always means something. In essence, it means enough to have it and be able to hear it whenever and wherever I want....or need to hear it.

There's also a bit of nostalgic value, but that can often be questionable. I don't mean that in a bad way, but I'm a man who sometimes struggles to let go of the past. I remember when The Beatles' Abbey Road came out and my father brought it home. Those were the days of vinyl- no remotes to change or skip songs. Thank God for that. Those were the days of listening and appreciating the body of work that was the album - and there was a flow to it. I guess I just want to know that an artist can create several good songs as opposed to just one or two good ones. Mind you there's nothing wrong with one or two good ones, but it's a bit like only being able to cook one meal well and have most of the other culinary efforts be significantly less enjoyable. How often can one eat the same exact thing? For me, not that often.

Any of the following music has a bit of a nostalgic ring to it: Bob Dylan (early stuff please), Beatles - in particular, Help, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Abbey Road, The Band, The Rolling Stones - Flowers, Aftermath, Their Satanic Majesties Request, Love - Four Sail. This is music that stands out with the most impact from my childhood, and even if only for a brief moment, it takes me back to the living rooms I heard it in. It's basically music that's in my blood - I've had it almost as long as I've had the color of my eyes. Neither get old to me - that music still sounds as good to me as it did then, probably even better. I couldn't shed that skin if I wanted to - and I don't.

My collection, just as Nick Hornby says in his wonderful book, Songbook, will probably never suffice. It will have to keep growing, like some giant, majestic California Redwood tree. That and laughter, are the two things that I can't ever seem to get enough of.

The photo below is of my friend and former coworker's music collection (Thanks Keith!) - which, given how it's loaded with vinyl - (and you know how I feel about vinyl, my ex) is much more visibly appealing than my own heavy on the compact discs....and um, MP3s collection. His remark that he sometimes still can't find anything to listen to is something I can relate to and appreciate. Can you dig it? If so, we should probably talk, because I love to talk about music - almost as much as I love listening to it. Lots of it. Peace, good people.