There are a lot of things that I’m proud to know nothing about: Jail. The way a corset feels. Genital herpes.
But……there’s a whole set of things I’m ashamed I don’t know anything about: Macro OR microeconomics. The Breakfast Club, Raging Bull and Gone With the Wind. And a WHOLE lot of bands that I’ve never listened to or learned much about.
When you grow up in a small Kentucky town, you don’t always have a diverse library of musical exposure. I remember growing up listening mostly to “Cruisin’ Classics” that my parents purchased, a series of mix tapes from the 50s through 80s sold by Shell stations. Yes, most of my elementary school musical education was gas station music. When I got to middle school and high school, I somehow still didn’t discover that other music existed until the Columbia House Music Club saved me from the abyss and I started to find a whole world of music was out there (that you could get 12 CDs for just 1 cent, call today!!).
Regardless, a whole set of influential / groundbreaking / notable bands passed me by. So, to remedy my musical sins, here’s a top 5 of bands I pledge to study. After all, it’s my duty as a musician…
The Smiths
Look how cool they look! Maybe I just missed them because they named themselves The Smiths (intentially naming themselves blandly, I know). All I know is that one fact and that Morrissey exists.
The Pixies
I know very little about them….haha, very little, get it? Because they’re the Pixies?
This band is one I feel extremely guilty about, as they seem to be kind of altrock Moseses, leading the Chosen People into brand new musical territory.
Bob Dylan
So……I’ll admit, I could never get past the voice. Dylan’s growl just never did it for me. But I think I have to suck it up and deal and learn to appreciate. I mean, he’s Bob freaking Dylan.
Daft Punk
When Kanye sampled Daft Punk for “Stronger”, there was a backlash of hipster outrage like none other. I didn’t have any rage to out, though, because I had never ever heard this band ever existed.
How did I miss them??? They’re sleek robots in track suits who are also composing the soundtrack to the new Tron movie!! I’m ashamed.
Leonard Cohen
I really hate it when people only know the covered version of a song and not the original….it’s like only knowing the Jeff Buckley version of “Hallelujah” and not the Leonard Cohen version….oh wait, that’s me.
Apparently that’s not all I’m missing with Mr. Cohen, either; aficionados have said he’s amazing, especially live…
I know I’m not alone in having holes in my musical vocabulary…anybody else want to share?
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