I love these hot takes and how you voted with your heart. In any event, your takes are very solidly substantiated, so you've given way more than "just" your subjective appreciation (which would be more than okay because we music fans shouldn't always have to explain the way we feel, but it's a smart move especially when you suspect a flurry of letters from Place of Pedantry 🤣).
I didn't know Fugazi. I'd be lying if I said I didn't know McCartney (or Costello), but after Beatles and maybe Wings, his work wasn't the same for me. A quick listen to the Fugazi record tells me I'd need a huge road map for that part of town, but I'll say this: a contrarian artist or band going against the grain and putting their money where their mouth is? That's guaranteed to get my vote too. Always. 😉
I'll have to check out 13 Songs, I'm not familiar with that one. Zen Arcade was about the only Fugazi record I had access to back in my punk days.
Gotta say though, imo, McCartney's solo output has always been among the weakest of the Beatles. I don't know if he just started thinking "Well, I'm a Beatle, they'll eat it up no matter what" or just that he really needs someone to edit him but either way, I often find more to like about even some of Ringo's stuff than Paul's. So while I've never heard that record, I can only imagine that your critique is spot on based on my prior experience with his solo catalogue.
I always wonder why George Harrison wasn't the one that went on to (relatively) greater success. I think you could make a pretty easy argument that his solo work is better comparatively.
I'd argue he did actually. I remember seeing videos for his songs on MTV, something I don't remember about anything McCartney did (maybe I missed them though if they were around) so he was at least somewhat relevant still even into the 80s and 90s. Depending on what we're talking about, I might argue he had the best poat-Beatles output of any of them.
Fugazi was one of those bands I always felt like I should like, and I do like a few of their songs, but ever since I was a teenager there was something about DC punks that rubbed me the wrong way. It wasn't until I was well into adulthood that I started to figure out why that was, but even now I don't think I could put it into words that make sense†. That said, there are people in the music biz I never had a good gut feeling about... and it turns out that all of them had connections to DC! [a topic for a future article... but isn't done cooking yet].
----------
† There are hints of it in my Peter Ivers article... why did they need to bring in DC punks for SNL in NYC?
Fugazi would have my vote too, for the massive influence on their times. The music, the style, the way of life. Flowers was a good McCartney record for its time, but historically irrelevant. It was good product, as they said in the biz.
Hard agree about Fugazi. They changed the way my brain interpreted the world.
13 Songs is one of those albums that makes me think (temporarily, usually) that all other music is a lie.
That’s a great way to frame it!
I love these hot takes and how you voted with your heart. In any event, your takes are very solidly substantiated, so you've given way more than "just" your subjective appreciation (which would be more than okay because we music fans shouldn't always have to explain the way we feel, but it's a smart move especially when you suspect a flurry of letters from Place of Pedantry 🤣).
I didn't know Fugazi. I'd be lying if I said I didn't know McCartney (or Costello), but after Beatles and maybe Wings, his work wasn't the same for me. A quick listen to the Fugazi record tells me I'd need a huge road map for that part of town, but I'll say this: a contrarian artist or band going against the grain and putting their money where their mouth is? That's guaranteed to get my vote too. Always. 😉
Right on! Their stance surely costs them a ton of money--and it's easy to cheer that on from the sidelines--but man, did it matter to all of us.
I'll have to check out 13 Songs, I'm not familiar with that one. Zen Arcade was about the only Fugazi record I had access to back in my punk days.
Gotta say though, imo, McCartney's solo output has always been among the weakest of the Beatles. I don't know if he just started thinking "Well, I'm a Beatle, they'll eat it up no matter what" or just that he really needs someone to edit him but either way, I often find more to like about even some of Ringo's stuff than Paul's. So while I've never heard that record, I can only imagine that your critique is spot on based on my prior experience with his solo catalogue.
I always wonder why George Harrison wasn't the one that went on to (relatively) greater success. I think you could make a pretty easy argument that his solo work is better comparatively.
I'd argue he did actually. I remember seeing videos for his songs on MTV, something I don't remember about anything McCartney did (maybe I missed them though if they were around) so he was at least somewhat relevant still even into the 80s and 90s. Depending on what we're talking about, I might argue he had the best poat-Beatles output of any of them.
Tug of War was in the early 80’s and was outstanding. But I have to agree the decade was pretty weak for Paul.
Fugazi was one of those bands I always felt like I should like, and I do like a few of their songs, but ever since I was a teenager there was something about DC punks that rubbed me the wrong way. It wasn't until I was well into adulthood that I started to figure out why that was, but even now I don't think I could put it into words that make sense†. That said, there are people in the music biz I never had a good gut feeling about... and it turns out that all of them had connections to DC! [a topic for a future article... but isn't done cooking yet].
----------
† There are hints of it in my Peter Ivers article... why did they need to bring in DC punks for SNL in NYC?
Fugazi would have my vote too, for the massive influence on their times. The music, the style, the way of life. Flowers was a good McCartney record for its time, but historically irrelevant. It was good product, as they said in the biz.
That’s a great (and diplomatic) way to put it!
Fugazi!
Yes!
Great band, Fugazi. Fantastic album, 13 Songs. For the first time in ? 20 years? I am Listening again because of your post. 😃Thank you!
Maybe I’ll even give the Paul McCartney album a try, never was a fan so I don’t know much of the music.
Right on! I’d be curious to hear your thoughts if you do wind up playing the McCartney record.