Music Banter - View Single Post - John Cale

4ZZZ · 11-10-2008, 11:12 PM

So after this extensive review of Cales discography just where does your reviewer stand as to his place in the music world since his first appearance in the 60's? First as is obvious I am a big fan. My thinking could be considered biased but I would like to think not. I have not reviewed the first 2 VU albums as there are already very good reviews on this Album Review Board that are worth the VU/Cale/Reed novice looking up. I consider them both masterpieces with a slight feeling that I would have The Velvet Underground and Nico over White Light/ White Heat. Though commercially unsuccessful at the time of their release both, with time, they have become two of the most influential albums in modern music. Of all the artistes that I have listened to over the years it is only Dylan that I can think of that has had a more profound influence on what I have heard in contemporary rock music and its various derivatives. Even today when I listen to some releases, this years Songs In A and E by Spiritualized for example, I hear some Cale VU influences. Though Lou Reed was the major songwriter, and in the end the leading force, it would, in my opinion, be disappointing for anyone to not consider the utmost importance of Cales contribution in the making of those 2 seminal albums.

Cale was a child prodigy and it has been reported that he had composed his first piece at High School. He moved from Wales to study with minimalist composers in 1963 but hooked up with Reed and came into rock. He plays bass, guitar, various keyboards and viola. He is also a noted producer. Horses by Patti Smith or The Stooges anyone?
When listening to the first 2 VU albums the Viola drone and pounding keys add a sense of minimalist adventure and experimentalism to the music that was a rare commodity in rock of the time. What I have found profoundly odd about his solo work, thus consequently attractive, is the odd mix of standard composition in pop that at times takes in avant-garde changes that in the end would not be attractive to those that are more, shall we say, mainstream in listening but at times far too mainstream for those that, shall we say, are dismissive of the more friendly melodic song. Be that as it may he can still put together some amazingly left field albums when he has the inclination. Music For A New Society comes instantly to mind. His last couple of albums, Hobo Sapiens and Black Acetate, are as good as anything that he has produced outside of VU and I would suggest he has shown a few younger bands, that are more popular than they should be in comparison, a thing or two in song composition and album construction. But he is a bloke in his mid 60's now and the world is for the young even if older music listeners like me may not understand that.

JayJamJah asked as to how I felt about the solo career of Cale when compared to Reed. I have a strange musical relationship with Reed. I consider him an at times brilliant songwriter. The VU albums, even the ones without Cale stand the test of time and are brilliant. As a young man I first heard Reed via Walk On The Wild Side and then Transformer. I had a few of his early albums and generally liked them but I had the misfortune to see him live at Brisbane's Festival Hall in 1977 and he had the tough luck to follow the night after a spellbinding live performance by Osibisa and he was tame and lame in comparison. I did not look into his solo material again until a couple of years back. This was unfair in hindsight but at 17 one is prone to be this intransigent. As of late I have been replaying his music and have gained a new appreciation. In fact I am thinking of giving him the same treatment as Cale if anyone's interested. But in answer to the question as to where they stand I am a Cale fan first and foremost but it would be wrong of me to suggest that Reed has not had a bigger impact as a solo artist. Reed can fill a large hall and appear as a headliner at Festivals etc where as Cale is unable to follow that. Cale being a bit more diverse in style and delivery has not the impact that Reeds best work, Say Transformer and Coney Island Baby that were focused rock albums, have had. I have noticed that Reed has become more experimental with age and as reviewed I rate Songs For Drella as an excellent album. I noticed that Reed has even produced an ambient album. That should make interesting listening.

For those that have not heard or read of VU's impact I recommend a crash course and after an appreciation is gained take time to listen to some Cale as he is a unique musician who is worth giving time to. If I was to recommend some of his albums I would suggest The Island Years compilation, the highly avant garde Music For A new Society, Wrong Way Up and one of the two recent releases, either Hobo sapiens of Black Acetate. If he performs live in your town go just out of curiosity as you will be seeing one of the most influential artistes in music ever.

I hope that this has not been too long and boring but if it has I doubt anyone go this far

.

11-10-2008, 11:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
4ZZZ Forever young Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Brisbane Posts: 608	So after this extensive review of Cales discography just where does your reviewer stand as to his place in the music world since his first appearance in the 60's? First as is obvious I am a big fan. My thinking could be considered biased but I would like to think not. I have not reviewed the first 2 VU albums as there are already very good reviews on this Album Review Board that are worth the VU/Cale/Reed novice looking up. I consider them both masterpieces with a slight feeling that I would have The Velvet Underground and Nico over White Light/ White Heat. Though commercially unsuccessful at the time of their release both, with time, they have become two of the most influential albums in modern music. Of all the artistes that I have listened to over the years it is only Dylan that I can think of that has had a more profound influence on what I have heard in contemporary rock music and its various derivatives. Even today when I listen to some releases, this years Songs In A and E by Spiritualized for example, I hear some Cale VU influences. Though Lou Reed was the major songwriter, and in the end the leading force, it would, in my opinion, be disappointing for anyone to not consider the utmost importance of Cales contribution in the making of those 2 seminal albums. Cale was a child prodigy and it has been reported that he had composed his first piece at High School. He moved from Wales to study with minimalist composers in 1963 but hooked up with Reed and came into rock. He plays bass, guitar, various keyboards and viola. He is also a noted producer. Horses by Patti Smith or The Stooges anyone? When listening to the first 2 VU albums the Viola drone and pounding keys add a sense of minimalist adventure and experimentalism to the music that was a rare commodity in rock of the time. What I have found profoundly odd about his solo work, thus consequently attractive, is the odd mix of standard composition in pop that at times takes in avant-garde changes that in the end would not be attractive to those that are more, shall we say, mainstream in listening but at times far too mainstream for those that, shall we say, are dismissive of the more friendly melodic song. Be that as it may he can still put together some amazingly left field albums when he has the inclination. Music For A New Society comes instantly to mind. His last couple of albums, Hobo Sapiens and Black Acetate, are as good as anything that he has produced outside of VU and I would suggest he has shown a few younger bands, that are more popular than they should be in comparison, a thing or two in song composition and album construction. But he is a bloke in his mid 60's now and the world is for the young even if older music listeners like me may not understand that. JayJamJah asked as to how I felt about the solo career of Cale when compared to Reed. I have a strange musical relationship with Reed. I consider him an at times brilliant songwriter. The VU albums, even the ones without Cale stand the test of time and are brilliant. As a young man I first heard Reed via Walk On The Wild Side and then Transformer. I had a few of his early albums and generally liked them but I had the misfortune to see him live at Brisbane's Festival Hall in 1977 and he had the tough luck to follow the night after a spellbinding live performance by Osibisa and he was tame and lame in comparison. I did not look into his solo material again until a couple of years back. This was unfair in hindsight but at 17 one is prone to be this intransigent. As of late I have been replaying his music and have gained a new appreciation. In fact I am thinking of giving him the same treatment as Cale if anyone's interested. But in answer to the question as to where they stand I am a Cale fan first and foremost but it would be wrong of me to suggest that Reed has not had a bigger impact as a solo artist. Reed can fill a large hall and appear as a headliner at Festivals etc where as Cale is unable to follow that. Cale being a bit more diverse in style and delivery has not the impact that Reeds best work, Say Transformer and Coney Island Baby that were focused rock albums, have had. I have noticed that Reed has become more experimental with age and as reviewed I rate Songs For Drella as an excellent album. I noticed that Reed has even produced an ambient album. That should make interesting listening. For those that have not heard or read of VU's impact I recommend a crash course and after an appreciation is gained take time to listen to some Cale as he is a unique musician who is worth giving time to. If I was to recommend some of his albums I would suggest The Island Years compilation, the highly avant garde Music For A new Society, Wrong Way Up and one of the two recent releases, either Hobo sapiens of Black Acetate. If he performs live in your town go just out of curiosity as you will be seeing one of the most influential artistes in music ever. I hope that this has not been too long and boring but if it has I doubt anyone go this far.