Strummer521

That's a very interesting perspective. I have to say I disagree, but it is very interesting.

To be fair though: no I've never seen Don't Look Back

Moon Pix

Its basically the film that established Dylan as being a razor sharp, confrontational artist. Theres footage of him being interviewed by journalists and he totally chews them up and spits them out. He basically takes them on in a way I don't think anybody had before and calls into question the whole fame game and the ridiculousness of it nearly 30 years before Kurt Cobain did.

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There’s a dream that I see, I pray it can be
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Strummer521

I think I've seen that footage in Scorsesee's No Direction Home. He seemed to be more uncomfortable than confrontational to me. I'd like to quote it to see if we're talking about the same thing, but it's been too long so I watched that. I think the guy who started this thread is interested in bands that fall into a subgenre of punk rather than those who might be considered kindred spirits with the great punks. Although in support of your point, he did establish the possibilty for those who didn't have singing talent by traditional standards to create hit records and be accepted as quality musicians. Because of him, voices can have character...thus we get Bjork, Neil Young, Lou Reed etc... I think another point in support of Dylan being some kind of predecessor to punk is that Lou Reed seemed to take such direct inspiration from him, in terms of vivid, yet surreal imagery of the streets in his songs (although his songs were usually more urban-centric than Dylan's) and the idea that lyrics could be spoken, and it was ok to make stylistic choices that jibed with what was generally accepted (Kind of like Dylan's decision to go electric).

Anyway I'd don't think I'd equate Dylan's music with garage rock, since he populated his back-up bands with utter virtuosos of the blues (Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield etc...) Though he was influenced by The British R&B and Blues based bands (many of whom were kind of garage in their own right.) Undoubtedly his arrangements (or lack thereof is more like it) are wildly unique. His guitar and voice forms the canvas and the band fills in the gaps, all the sound swirls together, always in weird keys, bluesy but unconventional and you can make a game out of trying to distinguish between all the instruments as they overlap and weave in and out of each other's path. Amazing stuff and I think I'll never get sick of it. Anyway, I guess overall I can definitely see your point with including Dylan here, and though I'm not totally sure I agree, I don't object to the recommendation because everybody who truly likes music should listen to Dylan.

Moon Pix

Thankyou. When I say about it being garage rock Im talking more about the sound and aethetic of it than the musicianship. Mike Bloomfield was a far more advanced guitar player than any of the guys in the garage bands but I think between that banging drum sound and his bluesy raw guitar sound that the album has its quite similar to the Rolling Stones garage rock songs ("19th Nervous Breakdown", "The Last Time" etc). What you have to remember about garage rock is that it was basically untrained American kids trying to copy Stones and Yardbirds records, like "19th Nervous Breakdown" and "I'm A Man."

I feel that punk rock is an American invention and that it started in the mid '60s with bands like the Count Five and the Sonics. I wouldnt say "you can trace it back to the Yardbirds via influence" cause I think that the Yardbirds and the Stones wrote the British Invasion chapter of the history of rock. There influence is so apparent on some of the American bands of the time that its easy to lump them all in together but I don't think its accurate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB0rEkC6PtM
Heres a great clip from Don't Look Back that encapsulates what I mean. They used a bit of it in No Direction Home. I can certainly understand why a lot of people saw this and thought that Dylan was an ******* (even to this day some people still feel this way) but as I say Dylan was as punk as they come back then and, with that, I feel comes a certain degree of being confrontational.

__________________
There’s a dream that I see, I pray it can be
Look 'cross the land, shake this land - "Maybe Not", C. Marshall

Strummer521

Thanks...That was cool. Though I really don't think Dylan is saying much of substance. hIt seems like he's often talking just to talk...but he's so agressive he still overpowers the journalist whose job it is to talk to people.

There's a tape out there of Paul Nelson arguing with Dylan earlier on, saying he should move away from the political songs, and Dylan saying: No, everything has to be political. Obviously Nelson was right since Dylan did give up folk to make some wildly brilliant rock & roll records. But Dylan won the arugment at the time just because his personality was so forceful.

Strummer521

Speaking of great interviews that embody the punk spirit...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqxcgPPdYwo

Iggy Pop on a Canadian Talk Show

"What I do on stage has utterly no purpose."

A clip from this plays during the song by Mogwai called "Punk Rock" and its even cooler there, with the music behind it.

Moon Pix

That Iggy interview is one of the greatest interviews ever. Ive seen it a few times and Im always impressed with how respectful Iggy is even when putting the guy straight.

I just wish the picture wasnt so blurry.

__________________
There’s a dream that I see, I pray it can be
Look 'cross the land, shake this land - "Maybe Not", C. Marshall

tjtech12

yeah, i think anyone who makes a stand against the cookie-cutter, conformist lifestyle is cool. but i started this profile more like: "i'm getting into this band and i need to know what CD to get first" "or, i already have 1 or 2, could you recommend more" or "i like this artist, is there anything similar, and if so could you recommend a CD" yeah. i'm looking into Death by Stereo and i was wondering if anybody had any suggestions?

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alive and well, i live to be alive, i live to always strive for something more.

cardboard adolescent

Here's my suggestion: listen to bands who were playing when punk was still something original and fresh.

Moon Pix

For the most punk rock is nothing but a cookie cutter conformist style of music. Whats more conformist than just playing fast and loud like everybody else?

__________________
There’s a dream that I see, I pray it can be
Look 'cross the land, shake this land - "Maybe Not", C. Marshall