Rock 'n' Roll with Loose Song Structures

The Batlord · 02-17-2015, 05:41 PM

I love rock music that's been deconstructed. When a band sounds like they're just playing and not just making a song. A lot of post-punk/art rock kinda does this, but with an arty sensibility that tries to "move past" rock (e.g. PIL, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, Suicide, etc), but I really dig the bands that channel that simple, old school rock energy while playing fast and loose with the concept of song structures.

Post some favs.

VU's White Light/White Heat is a great example. A lot of the songs sound like an R&B band just going all out in some bar.

I'd love it if the Stooges had explored it more, but the B-side to Fun House is great in how it slowly deconstructs, culminating in the title track.

Gotta post Flipper's "Sex Bomb". Great energy that's all about having a good time.

Again, thanks to bob. for introducing me to The Jon Spencer Blues explosion. Experimental, but without sounding arty, they play some great, loose, high energy, pure rock 'n' roll. They just sound like they're such a blast playing their **** that they forgot to write songs.

Mondo Bungle · 02-17-2015, 06:01 PM

Is the guitar what gives "Sex Bomb" loose structure? It can't be the single bass line repeated throughout, or the standard drumming, or the sax hook that doesn't change... maybe the sax solo helps? That's basically a pop song through and through.

Unless you meant this

The Batlord · 02-17-2015, 06:06 PM

I'm just gonna quote what I wrote in the What Are you Listening To? thread.

Quote:

If the Sonics and the Kingsmen got together and decided to channel The Stooges' "Funhouse" and VU's "Sister Ray", it might sound something like this. Formless, deconstructed, improvisational rock'n'roll, distilled to it's purest form, but made as a frat rock party anthem rather than art rock. One of the best rock songs ever recorded.

Mondo Bungle · 02-17-2015, 06:09 PM

So it's the guitar

The Batlord · 02-17-2015, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mondo Bungle

So it's the guitar

But none of it really goes anywhere. It just kind of bounces along and I love that.

Mondo Bungle · 02-17-2015, 06:33 PM

Yeah I guess, if you're playing the same bass line, drum pattern, and sax hook nonstop for 8 minutes, it really does go nowhere. But the guitar jamming and sax solo are great.

This has no structure, does that count?

I haven't listened to Karp in a long time and can't recall how "loose" they were, but they're still one of the best bands

The Batlord · 02-17-2015, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mondo Bungle

Yeah I guess, if you're playing the same bass line, drum pattern, and sax hook nonstop for 8 minutes, it really does go nowhere. But the guitar jamming and sax solo are great.

Which is why I compared it to "Fun House", which pretty much does the same thing.

Quote:

This has no structure, does that count?

I haven't listened to Karp in a long time and can't recall how "loose" they were, but they're still one of the best bands

Will give those a listen in a little while. Gotta eat.