I hereby propose a new category for Splat Macumba titled, Missed the Boat. Here’s where we will discuss artists and bands we should love but just don’t. Friends love them. Critics love them. Hell, even your Mama loves them. But you don’t.
And you don’t know why. My first entry – St. Jimi Hendrix.
There’s absolutely no reason I shouldn’t like Jimi. He’s one of the most innovative, creative, and best musicians ever to walk the Earth. His talent isn’t debatable. On top of that, he was pretty goddamned cool. He was flashy but never pretentious. A showman but never over the top. Everything he did turned to gold.
He loved Bob Dylan and from what I understand, carried a notebook full of Dylan lyrics around with him at all times. Guess what? I love Bob Dylan as well.
But alas, I don’t love Jimi.
Let me say this, though. Everytime I see video of him performing, I’m in awe. I can’t look away. Everything he does is amazing and he sounds amazing. It’s when I try to just listen to his records that I have trouble. I need that visual component. I just get bored.
That’s not to say I don’t like particular songs. “Bold as Love” sounds great. “If Six was Nine” or whatever it’s called is badass. “Crosstown Traffic” is pretty awesome.
I guess it’s just that I don’t want to go back continuously and rediscover his stuff. I just don’t love him like 99% of the world does.
I missed the boat. Please comment and help me (perhaps) see the light.
Great idea for a category. It’s funny because I actually have the reverse problem with Jimi. I dig his records but he bores me to death live. I mean it’s cool for one song or two, but after that… not so much. The song you need to check out, though, if Voodo Chile–the 15 minute version with Steve Winwood on keyboard. That’s the sh*t.
Voodoo Chile – check. I’ll check out on my commute today and report back.
I wouldn’t necessarily say I “missed the boat” with Jimi, but got on then decided to jump off. Like Jim said (and everyone in the galaxy), Jimi is obviously one of the greatest guitarists ever and has put out some amazing tracks, but some of it gets a little boring and repititious in my opinion. But that does not mean I don’t like his music. Alright, I think I just confused the hell out of myself. But speaking of boring and repetitious, that leads me to my “missed the boat” artist.
Bob Marley.
Again, I like his music. It can be unbelievably relaxing. Perfect music to put your feet up, sit back, enjoy a beer, and, if you’re near one, look over the ocean and watch the waves crash. But I don’t love his music. And the number one reason for this is because seemingly every song of his starts off exactly the same. Unfortunately I can’t place audio proof of this in this entry, but if you’ve heard “Jammin’”, “Is This Love,” “Buffalo Soldier” or, well, ANY of his other songs, there’s a 97% chance it starts off with a two- to three-second bongo-esque solo (high probability of a simultaneous bong solo as well). Could Marley and the Wailers really not come up with more ways to begin their songs?
Overall, I like the Wailers’ music but the fact that they couldn’t be more creative in the first few seconds of every one of their songs prevents me from loving the band. And because of that, I missed the boat.
Steve H.,
You need to hear the early, pre-Island Records recordings of Bob and the Wailers. Amazing stuff and, thanks to their producer, Lee Perry, all very creative and unusual.
Scott,
Thanks, I’ll definitely check out the earlier records.
The only Hendrix I repeatedly go back and listen to over and over is Voodoo Chile. Mitch Mitchell is awesome.