It Might Get Loud (but certainly not entertaining or meaningful)

A poorly executed rendition of Take a Load Off Annie ends this thing?  Seriously? Contrast it with the only good part of this movie, the beginning wherein Jack White puts together a nail string “guitar,”  plugs it in and wails with insane amounts of distortion with a slide.  In between, we see a lot of boring imagery pretending to be artsy and textured, find out The Edge is a talentless and self-conscious hack who covers all that up with millions of effects costing millions of dollars, that Jimmy Page is now about as nimble around the fretboard as Bonzo the Chimp, and that Jack White likes pretending that he is way cooler than he is.  I mean, this thing is a mess.  Nothing about songwriting at more than a superficial level, stock film footage of shows I’ve already seen dozens of clips from, and staged “jamming” that I could see better performed at an open mic night anywhere in the Saint Louis area.  If you idolize Page, The Edge, or White, by all means waste your time with this.  If you are a musician, forget this – it’ll make you mad that they are adored, famous, and rich.  If you are neither, you certainly won’t get this film.  What a disappointment.

It Might Get Loud (2009)

Directed by Davis Guggenheim

http://www.sonyclassics.com/itmightgetloud/

Not political, but whatever: New Blink 182 Single.

OK, so I am sick of trying to find political bands worth reviewing.  Therefore,  I am resorting to some commentary about the band I hate to love, Blink 182.  Full disclosure:  I have always loved Travis' creative and interesting drum patterns.  Most songs in Blink's catalog would completely suck without his active fills and smackage (you may already think all their songs suck anyway - go to hell then).   I feel the same way about Tom's vocal tone.  He can't sing worth a crap (just try to listen to any of his live performances:  It's just impossible), but there is something about his tone - perhaps the weird way he enunciates (sort of like a Brit from Sweden who has a slight speech disorder trying to order a hot dog in Finish).  Hoppus has always sucked on bass and his silly little baritone vocals are so laughable, but whatever. 

Their new single, Up All Night, is a messy little cliche of lyrical worthlessness.  This is true of all their songs, sure, but at least their previous sophomoric substantive content was pretty funny.  I mean, Enema of the State is one  of the best album titles ever, eh? You also can't tell me there have been many punk songs with a better title than Dysentery Gary.  Anyway, the new track starts sort of heavy but with annoying vibrato effects that presumably are setting us up for the  main song.  I have always hated long introductions to songs.  I have also always hated effects too.  Just play the notes.  No one cares about your phaser or vibrato pedal. They are not artsy, they are boring.

OK, so the rest of the song continues with some passable guitar riffage any 2nd month guitarist could play, a so-so breakdown, and a very predictable chorus.  Oh, and let's not forget the sort of decent pre-chorus.  You know, like the appetizers at Denny's that get you warmed up for stale and slightly suspicious "entrees." Just like everything on the radio, right?  Anyway, there are a few nice little tricks on this track that any real producer of mainstream music would love.  Drums silent, repeat instrumentation, add snare.  Repeat instrumentation, add double time drums, then change the riff and  repeat the percussion formula over again.  Not bad.  At least it is not the unbearable monotony of Social Distortion type songs.  Hey, Mike Ness is  cool, but when is he going to get a real  drummer?  Better off using a drum machine - at least it doesn't use heroin. And, hey, Blink 182 is not cool but at least they have a real drummer.  That's about all there is.  Oh, I'll be seeing them on tour this August.  How's that for a paradox? Listen to the song here: http://www.blink182.com/upallnight/