I want to like a rock band

1. The Libertines*
and then there's the rest

2. Sleater-Kinney
3. Deerhoof
4. Lightning Bold
5. The Thermals
(6. The Hold Steady -- okay I've only heard one song... but LIFTER FUCKING PULLER!!)

*okay I'm exaggerating, but they're actually quite good

Saying a little about each would be appropriate, I guess.

The Libertines are a British rock band that stand out from the other bands I listen to because they're so British and they're so rock. I think they sound like the Clash only they're much catchier. People say they sound like other bands but I don't know any of those.

Sleater-Kinney always make great records because they're the best rock band of all time. They were a punk band but I don't think they are anymore. Some people find her voice annoying.

Some people wouldn't consider Lightning BolT a rock band but they rock really hard. Imagine the sound of rocking multiplied by rock to the rockth power.

The Thermals are very catchy but they get kinda samey over the course of the record. Download "I Know the Pattern" and "No Culture Icons".

If you've never heard Lifter Puller you should do so immediately. The Hold Steady is Craig from Lifter Puller's new band. I can't wait.

You want a band that can play? Two syllables for ya: Hella!

I forgot the Ratpure too!

x-post Hella are pretty good too!

The Thermals record sounds interesting.

I've heard some Lifter Puller, I should definitely hear more...speaking of mpls bands, is Twelve Rods any good? I know Dave King from Happy Apple/Bad Plus plays drums on some of their albums.

Also, the Sex Pistols were a pretty good rock band IMO. or Led Zeppelin.

Try the first Calla record or their remix album. Perfect blends of moody Gothic-western pop coupled with found-sound glitch. Kinda like the Cure with balls and a laptop. Avoid their most recent disc, Televise.

Try Hella's Hold Your Horse Is or Total Bugs Bunny on Wild Bass. So rhythmless its rhythmic, heavily melodic and the best drumming you'll ever hear.

Try Don Caballero's American Don -- slow jam R&B only not R&B and not particularly slow and made by wonky white dudes who loooooooove their pedals. Gorgeous!

How about: The Beatles, James Brown, Can, Captain Beefheart, Bob Dylan, Flaming Lips, Jimi Hendrix, Joy Division, New Order, The Pixies, Ramones, Sonic Youth, Velvet Underground, Frank Zappa or Yes?

For something more 60s garage rock oriented, try the late 2002 release from Pittsburgh's Cynics, "Living Is The Best Revenge." Aging entrepreurs Gregg Kostelich and Michael Kastelic (who founded and ran Get Hip! records in the 1980s; Kostelich still runs the label) got together for the first time in eight years to release what may be the best album of their career (although votes will be counted for 1989's "Rock 'N' Roll").

What does "who can play" mean? Does it matter?

I also forgot to mention that the only band who's really satisfied my rock urge in the last year is Spoon.

What does "who can play" mean? Does it matter?

I'm not talking about people busting their chops all over the place, but with Spoon for example, it's clear that they're great musicians who are playing exactly what they want to play, and grooving the fuck out of it. Let's not get into ye olde debate and start listing a million great bands who are not technically good at their instruments, I'm just saying I'm more likely to be interested in what they are doing if they're good musicians.

Also, DO get the new Rancid, by all means. Some of it actually kinda reminds me of Kill the Moonlight, now that I think about it.

How exceedingly rockist of you, ha ha.

(but now I'm in another metal band so the story has a happy ending hurrah!)

1. the ramones... i don't understand why, but when "blitzkreig bop" plays my shoulders are pinched, my body raises of the ground, and all my blank bone connected to my blank bone parts wanna explode in every degre of freedom they have available.

2. queen "bohemian rhapsody"..... because "they can play"... and goddam if you don't bang your head when the song rocks out you're either dead or ... or something. something awful. have that looked at.

3. billy idol "dancing with myself"... totally wanky, but hell, what's rock without wank eh?

4. a song by black dice i only know as untitled... it sounds a lot like the track 1 description i wrote, not the song, but painful. it 9 levels of right.

5. black sabbath "war pigs"... forget the batty geriatrics, ozzy and co. could throw down.

6. led zeppelin ..."black dog" or "immigrant song"... eh...it's hard to narrow down a personal favorite stand out here. there's a couple others that all sit on this butte of monstrosity.

7. dillinger escape plan "43% burnt"... in fucking sane.

8. devo "uncontrollable urge" "i say yeeah!"

9. red hot chili peppers "catholic school girls" ... cause dude, those pleated skirts make an old man weep!

10. link wray "rumble"... for pure cool.

11. pavement "baptiss blacktick"... yiyiyiyiy!

12. tina t. "proud mary"... whoo!

m.

M, I've heard (and like) all of those except for the Black Dice, Link Wray, and Pavement (which I have not heard but may like).

Hopefully I'll get to pick up or download a few things this weekend, esp. Hella, The Paybacks, Lifter Puller, and Rancid.

I'd really like to hear the earlier albums though, are they more raw/less restrained?