New Jersey review: They say that to really free the body, you've gotta free the mind

Captain Walrus · #31 05-14-2007, 01:26 AM

Seriously, you're not winding me up are you?

Here's the Spark notes version of the Wild Is The Wind review for you ... I'll write the proper review right after

Wild Is The Wind (extremely basic version) - I like the guitars. I like the way that the guitar at the beginning contrasts with the guitar solo. I like that it sounds a bit dark

Tough Talk · #32 05-14-2007, 01:40 AM

You know, I don't think my fellow countryman is kidding in his posts because I was pretty much like Suojelusperkele in my teens. I certainly did not register bass lines or guitar patterns in any conscious manner and could not have picked Bon Jovi songs apart even in the most basic manner. I could only say that I liked something but to elaborate on it? Nah.

I really only discovered music "properly" once I started to listen to progressive rock around three years ago and now I am indeed able to enjoy even Bon Jovi songs on an entirely different level than in the 80s -no matter how big a fan I was of the band back then.

Anyway, looking forward to your WITW review. It is a real pearl on NJ for sure!

Bleeding Purist · #33 05-14-2007, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suojelusperkele

Do you play some instrument, or maybe ten instruments? I don't know how the **** do you notice this much shit from the songs. I mean these layers, cymbal fills, synthesizer patterns, bass lines and whatnot you're talking about... where do you get this stuff?? I have never heard any bass line in any song, let alone could compare the bass lines of Born To Be My Baby and Livin' On A Prayer, and probably the only song where I've ever noticed the guitar riff is Hey God because there the riff is so out in the open that you can't possible ignore it. Are you all some ****ing music wizards and gurus or am I deaf?!

In any case, these reviews are nice but I think you spend too much time describing what happens in the songs and the review of the entire album is too long. You don't have to describe every note (tho I don't even know what the hell is a note) that is played on the album in order to make a good review, you just need to sum up the album in a clever and witty way. But it's still interesting to read these, if only to find out about things I've never known anything about.

I am not sure why you take issue with the way The Walrus has been reviewing the albums other than you may feel a bit intimidated. Simply enjoy his review style. I don't want witty reviews from him either. He breaks the songs down in a way that allows all of us to re-experience them...something I used to do myself on the board on a smaller scale...I salute him for doing such a suberb job! It's great to see someone else also thinks, for example, that Blood on Blood starts off as a mess that comes together in unision....which I believe was precisely the point the band had in mind for the song. He describes the songs in a way that makes me do a double take and pay attention to details I may have taken for granted....particularly this album since I was never as much of a fan of it as most here are.

The Walrus, I've been meaning to tell you I admire the work you have put into writing these reviews. Don't change a damn thing!

Captain Walrus · #34 05-14-2007, 02:13 AM

Woah, it seems like I've got a bit of pressure riding on this review then? Well here we are, hope you all enjoy!

Wild Is The Wind – There’s not many songs without music videos or that I haven’t seen performed live that make me get as clear a picture in my head as the lone solo guitar that opens this song does. With no other instruments, and just an echo effect to complement it; I can clearly see a stage in total darkness, with just a spotlight on Richie playing this beautiful introductory piece of music. It sets the tone for a song that is so gripping precisely because of its use of the instrumentation and lyrics to create contrasting moods. For the introduction of the song proper and the verses: the relaxed pace; dense strings; classical guitar tone; lazy bass; hushed vocals; and drum pattern which combine an urgent ticking with less frequent but infinitely more pounding hits; combine to create a dark-toned mood, claustrophobic, indicating being trapped in a hopeless relationship. The frantic buzzing guitars and building drums of the pre-chorus indicate a change in the air, just waiting to happen. The chorus, with its more typically Bon Jovi slashing guitars, bluesy licks and anthemic vocal hook suggest the protagonist breaking loose from his chains. And the screaming guitar solo, both featured at the normal 2/3 point, and repeated as the outro? Absolute, unrestrained, soaring freedom; with Jon’s contributions to the outro (“Wild, wild, wild, wild is the wind”, and “I’ve gotta run / just like the wind / I’ve got ride / just like the wind…”) just adding to the utter joyful rush of bliss. For a song to capture so many emotions in five minutes, and put such images in the head so effectively, is nothing short of brilliance.

5/5

Captain Walrus · #35 05-14-2007, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tough Talk

You know, I don't think my fellow countryman is kidding in his posts because I was pretty much like Suojelusperkele in my teens. I certainly did not register bass lines or guitar patterns in any conscious manner and could not have picked Bon Jovi songs apart even in the most basic manner. I could only say that I liked something but to elaborate on it? Nah.

I really only discovered music "properly" once I started to listen to progressive rock around three years ago and now I am indeed able to enjoy even Bon Jovi songs on an entirely different level than in the 80s -no matter how big a fan I was of the band back then.

Anyway, looking forward to your WITW review. It is a real pearl on NJ for sure!

Admittedly yeah, I used to be pretty much like that as well, although not quite to the degree of refusing point blank to hear riffs unless they're shoved right in my face. The only reason I'm really taking such issue with this is because, they way the guy wrote it was almost like he was accusing me of pretending to hear things that aren't there. Also cos I'm trying to get him to open his mind a bit

Captain Walrus · #36 05-14-2007, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleeding Purist

I am not sure why you take issue with the way The Walrus has been reviewing the albums other than you may feel a bit intimidated. Simply enjoy his review style. I don't want witty reviews from him either. He breaks the songs down in a way that allows all of us to re-experience them...something I used to do myself on the board on a smaller scale...I salute him for doing such a suberb job! It's great to see someone else also thinks, for example, that Blood on Blood starts off as a mess that comes together in unision....which I believe was precisely the point the band had in mind for the song. He describes the songs in a way that makes me do a double take and pay attention to details I may have taken for granted....particularly this album since I was never as much of a fan of it as most here are.

The Walrus, I've been meaning to tell you I admire the work you have put into writing these reviews. Don't change a damn thing!

Thanks a lot man, it actually does mean a lot to me that you're enjoying these reviews ... I've enjoyed reading a hell of a lot of the stuff you've written in the past, so I'm glad I can do something even approaching the same!

Alphavictim · #37 05-14-2007, 02:39 AM

I actually think it's a bit weak that the "normal" and the outro solo of WITW are exactly the same or at least start of exactly the same. A more jam-like improvisation over the fading chorus would've been cooler, cause I just LOVE that stuff! Soloing over the chorus, singing additional background vocals, just making the whole affair more pompous, bombastic and epic than it already is... Yay!

DevilsSon · #38 05-14-2007, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Walrus

Lay Your Hands On Me – It’s practically impossible to ignore that introduction. Fading in with an absolutely cavernous, stadium sized repeating drum pattern; and texturing it with layers upon layers of instruments as it progresses: chucking in a rumbling synthesized bass; screeching electric guitars; drum and cymbal fills; whooshing sound effects; a synthesized organ; and repeated shouts of “Hey!”. Finally, on top of this atmospheric build up, we have Jon quietly speaking the immortal opening line “They say that to really free the body / You’ve gotta free the mind / So come on, check this out”, promising that the album which is just beginning is going to be truly special.
One last shout of “Hey”, and the instruments all disappear leaving just a synthesized organ and a cymbal pattern. Then, when the vocals come in, for a moment it’s all a bit confusing … for a few seconds, it sounds like a gospel song, with Jon the preacher leading a choir. And then, with a shout of “Come on!” the humongous (and spectacular, one of Richie’s finest) guitar riff and drums crash in, and you realise that what you’re listening to is definitely a hard rock song. But with elements of gospel. And it is utter genius. Jon takes the role of a rock-n-roll preacher, telling his disciples they can be set free if they only “lay your hands on me”. While Dave’s organ keeps the gospel feel, Richie surpasses himself: throwing out riffs and licks all over the place; while being content to limit himself to just chords for the chorus in order not to detract from the vocals and organ. Following a rhythmic and unwinding guitar solo, the instruments are one again stripped back to just the organ, cymbals and bass; and as the drums and guitar are slowly layered on again; Jon conducts his sermon, urging a crowd rendition of the chorus. An explosive opening track, and in my opinion one of the very definitions of hard rock. The original Hard Rock Hallelujah.

5/5

WOW! Amazing review. Made the hair on my arms go up. I ignored this thread for a long time simply because I usually feel tempted to write a lengthy reply and these days I simply don't have the time to. Now tomorrow I have a ****ed up exam and I still have to go trough a few dozen pages although it's almost 3 in the morning...perfect time for procrastination

. In any case...you described the song perfectly! There's not much to be added. Maybe one thing, you could've mentioned the "I can hear the Beatles sing" line before the songs enters it's grand finale. For whatever reason that line gives me shivers.

"The original hard rock hallelujah" - absolutely! It's a magnificent opener, one of my all time favorite Bon Jovi songs. "I've been to school, but baby, I've been the teacher" - hope that helps tomorrow

SuperCoolAl · #39 05-14-2007, 12:41 PM

Love the reviews. To that guy- I'm 17 and studied music up until 16, but I don't think I'd need to know what I do to know what a guitar riff or a bass line is. And a note, well it's making a certain pitch at a certain time. Like push one of those keys on a keyboard. There, you just made a note. A chord is a set of pitches played at the same time. Push more than one key on a keyboard at the same time, or generally strum a guitar, that's a chord, they can be put in sequences that fit together and sound nice. 'Layers' is where the various instruments come in or go away one after the other. A bass line is a general repeating pattern that the bass may play. A 'fill' of whatever kind is usually where something different is played to transition between sections of a song, e.g. from verse to chorus.

I don't get why some people object to reusing of good ideas from previous songs. In Bon Jovi's massive catalogue they simply can't make every little thing about every song different. Sure there's some points where they have reused too much from the same song *cough* *It's My Life* *clones* *cough*, but if it's the case of a similar bass line like in BTBMB then I'm OK with that. I never noticed that until you mentioned it actually. Reusing isn't going to go away- if you listen to the excerpt of Summertime it's clear it uses the same guitar riff as Who Says You Can't Go Home, but in a rather different way, so I'm happy with that.

Captain Walrus · #40 05-15-2007, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suojelusperkele

I am four years old. Is a piano something that you eat?

No seriously I'm not kidding. I listen to music often and properly but I just don't "understand" it because I don't know anything about instruments. I can tell what music I like and don't like but no way in hell can I describe someone's guitar playing. Okay I listened to Prayer and Hands and could spot the bass line and the guitar riff, they were pretty easy actually. I'd have a few questions if someone can answer: what exactly makes a guitar riff a guitar riff? All sounds that you produce with an electric guitar aren't guitar riffs, are they? If I hear some electric guitar how do I know is it a riff or not. Also even if I hear a bass line in a song, how do I know if it's a "good" bass line or a "bad" bass line? (Like someone was praising Homebound Train's bass line.) I mean just hearing the bass doesn't really tell me anything.

A riff is pretty much a repeating pattern. I don't think it's 100% set in stone as to what's a riff and what's just stringing some chords together though

As for the bass thing .... well, it's pretty much down to whether you like the sound of it or not. Generally, if its strong, or got a good rhythm, or is danceable I'll quite like it

Tony Iommi, the guitarist from Black Sabbath, says that a good riff (and I suppose you can include bass lines too) are ones that would make good ring tones on mobile phones.

I tell you why else a lot of us probably know about this sort of thing despite never having studied it is that we pick it up from hanging around this board. I've been checking it practically every day for a little over 5 years now ... I'm bound to have picked something up. Also, I've read various magazine or internet articles for each songs, and I steal some of my descriptions from there. And I'll admit, when writing these reviews, I'm often at a loss to try and describe something, so I'll go look it up on Wikipedia or something ... writing that Wild Is The Wind review, I wasn't sure if the guitar tone could be described as "flamenco-like", so I went and watched a couple videos on Youtube of flamenco guitarists performing. So, I guess my point is ... no worries if you don't know what I'm on about just yet, you'll pick it up, just that accusing me of being a musician or a music student is a bit bizarre

New Jersey review: They say that to really free the body, you've gotta free the mind

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