My Modern Music Pantheon Part 1

I have always been a big fan of not just listening to the music you love, but thinking and talking about it as well. I was a long time subscriber to "Rolling Stone" and "Spin" and obviously love to debate the merits of various bands, musicians etc. I had great early influences in this pursuit, and remember fondly, if somewhat vaguely, the two biggest and most influential, my brother Tim and my cousin Eric, debating at length over whether to have Keith Emerson or Rick Wakeman play keyboards in their "Greatest All-Time All-Star Band". (I don't remember who they decided on and wonder what they would say now, over 30 years later). I didn't participate, as I was very young and I think still listening to Captain and Tennile - don't you judge me - but was captivated by how knowledgeable and passionate they were. This was very cool and I wanted to do it, too. And I still do. So I'll work my way through the gods and demi-gods, my musical deities.

This list has little or no formal criteria but probably is influenced by: body of work, impact on music world, brilliance of creation and/or mastery of instrument, and just sheer coolness. But more than anything, it is in their ability to move me. Light my fire, twirl my beanie, float my boat or blow my skirt up. Bring it. But first let's talk about four lads from Liverpool.

The Beatles - I know, I know, too easy and too obvious. But there are a surprising number of haters out there and it just has to be said. They are it, the best, the kings, the champs. They paved the way, set the standard and everybody since wishes they could do what the lads did. Credit certainly has to be given to George Martin and Brian Epstein, but the fact remains that they wrote and played some just phenomenal music. And besides, their time and context played a crucial role in their impact and the conditions that allowed the Beatles to be the Beatles will never exist again. So they will remain a singular and powerful force in music forever. So I am instituting a "no Beatles" codicil to top music lists, not because they don't belong but because they always do and always will so let's just assume their inclusion and make room for somebody else.

The Titans - more powerful even than the gods

Neil Young 

We now have fifty - 50! - years of Neil Young on which to build our awe. He started recording with The Squires in 1963 and has never really slowed down since. In fact, he produced an album - solo or with one of the many bands with which he has played - every year from 1966 to 1983. So you might say he's prolific. And it's not like they weren't some big, big records: "Harvest", "Everybody Knows This is Nowhere" and "Rust Never Sleeps" jump to mind. He hung out with CSN and Buffalo Springfield, formed Crazy Horse and started making movies. And those were just the early years. He defied critics, expectations and his own demons, just kept cranking out amazing work, and is now arguably doing some of his best stuff with albums like "Prairie Wind" and "Harvest Moon". And his song catalog is as fantastic as it is extensive. He also wrote music for movies - was even nominated for an Oscar for "Philadelphia" - and myriad other projects, his own and others'. Then there's the random cool stuff:

     - he has an incredibly cool connection to Lionel trains
     - LincVolt - his electric Lincoln Continental touring the US to promote alternate vehicle energy
     - The Bridge School Concerts to benefit a school for severely impaired children
     - "Living with War" - a website covering the war in Iraq in connection with his protest record of the same name
     - "Greendale" - a concept album and film that he wrote and directed
     - Pono - a new high-res digital music format, download system and player

just to give a sampling.

If who you hang out with and/or influence is any indication of status, the list is long, distinguished and far too long too put here. Some interesting highlights are Pearl Jam and Nirvana (since Neil was playing grunge before it was even a word); Oscar winning director Jonathan Demme, who asked to make a movie about Neil (Heart of Gold, it's freaking brilliant); and Paul McCartney (see above).

And did I mention he recently published his autobiography? "Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream". Expect a book review here sometime soon.

This grows ungainly, but I cannot move on from Shakey without mentioning his live performance. I have seen Neil solo, acoustic, with and without the Horse, small venue and large, inside and out and he remains at the top of a short list of artists for which I will overcome my ever-growing reluctance to attend concerts. First there is his sheer talent. Whether it be power chords and feedback on Old Black, blowing his harp, finessing his 1885 Estey reed organ, picking "This Old Guitar" or just simple piano, his mastery is always evident and his willingness to stretch and push revelatory. Then there is his never-ending reinterpretation of his own work. I have seen at least four versions of "Cortez the Killer" and each was like hearing the song for the first time while still being able to love it as an old favorite. And what about his range? He can rock as hard as any band I've ever seen or squeeze your heart with sweet simple ballads. But for me the thing that makes Neil's live performance so staggering, so brilliant, so . . . transcendent, is his passion. Whether it's the shaky falsetto of "A Man Needs a Maid", the hard rock outrage of "Rockin' in the Free World" or the plaintive grief of "Tonight's the Night", what Neil plays, Neil feels. I remember very clearly watching him play "Old Man" in 2010 shortly after hearing it on his "Live at Massey Hall 1971" album. I had marveled at the power and soulfulness of the recording, was blown away by it being even more so 39(!) years later, and had to wonder how many times he must have played that song in between. But there he was, pouring himself into the song, strumming his heart out and soul-singing. I literally get chills remembering it. That, above all, is why I love Neil Young. But when that is only the capstone on the astonishing arch of a fifty year career, then you've got a Titan.

Next up: Pete Townshend