Bands that took a long time to grow on you.

brianlux · March 31

About three and a half years ago, I read about the band The Feelies. I had heard about them before that but never really paid any attention. So, feeling a bit flush at the time, I purchased their second and third albums, The Good Earth and Only Life. I'd played both once or twice over that time span and liked them OK, but only OK.

But then a few weeks ago, I started hearing that The Feelie's Glenn Mercer and The Bongo's Richard Barone have formed a band and have been doing gigs around New York City. I'm a big Bongos/ Barone fan, so that really piqued my interest. I pulled out those two Feelies LPs and played them again with much greater attention. And then again. And again. And now I'm hooked. After their first LP (whcih I've heard a bot of), the Feelies produced music that is subtle enough that it doesn't jump right out at you, but once it seeps in, it seeps in deep. Now I need to go back and get their first and most recognized LP.

Any bands you've had similar experiences with?

Loujoe · March 31

Hi BLux!

Primus (annoying guy that sings like a wormy auctioneer, strange timing, to man these guys are sick)
Frank Zappa (odd, crazy nonsense, to ok i get it & need more)
Tom Waits (from who the heck is this guy that sings like cookie monster? To wow!)

Then a lot of 80s bands I was much too much of a metalhead to give a chance

Flock of seagulls
Madonna
Smiths
Naked eyes

Fun to think about

brianlux · March 31

Loujoe said:

Hi BLux!

Primus (annoying guy that sings like a wormy auctioneer, strange timing, to man these guys are sick)
Frank Zappa (odd, crazy nonsense, to ok i get it & need more)
Tom Waits (from who the heck is this guy that sings like cookie monster? To wow!)

Then a lot of 80s bands I was much too much of a metalhead to give a chance

Flock of seagulls
Madonna
Smiths
Naked eyes

Fun to think about

Good list, Lou!

Primus is a tough one for me. I met Larry LaLonde once- something like 10 years ago. My wife knows him a bit through friends of hers/ relatives of his, and was talking with him in the bookstore one day when I was helping out. She brought him back to introduce him to me, I shook his hand and said, "Nice to meet you, Larry." I had no idea who he was and my wife only mentioned that he was a friend. Later on I casually asked about him and she said, "Oh, and he's in this band called Primus."
"What? Whoa!"

Super nice guy, great guitarist, but I haven't really caught on to their style, though I've seen a few clips of them that are quite impressive.

Tom Waits, yeah another tough one to get into. That gravelly voice! But I got to admire the man a bunch from the films he did with Jim Jarmusch, especially the amazing "Down By Law" (thus my signature).

And Zappa! I always thought the Mothers were interesting but not my thing, but then I saw the Mothers in Berkeley in '70 or '71 and I was completely knocked out by Franks amazing guitar work. Wow!

Loujoe · March 31

Frank Zappa. Yes. I had a cd 'shut up and play your guitar' from him. Joe's Garage was my doorway into zappa. Was playing it at aNYE party and got shut off pretty quickly when the guests arrived!

Love down by law. There is something you may want to suffer through 'Fishing with John' pretty darn slow and entertaining.

You just had to have had a friend that played primus for you incessantly to it invaded you brain and took over. Now I enjoy all Les Claypools side projects +.
Tom Waits, maybe check out 'bone machine' a few dozen times. Really good imagery and storytelling (for me anyway). It most likely won't agree with your ears . I know you have a hearing issue.
It's ok to not like it. I really think that is Mr. Waits' intention.
Primus too. Even Les says now of his music. He can't believe he plays that way.
F..king oddball. Guess that's why I like them!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6T8ksKASZYw

brianlux · March 31

Loujoe said:

Frank Zappa. Yes. I had a cd 'shut up and play your guitar' from him. Joe's Garage was my doorway into zappa. Was playing it at aNYE party and got shut off pretty quickly when the guests arrived!

Love down by law. There is something you may want to suffer through 'Fishing with John' pretty darn slow and entertaining.

You just had to have had a friend that played primus for you incessantly to it invaded you brain and took over. Now I enjoy all Les Claypools side projects +.
Tom Waits, maybe check out 'bone machine' a few dozen times. Really good imagery and storytelling (for me anyway). It most likely won't agree with your ears . I know you have a hearing issue.
It's ok to not like it. I really think that is Mr. Waits' intention.
Primus too. Even Les says now of his music. He can't believe he plays that way.
F..king oddball. Guess that's why I like them!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6T8ksKASZYw

Great comments, Lou.

That Waits is one wild dude. Wild Waits!

Making Art With Tom Waits - Slide Show - NYTimescom

Gern Blansten · March 31

Not so much that they took a long time to grow on me but I recently re-discovered Echo and the Bunnymen

I always ignored them when I was younger because I was into Zeppelin and Van Halen at the time but The Killing Moon and Lips Like Sugar are really good songs.

Loujoe · March 31

Ahh. Interesting. Yep I ignored all those pop bands. Now i can listen to them and dance like no one is watching. (Because noone is)

SVRDhand13 · March 31

David Bowie
Talking Heads
The Cure

Honestly, I thought they were all corny as a teen. Now I love them all.

Loujoe · March 31

SVRDhand13 said:

David Bowie
Talking Heads
The Cure

Honestly, I thought they were all corny as a teen. Now I love them all.

HughFreakingDillon · March 31

The Tragically Hip. When I first heard them, I was still heavy in my metal or classic rock phase. The Hip had this nasally voiced weirdo front man. Any time someone would put them on at a party, I'd shout at them to turn that shit off.

Now one of my all time favourite bands.

brianlux · April 1

HughFreakingDillon said:

The Tragically Hip. When I first heard them, I was still heavy in my metal or classic rock phase. The Hip had this nasally voiced weirdo front man. Any time someone would put them on at a party, I'd shout at them to turn that shit off.

Now one of my all time favourite bands.

Yeah, I think of you as one of their biggest fans.

I'd never heard of them until one night I was watching Saturday Night Live and the musical guest was Tragically Hip doing "Grace Too" and is just simply bowled me right over. I still get a thrill watching that video!

For those who haven't seen it:

https://www.pinkbike.com/video/125904/

HughFreakingDillon · April 1

that was a massive deal for Canadians. Dan Aykroyd said he'd only host the show if they allowed the Hip to be the musical guest.

And the first line of the song is supposed to be "they said I'm fabulously rich" but Gord told a story how it was his nephew's 11th birthday, and he promised he'd give him a sign on live tv, so you see he holds up to fingers to signify the number 11, and he was so focused on making sure he did that, he flubbed the line and said "they said I'm Tragically Hip", and from them on, he'd often do that live in that line as well. Became a running joke.

every time I see that performance, I always think if they made a movie about Gord, Jim Parson (Sheldon from Big Bang Theory) would be perfect casting. He basically looks identical to Sheldon in that video. Jim Parsons probably wasn't even born yet. lol

brianlux · April 1

HughFreakingDillon said:

that was a massive deal for Canadians. Dan Aykroyd said he'd only host the show if they allowed the Hip to be the musical guest.

And the first line of the song is supposed to be "they said I'm fabulously rich" but Gord told a story how it was his nephew's 11th birthday, and he promised he'd give him a sign on live tv, so you see he holds up to fingers to signify the number 11, and he was so focused on making sure he did that, he flubbed the line and said "they said I'm Tragically Hip", and from them on, he'd often do that live in that line as well. Became a running joke.

every time I see that performance, I always think if they made a movie about Gord, Jim Parson (Sheldon from Big Bang Theory) would be perfect casting. He basically looks identical to Sheldon in that video. Jim Parsons probably wasn't even born yet. lol

Oh man, GREAT story, thank you!

lexicondevil · April 1

Gern Blansten said:

Not so much that they took a long time to grow on me but I recently re-discovered Echo and the Bunnymen

I always ignored them when I was younger because I was into Zeppelin and Van Halen at the time but The Killing Moon and Lips Like Sugar are really good songs.

Funny that you mention Led Zeppelin. It's taken me decades to appreciate them. Really only recently did I finally come around. For me, I am always trying to understand and appreciate different types of music, so I keep trying. I think I have officially given up on the Beatles. There are some later songs that I like, but for the most part I can't stand them. Not a popular opinion, I know.

Merkin Baller · April 1

Queens of the Stone Age took me a long time to get, but once I did, I couldn't consume enough... since then, they've easily become a top 10 band for me... maybe top 5.

Gern Blansten · April 1

lexicondevil said:

Gern Blansten said:

Not so much that they took a long time to grow on me but I recently re-discovered Echo and the Bunnymen

I always ignored them when I was younger because I was into Zeppelin and Van Halen at the time but The Killing Moon and Lips Like Sugar are really good songs.

Funny that you mention Led Zeppelin. It's taken me decades to appreciate them. Really only recently did I finally come around. For me, I am always trying to understand and appreciate different types of music, so I keep trying. I think I have officially given up on the Beatles. There are some later songs that I like, but for the most part I can't stand them. Not a popular opinion, I know.

I remember hearing Black Dog for the first time...back seat on the way home from church...probably 1980. Blew me away.

But yeah...you're missing the Beatles big time. Not sure if you are hung up on the old stuff but Rubber Soul onward is gold.

pjl44 · April 1

This was The Afghan Whigs for me. My best friend tried pushing them on me for years. Would always hit me as "good 90s rock" but just didn't really click.

Then one day I was driving around for work and put on Black Love. It was like a tidal wave - one song after another I was like "oh yeah that one, oh yeah that one." One of my five favorite bands now. Very few artists I'd go see instead if the Whigs (or any Dulli project) are in town.

brianlux · April 1

pjl44 said:

This was The Afghan Whigs for me. My best friend tried pushing them on me for years. Would always hit me as "good 90s rock" but just didn't really click.

Then one day I was driving around for work and put on Black Love. It was like a tidal wave - one song after another I was like "oh yeah that one, oh yeah that one." One of my five favorite bands now. Very few artists I'd go see instead if the Whigs (or any Dulli project) are in town.

Ahhh, thus your avatar! I really need to check out that album.

Gern Blansten · April 1

Merkin Baller said:

Queens of the Stone Age took me a long time to get, but once I did, I couldn't consume enough... since then, they've easily become a top 10 band for me... maybe top 5.

have you discovered the desert sessions?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImFVPG2CQlQ

Merkin Baller · April 1

Gern Blansten said:

Merkin Baller said:

Queens of the Stone Age took me a long time to get, but once I did, I couldn't consume enough... since then, they've easily become a top 10 band for me... maybe top 5.

have you discovered the desert sessions?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImFVPG2CQlQ

I have, but need to do a deep dive on them… Kyuss too.

pjl44 · April 1

brianlux said:

pjl44 said:

This was The Afghan Whigs for me. My best friend tried pushing them on me for years. Would always hit me as "good 90s rock" but just didn't really click.

Then one day I was driving around for work and put on Black Love. It was like a tidal wave - one song after another I was like "oh yeah that one, oh yeah that one." One of my five favorite bands now. Very few artists I'd go see instead if the Whigs (or any Dulli project) are in town.

Ahhh, thus your avatar! I really need to check out that album.

Either Gentlemen, Black Love, or 1965. That's the trilogy. The newer and older albums are great too but that's really where to start.

mcgruff10 · April 2

Radiohead, phish and jack white

clayton12 · April 3

Widespread Panic.

brianlux · April 3

pjl44 said:

brianlux said:

pjl44 said:

This was The Afghan Whigs for me. My best friend tried pushing them on me for years. Would always hit me as "good 90s rock" but just didn't really click.

Then one day I was driving around for work and put on Black Love. It was like a tidal wave - one song after another I was like "oh yeah that one, oh yeah that one." One of my five favorite bands now. Very few artists I'd go see instead if the Whigs (or any Dulli project) are in town.

Ahhh, thus your avatar! I really need to check out that album.

Either Gentlemen, Black Love, or 1965. That's the trilogy. The newer and older albums are great too but that's really where to start.

Excellent- thanks for the tip, pjl!

goldrush · April 3

brianlux said:

pjl44 said:

brianlux said:

pjl44 said:

This was The Afghan Whigs for me. My best friend tried pushing them on me for years. Would always hit me as "good 90s rock" but just didn't really click.

Then one day I was driving around for work and put on Black Love. It was like a tidal wave - one song after another I was like "oh yeah that one, oh yeah that one." One of my five favorite bands now. Very few artists I'd go see instead if the Whigs (or any Dulli project) are in town.

Ahhh, thus your avatar! I really need to check out that album.

Either Gentlemen, Black Love, or 1965. That's the trilogy. The newer and older albums are great too but that's really where to start.

Excellent- thanks for the tip, pjl!

That is such a great trilogy of records. Black Love is an all-time favourite of mine. Honestly, it’s ridiculous how often I play it

pjl44 · April 3

brianlux said:

pjl44 said:

brianlux said:

pjl44 said:

This was The Afghan Whigs for me. My best friend tried pushing them on me for years. Would always hit me as "good 90s rock" but just didn't really click.

Then one day I was driving around for work and put on Black Love. It was like a tidal wave - one song after another I was like "oh yeah that one, oh yeah that one." One of my five favorite bands now. Very few artists I'd go see instead if the Whigs (or any Dulli project) are in town.

Ahhh, thus your avatar! I really need to check out that album.

Either Gentlemen, Black Love, or 1965. That's the trilogy. The newer and older albums are great too but that's really where to start.

Excellent- thanks for the tip, pjl!

Enjoy Brian!

pjl44 · April 3

goldrush said:

brianlux said:

pjl44 said:

brianlux said:

pjl44 said:

This was The Afghan Whigs for me. My best friend tried pushing them on me for years. Would always hit me as "good 90s rock" but just didn't really click.

Then one day I was driving around for work and put on Black Love. It was like a tidal wave - one song after another I was like "oh yeah that one, oh yeah that one." One of my five favorite bands now. Very few artists I'd go see instead if the Whigs (or any Dulli project) are in town.

Ahhh, thus your avatar! I really need to check out that album.

Either Gentlemen, Black Love, or 1965. That's the trilogy. The newer and older albums are great too but that's really where to start.

Excellent- thanks for the tip, pjl!

That is such a great trilogy of records. Black Love is an all-time favourite of mine. Honestly, it’s ridiculous how often I play it

When I saw them on the 2012 reunion tour they closed with Bulletproof/Summer's Kiss/Faded. Absolutely destroyed. I couldn't have drawn it up better.

Gibson · April 3

....Rush.

Loujoe · April 3

YES, the band

Rush, too. I'm really into some of their stuff sometimes. Not a go-to band for me. 2112. Love the song working man. I guess as a listener, my brain tends to enjoy listening to music that doesn't make me try too hard. If that makes any sense.

pjhawks · April 3

Led Zeppelin. Lots of people in high school loved them but I didn't really appreciate them until much later like the early 2000s. Just started to appreciate their greatness at that point.

brianlux · April 3

pjhawks said:

Led Zeppelin. Lots of people in high school loved them but I didn't really appreciate them until much later like the early 2000s. Just started to appreciate their greatness at that point.

Sadly (and I mean really sadly because in many ways, they were a great band), the opposite happened for me. When Led Zeppelin's first album came out, I went bonkers for it. All my friends and I back then in high school shared our amazement for that record. I had one friend who was so enamored with the band, he dragged his Marshall stack and Les Paul Jr. over to my house, set it up in the back yard, and started playing the Jimmy Page riffs he was learning. My mother had gone for a walk and came home and said she could hear this friend's playing "a mile away" (not literally, but a good distance!)

But over the years, I've grown weary of Robert Plant's younger voice. I actually like his older mature voice (things he's done with Alison Krause, for example) much, much better.

But all those great Zep songs! I wish I could acclimate to early Plant better again!

Bands that took a long time to grow on you.

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