The Doors: Needs Some Clarification.

[jvk]

Something that has puzzled me over the years is how and why The Doors seem to get no love from most trusted Modern Rock enthusiasts, woxy certainly included. To my uneducated musical ear, I hear similarities in theme and lyric to The Velvet Underground from The Doors, and VU certainly seems revered around these parts.

This isn’t a woxy indictment necessarily. The local Cincinnati bloated rock format radio stations (WEBN, WTUE, etc) of my youth seemed to embrace The Doors and champion then alongside other “classic” rock acts such as Aerosmith, AC/DC, Led Zepplin, or [shudder] KISS, even though musically, I would pin them closer to David Bowie and Pink Floyd on the musical clothesline.

I guess I’m looking for some clarification from the folks that lived through that musical period. What makes The Doors so un-cool, or un-progressive, or to brand it for this audience, so un-woxy? I’m assuming it is not based solely on the music, but some negative association to their fans or something.

Edited to add: If someone told me The Doors were the Limp Biskit of the late 60's/early 70's, I would be shocked but would also totally understand everyone's need to maintain a safe musical distance from the them.:p

[upwithpeople]

Do you remember back when you were in high school -- probably experimenting with alcohol and drugs for the first time, and writing your angsty little poems you hoped would frighten your parents and teachers? And you had your nerdy little band geek friend who played some kind of keyboard for the pep band? Do you remember why you guys didn't become famous rock stars?

That's why people hate The Doors.

[The Ugly Thief]

Do you remember back when you were in high school -- probably experimenting with alcohol and drugs for the first time, and writing your angsty little poems you hoped would frighten your parents and teachers? And you had your nerdy little band geek friend who played some kind of keyboard for the pep band? Do you remember why you guys didn't become famous rock stars?

That's why people hate The Doors.

.
.
.

:D:D:D

v

[The Big Crunch]

A few things:

1. VU's rough and squalling guitars are simply cooler than the often dated-sounding keyboards of the Doors.

2. Neither are truly great singers, but Reed is a more compelling singer than Morrison. Reed sounds cooler, whereas Morrison sounds like an over-serious bellower of mostly insipid bombast. I really can't stand Morrison's singing.

3. The dirty/poetic slices of life that Reed penned are miles better than the over-wrought and mostly awful poetic stylings of Morrison's lyrics. Morrison's attempts at grand-statements and "deep" words come off as the ramblings of a stoned freshman english major, Reed aimed for less and accomplished far more.

4. The VU never did a big-band album :eek:

There are a handful of Doors tunes I like, and they're basically the most conventional tunes: Roadhouse Blues; Five-to-One; Peace Frogs; Hello, I Love You. When they stuck to being a good garage band they were a damn fine act -when they let their pretentious "artsy" side get the better of them, they usually fell flat on their faces. Just my opinion though.

[jvk]

...angsty little poems you hoped would frighten your parents and teachers? And you had your nerdy little band geek friend ....
Objection, your Honor.

Angst and nerds are to Modern Rock, what ball bearings were to the Industrial Revolution.

I don't buy sour grapes from a bunch of failed Cure cover bands as the source of panning The Doors. But then again, I was never in a band, so what do I know?

[frizgolf]

The Mr. Mojo Risin anagram.
Symbolic of Morrison's ego.

[jvk]

A few things:
Thanks, Big Crunch. That spoke volumes.

[twentyshots]

i like the doors. not enough that i listen to them with any regularity though.

i think one of the main turn-offs is that morrison tried so hard to affect you.

[Buzzstein]

You guys are on crack. The Doors are awesome.

[upwithpeople]

Objection, your Honor.

Angst and nerds are to Modern Rock, what ball bearings were to the Industrial Revolution.

I don't buy sour grapes from a bunch of failed Cure cover bands as the source of panning The Doors. But then again, I was never in a band, so what do I know?But not angsty pizza face teenage angst, which is the angsty angst I'm referring to here.

[wileE]

You guys are on crack. The Doors are awesome.
I agree. I don't think they should be on woxy or any alternative list, though. They were pretty mainstream.

[jvk]

I agree. I don't think they should be on woxy or any alternative list, though. They were pretty mainstream.
From album #1 or just at their peak?

R.E.M. and Cold Play are pretty mainstream, but I guess they maintain their alterna-cred because they gradually got huge, instead of overnight.

[Predot listener]

I'd add something, but the Big Crunch pretty much nailed it.

To me, their appropriate absence from woxy has little to do with their mainstreaminess and more to do with their insufferability.

[mike]

I have to say that I wouldn't be against spinning a Doors song if I thought it would work in my set (and I'd never put 'em on Vintage), but that hasn't really happened.

I wouldn't put 'em in the same ballpark, let alone the same stadium as VU in regards of modern rock influence (nor Bowie or Floyd, for that matter). That said, I like them fine. "LA Woman" really hits the spot driving on the freeway with the windows down and the radio up on a nice, sunny day. I reserve them for listening outside the station.

Asking WOXY to consider more classic-rock artists for airplay, however, makes me a little sad.

[jvk]

This isn’t a woxy indictment necessarily... I guess I’m looking for some clarification from the folks that lived through that musical period.
Asking WOXY to consider more classic-rock artists for airplay, however, makes me a little sad.

Cheer up. I would not suggest it, nor have I.

I was just pointing out the fact that Morrison & co. are not thought of in the same regard as some of their progressive contemporaries, and wanted to know why folks felt that way.

When I have a question about music, I come here. I thought by staying in the Vintage Forum, I was safe from concerns about the age of what music I was discussing.

Didn't you recommend a Billy Joel record to me a week ago, Mike?
:p:p:p

[jvk]

Taking what I can from this thread's responses, in 1990's slang I'm guessing The Doors are closer to Pearl Jam and Nirvana than they are Radiohead and Wilco. Mainstreamed, dated, less infuential, and therefore less revered by a Modern Rock audience.

I guess I can live with that. I'm no die hard Doors fan, but I do own some CDs and think they are worth my time every so often.

[The Big Crunch]

Taking what I can from this thread's responses, in 1990's slang I'm guessing The Doors are closer to Pearl Jam and Nirvana than they are Radiohead and Wilco. Mainstreamed, dated, less infuential, and therefore less reveered by a Modern Rock audience.
I don't know, I wonder if in ten years time whether Kid A or YHF end up sounding as dated and hokey as most of the Doors stuff sounds to me. Then again, I never warmed up to Kid A, and my favorite Wilco albums were their first three.

[upwithpeople]

Taking what I can from this thread's responses, in 1990's slang I'm guessing The Doors are closer to Pearl Jam and Nirvana than they are Radiohead and Wilco. Mainstreamed, dated, less infuential, and therefore less reveered by a Modern Rock audience.

I guess I can live with that. I'm no die hard Doors fan, but I do own some CDs and think they are worth my time every so often.This ignores the Jim Morrison factor, which is the only reason The Doors made it big. A lot loathing for The Doors is really just loathing for this preening idiot who courted fame and infamy, as almost all attempts at courting fame and infamy (with a few really awesome exceptions) will eventually look dated and funny and lame. The front men in the bands you listed above all pretty much spit on the altar of the Rawk God.

[Predot listener]

Taking what I can from this thread's responses, in 1990's slang I'm guessing The Doors are closer to Pearl Jam and Nirvana than they are Radiohead and Wilco. Mainstreamed, dated, less infuential, and therefore less reveered by a Modern Rock audience.

I guess I can live with that. I'm no die hard Doors fan, but I do own some CDs and think they are worth my time every so often.


I can't speak for anyone else, but I thought the Doors stuff was pretentious and unlistenable dreck in the 1980s. So I'd have to say it's held up remarkably well.

[Chomp Samba]

I never knew The Doors seem got no love from most trusted Modern Rock enthusiasts, woxy certainly included. News to me. I mean, it is a modern rock station, so I never expect to hear them played nor mentioned by the djs. So, what exactly are you looking for?

[Sushi]

The front men in the bands you listed above all pretty much spit on the altar of the Rawk God.
Which was largely built by Jim Morrison.

The Big Crunch pretty accurately summed up how I feel about The Doors, especially regarding Morrison's lyrical pretensions.

[jvk]

So, what exactly are you looking for?
I guess I walked into this with my musical slip showing; I don't perceive the huge stylistic distinction between The Velvet Underground and The Doors that most of you do.

I like them both because to my ears (which were conceived in 1972) they are both interesting rock bands, in a cool but before-my-time kinda way. I blame my Midwest upbringing!

I have actually enjoyed reading the anti-Doors posts. They have been the most pointed and passionate posts I've ever read in the Vintage Forum.

[Chomp Samba]

I guess I walked into this with my musical slip showing; I don't perceive the huge stylistic distinction between The Velvet Underground and The Doors that most of you do.
I guessed I missed this discussion and the anti-Doors stuff. If I had seen it, I would have jumped into the fray to defend The Doors with the same furvor that I use to defend 311 ;)

[Sushi]

Is it just me, or does that newish band The Black Angels sound a bit like The Doors? Their singer has the same vocal tendencies.

[clonE]

Is it just me, or does that newish band The Black Angels sound a bit like The Doors? Their singer has the same vocal tendencies.

Interesting question, a lot of reviews have commented about the Angels' interest in VU, even taking their name from a VU song. I'm a big Angels' fan and a modest Doors fan and don't think they sound similar at all. Angel's drone on, doors tend to rawk out a bit more

I need to check out some VU though, I know very little of them

[goblue12]

i will admit...i am a fan of the doors

[peedub]

Is it just me, or does that newish band The Black Angels sound a bit like The Doors? Their singer has the same vocal tendencies.

he has a similar stage presence, too. i described them (the black angels) to a fellow concert-goer who hadn't heard them (when they opened for the black keys) as "joy division meets the doors..." although they obviously owe quite a bit of their sound to the velvet underground as well...

[The Big Crunch]

BRMC + Spacemen 3 = Black Angels

[twentyshots]

see, i thought black angels sounded like a mix of velvet underground and old neil young/crazyhorse.

[Buzzstein]

Is it just me, or does that newish band The Black Angels sound a bit like The Doors? Their singer has the same vocal tendencies.

I guess I walked into this with my musical slip showing; I don't perceive the huge stylistic distinction between The Velvet Underground and The Doors that most of you do.

Interesting. When I listen to The Black Angels I hear a combination of The Velvet Underground AND The Doors. Dark and atmospheric like The Doors. Droning like The Velvet Underground.

[jvk]

Interesting. When I listen to The Black Angels I hear a combination of The Velvet Underground AND The Doors. Dark and atmospheric like The Doors. Droning like The Velvet Underground.
Based on that accessment, I just ordered the new Black Angels disc from Lala. That sounds like a can't lose to me.

[rcc94]

I like them both because to my ears (which were conceived in 1972) they are both interesting rock bands, in a cool but before-my-time kinda way. I blame my Midwest upbringing!
I think our age may very well have something to do with it. And it wasn't limited to the Midwest - my Midsouth upbringing had the same effect.

I'll admit I went through a Doors phase in 1988 or so, which I can't even blame Val Kilmer for. Instead, it was Echo and the Bunnymen's cover of "People Are Strange" on the Lost Boys soundtrack that lead me to them.

As a piano player, I've always liked hearing keyboards in songs, so that was another reason I liked them. I don't pay attention to lyrics, so I never knew how good or bad they were.

However, I haven't really listened to them since college. I've never really been a big VU fan, either. Instead I went with The Beatles.

[jvk]

I caught the tail end of Mike refering to this thread. Anyone catch what he said?

[twentyshots]

I caught the tail end of Mike refering to this thread. Anyone catch what he said?

hmmmm. I think it was on the heels of velvet underground covers. some surprise that some folks didn't listen to VU.
there was mention of this thread though and maybe a comparison of the bands. I also was preoccupied when he was riffing.

[X-Ray]

Do you remember back when you were in high school -- probably experimenting with alcohol and drugs for the first time, and writing your angsty little poems you hoped would frighten your parents and teachers? And you had your nerdy little band geek friend who played some kind of keyboard for the pep band? Do you remember why you guys didn't become famous rock stars?

That's why people hate The Doors.

I beg to differ. I remember a certain Doors poster (or 2, actually) in the bedroom of a friend in high school that you probably would have thought of as a nerd or a geek. Now he IS a rock star, and YOU've actually paid ($26.70) to see him perform at The Madison (I did some woxy research).

...and the nerds will rule the world!

[upwithpeople]

I beg to differ. I remember a certain Doors poster (or 2, actually) in the bedroom of a friend in high school that you probably would have thought of as a nerd or a geek. Now he IS a rock star, and YOU've actually paid ($26.70) to see him perform at The Madison (I did some woxy research).

...and the nerds will rule the world!Exceptions that prove the rule. I also have no idea what you're talking about.

[Breeze]

Exceptions that prove the rule.

AKA, when your blanket pronouncements backfire

[X-Ray]

I also have no idea what you're talking about.

(TicketMaster rant) -click the arrow

I was just saying that you are paying the "geeks" that you used to make fun of (still are) for their music taste. Some of them Are rock stars now, and where does that leave you?
Do you remember why you guys didn't become famous rock stars?
didn't realize you were a rock star! that's Awesome!

Not trying to start shit, I was just pointing out that blanket statements aren't always the best way to get a point across.

[upwithpeople]

AKA, when your blanket pronouncements backfireYour an idiot.

-click the arrow

I was just saying that you are paying the "geeks" that you used to make fun of (still are) for their music taste. Some of them Are rock stars now, and where does that leave you?

didn't realize you were a rock star! that's Awesome!

Not trying to start shit, I was just pointing out that blanket statements aren't always the best way to get a point across.Hey! I didn't know that place was called The Madison! You know what I do know? They don't suck like The Doors suck! The pronouncements stand! They will continue to stand until The National either a.) become rock legends and flame out young, thus ensuring their pantheon status, or b.) write a 14-minute keyboard solo.

[Breeze]

Your an idiot.

But I can spell.

[upwithpeople]

But I can spell.Sucker. .

[Breeze]

Sucker. .

And I can punctuate properly. But hey, that's just me.

[JohnnyRoyale]

The Doors are my all-time favorite band (I've used my signature below for years). They have very few songs I don't like. Yup, over even Nirvana, Sublime, Radiohead, the White Stripes. The Doors are my #1.

From the first time I heard "Wild Child" in the early 80s, I was hooked. I've read many books about them (okay, Morrison, but he WAS them!) and I'm always fascinated.

There were a lot less options back in those days musically. And while I like the Velvets a whole lot also, I agree that they are more on the Modern Rock edge and have probably influenced more artists that remain Modern Rock compared to Mainstream.

And that was probably the intention. Morrison wanted to go out and fuck with everyone, push all issues to all limits and get the whole world to wonder what he'd do next. And he did that, and I think that band wanted to be heard.

I assume the Velvets never really wanted that and that's why they remained so "underground" at the time. I still know plenty of people from that era who have never heard of the Velvets, but most people have heard of the Doors.

But like him or not, I think Morrison was a huge inspiration (both lyrically, physically and performance-wise) for a TON of bands that are out there still today. So being that he (and them) had such a huge impact on so many, I agree with mike that they should probably show up in a Modern Rock playlist from time to time if the dj feels like it. But on a regular basis, no way, and the Velvets are more fitting for that. I don't feel like that takes anything away from the Doors, it's just where things ended up.

I met old-man Densmore a few months ago (below) and I also met old-man Reed back in March. Densmore was more polite. Reed is the prick he is reported to be. :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/macburns/densmore.jpg

[miami2112]

i like me some doors, but i cant say i listen to them with any regularity anymore.

as for their modern rock cred, i'd have to believe that they influenced many modern rock bands. not that i'm an expert, but wasnt their stuff fairly "cutting edge"? for whatever reason, they are well represented on the classic rock stations and dont need to be played on a modern rock station.

the only time i hear and old floyd has been on woxy.

and for discussions sake, i watched floyd at pompeii a while ago (pre-dark side of the moon) and was struck at how much they reminded me of the animal collective songs that i like. anyone else get that vibe? and many of the pre 72 floyd would still fit in with modern rock formats, to my ears.

[twentyshots]

did anybody ever see The Back Doors? you know, the cover band? the lead singer tried pretty hard to look and sound like morrison but he was way too muscley. plus he did some bad poetry stuff that seemed worse than morrison's so maybe he was trying out some original material there.
i recall carrying around a book of morrison (jim, not toni) poems for a few weeks and catching hell from some of my "cool" friends. at the time i thought they were uncultured for being so harsh....looking back they were mostly right. i mean, the lizard king was reaching toward some lofty ideas but i would not call it particularly good poetry now. same with cobain.

[peedub]

i saw 'em back in '93 or 4 on a whim...i couldn't tell you a thing about that night, except i know i was at bogart's.

[JesusPresley]

my reason for hating the doors, as well as zep and a few others:

It's 4:12 am, you're stuck at college party, at someone's house you don't know, the guy who drove is passed out, and you can't find your other friend. You just want to go home, you have to be at work at 9 in the morning..."jesus! why am I still here???"...you notice that the living room has emptied, the couple that was making out on the couch have moved on to a more private location and it's nice and dark and quiet. There are still a few die-hards drinking in the kitchen, making occasional outbursts.
You stretch out on the couch, hoping you can at least catch a few winks before the sun comes up, and just as that sleepy haze starts to envelop you, some big, dumb jock-looking douche, complete with visor, beach shoes and baggy gym shorts stumbles in the room..." 'sup, dude?" he asks. You nod your head and try to ignore him...he is making a clatter by rifling through the stack of disheveled CD's on top of the stereo cabinet, finds what he's looking for, and as he's inserting the disc into the player he asks you "dude, you like the Doors?" See, he just discovered them last fall during his sophomore year. Anyway, he proceeds to turn it up loud enough that the windows begin to ratttle...
This, my friends is why I hate The Doors

[tempo]

Seems that all the Doors haters are taking a lyric-centric approach to their listening. Nothing wrong with that, but really I couldn't care less about Morrison's lyrics. The music is outstanding, so yeah, I'm a fan.

Don't really need to hear them on WOXY, of course.

[skidminix]

my reason for hating the doors, as well as zep and a few others...
Yeah, I hear you. That's why I didn't even want/try to get into the Doors, Led Zep, et al. through high school and college - I just didn't really care for the "obvious" fans. I think I was close to 30 when I bought any non-British Invasion classic rock cds, and those were through Columbia House or BMG. The funny thing is, I once again don't own any of them. But I must say, the first couple of Doors albums are almost entirely cool, with their very short psychedelic pop songs; but once they got all Roadhouse Blues-y I didn't care for their sound. I just don't dig on blues-rock, which is why I've *never* owned a Clapton cd (other than Cream's greatest hits for, like, 2 minutes) and have since sold all the Zep, Doors, etc. I ever picked up.

[JesusPresley]

once they got all Roadhouse Blues-y I didn't care for their sound. I just don't dig on blues-rock, which is why I've *never* owned a Clapton cd (other than Cream's greatest hits for, like, 2 minutes) and have since sold all the Zep, Doors, etc. I ever picked up.

I agree completely. that's why you won't catch me anywhere near that blues-fest this weekend.

[Predot listener]

did anybody ever see The Back Doors? you know, the cover band?

No, but I did catch the Crystal Shit.

[skidminix]

No, but I did catch the Crystal Shit.

"love me 2 times, baby - once for tomorrow, and once 'cos I got aids..."

[JesusPresley]

"love me 2 times, baby - once for tomorrow, and once 'cos I got aids..."

"That's a pretty good Jim Morrison impersonation there, I hope those guys have a good sense of humor and don't take us into court...:

[Ambassador V3.0]

The Doors are fine, I've just heard them a thousand times. In fact, I own many of their recordings.

Although I must say that I favor The Doors over the current crop of Fall Out Boy, Slipknot, etc.

For old stuff, The Kinks and T. Rex aren't half bad. Plus you rarely hear them these days. The Cars are a goofy band that also used to be big, yet seldom heard anymore.

[classicgrrl]

You guys are on crack. The Doors are awesome.

jesus H christ on a bike, thank you!

morrison had an ego the size of TX, show me a band front man who doesn't?

Ray Manzarek = "It was soon after that that the punk movement became a driving force in Los Angeles, and the band X contacted Manzarek about working with them in a production capacity. The end result was Los Angeles, one of the all-time most important punk albums." -->All Music

anybody who says the doors sucked either do not have ears or have actually never sat down and listened to them. they influenced a HUGE amount of folks during out generation - Jane's Addiction being one of them and Pearl Jam being another.

and Lou Reed liked The Doors so there!

PS: Morrison's lyrics are right behind Dylan's and Cobain's. In other words, damn fucking good.

PSS: The real reason people bag on The Doors is the same reason they bag on Nirvana. Because it's hip to do so. fuck indie cred with a barbie doll leg. :P

[JohnnyRoyale]

fuck indie cred with a barbie doll leg. :P

Can I change this to the new Randomville slogan?

:p

[Predot listener]

PSS: The real reason people bag on The Doors is the same reason they bag on Nirvana. Because it's hip to do so. fuck indie cred with a barbie doll leg. :P

Actually, the real reason I started listening to indie or its forebearers (modern rock, alternative) is because I was looking for music that didn't turn my stomach like the Doors. It wasn't the other way around.

Then again, I'm pretty sure that I have zero indie cred, so I have nothing to either lose or fuck it with.

[classicgrrl]

Can I change this to the new Randomville slogan?

:p

be my guest

[tempo]

Can I change this to the new Randomville slogan?

:p

To hell with that, make it the new WOXY sloagn! :D:D

[The Big Crunch]

i mean, the lizard king was reaching toward some lofty ideas but i would not call it particularly good poetry now. same with cobain.
Yeah, but Cobain never considered himself a "poet". He was a rock musician who wrote lyrics to his rock songs. No more. I'm sure Cobain probably understood the "lyrics" do not equal "poetry" and it's usually an insult to both crafts to treat them as interchangeable. I'm sure he'd tell you a lot of the lyrics he wrote had no meaning and just sounded good in the context of the song. Michael Stipe has said the same thing about a lot of early REM lyrics. Look at some of Cobain's favorite bands: Meat Puppets, REM, Vaselines, and the Pixies. Counting REM's early days, none of those acts took themselves too seriously in the lyrics department. Don't get me wrong, they all had good rock lyrics, but those guys weren't pretentious "artistes". Morrison wanted to be the poet of rock...as well as just a poet..and he sucked in both departments. Again, my favorite Doors' tunes are the most lyrically straight-forward, like "Hello I Love You". The moment he gets into stuff like "The End", I want to turn him off.

I won't dismiss the importance and influence of the Doors, but it doesn't mean the music necessarily holds up. Furthermore, a lot of the music I like was written in response to self-important bombast that echoed from Morrison.

[twentyshots]

Yeah, but Cobain never considered himself a "poet". He was a rock musician who wrote lyrics to his rock songs. No more. I'm sure Cobain probably understood the "lyrics" do not equal "poetry" and it's usually an insult to both crafts to treat them as interchangeable. I'm sure he'd tell you a lot of the lyrics he wrote had no meaning and just sounded good in the context of the song. Michael Stipe has said the same thing about a lot of early REM lyrics. Look at some of Cobain's favorite bands: Meat Puppets, REM, Vaselines, and the Pixies. Counting REM's early days, none of those acts took themselves too seriously in the lyrics department. Don't get me wrong, they all had good rock lyrics, but those guys weren't pretentious "artistes". Morrison wanted to be the poet of rock...as well as just a poet..and he sucked in both departments. Again, my favorite Doors' tunes are the most lyrically straight-forward, like "Hello I Love You". The moment he gets into stuff like "The End", I want to turn him off.

I won't dismiss the importance and influence of the Doors, but it doesn't mean the music necessarily holds up. Furthermore, a lot of the music I like was written in response to self-important bombast that echoed from Morrison.
good distinction and I agree with you. the difference being the perception the fans have of an artist and the perception the artist has of himself, which you alluded to. cobain didn't see himself as a "poet" like Morrison did, or anyone in the publishing business did for that matter. for instance Morrison has books of poems and cobain has the less pretentious "journals" replete with scribbles and drawings and rants.
my comparison was a reaction based on fan worship of cobain's writing as high art.
both guys did important things for rock music though.

[ICONOCLAST420]

I guess I’m looking for some clarification from the folks that lived through that musical period. What makes The Doors so un-cool, or un-progressive, or to brand it for this audience, so un-woxy?
Just my geezerly opinion:

The Doors < Uriah Heep

And I thought that way long before there was a 97X.

[the-dude]

Frank Black had a nice little bit to say about The Doors in his WOXY lounge act, if that counts for anything.

[Mingus]

Is anyone an Echo and the Bunnymen/Ian MacCulloch fan, but disses Jim Morrison? Just wondering.

Doors are a solid band with plenty of staying power, and as time has gone on, LA Woman has actually become my favorite Doors record. I like their juxtaposition as an LA band while the summer of love/hippie movement was happening up in Norcal.

[the_birds]

Just my geezerly opinion:

The Doors < Uriah Heep

And I thought that way long before there was a 97X.

I've never been a big Doors person. They could be really really good, but in the grand scheme of things, they were just middling. Too many drugs? Lyrically falling short sometimes? The music was usually great. I don't think you can say they were as good as the first 5 or 6 ZZ Top albums or ZZ Top in general.

I love Echo and the Bunnymen, but can you compare them to The Doors? Perhaps only in the way the groups related to the music scenes of their respective times, but in nearly all comparisons, I'm thinking Echo fall short.

[Buzzstein]

I don't think you can say they were as good as the first 5 or 6 ZZ Top albums or ZZ Top in general.

I think I could say that.

[taylor]

I think I could say that.
i think i could second that.

[frizgolf]

Well, that depends on what you're looking for in your rock music. Lyrics and arteest stuff? Doors. Good ol' hardworking rock riffs? ZZ Top.
Maybe it was the way the studio equipment was set up, but that eternal organ in Doors' music grates on my ears.

[Mingus]

I've never been a big Doors person. They could be really really good, but in the grand scheme of things, they were just middling. Too many drugs? Lyrically falling short sometimes? The music was usually great. I don't think you can say they were as good as the first 5 or 6 ZZ Top albums or ZZ Top in general.

I love Echo and the Bunnymen, but can you compare them to The Doors? Perhaps only in the way the groups related to the music scenes of their respective times, but in nearly all comparisons, I'm thinking Echo fall short.

I don't disagree that the Doors are a better band than Echo- I just wonder how many people slag the Doors, but are huge MacCulloch fans. The guy channels Morrison all the time.

[Predot listener]

I don't disagree that the Doors are a better band than Echo- I just wonder how many people slag the Doors, but are huge MacCulloch fans. The guy channels Morrison all the time.

Sure, but the world at large, and Mr. McCulloch in particular, have never tried to convince me that Lips Like Sugar and Bedbugs and Ballyhoo are works of grandeur on par with the finest poetry of Longfellow and Yeats.

[jvk]

I'll admit I went through a Doors phase in 1988 or so, which I can't even blame Val Kilmer for. Instead, it was Echo and the Bunnymen's cover of "People Are Strange" on the Lost Boys soundtrack that lead me to them.
Shiv played Echo and the Bunnymen's cover of "People Are Strange" around 7ish last night. I'll admit to driving around with the volume up real lound and singing (bellowing) along.

Echo and the Bunnymen, either to their credit or to other's dismay, DID NOT tinker with that song very much. They recorded it pretty true to the original. I'd have to assume if "People Are Strange" is a cool song when E&TB sing it, it's a cool song when The Doors do as well.

Anyhoo. I liked it, Shiv. Good pick.

[zippy]

"i am the lizard king. i can do anything."

"you men eat your dinner
eat your.. pork and beans.
i eat more chicken any man's
ever seen. yeh yay..
I'M A BACK DOOR MAN!"

"mother... i want to fuck you!"


hey jimbo! eat a poetic bag of dicks!

i was at the paris graveyard he's buried in. didn't even bother to look at morrison's grave. but i did find chopin's there which was cool.

[The Big Crunch]

X still has the definitve version of "Soul Kitchen" - file it under "Covers that surpass the originals". Come to think of it, they also have the superior cover of "Wild Thing".