I find the vocals on the chorus in Oh Maria very weak.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: witilinki,

who cares!

skip the song!

Its not a great song. Just a filler to the album. Tom can still make absolute gems, he can also make absolute bland.
I could only wish he had a Lynch there that would say, "hey Tom this is weak"
It is obvious nobody will do that. Not Mike, or Jeff or anyone. Cause if you do it, you don't work with Tom anymore.

I don't think there is anyone to push him anymore. He does what he wants with a lot of yes men. That results in some uneven work.
But that said, at least he is still working so gems do get made.
(and BTW, how come ANY opinion or analysis but TOM ROCKS! is met with derision? That is weak in itself)

Did you see the part in Runnin' Down a Dream where Benmont is yelling at Tom and Mike to "play your g**damn guitars?" and Tom says something like "you shouldn't hold your feelings back" I'd say he gets criticism but doesn't usually listen to it.

I agree Tom gets lazy sometimes. The Last DJ and some parts of Highway Companion showed this. This album had enough good parts to make up for some filler, IMO. Plus it was made in like a week.

It would be awesome to hear some of that same energy from the Lynch years again, though.

quote:

Originally posted by gatorhugger:
Its not a great song. Just a filler to the album. Tom can still make absolute gems, he can also make absolute bland.

I think it's an okay song; however, I find that particular segment very weak compared to the rest of the song.

quote:

(and BTW, how come ANY opinion or analysis but TOM ROCKS! is met with derision? That is weak in itself)

You are so right!

Both Hwy companion and Mudcrutch are sprinkled with genius and some of his best work in years.
Both also have yawners.

But we are just spoiled, every artist in music history has had average songs.
Tom wrote so much excellent music (77-91) in so short of a time, it's hard to live up to his own standards sometime.
I'll take what I can get though, cause when he hits it hard, its out of the park. He can still slam some like nobody else

Yea, Maria is a skipper. I think it was the only one he skipped himself at a few Mudcrutch shows. I also find myself skipping June Apple because there is no words to sing along with. But that's it, the rest I love. Topanga Cowgirl is not in my top 10 on the CD, but this guy in the front row in Chicago said that was his favorite Mudcrutch song. I bet there is someone out there that "Maria" speaks to.

I didn't like Topanga Cowgirl at first - it took too long to start and seemed too rough. Recently I listened to the whole thing and I really liked the guitar solo part which elevated the song above a "skipper" to me.

I think it is a good song at heart. If they had done another take or two the song would be a lot better, IMO.

I like 'Maria'. I don't find it weak. Emotion is not weakness.
I like Topanga Cowgirl. You can almost feel that big Quarterhorse butt prancing. I like how Tom calls the parts in. It doesn't seem to take long to wind up.
Its a departure from what I expected...and its not. It's kind of hard to explain. I like it the more I listen to it. As for the listener who can't sing along to June Apple...who'd want to? The keys are just bubblin' on that one. Its crazy. In my mind I see a country round dance with the gents in string ties and the ladies in full gingham dresses, going absolutely berzerk and many winding up spent flat out on the dance floor.
There ought to be a step to that one...something to rival the Macarana...

^ha ha ha Me too!

I kept saying, I must have danced to this before. How could you not do the double clap with your hands and stomp your feet?

I think people thought I was from Mars.

quote:

Originally posted by bluegill:
I like 'Maria'. I don't find it weak. Emotion is not weakness.

I meant the vocals on the chorus are weak; not that the lyrics are weak.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: witilinki,

witi, we'll have to agree to disagree.
FFE, we need to choreograph this thing.
How do you see this happening?
I see two single sex lines, moving toward and away, four steps each way.
Somewhere, they have to break into spins, single link on the arms.
That way, you can get proper centrifical force when they drop arms, fly into space, perhaps being stopped by the walls, or perhaps breaking right on through.
Of course, no one allowed on the dance floor without proof of current medical insurance.
There will be screaming. (Who said the song had no words?)

No seriously...
4 steps forward, 4 steps back
(repeat)
These steps should have a lot of garbage on them: bent knees, stomps and low kicks. I would encourage some sort of counted dressage kick for uniformity.

I can't think of a segue into a prominade, so a caller would have to shout it out. (I'm mad at myself for not joining the local square dance group a few years back! This would be much easier.)

I would make the prominade an elbow link-up that goes to a nice extended arm to the lady type of thing. Kicks would still be happening. Finishing with a twirl.

Form up in circles of 8, in tight, hands in the air, and out. (I guess I should be listening to this while I do this, but my CD is in my car which is in the shop.) Repeat.

Fade apart and back into lines to start over
???
What do you think?

It's weak.

quote:

Originally posted by gatorhugger:

(and BTW, how come ANY opinion or analysis but TOM ROCKS! is met with derision? That is weak in itself)

And by the same token, why is that when someone compliments the Heartbreakers work, you deem it necessary to hop, skip and jump right in with your opine on how the poster is wrong and proceed to discuss how you think it should be and go way the fuck out of your way to tell every one you don't like this and that, Tom's too old, Old Petty is better than New Petty, and to reiterate, dude, you're wearing it out.

Jeez.... Lets see, in 21 days, you've made 150 posts. Aside from your detour to discuss the poster you bought on eBay and lied to your wife about, your posts are all the same. When you start to bring something to the table, then folks won't be so tired of you.

And what's really spooky is you seem to have a fetish about fat old women at concerts.

what the hell do you bring Jones?
I discuss albums and songs.
What the fuck else is there to do on a message board for a rock band?
Want me to teach you to Fly fish?

Dont be an asshole and follow me around because you are fat. Just do Jenny Craig, drope the weight and feel great.

quote:

Originally posted by gatorhugger:
what the hell do you bring Jones?
I discuss albums and songs.
What the fuck else is there to do on a message board for a rock band?
Want me to teach you to Fly fish?

Dont be an asshole and follow me around because you are fat. Just do Jenny Craig, drope the weight and feel great.

Reread your posts. You're one bitter, angry ...individual.

Your words have undertones of bitterness and resentment toward everything associated with Tom Petty and it is very palpable in your posts, and you slam people's opinions with name-calling, etc.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: witilinki,

I think "Oh Maria" might be my favorite song on the mudcrutch album. Beautiful songwriting. That song has great imagery ('waits for the rain to fall down on her tongue,' 'if i had money i'd buy her a rose, dress her in gold from her head to her toes').
I think the chorus is weak vocally, but its the spontaneity of the recording that they wanted to maintain and it's almost like Tom's whining for the character, because he loves her so much...like a ohhh maria.
But a lot of other ppl I know who have this album, dont like it, and I personally love it

I could use some fly fishing lessons.
I lurch all over the place and attract too much attention.
If in a boat, I have the wicked habit of dipping my pole tip both fore and aft.
My cast never exceeds 12'. This is frustrating because I'm putting so much of myself into it.
If on shore, you can bet that I'll be tangled 30 feet in the most unclimbable tree. Tell me how I can sign up.
...I think the fish laugh at me.
(hi mikemono )

It was the first song I really listened to over and over on the album... It's fun to sing, and has good lyrics.

I agree. It sticks with you. The imagery is odd, but so is life. Here you have this rather hopeless situation, but just because another person cares for her so much, its somehow hopeful. The fact that she doesn't even know this makes it poetic and sad. As has been well said before: It's a cleverly crafted song.