Metallica <------> Leo Kottke

;ivlunsdystf · Post by **;ivlunsdystf** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:49 pm

Somehow I was never exposed to any of Metallica's stuff except the "One" video until this, my 32nd year of life. I am now up to my neck in "Ride the Lightning" and "Master of Puppets". It is interesting to hear this stuff now. It's actually pretty nifty stuff.

It's always weird to hear something so seminal for the first time. My wife has nostalgia for seventh grade when she hears "For Whom the Bell Tolls". I only have my untainted ears for Metallica.

The point I hope to make in this post is that their songwriting has much in common with the songs of Leo Kottke: The songs progress through short ostinato-based episodes which are presented one after the other much like a slideshow. There is not a huge amount of thematic continuity. Unlike Leo Kottke, though, everything seems to be in E minor.

Beg to differ if you must.

JGriffin · Post by **JGriffin** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 9:42 pm

I won't beg to differ...I'm just amazed to read the comparison, as it never would have occurred to me. I'm a bigger Kottke fan than a Metallica fan, but I'll have to listen to some Metallica with an ear towards that thought.

r0ck1r0ck2 · Post by **r0ck1r0ck2** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 1:50 am

you're both gigantic maniacs..
shocking..

and dear TaterTot..
you are one lucky chap to have escaped Metalliaca till your 32nd year..

they are part of the reason i have nothing but comtempt/hate for metal..

lancebug · Post by **lancebug** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 8:11 am

I think it should have been formatted as a poll:
Metallica or Kottke?

;ivlunsdystf · Post by **;ivlunsdystf** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 1:35 pm

I just hope Leo Kottke never hears anything about this topic.

mingus2112 · Post by **mingus2112** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:05 pm

Tatertot wrote: Unlike Leo Kottke, though, everything seems to be in E minor.

edited: one reviewing my post i realized that anymore than ONE rofl is tacky. . .I am still, however, rolling on the floor laughing!

-James

JGriffin · Post by **JGriffin** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:16 pm

r0ck1r0ck2 wrote:you're both gigantic maniacs..
shocking..

and dear TaterTot..
you are one lucky chap to have escaped Metalliaca till your 32nd year..

they are part of the reason i have nothing but comtempt/hate for metal..

Wait, why am I a maniac again?

r0ck1r0ck2 · Post by **r0ck1r0ck2** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:21 pm

ummm that was the booze + good time after a dj gig talking..
no insult intended...

JGriffin · Post by **JGriffin** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:23 pm

Wasn't insulted, merely confused.

;ivlunsdystf · Post by **;ivlunsdystf** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:53 am

I am beginning to have 'listener's remorse' and I am starting to be weary of the endless thud-thud of e minor riffs with the endless click-click of the bass drum and last night I couldn't fall asleep because I had "Master of Puppets" running through my head -

Now I understand why people roll their eyes at the mention of Metallica -

I stand by my Leo Kottke comparison though (and I adore Leo Kottke - his song "The Last of the Arkansas Greyhounds" is as good as anything else I've ever heard from any genre)

EDIT: Oh - one more thing - I think Metallica's sound was designed for cassette as the ultimate destination - the collision of superhigh frequencies is almost too much to bear when I listen to the CD remastered versions, but I bet it would sound just about perfect (relatively speaking) if I copied it onto a Maxell XLII for listening. The cassette would absorb some of that icy distortion and soften the edges. Too much work though.

SaneMan · Post by **SaneMan** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:54 pm

Hey, I've never heard Leo, although I've heard lots about him.

Could someone recommend me a good introductory album? I'd much appreciate it.

JGriffin · Post by **JGriffin** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 11:14 pm

SaneMan wrote:Hey, I've never heard Leo, although I've heard lots about him.

Could someone recommend me a good introductory album? I'd much appreciate it.

"Ice Water."

;ivlunsdystf · Post by **;ivlunsdystf** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 11:16 pm

I highly recommend his first (I think) long player, "Songs for 6 and 12 string Guitar" - it has a drawn black and white cover - very nice; holds up to repeated listens much better than "St. Anger" anyway....

Snarky · Post by **Snarky** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 12:01 am

Yea, the stuff sounds way better on cassette, as does most 80's and 90's thrash and metal. The way they mixed it down just never translates to CD well. You should hear Slayer's "Reign in Blood" on vinyl. Completley different record. I forgot I owned some Leo Kotte, I'll have to go see if I can find a comparison.

BTW, nothing metallica made after "...and justice for all..." is worth a crap, IMHO.

Being a huge metal fan, my friend just turned me on to Celtic Frost. I can't belive I waited 29 years to hear "morbid tales". I feel I missed out on so much. Sun Ra and Rashaan Roland Kirk were late finds as well. Late finds are cool though, they keep ya humble and listening, and you're like "how did I live without this???"

Kinda like when I picked up Tape Op for the 1st time..........

Justine_X · Post by **Justine_X** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 12:06 am

Ahhh... Metallica. The drama, the controversy. Sigh.

The only album I still listen to is Kill 'em All. The novelty of the other albums pretty much has fallen away. For me, too technical, serious, monotonous... scooped, palm-muted. Blah.

Kill 'em All on the other hand is Marshall & Rat, raw and grungy... immature. Love it.

Morbid Tales ---> Same vibe to me... early-to-mid 80's metal innocence

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Metallica <------> Leo Kottke

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