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Pop Talk
With David Segal
Washington Post Music Critic
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002; 1 p.m.

For a few years, he played guitar and sang in a deeply terrible cover band, the Bremers. The highlight of the group's show was a stalker version of "Leavin' on a Jet Plane," which was retitled "You're NOT Leavin' on a Jet Plane." He's been at The Post for going on eight years, first as a Book World editor, then a Business section reporter and finally as pop music critic. He enjoys the work and would like to point out that he is writing his bio, even though it's written in the third person, like someone else wrote it. Segal is doing that so he appears more important than he is, which is hilarious when you think about it!

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

David Segal: I'm here, folks.

Let's get going. First, can someone please please please explain the allure of the Donnas? I don't get it. Sounds plain old derivative to me, and I'm guessing if men were making this music rather than women, they'd have a tough time getting an opening slot at Jaxx. What the hell am I missing here?

Which suggests a topic for this chat: crappy rhymes. I swear on the new Donnas album there's a line that goes roughly like this: "Why are you so moody/Is it because you don't get enough booty?"

Can you top, or bottom, that? Send me the worst rock couplets you know.

Let's go!

Jefferson, MD.: Anyone see the opening band at the Elvis show on the 26th? Anyone think they were as god-awful as I did? I think they were called NRBQ, and the keyboardist wore a Walmart vest. I tried to laugh, believe me.

I saw Elvis back in June when Joe Henry opened. He didn't steal the show, but he was at least enjoyable. I was in the lawn seats (lucky me), and I don't think the crowd even knew he was on stage. But boy, did the people love NRBQ. Am I just missing out on their greatness, or does anyone think the crowd was just ruder in general at Wolf Trap? Actually, I think I know the answer to the second question, but the first is still bothering me.

Also, Elvis made a comment on the band later on in the night, and all I heard him say was that they were "the best band in America right now." Both my friend and my dad said he was taking a jab at them, but I couldn't really tell. Anyone know what he was talking about?

Overall, fun show. I got to see a grown man dance a jig at 70 mph.

David Segal: I heard from our reviewer that the Elvis show at Constitution Hall was superb. Didn't hear anything about NRBQ, though I very much doubt that EC was potshotting them when he said he liked them. I'd be that Elvis gets to choose his opening acts. I've never been a huge NRBQ guy myself, though I think their long ago single, "Me and the Boys," is absolutely wonderful.

Buzzard Point, DC: Any thoughts on Bob Mould moving to DC? Seems like an interesting choice for scenes for him. He was great Sunday, though the Birchmere, being a sit down joint, seemed like an odd choice for him to show of the tunes from Modulate.

To balance my odd musical tastes, I'll be checking out Cross Canadian Ragweed at Iota on Saturday. Thank god for XM, it's opened my eyes to some cool bands.

David Segal: I think it's kind of cool that Mould moved to D.C. Word I hear is that he did so because his partner wanted to live in this city, which has gained a reputation as one of the great towns for gays, apparently. At any rate, Mould is pretty transient. Weird trivia: Do you all recall that before he got back into music he was writing story lines for one of the professional wrestling leagues? How odd is that?

Kensington, Md: Hi David,

How much autonomy do you have in choosing what you review and write? I'd like to believe that some dopey editor MADE you review Christina Aguilera and the manikins from American Idol. And if you did choose to review these two, why?

And what do you think of all the fuss over Sigur Ros?

Thanks

David Segal: I confess that I get to choose this stuff. I confess that before I started writing the Aguilera review I was thinking, "Why on earth am doing this?" But I think I'm obliged to do two things as a critic: one is scour the planet for interesting, undeservedly obscure music and the other is to write about what is popular now. I've got to say that both are fun, though writing about what's popular now is a lot easier. The American Idol show, it must be said, was kind of amazing to behold in its own.

Sigur Ros, it seems to me, are pushing things a little too far. I mean, they can't name their album, or their songs? I really appreciate how new that sound is, how dedicated they are to avoiding every pop cliche and striving for something original. I just wish they took themselves a little less seriously. I have a hard time feeling reverent for a whole show, without some wink from performers that either A) they're enjoying themselves or B) they've got a sense of humor. But maybe asking for lightness from Sigur Ros is liking asking for dramatic tension in a Three Stooges short. Aint gonna happen.

Wheaton, MD: I was reading your bio in the "live online" section of the post. I was just wondering... is there any groups you like that don't suck? Thanks

David Segal: Yes. I'll name a few that I've been loving lately. The Black Heart Procession, who put on a great show on Friday night at the Black Cat. I loved watching Fountains of Wayne last night at the 9:30. I LOVE the new Clipse album, a rap duo who have truly made the hip-hop debut record of the year with "When the Last Time?" I can't stop listening to this tribute album to Lee Hazelwood (sp?) the songwriter of "These Boots Were Made For Walkin.'" Bands that I've never known about, like Kid Loco and Madrugada, deliver the goods on that one. I raved about this duo called Mr. Airplane Man a few weeks ago. I love an album the Compulsive Gamblers called "Crystal Gazing, Luck Amazing."

I could go on.

Washington, D.C>: Did you see that you won a seat on the Providence City Council with a whopping 38.6 percent of the vote? (Providence Journal Online)

Any relation?

David Segal: Don't know the man, I'm afraid to say.

New York, N.Y.: David, have you heard the new David Gray record? I'm a huge fan of his, but on first listen, was a little disappointed with what I heard -- your thoughts?

David Segal: I was impressed by it. Seems like he's sticking with his original 7 spices recipe of folk with jazzy, slightly hip-hop beats, which is fine because it's not a bad recipe. He's got the gift of melody, I'll tell you that.

Govt. Work-a-Holic: A friend has been pushing the Doves on me lately and yesterday sent a profile of them from allmusic.com. He commented that he didn't really agree with the reviewers in this case, but generally the comments are solid. Do you ever go to allmusic.com and what are some of the other music reviewing sites that you would recommend? Oh yeah...what do you think of the Doves?

David Segal: When I review a band I usually head to their web site -- all bands have one now -- and I'll check out allmusic and I'll browse the archives of Rolling Stone and perhaps Nexus what's been said about the band in the NYT. Mostly, though I listen to the albums, both the new and the back catalogue. I kind of like the Doves, myself.

Oh, I should have added to the stuff I like list this band Interpol. Hail from New York but populated with Brits who clearly love all things Manchester -- the Smiths and Joy Division, most obviously. Fairly poppy, but plenty of gloomy atmosphere, too.

Columbia MD: Dave, my condolences to you on your having to attend the American Idol concert. So were the moms there giving you the evil eye like they did at the N-Sync concert a while ago?

David Segal: I didn't get too many evil eyes this time. Not sure I ever shared this story and forgive if you've heard it before, but a year or so ago, I went to watch Hanson at the Warner Theater and of course it was packed with 14 year old girls and their moms. One of those moms came by and said, "Um, are you a Hanson fan?" Clear subtext: "Um, are you freakin' pervert who wants to prey on my daughter?" She relaxed when I told here I was there for work.

New York, NY: I love your 10 favorite songs articles. Have you considered doing Aimmee Mann or Liz Phair?

David Segal: Haven't, no. But those are good ideas. I like Liz Phair more than Aimee Mann, mostly because I've just seen so many pieces about Ms. Mann.

Next up for a My Top Ten: Little Steven Van Zandt, who is not merely in two of the greatest, coolest families in pop culture these days, but also has THE greatest radio show in America, Little Steven's Underground Garage. I can't recommend this thing highly enough people. Runs on Sunday nights at 10:30, for two hours, on 94.7, the classic rock station. This is must-hear radio. Great tunes from the past five decades, all them guitar-based and a little raw. Ramones, Yardbirds and stuff you'll be glad to hear for the first time, like the Model Rockets. Go to hardrock.com to see his previous playlists or listen to archived shows. It's just a joy.

Rocky Top, Tennesee (which is a DC suburb): The Donnas? C'mon, Dave, what fun-loving rock band -isn't- derivative? They're not challenging the notion of what constitutes rock and/or roll, like the Radioheads of the world, they're just having fun and inviting you along (and their couplets aren't any worse than, say, KISS). Yeah, they're shamelessly Ramones-esque, but that ain't necessarily a bad thing.
And as for equally derivative guy bands who've been able to get away with it...shall we compare/contrast the Hives with any number of bands on the NUGGETS box set? The White Stripes with the Blues Explosion? The Strokes with the Velvets? (nb: I'm not arguing against any of them contemporary bands I'm citing, I love 'em all...but they aren't the most original bands in the world, and I say "who cares?")

David Segal: I just think that the Strokes are making sounds that, while borrowed from obvious places, are also synthesized in original ways. I mean, you could imagine a band coming out and trying to imitate the Strokes and people would say "they're just doing the Strokes." But if you imitated the Donnas, people would just wonder why you were stealing from the Ramones. Or in the case of their new album, some generic 80s rock. I take your point: no band is free from big influences. The Beatles were a cover band obsessed by girl groups and Chuck Berry when they started out, but they evolved into something wholly their own. The Donnas, it seems, haven't bothered.

MUSIC REVIEWS: Dave, I find I'm spending a lot of time searching for new (to me) music, you being one of my sources. Don't you find that Rolling Stone doesn't really have anything bad to say about anyone? New albums seem to be 3 and 4 star all of the time. Plus, it's almost pornographic at times.

David Segal: Well, they've got this new lad magazine editor and he's giving it the X-rated feel. I had a copy of the magazine on my elevator a couple weeks ago and I swear I was covering it up, as though I was bringing home a Hustler.

I think though that one of the things the guy is doing is expanding the number of reviews, while chopping them down to smaller size. So I see plenty of new and hard to fine artists in their pages. I do agree that they arrive at the table with some inclination to like stuff that perhaps isn't worth of their affection. I don't know why. Maybe they feel like they need to be nice in order to get artists to sit for interviews. Or maybe the cranky middle aged guy approach to wondering, out loud, "What's with the Donnas?" would prove their entirely out of step with the 22 year old readers they are now striving hard to lure back.

slip you the mickey: Dave - I think WHEATON successfully slipped you the mickey.

"Are there any bands you like that don't suck?"

In otherwords, "I hate every band that you like."

Cheers.

David Segal: Ah. I missed that nuance. But I stand by the content of my first answer. I think the bands I mentioned don't suck.

DC-: Elvis was not joshing about loving NRBQ. Many years ago, in his first big interview anywhere, in Rolling Stone, in the early 80s, perhaps, after years of not talking to the press, Elvis said he'd rather see NRBQ play in a bar than most of the so-called top acts of the day. And in a bar is the best place to see NRBQ. I won't waste bandwidth trying to convince a naysayer that his/her tastes are wrong, but suffice it to say that there are many out there who've long loved NRBQ and consider them one of the best and tightest live acts ever with a unique understanding of what rock is, and a sound that incorporates many different forms of American music. One may argue that they're not as compelling without their longtime lead guitarist, the great Al Anderson, but they've still 'got it.'

David Segal: Thanks.

Dupont Circle, Washington DC: What is Stephen Merritt of the Magnetic Fields up to these days? I never hear anything about him.

David Segal: Well, he was in town two weeks ago with one of his several side projects, Future Bible Heros. I missed the show. Also, he released some solo material for the soundtrack for a film about eight months ago. I can't recall the name of the movie, called Eban & Charley. For more details about Merrit's creative life check out this:


http://stephinsongs.wiw.org/

Bottom-feeding lyrics: I am, I said
To no one there
And no one heard at all
Not even the chair

Need I say more?

David Segal: That's pretty great. Nice pull.

NRBQ : I am a die-hard -Former- NRBQ band. Terry Adams may be the heart of the group, but "Big Al" Anderson was the soul. He left the group in 1994 to become a Nashille song-writer, and has had more success doing that than in the 20 years with the 'Q. All my fav songs were his (Me and the Boys, Riding in My Car, Crazy (like a fox)). I haven't listened to NRBQ since.

I would also recommend Big Al's solo album, "Pay before you pump".

David Segal: Thank you. Good ideas.

NRBQ: NRBQ is one of America's great bands period
though when guitarist Al Anderson left the band 10 years ago they lost quite a bit of their soul (kind of like seeing The Who after Keith Moon). Terry, Joey, and Tommy are superb musicians who have been recruited by major league bands at one time or the other but have passed on stardom to remain true to their music. They are at their best in your favortie bar. The 2cd anthology-Peek-a-Boo-that came out on Rhino in 1990 is a good way to experience the unique musical stylings of NRBQ. True Originals.

David Segal: Another vote for NRBQ.

Bethesda, MD: The Aguilera review was last week, but there was no chat, so: what's the deal with her? There are two things I consider unforgivable in -female- singers who actually have the voice and means to have a decent career: to waste their voices in stupid pop and pseudo-soul tunes, and to base a big chunk of their marketing in their half-naked bodies.

It used to be that Mariah Carey carried the flag here, but the young Aguilera is so absolutely whorey and pathetic! After reading your review, I saw this month's Rolling Stone cover where she poses demurely hiding her -bleep - the producers would, anyway] with a leg and a guitar. Dolly Parton's famous "it takes a lot of money to look this cheap" doesn't even begin to describe this woman.

And I'm no prude or object to nudity, I personally adore Prince's "Lovesexy" cover, but that was fun.

David Segal: Weird thing about Ms. A is that she's got actual talent, enough so that she doesn't need to cavort like a hooker.

Cap Hill Grrl: Did you read Frank Rich's piece on Eminem in the NY Times mag this Sunday? Articles like that -- humanizing him, disarming him, giving the noise a soul -- are going to be that boy's downfall.

David Segal: Interesting idea. But I think that we're going to see a lot of different Em's in upcoming years. He hinted in that piece that he could be making profoundly different music in the coming decade, if he doesn't abandon the mic for production credits. His hunch, probably right, is that if just sticks with his sociopath, nasty-boy image, it'll seem fake and get tiresome after a while. Very few artists have the stuff to transition out of their kid images. My money's on Em, though. I think he's a genius.

By the way, I'd bet with Britney, too. They say she's over now, whoever they are. I don't believe. She's got something, not least of which is a bunch of best image makers and sound makers in the biz. She'll be back.

Rolling Stone is irrelevant: Completely corporate, it is a rock and roll cliche, it has no edge at all. It is tiger beat without the hearts. Why would anyone but a horny 15 year old waste his time on this pap?

David Segal: You know, my editor a few months back brought home a Rolling Stone circa 1973 and you can't believe what that magazine was. First, it was smart and very subversive. Assumed you were ready to read 4,000 words on a lot of different subjects. It would take you two weeks just to read this thing. It's stunning to see the new RS in the light of the old RS. But Wenner has always wanted the thing to appeal to a certain age group and apparently he's decided that this is what 22 year olds want these days. Lots of photos and lots of teeny weeny pieces.

Bad Lyrics: No place for hidin' baby
No place to run
You pull the trigger of my
Love gun

Pretty much any KISS lyrics fit the bill. But I still love 'em.

David Segal: That's quality.

Washington, D.C.: Re: worst rock couplets: Anything and everything by the Moody Blues. They're responsible for what are undoubtedly the stupidest lyrics ever written in the English language.

David Segal: Send examples!

Silver Spring, MD: What is your favorite rock/pop album so far this year?

David Segal: Well, at the moment its the Black Heart Procession's Tropico D'Amour. (I might have the spelling wrong, but you get the idea.) Very beautiful, very lush, very obsessed with the idea that love is both the remedy and the poison, that romance is both the thing will kill you and the thing that will save you. Ask me next week and I'll give you a different answer, but for the time being, these guys are really fascinating and they make truly haunting sounds.

London, England: The Doves? There not an offshoot of Flock of Seagulls are they?

David Segal: There are a lot of bird bands, aren't there? Starting with the Byrds.

McLean, VA: Whose CD should I buy this week - David Gray or Justin Timberlake??

David Segal: I'd go with Justin's if you can manage to buy the album at a store where nobody will see you. Or order online! Nobody will know you've gone Timberlake. I just think the Neptunes, who produced the album, are geniuses. They, by the way, produced Clipse and the beats and songs on that thing just kill.

Los Angeles: Do you have favorite female singers, songwriters, musicians?

And finally we agree on something: David Gray is amazing.

David Segal: In my humble, Kim Deal of the Breeders is great, Liz Phair is great, Sheryl Crow has at times been great, Emmylou Harris is extraordinary. I really love Kitty Wells, the queen of country, and Patsy Cline, her only rival to that title. Alison Krause -- amazing. India.Arie and Ms. Badu are outstanding. I really like Missy Elliot, too. I could go on.

Paul Weller's great but.....: when he formed the Style Council he became about as poetic as a Soviet history book. To whit: "Governments crack and systems fall; 'cause unity is powerful!" Or "Ronald Reagan is the king, Margaret Thatcher is the queen. The nuclear arms race is their wedding ring."

David Segal: Damn, that's pretty bad. I had no idea. Maybe I was too busy hopping up and down to notice the Jam's lyrics, but I'm guessing that if I listened to Smithers-Jones, that violin number from their "Setting Sons" album, I'd cringe. Ridiculously heavy handed, in hindsight.

Washington, D.C.: In addition to the sociopath/bad boy thing, I think Eminem is really going to have to get off the whole "I hate my mom...no, really, I really hate her. I want to kill her" vibe. It's getting to the point where it's coming across as whiny rather than powerful. This album he accuses her of Munchausen's by proxy. What's next?

David Segal: I wish I'd thought of that 'by proxy' line when I wrote my review. Yes, the story of his hate of mom is getting a little old. The wonder is that the guy is basically putting into verse the very thing you hear every day on Jenny Jones and Maury Povich, and yet's often very compelling. Personally, I prefer his glib, on the edge of a breakdown whack-job stuff, rather than the wounded child stuff.

Washington, D.C.: Britney'll be back...

he says hopefully, wistfully, plaintively, desperately.

c'mon, just admit your love for her. you wouldn't be an american male if you didn't.

David Segal: Oh, I think I made that confession a while ago. She's lovely, it's true, but there are ton of lovelies out there who'll never come close to Britney. You need to see her live to understand this. She actually can put on a show. Whether she can entertain 25 year olds in a few years is a tough question. But I wouldn't rule it out.

Awful Rhymes: Take me down to the Paradise city
where the grass is green and the girls are pretty.

David Segal: That's not good.

Washington, D.C.: Did a quick search at my local ticket outlet, and it seems plenty of tickets remain for Guns 'n Roses. Any intrigue there for ya, Dave? Are you going to go check out Axl?

David Segal: Oh, I'll be there. Couldn't miss that. It's funny, the reputation of that band has just grown and grown over the years. The less they do, the more we like them. Kind of the opposite problem of the Rolling Stones, whose new albums have done them no favors.

A perfect rhyme: "Everybody's rapping like it's a commercial,
Acting like life is a big commercial."
-Beastie Boys (Mike D I think) - Pass the Mic
I guess a word can't rhyme any better than with itself.

David Segal: That's excellent!

Cap Hill Grrl: There's a country singer, Pat Green, who has a song, West Texas Holiday, with the line

"Well we head out for the open plains/Where the birds they flow like wine/We hunt them up then we shoot them down/Man it makes me feel so fine"

-shudder-

David Segal: Wow. That's horrid. I'm guessing the Nuge has come up some bad lyrics. His new album has a song called "My Baby Likes My Butter on her Gritz."

Bad couplet: So Happy Together
How is the weather

David Segal: Somebody was defending that couplet a few weeks ago, oddly enough.

eminem defense: Okay, I don't like rap music (but I haven't even tried). And from what I hear, I wouldn't like Eminem (violent and misogynistic) but haven't given him a listen.

So, what makes him a genius? Why should I give this guy a chance to earn my respect? Or should I be scared that so many people seem to respect him?

David Segal: He's a superb lyric writer, highly inventive, highly observant, brilliant at stoking controversy and anticipating his critics and pleading guilty to all the charges brought against him. He's got an original personality, no question, and he realized it, I'm sure because as a white guy he couldn't say, I'm dangerous because I've got a gun and I'm going to kill. That'd be too much of an imitation. Also, Dr. Dre creates a lot of his music and most of it is inspired.

Washington, D.C.: Who/What is a Buckethead?

David Segal: I've never read the guy's real name. But quite a shtick, huh? Running around with a KFC bucket on your head.

Sheryl Crow: I read through (didn't buy) this unauthorized bio on Crow, and it seems pretty clear from it as well as reading the credits of any one of her albums that she isn't the mastermind behind her music. Others write, she makes suggestions, changes of a few words etc. I have lost considerable respect for her over the years, with the latest CD being the culmination of everything bad. And ironically, among my favorite albums is her second self-titled release which showed great potential. After that, she decided hanging out with Don Henley and Eric Clapton, wearing close to nothing was more important than quality music.

David Segal: I'm sure you're right about that because for her last album, she says, she started off writing these very depressed songs, and then switched to some pretty bland pop tunes. I never heard her explain the change, but I'm guessing it's because someone said, hey, this won't sell.

Ok, I'm out of here people. Sorry about the hour delay. Thank you for playing the feud. Apologies for not getting to a lot of questions. Really, an hour isn't nearly enough. But send 'em again in two weeks!

Til then,

Rock on with your bad selves.

David

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