I was reading the Bitchdork review of that new Mats song, and they mention "Little Mascara" and "Swinging Party." So, for the last half hour, I have been humming "Little Mascara."

Now, much to the chagrin of some of the folks on this board who LURV the Mats, I have never really been a fan. Yeah, I have some discs, but their music has never "Hit Me." and I know that if I go to my truck and put on Let it Be, I will eject it half way through the third song, cos it will sound boring.

So, how are they simultaneously catchy enough for me to hum at the drop of a hat, yet kinda boring and meh enough for me to not make it through a full listen?

You need to be drunk for optimal listening to this band. that's what i'd reccomend.

Maybe you only like a few of their songs.

Because you're brain damaged.

Senator, as much as you don't want to hear it, that is the same way that I feel about DBT.

Alternative thread title:

Here's an observation no one will care about, Part Deux

I think the Mats have had a quick succession of imitators who have aped their sound so well that it has served to dilute its potency. Think: Goo Goo Dolls, for example.

Try to imagine hearing them for the first time in 1982, as a thrashy boozy punk band and then watching their evolution into the pop band they became, and you can see how people got carried away with them. Maybe it just doesn't hold up?

I tend to lean toward the theory of too many imitators being too ubiquitous. The originals sound like just another faceless outfit.

Maybe just listen to Tim then? All things being equal, if I feel like listening to the Mats, I'll always grab that album over Let it Be.

So that's what happened to the Stones.

No.
They just started writing nothing but crappy songs around the time of Emotional Rescue.

I dont know, cause they're pretty fuckin' JAIL.

After doing what I said I would, I think I like what I hear, but maybe the production keeps the jail factor down?

They don't seem to be BRINGING IT....

That's part of the whole Mats thing. That a group of four dropouts could make some music to rule the world, but oh shit that's scary let's throw in "Dose of Thunder" or "Gary's Got a Boner" oh good now no one is watching us whew that was close.

It's rock music made by kids that took little talent and no future and parlayed it into something special that captures all sorts of real human emotions about failure & success while being utterly frustrated by failure and terrified of success and how to hold onto it. It's inherently flawed and messy, but when it's on it's on, and when it's bad, it's pretty bad.

I also feel the same about DBT, but without as much behind it. They have some good songs, but others bore me to tears.

But now you went and defined about 85% of the music that all of us listen to. Were they great at helping create this genre (I think so) or at aping it?

You are not playing them loud enough. Try that and call me in the morning.

Thread needs more Willie Nile.

Don't remember where I read this quote about them, but I always liked it :

"Their idea of inspiration was crashing into a snowbank & coming out on the other side with a 6-pack."

Also - I was a little disappointed ( unsatisfied? ) that this thread wasn't about the legendary "vomit on the ceiling" incident.