Yep, the BEAT sure is the thing !

The wilder I can shake my ass to a tune, the better I love it !

But what attracts me first, more than a specific sound or instrument, is an emotion. I don't really care about the lyrics, guitar sound or musical ability as long as it makes me shake or scream or laugh or cry or whatever...I just got to FEEL something !

That said, I love chainsaw guitars, screaming distortions, reverb and tremolo, wild'n'possessed vocals, jungle tribal percussions, throbbing basses, haunted organs, bass crooners ala screamin' Jay and Mickey Mouse teenagers ala Ray Hummel III, the sound of wood you can feel with the double-bass, crazy tom-toms, sexual pulsations of an almost erotic beat and so much more... But not necessarily in the same song ! 

And I hate guitar solos !!!

Ain't it the gospel.....IN '86 ,WHEN I HAD A RADIO SHOW IN DALLAS , THE HARDCORE PEOPLE WERE THE BIGGEST BABIES , IN TERMS OF COMPLAINING THAT I PLAYED TOO MUCH GARAGE AND ROCKABILLY FOR THEIR LIKING. THEY'RE PROBABLY TELLING THEIR FRIENDS HOW 'OLD SCHOOL GARAGE " THEY ARE , NOW. TO BE FAIR , I KNEW A GUY WHO LISTENED TO NOTHING BUT HARDCORE , HAD AT LEAST 100 HC RECORDS. ONE DAY , HE BROUGHT AN ELEVATORS LP HOME. I DON'T THINK HE STOPPED LISTENING TO HARDCORE OUTRIGHT , AND NO ONE WAS SAYING HE SHOULD HAVE , BUT , NEXT THING YOU KNEW , HE WAS GROWING HIS HAIR OUT , WEARING 60'S PRINT SHIRTS , AND HE TURNED UP IN A (DESERVEDLY) POPULAR PSYCH BAND. NEVER HEARD HIM PLAY MUCH HC , AS DALLAS DID'NT HAVE ANY HARDCORE BANDS......

I basically agree with what Melissa said below. Can't pinpoint what makes a song "go," but I know it when it shows up.

As for drummers, if the guy is too overbearing or can't carry a groove, then the whole thing just goes down the tubes. I realized this in the late 90s when too many former hardcore drummers started trying to play garage-rock.
 
melissa scott said:

Drummer -- I can put up with average, competent guitar-playing and average vocals, but if the drummer isn't any good, I'm pretty much GORN.

That said, it's not one thing you can put your finger, or should I say, ear on that makes something work.

TO ME , IT DEPENDS ON THE SONG. A SCREAMING LEAD GUITAR OR A KEYBOARD THAT BLEEDS THRU THE MIX , BUT , SOMEHOW STILL WORKS  , OR A SINGER WHO CAN ACTUALLY SING , OR A BEAT THAT REMINDS PEOPLE "OH , YEAH , IT'S NOT PC , BUT , YOU CAN DANCE TO ROCK'N'ROLL!" , OR A BASS THAT'S NOT DEAFENING (SOMETIMES THE SOUNDMAN'S FAULT.) , SOMETHING STICKS OUT AND HOLDS YOUR INEREST , AND , MAYBE , EVERYTHING ELSE FALLS INTO PLACE. I DON'T HEAR TOO MANY BANDS ACTUALLY USE THE FUZZTONE (SO WOULD THE PRICK WHO STOLE MINE KINDLY BRING IT BACK , NO QUESTIONS ASKED. I KID , THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.) , ...NOT THAT I DID , MUCH , IN THE 80'S AND 90'S.

IF EVERYTHING IS PLAYED AT THE SAME LEVEL , ESPECIALLY IF IT'S ALL JUST IN THE RED , TO WHERE YOU CAN'T MAKE OUT PARTS OF A SONG YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO HEAR , THAT ANNOYS THE HELL OUT OF ME. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE PREFER IT THAT WAY , THO'....
 
John Battles said:

IN LIVE VENUES , THE SOUND MIGHT BE TERRIBLE FOR VARIOUS REASONS. sOMETIMES , THE PA JUST SUCKS , AND SOMETIMES , THE SOUNDMAN IS A FRUSTRATED "DANCE" DJ , WHO CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THE BASS AND DRUMS . WHEN UNTAMED YOUTH FINALLY GOT TO PLAY IN CHICAGO FOR THE FIRST TIME  , 10 YEARS OR MORE AFTER THEY FIRST TRIED TO GET SHOWS , HERE , THE SOUNDMAN HAD THE BASS AND DRUMS JACKED UP SO HIGH , THE GUITAR AND KEYBOARDS , A BIG PART OF UT'S SOUND , WAS RENDERED ALMOST INAUDIBLE. I'D SEEN THEM ONCE , BUT , I WAS STILL FURIOUS ABOUT THIS..........................
Stoned Again Productions said:

Audible vocals are the biggie for me.  If I have to strain to hear what the singer is saying I lose interest.  More so on recordings rather than live shows. At live shows it is expected and common. Besides some venues just have crappy PA's. I know quite a few here in Austin that do. Not always the bands fault. To me the vocals are the most important part of a song. This is from a music listener standpoint, and not a musicians because I can't play music. I have noticed by working with musicians over the years that the two are very different in opinion.

Secondly I pay attention to the guitarist. If he / she is down with some groovin guitar work, rippin solos, fuzz buzz,  I am a fan.

Just a personal preference.

IN LIVE VENUES , THE SOUND MIGHT BE TERRIBLE FOR VARIOUS REASONS. sOMETIMES , THE PA JUST SUCKS , AND SOMETIMES , THE SOUNDMAN IS A FRUSTRATED "DANCE" DJ , WHO CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THE BASS AND DRUMS . WHEN UNTAMED YOUTH FINALLY GOT TO PLAY IN CHICAGO FOR THE FIRST TIME  , 10 YEARS OR MORE AFTER THEY FIRST TRIED TO GET SHOWS , HERE , THE SOUNDMAN HAD THE BASS AND DRUMS JACKED UP SO HIGH , THE GUITAR AND KEYBOARDS , A BIG PART OF UT'S SOUND , WAS RENDERED ALMOST INAUDIBLE. I'D SEEN THEM ONCE , BUT , I WAS STILL FURIOUS ABOUT THIS..........................
Stoned Again Productions said:

Audible vocals are the biggie for me.  If I have to strain to hear what the singer is saying I lose interest.  More so on recordings rather than live shows. At live shows it is expected and common. Besides some venues just have crappy PA's. I know quite a few here in Austin that do. Not always the bands fault. To me the vocals are the most important part of a song. This is from a music listener standpoint, and not a musicians because I can't play music. I have noticed by working with musicians over the years that the two are very different in opinion.

Secondly I pay attention to the guitarist. If he / she is down with some groovin guitar work, rippin solos, fuzz buzz,  I am a fan.

Just a personal preference.

All of the above!

But for me, reverb drenched guitars, primitive jungle beats, the attitude you hear from the band. 

It's all about the 'hooks'. That catchy snippet that goes round in your head & you sing/immitate along to. It can be any of the instuments etc... the more the merrier!

For me, it's all about the song. Style is an extra bonus, & i dont mind crappy recording, or even playing... i'd rather hear a bad recording of a great song, than a great recording of a bad song!

Audible vocals are the biggie for me.  If I have to strain to hear what the singer is saying I lose interest.  More so on recordings rather than live shows. At live shows it is expected and common. Besides some venues just have crappy PA's. I know quite a few here in Austin that do. Not always the bands fault. To me the vocals are the most important part of a song. This is from a music listener standpoint, and not a musicians because I can't play music. I have noticed by working with musicians over the years that the two are very different in opinion.

Secondly I pay attention to the guitarist. If he / she is down with some groovin guitar work, rippin solos, fuzz buzz,  I am a fan.

Just a personal preference.

I did, and thanks for adding, which is what I was hoping for on this thread.  There are a load of things people hear in music that turns them on, and I hope they share it.

kopper said:

You forgot THE BEAT!

Saw The Who on 1971 tour with Wishbone Ash.  They were killer, played over 3 hours.  But, after Moon was gone, for me so was the excitement of seeing The Who live or listening to them on LP.  Entwistle was still solid as hell on bass, but Kenny Jones just couldn't pull his weight on drums.  Townshend's guitar and Daltrey's vocals remained constant but it was Moon and Entwistle that drove the band and without Keith they were running a little bit short on energy.

1965-68 = essential Who

1969-78 = still good, just not great

1981 onward = terrible

I stilll enjoyed their set , last week on TV. Most people agree it was Best of Show. Them , and McCartney. But , I AGREE , WHOEVER THE BASSIST IS , HE'S NOT VERY DISTINCTIVE. Not bad , but , no one's going to just walk into Entwistle's shoes like that. At least Daryl Jones adds something to The Stones' sound , today.  He has'nt REPLACED Bill Wyman , but he's a well above average sideman. They do still sound fresh. Unlike The Beatles , The Who , and even The Stones , have a shitload of great songs most people have never heard.

Love the Who, saw them with Moon & they were the best live act of the 70's era. Saw them with Jones & Zak & still enjoyed them, but being a bass player I found them dull & pedestrian without Entwhistle last week on TV. I listen to them all the time still & they still sound fresh.

Does anyone know of any re-releases or comps of Wray's material with the Moon Men? I found this on Youtube and it's nasty as hell! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vR4SxLWY2w

hmmmm? how may 70 year olds can rock like this?!!!

No, I didn't listen to the song, yes, the squares can have their awful band.

They haven't put out anything good since Sticky Fingers/Exile, and by that time they weren't even punky.

If the public wants a bunch of withered prunes flouncing about onstage/on vinyl, that's their business.

Also,

What is with all of these 60s bands doin' reunion shows? Rock and Roll is s'posed to be about youth, why are there alla these old guys in their 50s and 60s trying to rock out? The wax still sounds great and always will be 'young', fuck comeback shows.

Ick.

Just spotted a song from 2012,

CHEATER SLICKS - Hold On To Your Soul

It's actually pretty, almost [whispers] like early REM, well, the vocals, anyway.

That one's pretty serious rockin'!
 
Juillian Bong said:

Sister leonella by the horrors for me. Deffo a rockin tune. i love the guitar and organ. amazing! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0Mpr0dkjfM

I like garage psychedelia but I guess I guess what I'm doing each day is presenting stuff that suggests that the attitude of 1951 that started with Rocket 88 is still alive and well, no matter what a Major label would tell you.  That first list is the perfect example.

Orange Alibaster Mushroom were (are?) great and I use to listen to them on my mysapce when that website was relelvent.  Guys from the 14th Wray if I remember correctly.
 
ShapelyDice said:

I understand where you're coming from on this thread.  I'm not sure if you're into garage psychedelia, but the Orange Alabaster Mushroom released the Compendium album in 2001, which contained stuff from 1991-92 and 1998-99.  Side B of the album is 1998-99, and if my calculation is correct, that's where you were at yesterday and are at today, respectively. 

Not sure if what I've said is relevant, but that's what sticks out in my mind from those years.  Hope it helps in some way.

Rockin Rod Strychnine said:

Anybody else?  I'm really coming up close to 2000 on my daily countdown (I'm at 1998) and the only thing I can think of is a record I really shouldn't have bought which was Rock Star God by the Makers.

Just listened to all those in a row. Damn fine selections!

Alison said:

Here are some "rocking" songs I have enjoyed since 2000:

2000: Compulsive Gamblers "The Way I Feel About You"
2001: Deadly Snakes "West Texas Sound"
2002: The Von Bondies - "It Came From Japan"
2003: The Kills - "Cat Claw"
2004: Sons and Daughters - "Johnny Cash"
2005: Les Sexareenos - "Everybody Sexareeno"
2006: Jay Reatard - "Blood Visions"
2007: King Khan & the Shrines - "Land of the Freak"
2008: Nobunny - "I am a Girlfriend"
2009: Those Darlins - "Red Light love"
2010: Ty Segall - "My Sunshine"
2011: Night Beats - "Puppet on a String"
2012: King Tuff - "Bad Thing"

I understand where you're coming from on this thread.  I'm not sure if you're into garage psychedelia, but the Orange Alabaster Mushroom released the Compendium album in 2001, which contained stuff from 1991-92 and 1998-99.  Side B of the album is 1998-99, and if my calculation is correct, that's where you were at yesterday and are at today, respectively. 

Not sure if what I've said is relevant, but that's what sticks out in my mind from those years.  Hope it helps in some way.

Rockin Rod Strychnine said:

Anybody else?  I'm really coming up close to 2000 on my daily countdown (I'm at 1998) and the only thing I can think of is a record I really shouldn't have bought which was Rock Star God by the Makers.

No , The Rats definitely were'nt '63 (Probaby '66 OR LATE 65. i FORGET) . THEIR MAGNUM OPUS (as tHE MYSTICS , i THINK....?) WAS "Snoopy". sOME PEOPLE ON YOU TUBE HANDOUT FALSE INFORMATION , WHEN THE TRUTH IS'NT HARD TO FIND....

 (The Rats wasnt '63 , though a youtube clip claims it is, but The Kingsmen's cut of Louie Louie in 63)  I guess Screamin' Jay Hawkins is tickin a few boxes with some earlier stuff... '56 & '57...

That's pretty funny. There were a lot of X-Rated Country songs in the 70's , many of which appear on the soundtrack to "John Waters' Dirty Shame".
 
Mark George Harrison said:

It'd have to b a country song  'I cant remember the last time you blew me, and I cant be arsed to google it!'   or something along those lines??

John Battles said:

I forgot about Mitch Mitchell , but, of course , the "Big" Three , Davey Jones , Steve Marriott and Jack Wild (Well into his teens. Well , I guess they ALL were.), all played The Artful Dodger. Rumors that Ian Anderson was being considered for the part of Mad Dog Fagin in the film version are greatly exaggerated.  "I can't be arsed to google it." THAT'S A SONG TITLE !
 
Mark George Harrison said:

I think the American kid was called 'Spring?', cant remember and cant be arsed to google it.

Davey jones was in long-running soap opera Coronation street and was quite well known, I also read today that Mitch Mitchell was a child actor as well, nearly forgot little Steve Marriott was the Artful Dodger, seems to be the choice for the 'little people' to start their careers.

John Battles said:

Mark George , I don't even remember an American kid on "The Double Deckers" , but , I think gas was about 75 CENTS A GALLON THE LAST TIME I saw it.....Yep , Lil' Mickey Dolenz and "Circus Boy" , what'd Davey do before "Oliver!"? He may have merely been mistaken for a child ! No , I'm sure he went back futher than that.....But , Brandon Cruz , Butch Patrick , Robbie Rist , and Mason Reese all turned up in Punk or New Wave bands.

Dick Dodd of The Standells , of course , was one of The Mousketeers , back when that organization bred some REAL talent.

Unrelated : Chris Connolly  once told me the wee small bairn on The Stupid Babies' MAGNUM OPUS , "BABY SITTERS" ("BABY SITTERS , BABY SITTERS , ME.....HATE....BABY...SITTERS !!!!".) grew up to become Adamski. Well , you can't win 'em all. Also , Danny Bonaduce did a guest spot on a Redd Kross (As Tater Totz) album. When he relocated to Chicago to do talk radio on WLUP , he led a band with friends from the studio for a while. Not my scene , but , he was pretty funny when he wanted to be.
 
Mark George Harrison said:

He is indeed, Brinsley Ford has been in Aswad from the start, they were a band who 'jumped the shark', from respected reggae band to bland pop shite!

The leader of the double deckers, who's name escapes me, is still acting and appears on TV recently, dunno what happened to the rest. I wonder if you got it in America because there was an American kid in it??

Child star rock 'n' roll, two in the Monkees for a start!
 
John Battles said:

Oh , boy. We'll be picking out the furniture , soon , won't we ? Seriously , though , it's good to know that so many of the programs we grew up with were just as popular overseas. The only English show we ever got was "The Double Deckers". They'd show that on Sunday , when Saturday morning was Kiddie Prime Time. I heard the Black kid on that show grew up to be a member of Aswad. That's another thread ....Child Star Rock'n'Roll. 
 
Mark George Harrison said:

You never fail to bring a smile to my face JB!

John Battles said:

 Mark George , Yeah , I think you're right. We had a bear , who was kind of a radical political frontman.  , on early episodes of "The Banana Splits", which were'nt shown in The UK . He had this great big afro , wore wild clothes .....He turned up later on "The Hair Bear Bunch". He wrote some early songs for The Banana Splits , like "Kick Out The Jams , Jellies , and Honeys", "The American Zoos" ,  ''Black To Honeycomm (sic)", and "I Want You Right Now (Pickanic Basket!)" . Rumor has it , he changed his name to M*** F**** to avoid the draft. But , when Queen Elizabeth correctly identified him on a quiz show , it was all over , he was carried off to Ringling Brothers' Circus , to the chants of "DRAFT BEER , NOT BEARS !!!". 

yeah, we ditched the server and now post via blogspot/rapidshare. unfortunately those old shows are gone. we're still posting new editions weekly @ rockandrollradio.org