Rick Rubin Rules
Despite the slanderous if not entirely untrue allegations of some (you know who you are, Matt) that Grammy voters are bunch of whiny libs who wanted to make a statement of support for the Dixie Chicks as a protest against Pres. Bush, the fact remains that the Chicks' latest album was an incredible piece of work from talented musicians and songwriters squarely in their prime.
A lot of that credit for "Taking the Long Way" winning five Grammies goes to producer Rick Rubin. Rubin first hit the hit-making radar in 1986, by fusing hard rock and rap with Aerosmith and Run D.M.C. Nobody in the record business has a better record of churning out hits. He is the maestro of the boards, the man with the golden ear.
Rubin came up with the idea of having Johnny Cash do a cover of Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nail addiction ballad, "Hurt." It may be the saddest song of all time, haunting, lyrical and owned and inhabited completely by Cash, just weeks before June's death and months before his own.
Here's the Dixie Chicks' defiant, eloquent and melodic response to their critics:
A lot of that credit for "Taking the Long Way" winning five Grammies goes to producer Rick Rubin. Rubin first hit the hit-making radar in 1986, by fusing hard rock and rap with Aerosmith and Run D.M.C. Nobody in the record business has a better record of churning out hits. He is the maestro of the boards, the man with the golden ear.
Rubin came up with the idea of having Johnny Cash do a cover of Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nail addiction ballad, "Hurt." It may be the saddest song of all time, haunting, lyrical and owned and inhabited completely by Cash, just weeks before June's death and months before his own.
Here's the Dixie Chicks' defiant, eloquent and melodic response to their critics:
posted by Bret Bradigan at 4:39 PM
2 Comments:
Wooooo hoooooo, Go Chicks! Matt is still listening to Air Supply I think!
Air Supply was a great band! I remember my dad bringing home when I was a kid their album... yes vinyl and my sister playing that until it wore out. Another big music mogul was responsible for bringing them from Australia CLIVE DAVIS at Arista.
I have always been a Dixie Chicks fan and have been rooting for them since the statement Natalie said in England. Bret is now on the bandwagon with the Chicks like more people since they have won 5 Grammys. Lisa is still listening to her "hair bands" from the 80's. haaaaa
I have a lot of respect for Rick Rubin. Two of my favorite albums he produced are Tom Petty "Wildflowers" & Neil Diamond "12 Songs". The TP CD is one of his finest (even had Carl Wilson from the Beach Boys sang back up on a track!). The Neil Diamond CD is amazing because he brought Neil back to his roots as singer/songwriter and showcased his amazing voice with mostly just acoustic guitar. Rick understands that to make great music you need to start with a great song. If you start with crap you will just end up with over produced mediocre well-recorded CRAP.
It feels weird for me to admit I am out of the record industries target demographic (about 14 yrs old). I will probably turn into one of the old grumps griping about how music was better when I was a kid.
God bless the Grammy voters telling corporate country radio to kiss its ass!
Go Chicks and long live Air Supply!!!
Peace out....
Yoga Matt
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