They seem to have fallen out of favour recently. What do you think of them?

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Also...

They peaked at the beginning (or, rather, at the beginning of their time as The Band)... when they truly worked as a group, before Manuel´s songwriting had dried up and Robertson started to see himself as the main figure. Still, their individual talents were big enough for them producing decent albums even at their lowest. But "The Band" and parts of "Big Pink" and "Stage Fright" are their best, in my opinion. I have a soft spot for "Northen Lights" as well, and I loved "The Last Waltz" the first time I saw the movie. It was actually seeing it that made me discover The Band, before that I found them a bit boring...

Barney Hoskyns book "Across the great divide" is interesting, as is Levon Helm´s autobiography (that should perhaps be taken with a pinch of salt).

I put them in my "Van Morrison Category": There's probably a good record in the batch, but I'm not actively hunting for it; I actively dislike some of what I've heard--the hits, admittedly.

Saw them open for the Dead at Canada's Wonderland in '84 and they bored me to fucking death. I can't stand RR solo, which, along with my homeboy Bob Lanois, has become something of a religion for dorky Canadians.

I mentioned in the Scorcese topic that I loved The Last Waltz and took a while to discover (after buying "Big Pink" and "Rock of Ages") that I really don't like the Band. The music is mostly unremarkable (apart from Garth Hudson's sometimes interesting contributions) but it's the vocals that really ruin it for me--Levon Helm's corny "old-timey" schtick and Richard Manuel's truly awful "soulful" singing [shudder]. I like Rick Danko's singing, and Stage Fright is a very good song.

[By the way, in the Mekons topic I offended someone when I put down Kathy Acker's "art" and was reminded that she's deceased. I hope it's acceptable to criticize Richard Manuel's singing more than 20 years after his sad end.]

Not liking the Band is a bit silly, isn't it?

If their output had consisted of "Tears Of Rage" and then eight albums of George Formby covers they'd still be approximately the 78th greatest rock band ever.

I can feel my Mojo magazine/classic rock side coming to the fore today.

Must listen to more East London grime beats later. :lol:

Well, when they're backing Dylan on the Basement tapes they are certainly top 5 contenders.

It is, as long as you don´t criticize his piano playing... the driving force in the band, too often too low in the mix.

I think he had a great voice, though. At least on those classic recordings. And with Levon´s voice, I don´t really think it was an "old-timey schtick"... he was (and is) and old-timer.

That's a fair interpretation. Just that when something like Rag Mama Rag or W.S. Walcott comes on when my wife's iPod is in the dock, the twang in the vocals seems exaggerated, to said corny effect. I could be 100% off here, but to me it sounds like someone trying to will the audience to have "fun" -- compare to someone like Iggy, whose vocals convey the joy of music without trying so hard.

Levon Helm bugs me. All that good ole buy yodelly nonsense. I love the songs sung by Danko and Manuel on the brown album though. Unfaithful Servant especially.

I just went to the pictures to see The Last Waltz, having never liked it in the past (but that was before I even liked Neil Young, Bob Dylan or Joni Mitchell) so thought I'd give it a fair crack by seeing it 'properly' instead of on VHS. Interesting, if only to see something in which Young is not the coolest person in the room - not by a long chalk! The Staples, Emmylou Harris and Joni Mitchell get my vote. If there was a Favourite Band Member Poll Levon would be my favourite Band performer but Manuel is my favourite interviewee. Van Morrison? He's a nowt but the pub regular who does a turn before going home and beating the wife up.

On the whole, a great advert against cocaine usage. Must look into their non-Bob records...

The second album. I must dig it out.

I woke up this morning with The Night They did whatever to Dixie on the brain, which I shall take as A Sign!

my fave band song is take a load of fanny hee hee...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmRDM7GyJXE