Peak Music

[I Should Coco]

There was a thing in the '90s where bands made videos with slo-mo visuals. Weezer above with slo-mo hackeysacking ('94).

And Supergrass with slo-mo pogo-sticking in Late in the Day ('97). I've seen it in other videos from that era.

The wailing in the guitar solos is as good as it gets.

Despite my SJ handle, Supergrass hit its peak on their second album, "In it for the Money."

"Late in the Day" and "Sun Hits the Sky" are a couple of their best songs, along with "Richland III," all on that album.

 

[Songbird]

The Verve didn't last long enough to build up and peak and fall back down.

But this is peak '90s. Peak all-time.

 

[Songbird]

Eric B and Rakim were so hot in the '80s but this is absolute peak Rakim in '92.

Best rapper ever. Called 9/11 too.

 

[micropolitan guy]

i watched it the other night and noticed a couple of things:
1. Almost no banter on stage. I'm not sure if that was normal back then for other musicians, but it surprised me.
2. They played like the they sounded on their records. I almost thought it had to be dubbed, but apparently because they used almost no effects or other musicians in studio, they could recreate their sound on stage.
3. They were tight. They only seemed to jam once or twice. It was fascinating.

It also was fun to see them as being so low key.

After watching some clips of live performances by one of CCR's contemporaries, the Doors, I appreciated CCR's lack of banter, clean sound and lack of jamming. Listening to a drunken Morrison add verses of drunken, incoherent mumbo-jumbo, recite mindless poetry and minutes of meandering jams, it makes me appreciate CCR's professionalism even more.

Great call on "Past the Point of Rescue," Ketcham was an underappreciated talent.

And except for "Streets of This Town," Steve Forbert hasn't matches "Alive on Arrival."

 

[Slacker]

I've never been into mainstream country, but country rockers Pure Prairie League opened for the Marshall Tucker Band when I was in college, and PPL stole the show with basically the same performance as what they soon released as a live album.

From Amazon site: "Digitally remastered edition of this live album from one of the most underrated Country Rock bands of all time. The Pure Prairie League released their first album in 1972, and toured constantly through the early '70s. Taking the Stage was originally released in 1977, making the Top 40 in the American Country charts, and was a snapshot of their live set at the time."

This song kicks off the show, and great train songs deserve a music thread of their own, so it's extra-good for me. Anyhow, "Takin' the Stage" is the peak performance from Pure Prairie League, a band that had an ever-changing lineup after that and didn't hold my interest anymore. Still one of my favorite live albums, though.

 

[Cosmo]

I've been thinking about this for a bit with my favorite band, The Hold Steady. I believe it's Separation Sunday, even if they've sort of been reborn with ODP, which might be my third or fourth favorite THS record. SS is a fucking concept anthem, all the way through. I adoré Chips Ahoy and Stay Positive and the songs that follow, but Separation Sunday is the actual shit.

 

[Slacker]

Peak Rockies: the only John Denver song
I ever play. ... But it's such a damn good one.

 

[dixiehack]

Hal Ketchum was the Harry Gant of country music. By the time he hit his peak, he was too old for the marketing machine to want to take the plunge.

 

[Twirling Time]

Peak Stevie in a sundress? YES PLEASE!



(As an aside, what a musical departure for Mac coming off the massive success of Rumours. To be fair, wasn't their first.)

 

[Twirling Time]

Shot from Tusk, which is more of Fleetwood Mac's White Album than anything else:



Chaser six years later (with an assist from Eddie Murphy):

 

[qtlaw]

Peak Stevie in a sundress? YES PLEASE!



(As an aside, what a musical departure for Mac coming off the massive success of Rumours. To be fair, wasn't their first.)

Forget Stevie, USC song girls and band!!

 

[justgladtobehere]

I have never understood the love for Stevie Nicks or Fleetwood Mac. Nicks is he good locking, but not drop dead gorgeous like I have heard people claim. Fleetwood Mac just sucks.