History of the Moog & Opinions on Kurt Cobain
The Moog synthesizer is every bit as important to rock history as the Fender Telecaster and the Gibson Les Paul. As the analog synth revival continues in pop music, Jim and Greg examine the history and legacy of the revolutionary instrument. Then they review the new posthumous release from Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.
The Moog
The Moog company of Asheville, North Carolina recently announced it would end production on its flagship synthesizer, the Minimoog Voyager. That got Jim and Greg to thinking about the incredible influence the Moog synthesizer has had on rock and pop music since it debuted in 1964. Robert Moog's invention has seen a renaissance in the past decade, as acts ranging from M83 to Future Islands to Taylor Swift have taken inspiration from the synthpop sound.
To get some perspective on the Moog's history and legacy, Jim and Greg turn to Brian Kehew, the former official historian for the Bob Moog Foundation. Kehew also co-founded an all-analog band called Moog Cookbook in the '90s and has worked in the studio with Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann and Moog superstars Emerson, Lake & Palmer. In addition to ELP, Kehew points to the following as great synthesizer musicians:
Great Moog-ers
- Wendy Carlos
- Stevie Wonder
- Return to Forever
- The Monkees
- Brian Eno
- Kraftwerk
- Kinky
- Chromeo
And two of Jim and Greg's favorite Moog tracks are "Chameleon" by Herbie Hancock and "Les Yper-Sound" by Stereolab.
Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings Kurt Cobain
Music fans around the world never thought people they would be able to hear Kurt Cobain's work as a solo artist until now, but it certainly isn't how Cobain intended it. Recently his widow Courtney Love and daughter Francis Bean authorized a documentary called Montage of Heck. It focused on his life and featured old home movies, audiotapes and present-day commentary from Kurt's friends and family. The soundtrack album is called Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings, and many of the tracks are simply Cobain strumming on his guitar or messing around with his tape deck. As a big Nirvana fan, Jim compares the release as was grave robbery. He gives it a massive Trash It. Greg agrees, and notes the whole thing sickens him. The "album" never should've seen the light of day. Cobain sounds stoned, distracted and bored, not at all like how he lit up a stage with Nirvana. Greg says Trash It, as well.
Jim
This week, Jim chose the unique track "The Gormleys Will Miss Me" by the 27 Various for two reasons. One explanation is that after his recent DIJ selection by New Jersey's Red Buckets, it got him thinking more about underground indie rock from the 1980s. The other reason is that ever since Sound Opinions' intern Libby Gormley joined the team, Jim couldn't get this track out of his head. While the Minneapolis band never gained huge traction, Jim loves this group, and finds this obscure song to be the perfect choice for this week's Desert Island Jukebox pick.
Featured Songs
- Parliament, "Flash Light," Funkentelechy Vs. The Placebo Syndrome, Casablanca, 1977
- Wendy Carlos, "Two-Part Invention in F," Switched-On Bach, Columbia, 1968
- Wendy Carlos, "Two-Part Invention in B flat," Switched-On Bach, Columbia, 1968
- The Monkees, "Daily Nightly," Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd., Rhino, 2007 (originally released 1967)
- Kraftwerk, "Autobahn," Autobahn, Vertigo, 1974
- Emerson, Lake & Palmer, "Tank," Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Island, 1970
- Brian Eno, "Julie With…," Before and After Science, Polydor, 1977
- Stevie Wonder, "Living For The City," Innervisions, Tamla, 1973
- Die Doraus und Die Marinas, "Fred vom Jupiter," Blumen Und Narzissen, Ata Tak, 1981
- Perrey & Kingsley, "The Savers," Kaleidoscopic Vibrations, Vanguard, 1967
- Richard Hayman, "The Look of Love," Genuine Electric Latin Love Machine, Command, 1969
- The Moog Cookbook, "Black Hole Sun," The Moog Cookbook, Restless, 1996
- Return To Forever, "Beyond The Seventh Galaxy," Where Have I Known You Before, Polydor, 1974
- Emerson, Lake & Palmer, "Lucky Man," Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Island, 1970
- Tubeway Army, "Are 'Friends' Electric," Replicas, Atco, 1979
- Beastie Boys, "Sabrosa," Ill Communication, Capitol, 1994
- Kinky, "Minotauro," Atlas, Nettwerk, 2003
- Fred Wesley, "Blow Your Head," Damn Right I Am Somebody, People, 1974
- Herbie Hancock, "Chameleon," Head Hunters, Columbia/Legacy, 1997
- Stereolab, "Les Yper Sound," Emperor Tomato Ketchup, Elektra, 1996
- P.R. Computer, "Az Inga (The Pendulum)," P.R. Computer, Start, 1983
- Kurt Cobain, "And I Love Her," Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings, Universal, 2015
- Kurt Cobain, "The Yodel Song," Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings, Universal, 2015
- The 27 Various, "The Gormleys Will Miss Me," Hi., Susstones, 1987
- Talking Heads, "Girlfriend is Better," Speaking in Tongues, Sire, 1983
- The Replacements, "Answering Machine," Let It Be, Twin/Tone, 1984
- Bob Dylan, "I'm a Fool to Want You," Shadows in the Night, Columbia, 2015
- Tom Jones, "My Way," Greatest Songs, Curb, 1995
- Grimes, "California," Art Angels, 4AD, 2015
- The Warm Ones (feat. Jeanine O'Toole), "Small Spies," Sprezzatura, self-released, 2009
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