Soi Disantra: SD Hall of Fame: Can, Monster Movie

May 19, 2006

SD Hall of Fame: Can, Monster Movie

It should be noted from the beginning that I'm not in any way a CanSuperFan. In fact, I was about as ignorant as possible of Can until last year. I painted a picture of them in my mind as being too weird, too German, too electronic and with too deep a catalog for me to every really get into. But last year things changed. I was letting myself get into (slightly) weirder stuff, I've been away from my parents for long enough that I can open my mind a bit about Germans, and the Internet really does make it easy to make up for lost time. (Again, Al Gore, really, you outdid yourself. Seriously, I voted for you once, I'd do it again, just as my way of saying thanks.)

Can was definitely one of my most listened to bands in 2005. I immersed myself in the first six albums (counting Delay and Soundtracks), catching up through Future Days, which was good enough according to ZR, the closest thing I know to a CaNerd (well, I suppose PS as well). The verdict: Almost all very wonderful, got a little funky and jazzy as the years got on, Mooney reigns supreme over Suzuki (despite the endorsement of MES), and Monster Movie is the clear standout.

I'm obviously in the serious minority here, but it's pretty obvious given my preferences. First off, I so prefer Mooney to Damo. ZR blew my mind earlier this week when he told me Mooney was black -- I told you I really knew nothing about these guys. I just assumed they were all Dieters. Maybe I should have figured it out. I mean, Malcolm Mooney. But, y'know, then again Malcolm Mooney. OK, maybe a bit of a stretch there. Point being, I find him one of the most engaging vocalists ever. Menacing and desperate and crazy and all that. And it's all in the delivery, because it ain't in the lyrics. Which just adds to the greatness. Anyway, usually I rank the top five songs on the album and then pick the lowlight, but that's obviously not going to work with this four song album. So we'll just improvise.

1. Father Cannot Yell -- Yeah, it's basically a Velvet Underground song, but -- I love the Velvet Underground and it's like the best Velvet Underground song ever. Killer drone, riff, fuzz solo, ranting, panting, build -- it's got it all.

2. Yoo Doo Right -- Twenty minutes is a very long time. Oh, the things I could do -- two, three times -- in 20 minutes. Wait, I've said too much! A song shouldn't be 20 minutes long. I feel pretty strongly about that rule. But if a song is going to be 20 minutes long, this is how it should be. No, it doesn't keep you involved lyrically throughout, but it more than makes up for it in entrancement. Six of the seven longest songs in my 9,000-some track library are by Can.

3. Mary, Mary So Contrary -- This one sort of prepares you for "Yoo Doo Right," I think. Same basic principle. I mean, that's the point of the record, right? Who needs more than one principle? That's why the later stuff -- which is still fab, obvs -- just doesn't do it as much for me. Anyway, if it's similar to "YDR" and comes in a full quarter plus two minutes shorter, why does it rank below? The Letterman principle of humor corrolary, I suppose. If "YDR" was just 10 minutes or so, it wouldn't be the same. If it's good, just keep doing it. It may get old after a while, but keep on keepin' and it'll all start to come together again.

Worst Song -- "Outside My Door"
A good song that gets a raw deal on a four-song album. But this is clearly the weakest of the bunch. It's the most token psych/late '60s song on here. You could almost hear this one on Nuggets or Pebbles, right? And I guess Mooney's attempts at carrying a tune are a bit charming, but there's usually a reason why people who can't sing don't actually try to sing.

Previous Inductees
The Fall, Grotesque (After the Gramme)
Bob Dylan, Desire
Beulah, When Your Heartstrings Break
The Wedding Present, Watusi
The Velvet Underground, The Velvet Underground and Nico

--DM--

May 19, 2006 | Permalink