Rock A Little: Rolling Stone Review - Page 4

KarmaContestant · #46 07-11-2005, 10:01 PM

Uh, how embarassing! The last post, under the name of 'storm' was me. She's a friend of mine who came over today and created a user account here. I forgot to clear the cookies and log in as myself.

gldstwmn · #47 07-11-2005, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I love 'Rock A Little.'
But then I don't have a rod up my tuchas.

I like Night Gallery. Apparently, crap is in the eye of the beholder.

KarmaContestant · #48 07-11-2005, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

I like Night Gallery. Apparently, crap is in the eye of the beholder.

Ouch, that would probably sting.

wheart · #49 07-12-2005, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by storm

That's an interesting perspective. I'd never thought about it like that, but I like the way you put it.

It is a vastly different album, which I think is a major part of the appeal for those of us that love it. For me, after 20 years of listening to Stevie on a daily basis, Rock A Little is still refreshing and new each time I hear it. I'll peruse the CD rack...Stevie has her own shelf

....and when I'm sick of all of it, Rock A Little is the album I choose. Part of it, admittedly, is nostalgia, being that it was my 'first', but the other part of it is that this album isn't like any other that she has ever done. It's a bit crazy, wild, and out there, spacey....and I'm sure many people who were already hardcore fans at that point were a little...shocked...probably...? So that's all part of the appeal for me.

Another reason I love RAL...It IS so different for her but it's still very much HER. I just wish she would have put more songs on it. The demos from the RAL era continue to amaze me. All The Beautiful Worlds, Mirror Mirror, Tied Up in Promises, Running Through the Garden... all amazing!

Wild_Heart03 · #50 07-12-2005, 06:21 AM

I'm not normally one to get into debates, but just for once I'd have to pop in and say that RAL is probably my most favorite Stevie album of them all. Even when I was starting out as a "newbie" to her solo works, it was the first album of hers I could truly listen to over, and over, and over. I mean sure, it can be a bit dated at times (drum machines on ICW, anyone?

), but that's what makes it so great! Just the energy of it and the sound, it really is a great thing.

SapphireSister · #51 07-12-2005, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tower

With the exception of "Talk to Me" and "Has Anyone...." there's nothing on here that's anything to crow about.

Most of the songs weren't HER songs- only three were purely written by Stevie:

"Rock A Little", "I Sing For the Things" and "No Spoken Word".

Her voice is abysmal from the drinking, the coke and the smoking. In comparison, at least her voice wasn't shot on Street Angel. Stevie didn't need creative control to realize that the album was not that good. Her songwriting, or rather her lack of songwriting from that period in time is telling enough- the material wasn't there, so the album wasn't there. Considering the two big singles from the album were 1) not written by her ("Talk to Me") and 2) fully formed with her slapping on some coked out screaming ("I Can't Wait), it's obvious she was very creatively wiped out at the time. No wonder she went into rehab after this album.

I know which songs she wrote and which songs she didn't write on the album...

Regarding her lack of creativity during this period, I recall Stevie saying in interviews that cocaine never hindered her creatively (as opposed to Klonipin) and she wrote some of her best material during those years and I would say RAL was at the height of this period so I completely disagree that this was not a creative period for her.

dissention · #52 07-12-2005, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SapphireSister

I know which songs she wrote and which songs she didn't write on the album...

Regarding her lack of creativity during this period, I recall Stevie saying in interviews that cocaine never hindered her creatively (as opposed to Klonipin) and she wrote some of her best material during those years and I would say RAL was at the height of this period so I completely disagree that this was not a creative period for her.

You must not have read recent interviews where she said she wrote nothing memorable during those years.

KarmaContestant · #53 07-12-2005, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

You must not have read recent interviews where she said she wrote nothing memorable during those years.

I think that quote referred to the K years. She refers to herself as 'the blob' between 1988 & 1994, and says that in those six years she didn't do anything worthwhile or write anything memorable. I suppose I could be wrong, but I'm fairly certain that she was not referencing her RAL period.

dissention · #54 07-12-2005, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

I think that quote referred to the K years. She refers to herself as 'the blob' between 1988 & 1994, and says that in those six years she didn't do anything worthwhile or write anything memorable. I suppose I could be wrong, but I'm fairly certain that she was not referencing her RAL period.

I thought the article said '86-'94, but I could be wrong, too.

SapphireSister · #55 07-12-2005, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

I think that quote referred to the K years. She refers to herself as 'the blob' between 1988 & 1994, and says that in those six years she didn't do anything worthwhile or write anything memorable. I suppose I could be wrong, but I'm fairly certain that she was not referencing her RAL period.

No, you are correct! In those interviews I was referring to she was talking about the Klonipin years, not the cocaine years. She said the oppisite about the cocaine years, that she wrote some of her most creative material during that time.

amber · #56 07-12-2005, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SapphireSister

No, you are correct! In those interviews I was referring to she was talking about the Klonipin years, not the cocaine years. She said the oppisite about the cocaine years, that she wrote some of her most creative material during that time.

I think I've also heard her say, though, that Cocaine is not a creative drug. And then something about brandy and pot.

But, she did write some of her best material then, so whatev.

SapphireSister · #57 07-12-2005, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

I think I've also heard her say, though, that Cocaine is not a creative drug. And then something about brandy and pot.

But, she did write some of her best material then, so whatev.

Stevie has also contradicted herself on more than one occasion, which I am sure we are all well aware of

sparky · #58 07-12-2005, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SapphireSister

She said the oppisite about the cocaine years, that she wrote some of her most creative material during that time.

Coke can be a creative drug. Coke is a lot of fun, like most drugs, until it has you in a death grip. From the music, and her appearance, I would say Stevie wasn't completely swallowed up by cocaine until the Wild Heart tour. I think that the making of Rock A Little was completely derailed by her substance abuse. She and Iovine have both said as much.

PenguinHead · #59 07-12-2005, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tower

The Wild Heart is rock-n-roll on the extreme rollercoaster. Rock A Little is puking in the bushes after getting off the ride.

That is the quote of the year for me! I love it! Brilliant! Much appreciated!!!

Christopher · #60 07-12-2005, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

That is the quote of the year for me! I love it! Brilliant! Much appreciated!!!

BravO

Fun Thread.....
Rock A Little is a pretty mess...and will always be Stevie's most controversial recording! even more so because it was recorded at Stevie's zenith!.... It is pure self indulgence, with unabashed emotional rawness and spontaneous prose with punctuated outbursts!! and I LOVED IT when it came out and I still love it today. what other record could we have gotten to hear Sister Honey on the same record as a HAEWAFY.