"Uncut" Magazine 
Through the help of a friend in the UK, I just scored a couple of copies of the April issue of Uncut Magazine that has an article about Nez and the First
National Band.
It's a pretty good article with comments from Nez and John Ware. Very enlightening in some aspects. On the "Contents" page of the magazine, they write: "In our current Pioneers of Country Rock series, we assess the most malcontented Monkee's right to the title of "Original Cosmic Cowboy".
I debated on presenting the article here, but since the magazine is still available I decided not to. I will however share the final two quotes, which I feel summed it all up very well:
"Nesmith's intense year with The FNB now seems like a flash on the horizon in his rearview mirror. But to a devoted cult**, that music still shines out as some of the finest, most maddingly underrated country rock ever recorded. He's proud of that, and bemused by it."
"You know, those records never really saw the light of day," he (Nez) sighs, "Frankly, I don't think they ever will. Not in my lifetime. I'm not sure why. Nor why they're held in such regard by the few who do know them. That part I don't get either."
"The band was largely ignored. I don't recall any compliment or encouragement; I report this with no regrets or bitterness. I remember the records fondly - but I don't listen to them as much anymore. Because, well....that was then, this is now."
"Considering it was 1970," John Ware adds, "that was some inventive music. Pretty brave music. Almost suicidally brave. But so what? It's not enough just to be brave, It has to have musical legs. And The First National Band damn well does."
Like I said, IMHO it was a good article. Then you turn to the record reviews toward the back: they review the reissues. I don't think they really cared for the four records.....the teaser reads...."Exploration of former Monkee's belfry yields battiness". The very last sentence: "On the whole, intermittently inspired, often inexplicable, never dull. In between, phrases like "fabulously awful gallimaufry of disco metal" (Timerider) & "faintly demented pub rock" (Infinite Rider).
The magazine itself was well worth the money. An awesome article about John Stewart, some rare early Beatles photos, An interview with Steven Van Zandt, a great article on The Rolling Stones and it came with a CD "Not Fade Away", 15 tracks of music that 'fired up' the Stones. It has James Brown, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hook er* to name a few. A truly awesome bonus.
~LuAnne
hmmm......I just realized you can't say "%!!@@$" in ML.
**does this mean us Nezheads are a cult?????
It's a pretty good article with comments from Nez and John Ware. Very enlightening in some aspects. On the "Contents" page of the magazine, they write: "In our current Pioneers of Country Rock series, we assess the most malcontented Monkee's right to the title of "Original Cosmic Cowboy".
I debated on presenting the article here, but since the magazine is still available I decided not to. I will however share the final two quotes, which I feel summed it all up very well:
"Nesmith's intense year with The FNB now seems like a flash on the horizon in his rearview mirror. But to a devoted cult**, that music still shines out as some of the finest, most maddingly underrated country rock ever recorded. He's proud of that, and bemused by it."
"You know, those records never really saw the light of day," he (Nez) sighs, "Frankly, I don't think they ever will. Not in my lifetime. I'm not sure why. Nor why they're held in such regard by the few who do know them. That part I don't get either."
"The band was largely ignored. I don't recall any compliment or encouragement; I report this with no regrets or bitterness. I remember the records fondly - but I don't listen to them as much anymore. Because, well....that was then, this is now."
"Considering it was 1970," John Ware adds, "that was some inventive music. Pretty brave music. Almost suicidally brave. But so what? It's not enough just to be brave, It has to have musical legs. And The First National Band damn well does."
Like I said, IMHO it was a good article. Then you turn to the record reviews toward the back: they review the reissues. I don't think they really cared for the four records.....the teaser reads...."Exploration of former Monkee's belfry yields battiness". The very last sentence: "On the whole, intermittently inspired, often inexplicable, never dull. In between, phrases like "fabulously awful gallimaufry of disco metal" (Timerider) & "faintly demented pub rock" (Infinite Rider).
The magazine itself was well worth the money. An awesome article about John Stewart, some rare early Beatles photos, An interview with Steven Van Zandt, a great article on The Rolling Stones and it came with a CD "Not Fade Away", 15 tracks of music that 'fired up' the Stones. It has James Brown, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hook er* to name a few. A truly awesome bonus.
~LuAnne
hmmm......I just realized you can't say "%!!@@$" in ML.
**does this mean us Nezheads are a cult?????
"Crime wave hits ML, film at
11:00"
Search This Community
Community Chest
