Why is T-Rex so awesome?

Matt Till · #1 12-01-2005, 08:05 PM

I really should hate T-Rex... it contains elements that have been known to cause me to hate "classic" rock...

- Stupid Lyrics
- Ego seeping through the speakers
- Generic riffage

But they are soooooooo good. My current obsession is the album "Tanx" which may very well be one of the greatest rock albums ever. Frankly, T-rex has left a somewhat insignificant,gimmicky single on the face of rock radio, "Get it on (Bang a Gong)." which is Ok... but wow, the rest of their stuff is great.

One of the great things about it... layering. There is so much going. It's like a collection of simplistic parts to make something complicated. The only other band I can think of that does that offhand is Cake. But T-Rex is more diverse than Cake (I got really sick of their every song sounding the same formula).

Speaking of Ego... why did they eventually become Marc Boland and T-Rex. I mean... Marc was always T-Rex frontman... is that just the ultimate in ego or what?

Anyone who hasn't heard anything besides Get it on... seriously... get Tanx. It's so good, it's like Hard Hippie Rock.

Against Will · #2 12-01-2005, 08:57 PM

I think Marc Bolan's wafro is a key part. That and he perfectly distilled everything that is a rockstar into his persona.

Bruce Lindfield · #3 12-02-2005, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Till

Speaking of Ego... why did they eventually become Marc Boland and T-Rex. I mean... Marc was always T-Rex frontman... is that just the ultimate in ego or what?

Well he did sing, write everything and play most of the music - I do remember them in the 70s Glam Rock era - where their appeal was mostly to 14-year old girls, who liked experimenting with make-up ...

At the time "Ride a White Swan" was their biggest hit and distinctly MOR - they were on British TV every week with new make-up and clothes - it seemed to be mostly about image...

In the 30 odd years since, I have heard the occasional track that sounded pretty good - but I can't get past the associations of cross-dressing - the Liberace of soft rock....?

JimmyM · #4 12-02-2005, 01:51 AM

I love love love love love T Rex! What makes them great is that you can listen to their music a million times and always hear something new in it to entertain your ear. Plus it was just plain good stuff. "Hot Love," "Jeepster," "20th Century Boy," "Ride A White Swan," what's not to like!

BTW, T Rex was never known as Marc Bolan and T Rex until after Marc got killed. That was something some marketing idiot or a disk jockey came up with.

Also BTW, check out their earlier stuff as well, where it was Marc on acoustic and a percussionist named Steven Peregrine-Took. Great English hippie folk music!

Bruce Lindfield · #5 12-02-2005, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

what's not to like!

The lyrics are stoned-out nonsense..?

I like the heavier, rockier things - but a lot of it does border on the "twee" and I guess you are lucky that you didnt grow up with seeing them on TV every week, giving make-up tips to 14 year old girsl!!

Matt Till · #6 12-02-2005, 09:32 AM

I knew it was glam rock... but 14 year old girls?! hehe, that's funny. He got killed?! Weird... was it for his glam rockin' or what?

On a side note, because of Marc, I now wish people a "Superfunk Christmas, and a golden new year."

TyKao · #7 12-02-2005, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Till

I knew it was glam rock... but 14 year old girls?! hehe, that's funny. He got killed?! Weird... was it for his glam rockin' or what?

He died in a car crash that, sadly enough, happened after he cleaned up his act and started getting back on track with his music.

davetakis · #8 12-02-2005, 09:59 AM

matt if you like t-rex you need to check out my band. go to garageband.com and look for tommy rivers. if keith richards had recorded an album with t-rex, this would be it. we sell our cd's through notlame.com. marc bolan was killed in a car crash when his drunk gfriend hit a telephone pole and marc was decapitated. she was basically ostrasised [sp] in england and i think she left.

Bruce Lindfield · #9 12-02-2005, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Till

I knew it was glam rock... but 14 year old girls?! hehe, that's funny.

You can still buy calendars of him if you want - what about next year's - camp enough?

Matt Till · #10 12-02-2005, 12:31 PM

Bwahaha, I totally want that calendar!!

JimK · #11 12-02-2005, 04:09 PM

See, now you're scaring me.

The Bolan vs. Bowie feud used to appear in Circus mag...I still recall one calling the other "Sissy & fey".

JimmyM · #12 12-02-2005, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

The lyrics are stoned-out nonsense..?

I like the heavier, rockier things - but a lot of it does border on the "twee" and I guess you are lucky that you didnt grow up with seeing them on TV every week, giving make-up tips to 14 year old girsl!!

Well, if I disliked lyrics that were stoned-out nonsense, I'd have to throw out all my Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Bowie, and pretty much everything else English from the 60's and early 70's, except for the Bay City Rollers and the Rubettes.

Ed Fuqua · #13 12-02-2005, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

See, now you're scaring me.

The Bolan vs. Bowie feud used to appear in Circus mag...I still recall one calling the other "Sissy & fey".

Like they both didn't hang out in fey bars.

On a more uplifting note, check out Bolan's contribution to Billy Cobham's record SPECTRUM....

JimK · #14 12-02-2005, 06:54 PM

Foghorn-
That was Tommy Bolin...not Marc Bolan.

marc40a · #15 12-02-2005, 07:03 PM

Not a fan.

I feel that they (or should I say "he") glammed it up and sold distilled, sterilized blues.

...took the passion, soul, frustration and pain of a soulful music and turned it into a tea party for Barbie dolls.

IMHO, He's no David Bowie.

Matt Till · #16 12-02-2005, 07:17 PM

Side note I: I hate most David Bowie
Side note II: I'm surprised to see Bruce and Ed in this thread. hehe

Matt Till · #17 12-02-2005, 07:25 PM

Speaking of "Stoned out" lyrics... check out this one from Tanx....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broken Hearted Blues

This is a song that I wrote when I was young
And I called it, the broken hearted blues

Wait a second... when he was young he wrote that song? But when he was young he wrote "when I was young".... that confuzzles my brain.

Still... I FRIGGIN' LOVE THIS BAND!!!! I'm seriously addicted. And I'm confused because I normally loate poppy rock.

page · #18 12-05-2005, 04:24 PM

I love T rex as well as Bowie. I like to consider those two different animals though. Bowie was everywhere and Bolan was the master of his domain.

Electric Warrior, Slider, and Dandy in the Underworld are my favorites.

Dandy being probaly the darkest thing he's ever put out(not that dark though but still) and Slider is the most intellectual . I think theres somethings you guys are missing in the " stupid , stoned out lyrics". For the most part, but since he has you off guard Bolan likes to throw in some interesting things every now and then.

They may have been a pop star in the U.K. but in the U.S. they are gods to their fans.

I suggest those three as well Matt and Also you should check out Mott the Hoople......

Matt Till · #19 12-05-2005, 05:19 PM

I have EW and Slider as well... I don't know why but Tanx is sticking to me harder.

I'll check out Mott the Hoople though, and the Dandy album.

page · #20 12-05-2005, 05:26 PM

Mott is like a much meaner , more sarcastic version of T Rex .

I suggest starting with Brain Capers, Mad Shadows, Mott , and All the Young Dudes.