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Recommend me some Watt

Matthew Bryson

Matthew Bryson

Jul 30, 2001
4,006
23
www.flufferrocks.com
#1
Unfortunately, I have had no exposure (that I recall) to Mike Watt's music. I have read fantastic things about Mr. Watt, Firehose, and The Minutemen. I have been meaning to check this stuff out based on reputation but haven't yet. I have pretty broad taste in music. I recently was talking with a musician about starting a project that combines elements of Southern Rock / Country / and older heavy music - specifically Black Sabbath and we're thinking that while it sounds like a strange mix of styles, we think we can blend elements from these influences as they are all really blues based music. I am now more interested in ever in hearing how Mike Watt blends different styles in his music. I have heard the Minute Men's album title "Double Nickels on the Dime" mentioned in a few posts on this site and I thought that was a really clever album title so I was going to start there - but my local music store didn't have that album but had several other Minutemen albums. I bought one (about an hour ago - haven't listened to it yet) ..I don't recall the title, but it was from about 1984 (I think) Please recommend some of Mr. Watt's work, particularly albums that are good examples of Watt's ability to blend different influences into his music. Thanks.
 
#3
Hey Matthew,
I'm glad to see you want to immerse yourself in some Watt! He is truly amazing. Let me recommend the following:
The Minutemen, Double Nickels On The Dime
Any fIREHOSE album, but especially Ragin', Full On and Flyin' The Flannel
And Watt's second solo album, Contemplating the Engine Room.
The albums by Dos are fascinating, too. They are bass duets by Watt and his ex-wife, Kira, the former bass player for Black Flag. A lot of the duets later became fIREHOSE songs. It's really cool to hear them in their primitive form, and it makes it eminently clear how Watt wrote such great songs from the bass on up.
Have fun!
 
#4
"Ball Hogg or Tugboat" is very diverse with several guest appearances (Novaselic, Grohl, Vedder, Thurston Moore, J Mascis, etc.) and exceptionally good.

Though, he's currently in the studio right now recording with another of his projects the secondmen. After seeing them play I can't wait for this album to be completed. Their my favorite Watt project to date.

I'd also highly recommend The Minutemen album "Double nickels on the Dime" which is a double CD and some of Watt's greatest work showing his ability.


Hell, there all good but these are my favorites. ;) :bassist:
 
#5
Dave Siff said:
Hey Matthew,
I'm glad to see you want to immerse yourself in some Watt! He is truly amazing. Let me recommend the following:
The Minutemen, Double Nickels On The Dime
Any fIREHOSE album, but especially Ragin', Full On and Flyin' The Flannel
And Watt's second solo album, Contemplating the Engine Room.
The albums by Dos are fascinating, too. They are bass duets by Watt and his ex-wife, Kira, the former bass player for Black Flag. A lot of the duets later became fIREHOSE songs. It's really cool to hear them in their primitive form, and it makes it eminently clear how Watt wrote such great songs from the bass on up.
Have fun!
Click to expand...
Dave is right on! He enouraged me to get into Watt a couple of years ago. I didn't know what I was missing. I have really grown to like his stuff a lot. He doesn't get as much recognition as some other guys, but he is an amazing player.
 
#6
I'm a huge Watt fan but I just can't seem to get into Firehose. I love the music but the singer kind of turns me off due to his style of singing.

I also seem to have the same exact problem (<------note that I said problem *puts on flame retardent clothing*) with both Rush and Dream Theater too. :crying:

Anyone else out there have this problem?
 
#7
FiXeR said:
I also seem to have the same exact problem (<------note that I said problem *puts on flame retardent clothing*) with both Rush and Dream Theater too. :crying: ?
Click to expand...


My old roommate was a big Rush fan. He used to affectionately refer to Geddy's "screaming woman vocals". Rush is an acquired taste. I just wanted to post the screaming woman thing so that I could get flamed too. ;)
 
#8
Matthew Bryson said:
My old roommate was a big Rush fan. He used to affectionately refer to Geddy's "screaming woman vocals". Rush is an acquired taste. I just wanted to post the screaming woman thing so that I could get flamed too. ;)
Click to expand...
I always thought tone-deaf leprachaun myself. Mabye, we should stop at this point Matthew. I'm feeling a little like Custer right before the indians arrived :hiding: .

The mans a hell of a bassist though! (That should hold them off for a little while :D )
 
#9
Well I mentioned that I had picked up a Minutemen album on my lunch break today. I was going to wait for the ride home to check it out so I could do it right (high volume, no distractions) ...but I couldn't wait. I am listening to The Minutemen's 1984 release: The Politics of Time. So far so good - I'm liking this. It really is like country meets punk. The bass playing is great - so is the drumming (George Hurly) Holy ryhthm section Bat Man! I'm digging this and I've only made it through 7 of the 27 tracks. Please, keep the recomendations coming - I need to know which one to look for next, now more than ever.
 
#10
I highly reccommend you see Watt live w/ the Secondmen. I did and it's one of my top 5 shows of all time.

Also, a lot of their earlier stuff is a little more cathartic than "Double Nicks," I highly reccommend "Buzz and Howl under the Influence of Heat" and "What makes a Man Start Fires?" high quality stuff.
 
#11
I second "Contemplating the Engine Room" !

I haven't listened to that in a while, I broke it out today at work and fell in love with the album all over again! I'd recommend you go ask the man himself, but he hasn't been on his board in a long time... :(

I guess he's recording with the secondmen now. So that's a plus.
 
#15
Well my nick should reveal my answer. Double Nickles On The Dime is my fav. record period, and I own about 4k+ CD's and 1k vinyl.

I pretty much dig everything Watt has done with the exception of The Boostrappers record(Elliot Sharp and George Hurley) and I still haven't given up on it. I know one day I'm going to revisit it and I'll finally get it.

So as an introduction I'd get Double Nickles, the maybe Introducing The Minutemen if you want to explore the rest of thier catalog. It's a pretty easy to find comp. Ball Hog or Tugboat (his first solo release) is pretty amazing and features a ton of great players.
 

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