The producers of American Idol think they can find The Next Great American Band on TV (and no, they’re not talking about the next great Grand Funk Railroad). We think we can find some pleasure in this pursuit with our Rock Reality Show Recaps. Here’s our ninth report:
Sixty Great American Reality Minutes in Four Sentences: Biggest non-shocker episode for anyone who’s been paying attention. Darkside-dwellin’ tween-metal mutants Light of Doom were sent home, leaving only the three bands that play best in the Red States: the country band, the Christian band and the Christian country band. (To our international readers: Sadly, this is also how we pick our politicians.) The remaining bands fill up an hour by playing three songs each: One picked by the producers, one selected by the bands and one picked by the band.
Best Great American Band: The Clark Brothers were handed terrible songs all night. They couldn’t really do much with John Rzeznik’s choice: the sappy Eric Clapton puker “Change the World.” But, hey, it would take a band that could actually change the world to pull that song off without making us gag. And even Australian judge Dicko pointed out that Lonestar’s “Amazed” was a lousy choice, noting that over-produced major-label ballad-style bubblegum country is not what the far more intimate Clark Bros should be playing. But they did it in their signature style — sparse and slow, a little haunting and a little navel-gazing — and pulled it off. John Rzeznick: “I don’t think anyone deserves to win this contest more than you guys.” If you haven’t been watching, the last five weeks have pretty much been like that.
Worst American Band: With the occasionally sloppy Light of Doom out of the way, the clinical office-party swing-lite (and funk-lighter) of Denver and the Mile-High Orchestra is simply leagues away from the other bands, completely drowning when compared to the Clark Brothers’ chops-o’-fire and Sixwire’s cupcake-sweet harmonies. They made Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September” tight-assed, stiffer, cleaner and all together more … um … Denver. Same with “Vehicle” (made famous by Bo Bice on American Idol — and, oh yeah, Chicago rockers Ides of March in 1966). Says Denver: “We want to be give a message of hope and love to everyone around us. When this band plays, there’s joy. A lot people in America want to feel good about themselves and I think we can do that.” Oh man, why did you have to say that? You totally make me look like a dick now!
Best Great American John Rzeznik Aggravates-A-Geek Moment: “I’m one of those anti-progressive-rock types. I’m not a fan of Steely Dan.”
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- Portions of Album Content Provided by All Music Guide © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC.
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