Such Hawks Such Hounds

June 28, 2011 2:17 AM

Such Hawks Such Hounds explores the music and musicians of the American hard rock underground circa 1970-2007, focusing on the psychedelic and '70s proto-metal-derived styles that have in recent years formed a rich body of unclassifiable sounds.
posted by mhjb (17 comments total)

At 1:10:04

"You remember the old Bill Hicks stoner joke? Sure I could wake up at dawn, sit in traffic, go to a job I hate and that doesn't inspire my creativity, or..."

*takes long toke and as he exhales finishes the sentence*

"or I could wake up at noon and learn to play the guitar."

That pretty much sums up a lot of musical endeavour in the 1970s and onward and we should all be happy for it.
posted by three blind mice at 2:42 AM on June 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

The timeline is kind of wonky with this documentary, but it's still very much worth your time to watch it; especially if you're a fan of Sleep. One question though: who the fuck is Fatso Jetson? They're sort of a running joke amongst my friends and I that all watched this movie together. Also, if someone gave me a Green amp, I would learn to play guitar or bass.
posted by NoMich at 4:06 AM on June 28, 2011

I am a fan of Sleep, yes. Guess I'll be watching this.

Is Om covered much?
posted by item at 4:19 AM on June 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

If I remember correctly, Om is mostly represented by the two guys sitting in front of their Green amps and talking about stuff. The film spends a decent amount of time going over Sleep's Dopesmoker. Great stuff.
posted by NoMich at 4:38 AM on June 28, 2011

Needs a jonmc tag.
posted by mykescipark at 5:53 AM on June 28, 2011

Maaaan, this shit's too heavy for jonmc. He can't handle these cast iron riffs.
posted by NoMich at 6:07 AM on June 28, 2011

I'm somewhat surprised that Electric Wizard didn't get a mention...
posted by schyler523 at 12:03 PM on June 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

"Look, it's really not what you think of when you think 'heavy metal'," I said.

"Maybe not, but I still don't think I'll like it," he replied.

"Look, just one song. Listen to one song, beginning to end, tell me you honestly hate it, and I'll shut up about it," I pleaded.

"OK. One song."

"Promise you'll listen to the song from start to finish, and give it your attention."

"OK. Play it."

And then I dropped the needle on Sleep's Dopesmoker and lost a friend.

\m/ 0 \m/
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:33 PM on June 28, 2011 [6 favorites]

I'm somewhat surprised that Electric Wizard didn't get a mention...

Well they're British which is why they weren't featured, but I'm not sure why no one mentioned them in conversation.
posted by Liquidwolf at 1:33 PM on June 28, 2011

Watched the whole thing.

Needs moar Melvins, needs moar Neurosis. They're mentioned in passing as important, but still. Moar.

It is sad that Matt Pike still needs to go get a day job now and again to hold body and soul together, while so many idiots from hair bands are driving Bentleys. No good riff goes unpunished, I guess.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:26 PM on June 28, 2011

Needs moar Melvins,
Agreed, but they were asked and declined to participate I heard. Same with Monster Magnet who should have really been in there too.
posted by Liquidwolf at 3:33 PM on June 28, 2011

For those of you who, like me, know nothing of Sleep's Dopesmoker, when you look it up on Youtube, part 1 of 7 is eight minutes long.

OldPunk, you magnificent trolling bastard.
posted by benito.strauss at 3:41 PM on June 28, 2011

This version of Dopesmoker is the full 63 or so minutes...enjoy!
posted by schyler523 at 5:53 PM on June 28, 2011

Needs moar Melvins

I'm not convinced that the good stuff (precious little) the Melvins has put out makes up for the massive amount of crap they have put out. Yet still influential somehow. Thanks for that I guess.
posted by rainperimeter at 12:23 AM on June 29, 2011

Oh, and Earth. They overlooked Earth, too.

(see what I did there? Earth, too? Get it? Get it? Never mind.)
posted by BitterOldPunk at 1:14 AM on June 29, 2011 [2 favorites]

"Heavy is about being pissed off and being a warlord and laying down like just like someone like that was in battle and if they had an axe and just chopped someone in the head and it landed you had a riff that plays the same way that way. That's heavy"

This guy should write for Webster's.
posted by shushufindi at 1:06 PM on June 29, 2011

Imagine growing up in that demographic gap between the Boomers and GenX, when you got imprinted by the heavy stuff long before even hearing of dope. Good times. (Bonus points for Jack Endino and Mark Arm.)
posted by whuppy at 7:31 PM on July 1, 2011