Pop Culture Time Capsule + Commenter Draft: Underrated and why Local H and Kevin Tapani are the same
Posted on January 2nd, 2009 – 3:04 PMBy Michael Rand
One of the many benefits of following Stu on Twitter is that you often get a musical musing. And today’s lesson was this: “Today’s Unimpeachably Great Song: What Can I Tell You?” Local H.” Know what? We had never heard that song before, and we have to say that Stu is absolutely correct. And luckily or unfortunately for him, it has led to another Pop Culture Time Capsule: How Local H and Kevin Tapani are the same thing.
*First and foremost: Underrated. This is where the commenter draft comes into play. What are the most underrated bands of all time? We submit that Local H has always been underrated, probably because they came along at a time when a bunch of other hacks where playing grunge. They were in the shadows, maybe victims of bad timing, but they have always been solid (sometimes spectacular) and true to the form. Same goes for Kevin Tapani. Local H had Nirvana. Taps had Jack Morris.
*Doing more with less. Local H has two members! Take some lessons, Collective Soul! Kevin Tapani was a crafty righty. Throw some ground balls! They’re more democratic. Atta boy!
*Local H plays long songs. Kevin Tapini went deep into games. But if it seemed like they were lasting a little too long, that’s your problem! Local H has plenty of chords for you at the 4:25 mark. Tapani allowed batters to hit .340 in the sixth inning during one of his best seasons, 1992. Know what they hit in the 7th? .238. Eighth inning? .143. Ninth? .167. HE JUST GOT BETTER.
*Forgotten/unknown facts. Local H had a release before “As Good As Dead.” It was called “Ham Fisted.” It was from 1995. We had no idea. Tapani pitched one season with the Chicago White Sox in 1996. Totally missed that.
*Local H is still around! They released a new CD this year. Kevin Tapani also came back this year for the Twins, reincarnated as Kevin Scott Blackburn (that’s Slowey, Baker and Blackburn … ah, never mind. See what you’ve done, Stu?)
7 Responses to "Pop Culture Time Capsule + Commenter Draft: Underrated and why Local H and Kevin Tapani are the same"
I have nothing to add to that, so instead I’ll go with today’s Nickname of the Day:
Thomas “That was a pretty soft goal” McCollum.
(/nobody knows what I’m talking about or indeed cares)
I don’t have the musical knowledge of most of the Randballers, so my opinion of underrated is poor(Local H? That’s the Nacho Libre guy, right?). I’ll draft 3 of my favorites that you have probably heard of, but they never had the level of commercial success shared by other artists with similar styles: Everclear, Damien Rice, Ryan Adams.
Don’t know much Damien Rice, but LOVE 9 crimes.
I’m choosing local favorites The Jayhawks.
The Jayhawks are a rich man’s Gear Daddies.
If we are drafting underrated bands, I’ll take Sugar. How Toad the Wet Sprocket sold more records than Sugar is a mystery that will never be solved.
Local H is criminally underrated. The album “What Can I Tell You?” is from, Pack Up The Cats, is as tuneful and smart as any rock album that was released in the ’90s. As you’ll note at the link, you can buy it for less than $5. If you’re lucky, you’ll get the bonus CD with the AC/DC cover on it.
