Joan Jett is Everything

Q: Who do you look up to?



It was her birthday recently, so this is likely to get lost among the million things you'll have seen posted about her in the last little bit, but I have to talk a bit about how much Joan has meant to me over the years.

I remember when I was stationed in Germany for the three miserable months I was there, the bright shining light of the whole experience for me began with buying a copy of the rock music mag Circus, which had a big article on the Ramones.  It was the first time I had heard of punk rock, and it rung a very loud bell for me.  I felt the same thing I had felt as a tyke when I first heard of The Beatles.  It was all laid out -- the simplicity, the power, the uniqueness.  It was that original rock and roll charge.  I was walking around K-Town a couple of days later and spotted a record store.  I went in and started combing the stacks.  This was kind of a new activity for me, but I had done it previously looking for John & Yoko stuff.  The little record/music store in Calais, ME (where I loved for my last year or so of high school) had about 3 racks of records, so there wasn't very much to look at there.

In that store in Germany, which I wish I could remember the name of (It was on Königstrasse in Kaiserslautern, if I recall, and is long gone, I'm sure) I started with the Rs, because I wanted to get something by the Ramones, and I think I found my own copy of Rocket to Russia) but pretty soon I started to feel lost, because there was so much I didn't know, so I asked a clerk to help me (he spoke English very well) and he started pulling out records for me.  I stopped him at about 20 things, but I noted most of them for later.  I took home the Ramones, the Stranglers Rattus Norvegicus, and the first Runaways album.  I loved them all, and everyone else in the barracks hated them.  They sounded nothing like either the Commodores or the Marshall Tucker Band, though some of them kind of saw some value in Rattus Norvegicus because of the keyboards, I think.

But I was hooked!  There were no other Stranglers records, but next payday I bought the other two Ramones albums and 3 more Runaways records, and a few other things as well.  I liked the way that music was simple yet complete.  I liked the Runaways especially because I had never heard of an all-girl rock bacd before.  I was immediately drawn to Joan.  She looked tough and smart and I was a compulsive sleeve and label reader, so I knew that she was the main songwriter for the band.  My favorite of their records was the last one I got in Germany, Waitin' For the Night, which seemed more like their record than something whipped up by their svengali Kim Fowley, and had Joan on lead vocals, because Cherie had left the band.

Joan Jett is at the heart of my ideal for the way to conduct a good life. She had a dream and she made it real, blazing a trail into uncharted territory.  When that dream fell apart, she kept going and remade her dream even better.  She didn't let setbacks stop her.  They still don't.  Every hard thing that she goes through seems to be fuel for new growth.  After her band the Blackhearts lost their major label record deal, she stripped down her sound and soon was making even better records, like Pure and Simple, from which the track above is taken.  She's a year older than me, almost to the day, and she is still on the upswing.  I consider her most recent album, Unvarnished, to be her best work yet.

Here's an example:  I get this song stuck in my head from time to time:



I've known about her, identified with her, and admired what she does since we were both teenagers.  If I were anyone other than myself, I would want to be Joan Jett.

Carolina Chocolate Drops -- Genuine Negro Jig CD Review

Went CD shopping the other week with the idea that I'd get something unfamiliar and bring it home to review here on NME (HA! just thought of that!) This caught my eye out of the folk section. It fits in to my personal fascination with identity, hits my string band sweet tooth, and had a pretty cover. I didn't realize it until later, but I've actually seen them live at Old Songs Festival 2006.

As I thought about this purchase more, I began to feel a little uneasy about the fact that they blazon themselves with the "genuine black string band music" label, but over time and with multiple listens to the CD, I've become more comfortable with the idea. They win me over with their facility with the string band music style, as evidenced by this performance of one of the songs from the CD -- "Cornbread and Butterbeans" for a show from North Carolina called "Blue Plate Special"



They also have won me over with their eclecticness. They may be waving a particular banner right there in your field of vision, but they cover a lot of ground on this 12 song CD. Here's another example from the same program, a pop song called "Hit "Em Up Style"



What you're getting as examples are from the first half of the CD. Worth noting that that half of the CD pretty much sets you up with fine examples of what you'd expect from such a band as they are, so what's revelatory here is the second half of the CD. English folk balladry, a Tom Waits cover, beautiful modal love songs. They cover a lot of territory in that single CD, lots of switching instruments happens (as you can tell by the two performances here), and yet a single throughline of unified sound emerges.

As a commentary on identity, I find it really comforting and affirming. Everything can find its way into a particular context, a whole world can be explored from pretty much any point of view, and that point of view can remain intact.

untitled

The Who at the Super Bowl

I just watched this (the only portion of the evening I had any interest in, really) on Youtube.

XXX
(UPDATE -- These vids are no longer up! Maybe you can find different uploads somewhere on the web but I don't think I'll look for 'em...)
XXX

I've heard a few people say they thought it was sub-par. There are things to complain about, if you're of a mind. They played a ten minute medley of their classic rock hits instead of concentrating on full versions of songs. Well, that right there proves that some people have unrealistic expectations. Their most recognizable stuff from the period they chose to represent would have allowed them to do 2 or maybe 3 songs. That wouldn't have satisfied anyone, either. I don't know what I would have done in their stead, but I'm happy they did it the way they did. Others complained about the vocals. I thought they were in fine voice. They didn't harmonize like on the records, and they didn't blend their voices very well. So what. This is rock n roll, not pop. They hit the *emotional* notes perfectly. Roger sounded like Roger and Pete sounded like Pete. Someone else asked if that was Nigel Tufnel on the drums. No. That was Zak Starkey, Ringo's son. He grew up knowing Keith and seems to me to play just like him. All around, it was a pretty wonderful twelve minutes, encapsulating everything I like about the Who that you could put in such a short set.

Now, if only they could have gotten rid of the football and just had a three hour Who concert, that would have been better!

A Mix For Today

Nothing in particular of importance here, just a mix I made out of my iTunes offa the work computer...

1. Together -- William Shatner
2. Rags and Tatters -- Wreckless Eric
3. Heard It On the X -- ZZ Top
4. Powers From the Queen -- Sp3ccylad
5. Tear Stained Eye -- Son Volt
6. Gonna Make It Alone -- Ronnie and the Prophets
7. That's All I Know Right Now -- Neon Boys
8. Dead Leaves and the Dirty Grass -- Redd Blood Cells
9. I Don't Care -- The Ramones
10. Nude -- Radiohead
11. Wot's... Uh, the Deal -- Pink Floyd
12. Makes Me Happy -- Perfect
13. On The Rocks -- Lez Zeppelin
14. Space Walk -- Lemon Jelly

Naive New Beaters

So, I have a contact at flickr who takes pictures of electronica concerts in (I think) Paris, named Gertrudramones. I like her photos, she's good at capturing the excitement of a good concert, gets shots with lots of wild colors... And most of the bands she photographs are new to me. I'll see something in her photostream that looks interesting & go check it out & I am almost never dissapointed. Latest example is Naive New Beaters, who have a couple of really interesting videos up at youtube, including the example I've posted here.

Jessica Simpson -- Two Tracks From Do You Know

I am a cheesehead.

I admit that from the start. I love Abba. I love Will Smith movies. I like Dixie Chicks, especially Home.

But I am not into celebutards. Oh, no. Not me. Except that a couple of 'em might be growing up to be kinda cool. I loved that Paris Hilton for President video.

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

I also have to admit I am loving the two tracks I've heard from Jessica Simpson's "new country" album. I am afraid to buy the whole thing, but maybe over time, I'll grab some more, because the two I've got are pretty great. I first downloaded Sipping on History, because I loved the title and because it was the least popular track. I figured if I was going to like anything on the record, that would be my best bet. The preview was very nice, having kinda a six-eight swing and some very cool guitar sounds, and really tasty pedal steel. Hearing the whole track was slightly less satisfying. At the start of verse one she compares herself to June Carter Cash. I thought that a little bit presumptuous, especially as written, but as the track progressed, I found it to be an engaging enough song for me to try a second track. I picked the most popular track, Come On Over. More of a stomper, this one echoes all those seventies chanteuses like Loretta and Lynn. So far, the public is right, this one is definitely a keeper.

Saucerful of Secrets

I'm listening to SOS and thinking about how much I love it. It's my favorite Richard Wright record. It has his song "Remember a Day" on it, which is my favorite Floyd tune. They were breaking in a new guitarist (who aquitted himself very well, thank you) but because he was the new guy, this was a chance for Wright to fill a lot of space, and he absolutely rises to the occasion. I love the organ sound in "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun". The whole album is wonderful.

I don't know many stories about Pink Floyd. I can give impressions, things I thought about them at various phases in their career. The first album is cool. I love all the Syd Barrett stuff. But I think they got better after Syd left. The whole period before they got stupid famous is to varying degrees wonderful, odd, humorous, freaky, spooky, and fun. I loved their sense of melody, and I loved the way Roger Waters played bass. One of the big distinctions of early Floyd is that Waters played a lot more than he did on the later records.

I think Dark Side of the Moon is their absolute worst album (in large part because it's so soporific) and I'm no fan of The Wall, either. But Obscured by Clouds, which is the first album in their later, more morose style, is actually a great record, imo.

But I count Saucerful both Wright's finest moment and Floyd's best record.

Something Live Podcast

My friend PJ Shapiro does a podcast called Something Live. Once a month he compiles a "greatest hits" of the Cantab open mike (hosted by the inimitable and intrepid Geoff Bartley), does an interview with an artist and records performances of two of their songs for an mp3 podcast. There are lots of really gemmy performances in these podcasts, from songwriters you've probably never heard of. The new one is just up -- fifth one; front to back awesome as is every installment in the series.

Talkin' 'Bout Summa My Fave Elpees

This is actually just me testing out my camera for making videos. Next, I need to figure out how to make iMovie do what I want it to. I think there is probably more of me talking about my record collection coming.

Rachel Maddow is Brilliant

The fact is, though, that she is just professional and organized and remembers recent political events well. Some of this stuff seems so obvious when she reports it. She just does the thing we all should be doing -- paying attention.

Jobriath

This guy tanked, and if ya hear of him at all, you hear of him as a joke. Gotta say though: Though he owes a huge amount to David Bowie, I think he's got his own musicality and a nice Lou-meets-Mick style to him. Wish I'd known about him back in the day. This was right up my alley, taste-wise.

The other thing about him is that he was the first openly gay national rock act. With a $500,000 (mid-seventies, US dollars: probably multiple millions today) record deal. They got him everywhere you got a rock act in those days, media-wise. People really wanted this to work, but it was way too much, way too soon for this neanderthal country. And the Bowie thing did hurt him. Died of complications due to aids in 1983, but he was out of rock 'n' roll long before that.

Bill Plays the Abbey Lounge this Thursday

Bill is a band. Bill's lead singer, Bill, is my friend John's brother. John has been playing and recording with Bill for over 20 years, and they've released 2 albums. Here's a video for the song Steve Pepper:



I love Bill's music, and I will be attending this show. Maybe I'll see some of you there?

rObOtrOn

Natureb0t

This was in my links from a year or so ago. r0b0tr0n is a fairly prolific recordist who posts at my favorite music site on all the web, macidol.com. I guess I meant to call it out at the time – I’ll check to see if I ever did. I think it’s amazingly beautiful. Because I liked it so much, I went through and listened to four more of his tracks, and decided to write about them all.

Homegatr0n

Another lushly beautiful track. This is at the top of his jamroom right now, and well it should be. So seventies funk.

Blacksploitatr0n

This one, I think, contains a genuine recording of THE MAN. Also has a really cool bluebeat feel, for all you ska fans out there.

Spacey McFaceb0t

So, yeah, my means of picking what to listen to is what had an interesting title. Love this title. The beats are beauteous as well.

Ghidrab0t

I love the bit of dialogue at the beginning of this. Guest vocal by THE MAN again. This has samples from the Ghidra soundtrack, I think. I believe this means I must download his entire jamroom now.

What I did in February.

I took the RPM Challenge and failed.

But I feel really good about it! I reconnected with a bunch of different musician friends and made, I think, some great music. There's something about a collab with someone you know well but haven't worked with in a while. It almost always produces something great.

The reason I didn't finish is that the tracks were a little more detailed than they probably should have been for efficient completion. Last year I worked with a set instrumentation and a formatted recording approach, but this year, all that went out the window because I wanted to do mostly collaborations, and each song on the record is totally different. I'm still working on it. I have 3 more songs planned for the project, "sound collage" is going to get split in two, and I haven't decided if I'm replacing "Golden Burger", editing it, or leaving it as it is.

So anyway, here are links to the songs. They are all downloadable as 192kbps mp3s on the flip:

Patent Leather Robots Will Get Us First

This is a collab with P. J. Shapiro. I had originally envisioned it as chopped up into a single track of instrumentation and a single track of vocals, and I may get there yet, but as I've listened to and massaged the tracks, I'm hearing it very differetly now.

Turn Away, Yesterday

I love the whole idea of collaborating with someone I have never met, especially when it turns out this well. I think slumbering is awesome, and making this song together was a real treat for me. They say it's wrong to choose between your children, but... This one. This is the one...

Talkin' 'Bout Words

This was a really fun day. Susan, Karen, and I spent the whole day together, Malcolm, Susan and I came up with this recording and Susan and I did the next one down the list. TBW is full of very important information. Please study it carefully for the secret message.

Golden Burger of the Great Goddess Lakshmi

This is pure, in the moment improv. I played my lap dulcimer and Susan played banjo, perhaps for the first time, though it doesn't sound like it.

Medisin

is it 1978 again yet?

Sound Collage

this was fun to do. As I said, this will get split in two and placed at the beginning and end of the sequence.

Lost in the Woods

This collab with Josh Russell is probably the closest thing here to my 2007 CD for RPM, but it's also one of my faves of the record. Josh has studiously avoided getting hisself on the interwebs, so sorry, no link. But if you're ever in Damariscotta Maine, look him up!

France Gall -- Ne sois pas si bête

I was turned on to France Gall by Henry from macidol.com. I am becoming a huge fan, and youtube is a treasure trove for her.

This one is lo fi but full of great cheezy sixties video effects, and some really cool lighting and editing. I really like the high close harmonies.



There is good later France Gall, too:


Also recommended: Francoise Hardy.

Scariest Slumbering Song Ever

The Scariest Song Ever by Slumbering shows that Slumby really does know what's scary.



Slumby herself always seems like she stepped out of a Tim Burton movie to me -- she's Sally all brought to life and living in Los Angeles. This song carries with it the whimsy and humor to make my comparison stick, I think. It has a bit of musichall or maybe biergarten and a subtle but serious jolt at the end. Macabre!

Missing Piece 8 by The Light Dreams

One thing that I really love about some of the Electronica guys at macidol.com is that they really pay attention to their artwork. They understand that visuals can add a lot to a listening experience, and they design their art for their pages accordingly. The Light Dreams has a voluminous jamroom, and there are many really cool pictures accompanying his compositions.

Missing Piece 8 is his most recent addition, and is great, spacy ambient music. I'm going back to find the other 7.

Bash & Pop -- Friday Night is Killing Me

Over the last few years I've become more enamored of the Replacements & Paul solo and also what Tommy Stinson has done post Mats. The contributing factor has been that I've become more familiar with the Faces and Mercury-era Rod Stewart, and I can hear what devotees Grandpaboy et. al. are.

Nowhere is this fixation more apparent than on Tommy's first post Mats outing c. 1993. On one level, you hear the Replacements legacy, but the more I listen to this, the more I hear them English fellers. Tunes like "Hang Ups", "Tickled to Tears" and "He Means It" boogie in a very particular way, and even where the Faces are less apparent, you can still get that hit in the looseness and jauntiness of the way the band is jamming. That is not to say that this is a Georgia Sattelites clone; B & P are more romantic than that, prettier, even while being a funky, rockin' mess... I'd say 2 or 3 levels deeper than Dan Baird & Co. and way more rockin' than Westerberg's solo output in general.

This alb was so much better than people give it credit for, and the title track shoulda been all over the radio, that's what I think.

Curt Kirkwood -- Snow

Produced by Pete Anderson, who is Dwight Yoakam's producer. Essentially you have a kinda country-pop Meat Puppets record. Soaring and Byrds-like at times, never raising its temperature above that of a warm October day. The lyrics are Curt's style; somewhat impressionistic, they resonate but never tip their hand.

Curt plays about half the guitar and also splits backing vocals with his producer. Kirkwood's playing keeps the seedee from becoming any kind of cookie cutter Nashville pop affair, but Pete Anderson's contributions are definitely those of an ace nashville cat: clean, supple, tasty. He's a nice foil for the M. P. Interesting to note that a solo record is the first time you hear Kirkwood as half of a guitar duo; he's usually the whole ballgame.

On the whole, this is a very nice album, spotlighting the Meat Puppets leader as a songwriter of considerable merit and a soulful, tuneful singer. For me, this one stacks up against any Meat Puppets record after Up on the Sun.