Jon Spencer's Meat and Bone

Gaaah! It's next to impossible to give you a fair talk about the new Jon Spencer Blues Explosion LP "Meat and Bone". Y'see, had it come out a year after "Damage", or better yet, had come out instead of "Damage", it'd be a one sentence explanation- Jon Spencer continues to perfect the art of deconstruction on Blues Boogie with the scuzz factor set high. But, really, it's been a decade since they were really trying to mine this field, and in that decade, we've seen at least two bands exploit that same sound, to much greater commercial effect, and JSBX itself, exploited commercially moreso than as a real, working band. So, it leaves a taste of cashing in, or returning to the well- it brings in business considerations, and that removes me, as a listener, at least one step- I'm thinking about "Why" too much to fully appreciate "How", if you follow me.
That's not to say that I don't enjoy it, because I do enjoy it, but I keep on going back to things that aren't part of the music, itself. I'll hear a great riff (Like on "Bag of Bones") and I'll think something along the lines of "There's Jon Spencer come back to claim what's his from the imposters" and it's no longer the same as just hearing a great riff, you see? Or, I'll hear that truly great chorus on the end of "Black Mold" and I'll wonder if he held it off so it'd sync with the schlock-horror music video, which is also great, but I realize that they have to do tricks like that to compete with their newer, more commercially viable lessers. Then, it's a much more cynical thing.
But, I don't feel bad about the way I hear it, Billy Corgan be damned, because Jon Spencer played this game first- he's the one who took a post-modern, "deconstructionist" eye to genuine scuzz boogie blues. He's the one who dressed up the same kind of cool-guy-exploiting-outsider-art that's been happening forever in a kind of semiotic reference list. So, it's fair to look at what he does from a distance, and judge it based upon his position as a has-been. Yes, I said it, and no, it's not fair- I told you it's next to impossible to talk fairly about this record- and that's why- the whole thing is predicated on the false assumption that Jon is now an outsider himself, simply because he hasn't been releasing CDs or touring as much. But there you have it- the most honest thing I can say about it is that while I like the music, the games are getting in the way.

I kinda hate myself for this....

I'm a pretty big obsessive over a few Australian bands from the early 1980's. See, I spent most of 1982 through 1985 living in places where American pop culture had less of a toehold than British, European and Australian pop culture did, and quite frankly, if you had to choose between Saxon and Rose Tattoo, or more starkly, between Dire Straits and the Angels, I sincerely hope you'd have chosen as I did, and gone almost entirely for the Australian side. This has led to some strange choices at times, but most of the time, if it comes from the Australian Pub/Punk/Rock/Metal type of music, it's right up my alley. In that vein, I cannot think of a single LP I like better than the Angels 1978 LP, "Face to Face". From "Straight Jacket" to "Comin Down" it's a damn near perfect LP. "The Angels", "No Exit", "Dark Room", "Night Attack", and "Two Minute Warning" were all varying shades of excellent, as well.
So, musically, I really want to like anything released as "The Angels". I heard about the falling out between Doc Neeson and the Brewsters, and while both sides have their points, I side a bit more with Doc. The kind of show he put on, I believe him when he says his body is broken, and he needed chemical help to ease the pain. At the same time, it wouldn't be the Angels without the melodies, and I'm sure Doc is a nutter, and I'm sure he's difficult to be around. So, I'm not entirely without sympathy for the Brewster side of the equation.
So, I shelled out large sums for the new LP ( in USD I paid $40.00) and I've listened to the whole thing a few times and, as much as it kills me to say it- the record blows. It's bad. It fails to entertain me.  I don't like it. It really hurts to say. I realize I should've known, but I honestly had hope. Dave Gleeson sings in a far more traditional rock voice, yes, but I don't want to put too much of it on that. The real problem is the whole band sounds tired, perfunctory, and like they are simply trying to cash in a cheque. They do fair number of covers, and bring little to the table on those. The re-do a track or two from their glory days and it's glaringly obvious that the spark is gone.
While I feel like I wasted my cash, that's not the worst part. The worst is this- you can literally hear the band digging their heels in. There will be no reunion any time soon. They won't be going back to what they excelled at, any time soon. That's utterly depressing because as far as I can tell Doc doesn't have all that long. The man really does seem to be broken in ways that will be hard to repair, and by the time he is repaired, there's very little chance of him being able to forget the bitterness enough to be a convincing performer- in other words the Angels that I loved are gone, and I really wish that I could love these new Angels, but I just don't.
I don't like putting negative reviews and notices on this blog, because life can suck enough without adding to it. However, I really do feel it's my duty to put this out there, so I can save other people from hearing this, and ruining the band for them. Yes, I know that may seem like a nasty thing to say, but I swear it's the truth. Avoid this, if you can.

What I could find of the show on you tube

It's not all of the show, but these clips should give you an idea- Bob Mould at the 930 club, washington DC, 08 September. It was awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-bbz2nVQzc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo7k5EPWugg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aTlWvGIMu8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jKFUJ_CHz0

Lookmatic part Deux

So, I've now got three pairs of glasses from Lookmatic. I bought a pair of prescription shades, and they turned out ace. I bought my wife a pair on non-prescription shades, and she likes them, and they seem pretty ace. Now, I've won a contest, and got a free pair of Specs from them- they're pretty ace, as well. I wasn't sure about getting prescription glasses from them, as shades can be more forgiving if they got a focal point slightly off, or if there's a flaw in the lens. Well, yes, the lenses are not as crystal clear as I might have liked, but it's still as good, if not better than going down my local Optical shop. They're excellent for driving, or light computer work. I think I'd suffer a little visual fatigue if I wore them to read a lot of fine print, but keep in mind that I've got a very tough prescription, and should be wearing bifocals- well, I'm right on the cusp of needing bifocals all the time, so a bit of that's to be expected. Also, bear in mind the customer service is insanely good- I've had questions in the late evening that were answered by email in less than an hour. Think about that! Imagine a brick and mortar store that can have you your specs in less than a fortnight, no matter your prescription, sell extremely high fashion specs for under US 200, and can answer questions at almost any time you'd ask. That's pretty swell, eh? Then, add this to the whole thing- the people are actually really nice. as in, I think I'd like to be friends with them, even if money weren't involved. Consider them recommended. I'm hoping they expand to world wide, very soon. Not that you'd get the same as me, but I first got the Parkers in tortoise, then the Tippis in black and purple for my wife, and now I've got the Uncleonards. Next, I think I'm going to get the Kingsfords in silver....

Saw Bob Mould!

And I got the T shirt! Can't say I got to talk to Bob as he was going to do a Blowoff set  pretty much immediately after the show, and my wife and I couldn't go for that, but it was otherwise exactly what you'd want from St Bob. He ran through all of Copper Blue, in order, then, did a full set of songs from the new album, and a bunch of Husker songs as well- considering the last time I saw Husker Du they did less than 10 songs, and tonight Bob did 5, I'd say it was like a double set- all of Copper Blue, with another 14 songs on top. Bob was in a great mood- better than I've ever seen him. His voice was a little hoarse, but he played the shit out of his guitar. I'm sure there will be Youtube clips to document it, but what was almost as entertaining as Bob was the crowd- about 2/3 old Gen X 'ers who remembered the early 1990's a little too well, with 1/3 bears waiting for Blowoff. That was funny. Oh, and running man- you're a hero. Gorilla boy? You suck. Nope, I'm not explaining. For some things you just have to be there.

Bob Mould "Silver Age"

it goes without saying that I can't really review this-I'm too much of a fan, too many others have said what needs to be said, and so on and so forth. So, again, like the rest of this blog, it's just me talking about it.

 That having said, I do want to correct a few things that have been said about this excellent CD.  No, it doesn't sound like Sugar. It's loud rock, written by Bob Mould, but so what? That puts it in league with Sugar, Husker Du, and about a third of his solo records. Furthermore, it's not just a nostalgia trip. These songs could not have been written by a thirty year old man, and they reflect forwards just as well as backwards- for every reference to the power pop of Sugar, there's another reference to proto punk like Johnny Thunders, Radio Birdman, or The Stooges. For every reference to Husker Du Popcore, there's a reference to Pavement styled slacker indie, Superchunk styled velocity pop, and yes, Foo Fighters and QOTSA styled stoner Pop. Basically, whaddya expect? He's in his fifties, and he's written Pop rock since he was twenty. There's a plethora of notions from a vast array of sources, but the foundation is the same as it ever was- late 1960's pop cased in late 1970's post-punk. So, it's not a throwback, it's simply a writer being himself. Besides which, try to count how many of these tropes the man invented! There is no Pixies without Bob Mould, there is no Nirvana, there is no "Alternative Rock" without him. There is no psychedelic punk-at least not in any of the forms we know, so that, alone wipes out about a third of critics' darlings from the past five years, meaning, there is no Pitchfork, either. With all that on your shoulders, you'd do introspective confessional folk rock for 8 years, too. So, this isn't even a matter of a "return to form"- as I see it, it's simply a guy getting comfortable with himself.

So much for the prelude, then- how's the record?

In a nutshell, it's every bit as good as you've heard. 

This is a rock record. Specifically, it's a rock record structured equally around riffs and melody. So, no, it's not Metal, and, it's not as tightly formatted as Punk Rock. You can call it Alternative, but at this point, that's nearly meaningless. Would you like it? It's not hardcore, exactly, but it's not mellow, either- the gut check reference would be somewhere between Foo Fighters, Torche, and Weezer- but that somehow just doesn't cut it.

Song By song, it ventures from the brittle grind of Star Machine, to the churn and clang of Silver Age to the relaxed hum of First Time Joy. There's not a bad track on here, if you ask me, but again, I'm such a superfan that quite literally, some of my guitar tone is directly from Bob. That's not metaphoric- I have a stompbox that once belonged to him. So, no, I cannot be objective. Still, if I were to try to sell the record to you, I'd suggest starting with "The Descent" then go to "Briefest Moment" and follow that up with "Star Machine". That really should do the trick. I bet you'd buy it after that.

But, putting aside how much a fan I am, this really is a great rock record. I would easily say it's one of Bob's best. Perhaps it's not as lyrically deep as Bob can get, but didn't some dead British guy say something about brevity being the soul of wit? I think it's confessional enough that you should be able to relate to it at least on some points, but it's more about the tunes, and the power than it is about pondering. You can stream it, and you can buy it. What more can I say? Oh, yeah, this- if you've liked anything I've suggested on this blog- you've liked something that relates in some small way to Bob Mould. So, I bet you already have this. Good choice, then.

Bob Mould Silver Age

I don't have a review yet, but that's purely due to life events- holiday weekend, and my wife's birthday. However, I will say it's awesome, and not just because it's St Bob. This is the best release I've heard this year, and Bob's best in a decade. Buy it, buy it now.

Made in America

So, I watched some of the "Made in America" live stream from Philadelphia. Ummm, well...
For the most part, the best use was to have the EDM tent streaming as a kind of radio in the background as I did other stuff.
I had a bad feeling about it- Budweiser is bad corporate beer, Jay Z is bad corporate "rap"- not even Hip Hop, and pearl Jam are just bad. But, hey, it's free, so why not?
Well, unlike Coachella, the sound was spotty at best- serious glitches where the sound would cut out from one channel or another for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. The video was often reduced to a pixellated blur.
But what should that matter if the music made by the Artists was worthwhile, right? Well, the only two that really did bring their game were Santigold and the Hives. Santigold I've not been really a fan, but she converted me by dint of sheer dancehall and dub inflected good vibes, while the Hives did their usual, albeit abbreviated live demolition. Seriously, they are probably the best rock and roll show going. Maybe the Refused, but really the Hives will put you in a better mood.
As for the rest- I really didn't care, except X who well, it sucks to say, but they just failed. I hate saying that because they used to be a favorite, and I still love their records, and I totally understand how we all get old and break down, but John just seemed tired, Billy Zoom seemed cynical, Exene was haggard and ill, and DJ was stately- which is great for a bass player, but he's the drummer. They weren't ready to convince the indifferent crowd. I hope it was just an off night, but jeez, it was bad...

Birthday Party

So, it's my wife's birthday, and I got her some stuff that I thought you might be interested in hearing about.
First, I cannot say enough good things about Lookmatic. The customer service alone would be good enough reason to shop there. But they also have some great styles. My wife had Lasik surgery a few years back so she doesn't need glasses, but really good sunglasses are always welcome, so I think she likes her new Tippis.  Also, she's become addicted to her Kindle. I'm ok with that. She's been a Boxing, Wrestling, and Racing widow for me from time to time so I owe her. But, I got her a couple of books for her Kindle- It will Be Exhilarating and Something Like Normal. The Exhilarating book is because she runs a small business and is looking to expand to the web, and the Normal book is teen fiction (something my wife likes) written by a friend of mine. Also, I got her some gift cards so she could choose her own books and music, and I got her some of the Corporate Portraits at Shanalogic. Good hipster Art, you know?
I took her to dinner, of course, her choice, and her choice was excellent, as per usual- Bryan Voltaggio's Family Meal restaurant. I thought the fried chicken was excellent. She really liked the Fried green tomatoes, and the poutine.
I think I might take her to the movies, but that hasn't happened yet, and that's up to her. I know that we're going on a photo safari, today, and I better get ready to go do that, so just a peak for you, today.

The Wait.

Yes, things have pretty much ground to a halt here at HMLMWTMC, inc. Four reasons for that, not all of them negative. I'm waiting until I can talk freely, it's my wife's birthday, so I'm doing stuff for her, I'm pretty broke ( between money already spent on bills, car repairs, getting my son set up for his next college semester, buying crap for birthdays, and other major events, and money dedicated for upcoming events...) and  I'm pretty happy with a bunch of stuff I've already talked about ( Musically, I'm listening to the CD not yet named, Baroness, the Workers "Both Hands" and The Hives "Lex Hives", haven't gone to the movies, but did watch a lot of TV- True Blood, The Newsroom, Burn Notice, Suits and a tonne of movies on IFC and Indieplex, and I'll soon talk about the rest).
Anyway, programming should soon pick up....