Jackasses

The Kurious Oranj

I seem to enjoy music much more when I'm obsessed with a single artist. Maybe there's something about digging deeply into the catalogue or just learning, but it beats skipping stones across the myriad of 16 buck new releases that remind me of better records I bought twenty years ago. That's mostly just old age- at a certain point, you've heard it all and not much is going to bring that buzz the way it once did. But somehow, throwing my ears into one band day after day after day makes music interesting again, or at least clicks on the curiosity sensors deadened by too much culture.

These past few months it's been all about Mr. Mark E. Smith, and it's nice to know I can go all OCD on a former punker instead of some country folker. I have a long way to go, cuz this guy plays by the old rules- an album almost every year and pass the fucking bottle. Folks like to go on about the lyrics, but they're just snippets to me: "We are Sparta FC," "Does that stink of analyst?" "Idiot." Poetic genius or drunken stream-of-consciousness? Both? Depends? I find the nonsense soothing, even if the sounds can jar at times. I don't mind the dance stuff- as soon as that voice comes along, it's just The Fall. The man's attitude trumps most of the background music, making the songs his, even when they're not very good. His is a singular vision, no matter the alleys he sometimes visits. I'm early in the exploration (it's gotta take years, right?), but not even close to bored. I suppose tomorrow I could read an article about the genius of Dan Fogelberg and leave Manchester behind, but I doubt it. Just too many byways to explore.

Here are five at the top of the pile, given that I haven't heard all of them (is it 29 studio efforts and an infinite number of comps?) or given some (like Shift Work, which sucked for one listen- am I wrong?) of them much of a chance, and with all apologies to real Fall fans who know I know nothing-

Grotesque

The Real New Fall lp

Reformation Post T.L.C.

Your Future Our Clutter

Hex Enduction Hour

Suck an August twelve-pack in the dusk of your middle age, and smile at a stranger. And stay away from Pyramid beers- even free, they taste like shit.

Blondie part deux

From Mr Baus who attended last night's show at the Fillmo'

Ok, so let me state outright, and this is not me romanticizing our beloved blonde vixen from her CBGB days, Debbie Harry is simply stunning. Maybe it was my really bad vision, maybe it was the lighting, maybe it was the insanely cool sparkly Raybans she was wearing (which I think we’d both agree, only she could pull off), or perhaps it was the jet white wig or I think it was a wig that she was wearing. But she was outrageously cool last night. She most certainly still has it, even at 65! She was awesome, really into all the songs she was singing. Old stuff, new stuff, she was rocking.

My quick impression of the musicians:

1. Chris Stein: Serves ZERO purpose. He does almost nothing since they have a hired guitar guy doing all the work. Really, I was almost embarrassed for him. He clearly knows his place in the legend of this band but it did not translate into him contributing at all last night.

2. Clem Burke: LOVED his drumming. He has ownage on the drums. It’s funny I’ve never equated Blondie as having drums being a forefront instrument but I was wrong. He was really good, really rocking out and keeping everything in place.

3. Keyboardist: Ridiculous. He was probably 30 years old and I found him embarrassing. Plus this being the first show of the tour, I noticed Debbie, Stein and Clem giving him the eye (which I assumed to mean he F’d up). Plus he used one of those cheesy 'keytars'...really lame.

4. Guitarist: Also a 30 something. Ridiculous. He played the core songs really well but he did the whole rock star solo schtick…guitar face, guitar walk to the front of the stage with wide open stance (how can this dude have the nerve to walk in front of Debbie Harry, repeatedly). Standing on the amps doing solos. I’m really surprised this hired this guy. It was painful to watch him, which I rarely did since I was visually stalking the maiden shown below.

5. Bassist: Solid, typical bassist just doing a great, if not noticeable job. Sort of like a good umpire.

6. Debbie: Still has a great honey voice. Still has the charisma, and still rocks out with voice and dancing. It is simply impossible not to stare at her at all times. Her smile could kill.

A good solid show with a little too much emphasis on songs from a new record they are working on.

A solid B+ from me. An A if they threw in some more obscure non-hit 70s tunes, and if that guitarist hadn’t made such an ass of himself.

Man, check her out in this old picture. I mean really look at her. WOW!