January 18, 2008 Earworm

...which brings us to Butler's last stand with Suede. Or, his last single - and even that has been up for debate because no one that knows is willing to talk about Bernard's exact contribution to the tracks on "Dog Man Star" prior to his abrupt exit from the band. But, he remains credited for guitars on "New Generation" while his replacement, 17 year old Richard Oakes (referred to as "Little Dickie" by the always classy British music press), gets the credit for the b-sides.

It sure sounds like Bernard back there behind Brett as the story of slumming with a bright young thing unfolds. If she's real or drug induced hallucination remains unanswered, but you should be dancing to it, not thinking about it, so get moving.

Here's the video, featuring "Little Dickie":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHi2aX9N_kg&feature=related

Have a great weekend.

January 17, 2008 Earworm

Whilst wailing at the Wall Of Sound, a quick look around will lead you to Bernard Butler, former guitarist for Suede who probably wishes that people would stop calling him that. After leaving that Britpop mach II cornerstone in a huff, he teamed up with the extreme and extraordinary David McAlmont and concocted the ultimate kiss off in "Yes".

"Yes" utilizes the wall of sound as a defense: it's so dense that nothing could interrupt McAlmont's rant that yes, he does feel better, alright, and well enough to tell you what you can do with what you have to offer. The string section backs him with a hint of violence and when he finally shuts up for a minute, Bernard's guitar steps in to make sure that there is no chance of capitulation. That David McAlmont is an impossibly tall looking black man wielding a three octave range and appears to be in drag even when he's not only adds to the impact of this sonic assault.

Needless to say, I listen in, hands clasped with joy, like a schoolyard voyeur waiting to scorn the accused with a "nya, nya, nya"!

Butler would walk away from McAlmont, reportedly in a huff, to a solo debut on Creation that featured "Not Alone", another visit to the wall that sounded like it was twenty-eight years old when it was released. It immediately became one of my favorite records of all time but we'll save that for later...

McAlmont hooked up with David Arnold to contribute a cover of "Diamonds Are Forever" to Arnold's "Shaken And Stirred" project. The video must be seen to be believed.

All's well that ends well: Butler made up with McAlmont and they released another album and Butler made up with Brett Anderson and they released another album - not as Suede but as The Tears. The three of them together would be frighteningly fey, very bitchy, and I doubt if anyone would survive it.

Check out the video for "Yes":
http://youtube.com/watch?v=c6b_Z-bS448

January 16 2008 Earworm

"River Deep, Mountain High" was not Spector's last great record of the sixties, it was the little remembered "Black Pearl" by Sonny Charles and The Checkmates Ltd, and to say that I love it would be an understatement. Another fine example of imperfection can lead to great pop music, there are moments of weakness in the lyric and Sonny Charles doesn't have the best voice, but the record is sublime. The church-like backing vocals border on Gregorian chant at times, the glockenspiel dusts the proceedings with sparkles, and at appoximately one minute and twenty-six seconds in, the string section of heaven provides some of the most beautiful encouragement I've ever heard.

Credited to Spector, Toni Wine, and Irwin Levine, it wasn't the most lucrative composition of any of them - for Wine that would probably be "Groovy Kind of Love" and for Levine, "This Diamond Ring" - but, as good those two compositions are (and the jury will remain forever out on the former), neither reached the sonic heights that Spector provided "Black Pearl".

And check out all the noodling going on throughout that nearly one minute long fade-out.

January 15, 2008 Earworm

There's a chunk of funk in the guitar picking intro to Danielle Dax's "Big Hollow Man" that suggests that you're about to enter Muscle Shoals territory but then all hell breaks loose with a short hair curling wail that could be what the Chipmunks sound like when on acid. A tale of money changing hypocrisy "with a fist full of sham", it's been on my mind a lot lately as I watch the corporate politics around me unfold. As every bad decision is made, it's followed with an assurance that the actions taken are "in everyone's best interest" by a leader so lacking in charisma and completely void of sincerity that "his flock" refuses to drink the Kool-Aid, nods in acknowledgment, and walks away thinking, "What a yutz!"

"Big Hollow Man" came roaring back into my head this morning when I turned on the tv and saw Newt Gingrich offering his wise words on the changes needed for the nation's best interest. This was followed by another insightful discussion about Tom Cruise's position within the church of scientology.

A fist full of sham, indeed.

Meanwhile, Danielle Dax is turning fifty this year and is now an interior designer. That tidbit makes feel a little bit older than I'd like yet gives me much needed faith in second acts.

January 14, 2008 Earworm

Raising my head from the pillow at 7am I realize that the sun hasn't even bothered to get up yet. Why would it? The warm weathered weekend has ended and the best we can expect is a rise to 52 degrees from the southern cruel 33 that it is now.

Does Mother Nature know that some weird workings are about to transpire and has decided to turn a cold shoulder? Is she protesting the snubbing of "Pushing Daisies" by The Golden Globes and the lack of pretty dresses and rambling thank you speeches? Maybe she's just sleeping off the excesses of a really good party...

Meanwhile, I'm up and at 'em like Atom Ant without the Napoleonic complex - ready to help where I can but not making a fuss about it. For my theme song I've chosen The Godfathers' "Unreal World". They can point out all that is wrong, slaughtering the culprits with those guitars that remind us that 1991 was not that far away from the eighties, while I walk amongst the falling during that gorgeous Association-like refrain - not a victim, yet victimized nonetheless.

Through it all, I refuse to wear my heart on sleeve. Because that's where I keep my record collection.

WTF?

No dresses. No Clooney? No awkward speeches? No award for Lee Pace?
Where is the pretty?

What is Billy Bush's hair doing?

Who's the blond?

Globe not golden