May 22, 2009 Earworm

Holy Crap! Morrissey turned 50 today.
Even holier? Jerry Dammers turned 54.

Let's wish Moz an "Unhappy Birthday" and hope that Jerry celebrates all "Friday Night, Saturday Morning". But not together.

Have a great weekend.

August 14, 2008 Earworm

Two years of this and only one Smiths song? How is that possible?

Okay, I'll pull "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" from the top of the deck since it popped into my head this morning. Besides, why not belatedly celebrate Scotland's repeal of Section 28 eight years and eight weeks ago, un-corking a trickle of common sense that spread, albeit slowly, through out the UK.

The title, supposedly modeled on Communist slogan "Workers of the world, unite!" is allegedly a more commercially acceptable way of uniting the shirtlifters of the world. Of course none of this has been confirmed - or has it - because it's Morrissey and we all know how elusive he can be. But, since the release of the single perfectly coincided with the controversy of the United Kingdom's attempt to legislate local morality by making it illegal to intentionally promote homosexuality - homosexuality just happened to have a new album coming out at the time, as I recall - and since Morrissey is such a smart-ass, I'm pretty sure the sun was shining out of his behind as his little joke crept up the UK charts.

"Shoplifters Of The World Unite" was yet another perfect Smiths twelve inch, coupled as it was with the whip crack of "London" and the hysterical and lovely "Half A Person"; a threesome that seems a perfectly reasonable explanation for the urge I still have to have hug the Presley as Floyd The Barber-clad sleeve to my chest whenever I hear any of them. That the A-side continued in the band's T Rex-mania - this time "Children Of The Revolution" which, in itself, confirms that the joke is absolutely funny still - that started with "Panic" and that it sounded nothing like "Ask" only added to it's already incalculable value.

July 16, 2008 Earworm

Before S-A-W spun Dead Or Alive a hit record (baby), club kids knew them for an audacious cover of "That's The Way (I Like It)" complete with bender Pete Burns prancing around a gym-full of female bodybuilders which may have accidentally said more about LaBurns than he'd intended. Even while strutting, pouting, and leering, it was obvious that this wasn't your typical drag queen: no coy giggles ala Boy George, Pete looked like the sort of gal that would help you fix a flat and then beat you up and steal your car because you wouldn't blow him. Linda and I were completely entranced by this creature; she to the point of shivers as he growled, "it should be okay, if you try it in my way", declaring herself ready for anything if he'd only do it now.

I wasn't ready to go that far but I did go to the record store when the US finally got the debut, "Sophisticated Boom Boom". I've loved/hated the thing ever since depending on my mood and what year it is when I revisit it. One song, though, has remained constant in my adoration and that is the musical self-help thesis that is "Far Too Hard"; a shimmering Studio 54 throwback that could have been a Philadelphia International track until you realize what this guy is on about and begin to feel as you might upon learning that your grandmother is a lesbian serial rapist. The fact that Pete actually sings this instead of utilizing his usual snarl and bark delivery makes it even more intriguing.

And about that singing... does anyone else hear Morrissey? And doesn't that shine an interesting light on that Smash Hits interview that left so many of us scratching our heads...

Dead or Alive would have their bigger moments - some of them featuring Pete giving us a preview of Cher's look circa '89 - but to my ears, he's never topped the five minutes he took to honestly explain the crux of his personality while linking the hedonism of the disco era to the goth kids to the alternakids to the...

April 23, 2007 Earworm

The art of the medley died at the end of the sixties, overplayed and uninspired. The Spinners briefly revived it a decade later but went too many times to the well and interest was quickly lost. Who else but Mark Ronson would be expected to revive the genre and, really, who else would think to throw Morrissey and Marr at Diana, Flo, and Mary?

Reviving, re-imaging, revitalizing re-re-re (just a little bit) Ronson's results are rewarding and kudos to Daniel Merriweather's vocal reminding us of Andy Bell if he were a bit more butch. Smiths purist may cringe but they can't say that they've heard this one before and there are those who may think that yet another cover of "You Keep Me Hanging On" unnecessary, but they're all spoilsports and party poopers who probably don't know how to dance.

Check the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4kBr5WWiBM

January 29, 2008 Earworm

As The House of Love was moving out, Martin Rossiter was being drafted as the singer of what was left of Spin. Renaming themselves Gene, they became the darlings of the press - fed by a supporting spot for the re-awakening Pulp - while taking a lot of flack for Rossiter's obvious adoration of Morrissey. Nicknamed the "Rozzster", Martin's wobbling croon and the lushly intricate production of Gene's 1995 debut album, "Olympian", sounded like a logical progression from The Smiths' "Strangeways Here We Come" album. The strength of their b-sides also contributed to the Smiths comparisons and their very own version of "Hatful of Hollow", "To See The Lights", would be released and would be almost as successful as their first album.

"Fighting Fit" was released at the end of '96 as teaser for the upcoming album, "Drawn To The Deep End", and it seldom left my stereo. Muscular, flexed, and in a hurry, "Fighting Fit" was the moment that Gene began to depend less on the influence of Morrissey, and focus on being Gene.
All these years later, I still get a rush from those opening chords and, it's that rush I need today, which is why it's todays earworm.


All the Gene studio albums released on Polydor are now out of print in the US but the "As Good As It Gets" compilation includes many of the bands best moments.