The NW Ohio lunkheads just aren't willing to look like anything other than "Super Duper Cock Of The Walk". Down to just about every thing they say and do. And it's not all of their faults that they are being polarized. We, the male-types, have got all of this silly ass pied piperings being dropped like food rations on our gulliable brains. Outlets like Maxim, The Man Show, Spike TV, every ESPN outlet, and most advertising promote this generic idea of what it takes to be a MAHNNNN!!!! One topic that is taboo and reinforced by these outlets is the "It's okay to talk about how attractive another man is". Someone who says such things is automatically a "Homo" or a "Fag". There is a story for all of this!
The women at work started to make a list of "People That You Would Be Gay For". The list wasn't presented as something of a "hit list" for us to all follow through on. It was more of complimenting the handsomeness or beauty of other people in either sex. So the girls rant through the gamut of people like Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, Sade, Debbie Harry, and Karen O. Naturally, I'm going to participate although I know in my head that this is a "no no" subject for the modern man. My choices were Joaquin Phoenix, Colin Farrell, Blixa Bargeld, Chris Isaak, and Morrissey. For some odd reason, they had no idea who Blixa Bargeld was. Well, their loss...not mine. Of course we have this little discussion in front of customers because we don't give a fuck and need to break the boredom cloud. Then some lovely Nascar lovin' shit for brain comes strolling past towards the exit and proclaims "What are you all queer or something?". I didn't get offended because there wasn't any real malice in his voice. I know his logic has been twisted and he's just reacting from that Maxim Magazine Commando training. Either way it got this little journal post a-brewin' upstairs. Why can't straight men talk about how attractive other men are? How did this originate? Was it those damn quakers and their tasty oats? Was it those pilgrims and the bible thumping and indian killin' that ensued? What gives?
So James Johnston from Gallon Drunk is the latest edition to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. He's taking over the spot formerly held by the aforementioned Blixa Bargeld, (damnit, the hate crimes are going to be swift and just if I keep referencing our little industrial noise pin up boy). As a Nick Cave freakaholic, I had to get my grizzled mitts on some of this Gallon Drunk madness. It's a stomping affair of sloppy punkabilly with touches of noise and random unpleasantness that tickle the ear drums. Some of Johnston's playing could have fit very easily with THE FIRST BORN IS DEAD-era Bad Seeds material.
The new Nick Cave album Abbatoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus could have been relegated to a single album's worth of compositions. Some standouts in include the Easy Money, Breathless, Lyre Of Orpheus, and Babe You Turn Me On. Lyrically, he's not as strong as say Tender Prey or The Good Son but the melodies this man can conjure boggle my mind. Any other artist working in his sphere was way exhausted in terms of music and lyrics by the time they reached the age that Nick Cave is now. Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Scott Walker. Granted, that Scott Walker album from 1995 on Drag City was pretty damn shocking all around. A very surreal and terrifying nightmare that has no end, indeed. That element of Vincent Pricean eeriness is totally missing from the mix with Blixa's departure. It seemed as though his input got less and less exposure from THE BOATMAN'S CALL on up to NOCTURAMA. You could always pull his sheets of serial killer slide guitar out of any expansive mix. It was a perfect balance for Nick Cave's more folk, blues, traditional pop approach. A taste of home for us Birthday Party fans, you could say. Well, there is always Einsturzende Neubauten!
SOUNDTRACK OF THE DAY
Gallon Drunk "Tonight...The Singles Bar"
For A Few Dollars More Soundtrack
Gang Of Four "Entertainment"
Helmet "Meantime"
Albert Ayler "Music Is The Healing Force Of The Universe"
Someone buy me the new Albert Ayler box set, please....
The women at work started to make a list of "People That You Would Be Gay For". The list wasn't presented as something of a "hit list" for us to all follow through on. It was more of complimenting the handsomeness or beauty of other people in either sex. So the girls rant through the gamut of people like Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, Sade, Debbie Harry, and Karen O. Naturally, I'm going to participate although I know in my head that this is a "no no" subject for the modern man. My choices were Joaquin Phoenix, Colin Farrell, Blixa Bargeld, Chris Isaak, and Morrissey. For some odd reason, they had no idea who Blixa Bargeld was. Well, their loss...not mine. Of course we have this little discussion in front of customers because we don't give a fuck and need to break the boredom cloud. Then some lovely Nascar lovin' shit for brain comes strolling past towards the exit and proclaims "What are you all queer or something?". I didn't get offended because there wasn't any real malice in his voice. I know his logic has been twisted and he's just reacting from that Maxim Magazine Commando training. Either way it got this little journal post a-brewin' upstairs. Why can't straight men talk about how attractive other men are? How did this originate? Was it those damn quakers and their tasty oats? Was it those pilgrims and the bible thumping and indian killin' that ensued? What gives?
So James Johnston from Gallon Drunk is the latest edition to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. He's taking over the spot formerly held by the aforementioned Blixa Bargeld, (damnit, the hate crimes are going to be swift and just if I keep referencing our little industrial noise pin up boy). As a Nick Cave freakaholic, I had to get my grizzled mitts on some of this Gallon Drunk madness. It's a stomping affair of sloppy punkabilly with touches of noise and random unpleasantness that tickle the ear drums. Some of Johnston's playing could have fit very easily with THE FIRST BORN IS DEAD-era Bad Seeds material.
The new Nick Cave album Abbatoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus could have been relegated to a single album's worth of compositions. Some standouts in include the Easy Money, Breathless, Lyre Of Orpheus, and Babe You Turn Me On. Lyrically, he's not as strong as say Tender Prey or The Good Son but the melodies this man can conjure boggle my mind. Any other artist working in his sphere was way exhausted in terms of music and lyrics by the time they reached the age that Nick Cave is now. Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Scott Walker. Granted, that Scott Walker album from 1995 on Drag City was pretty damn shocking all around. A very surreal and terrifying nightmare that has no end, indeed. That element of Vincent Pricean eeriness is totally missing from the mix with Blixa's departure. It seemed as though his input got less and less exposure from THE BOATMAN'S CALL on up to NOCTURAMA. You could always pull his sheets of serial killer slide guitar out of any expansive mix. It was a perfect balance for Nick Cave's more folk, blues, traditional pop approach. A taste of home for us Birthday Party fans, you could say. Well, there is always Einsturzende Neubauten!
SOUNDTRACK OF THE DAY
Gallon Drunk "Tonight...The Singles Bar"
For A Few Dollars More Soundtrack
Gang Of Four "Entertainment"
Helmet "Meantime"
Albert Ayler "Music Is The Healing Force Of The Universe"
Someone buy me the new Albert Ayler box set, please....
VIEW 13 of 13 COMMENTS
papa needs a novax and an old 15 watt gibson 2x10...
Gimme a good Nick Cave recommendation. I have Murder Ballads. What's beyond that?