Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Manifesto for the 101'ers
If you're like me, you probably think music could do with a new revolution. There aren't enough Joe Strummer's or Chuck D's in the music business these days. The thing I always loved about Strummer was the bond he formed with his audience. If you listened to Joe and believed what he was saying, we were all in the Clash. And because we were all a part of the group we owed it to each other not to listen to crap music or buy into any of the pre-packaged shite that the entertainment industry fed us.
This is a blog about the music I love and the music and musicians I want everyone to know about. You don't have to register or do anything to make a comment except post. This blog is for everybody and here are some things we can promise:
1) We're not going to prove how clever we are by talking about the most obscure bands we can think of. If I start going on about the Randy Peters, I'll explain that they were a thrash band that went to my high school in Canada and recorded one track (that I know of) in their brief history. That's why you've never heard of them.
2) I'm not going to waste your time talking about how great the Beatles/Stones/Dylan/Clapton/etc. are. That's what we have magazines like ROLLING STONE and UNCUT for. Besides, the Beatles broke up over 30 years ago. Isn't it about time we all got over it? (Management reserves the right to treat Bruce Springsteen as an exception to this rule)
3) I have my prejudices. I started out as a big punk/new wave/alternative guy. These days I'm much more of a singer-songwriter/alt. country/ethnic guy. Doesn't mean I won't talk about other types of music. I have yet to find a type or genre of music that doesnt have something I've enjoyed. But if you see more of this stuff popping up you will know why.
4) Someone may talk/write about Led Zeppelin but it sure as hell won't be me.
Sound good?
Let's rock and roll!
TODAY'S TRACK
is London Calling by the Clash from the Clash on Broadway single CD. Not the more familiar version from London Calling (arguably the greatest rock and roll record ever made), this track is from the boiled down version of the first Clash boxed set. It's a terrific album full of insightful interviews with Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, everything this type of collection should be. I've owned a copy of this track for years but these days when I play the song in my head, it's always proceeded by Jones' stirring (and a bit chilling) songwriting instructions to Strummer "... send a message to the world!"
You can download the individual track from the itunes music store
or you can purchase the boxed set on amazon.com
As far as I know, the single CD version is no longer in print but if you come across it in a used record store, it's well worth the price of admission.
This is a blog about the music I love and the music and musicians I want everyone to know about. You don't have to register or do anything to make a comment except post. This blog is for everybody and here are some things we can promise:
1) We're not going to prove how clever we are by talking about the most obscure bands we can think of. If I start going on about the Randy Peters, I'll explain that they were a thrash band that went to my high school in Canada and recorded one track (that I know of) in their brief history. That's why you've never heard of them.
2) I'm not going to waste your time talking about how great the Beatles/Stones/Dylan/Clapton/etc. are. That's what we have magazines like ROLLING STONE and UNCUT for. Besides, the Beatles broke up over 30 years ago. Isn't it about time we all got over it? (Management reserves the right to treat Bruce Springsteen as an exception to this rule)
3) I have my prejudices. I started out as a big punk/new wave/alternative guy. These days I'm much more of a singer-songwriter/alt. country/ethnic guy. Doesn't mean I won't talk about other types of music. I have yet to find a type or genre of music that doesnt have something I've enjoyed. But if you see more of this stuff popping up you will know why.
4) Someone may talk/write about Led Zeppelin but it sure as hell won't be me.
Sound good?
Let's rock and roll!
TODAY'S TRACK
is London Calling by the Clash from the Clash on Broadway single CD. Not the more familiar version from London Calling (arguably the greatest rock and roll record ever made), this track is from the boiled down version of the first Clash boxed set. It's a terrific album full of insightful interviews with Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, everything this type of collection should be. I've owned a copy of this track for years but these days when I play the song in my head, it's always proceeded by Jones' stirring (and a bit chilling) songwriting instructions to Strummer "... send a message to the world!"
You can download the individual track from the itunes music store
or you can purchase the boxed set on amazon.com
As far as I know, the single CD version is no longer in print but if you come across it in a used record store, it's well worth the price of admission.
