Very sad to learn that musician Alex Chilton recently passed away.
I first knew his name as the producer of my punk rock favs the Cramps’ best record, and shortly had the pleasure of discovering Big Star as a moony college student. I remember hearing “Thirteen” for the first time, and being moved to tears. Still one of my all time favorite songs of all time. And, oh yeah, then I found out sang that “Letter” song (as a teenager) that my Mom loves.
It still surprises me when I meet rock n’ roll fans who don’t love, or don’t even know about Big Star. How is that even possible?! They shouldn’t be consigned to the one of most beloved “cult acts.” Commerical failure, doomed artist, inspired as many indie bands as VU blah blah blah. The music is right up there in terms of artistry and pop appeal with the Byrds, the Who and the Beatles. Do yourself a favor and get familiar, America!
Paul Westerberg, of Replacements fame, wrote a fitting eulogy, published in the Times.
I don’t there is better tribute than this, though:
Here are some of my favorite Box Tops / Big Star / Alex Chilton songs:
“Some leave Post-its on the bathroom mirror. Others scream it on billboards in Times Square. There are many ways to say “I love you.” But here’s how some famous New Yorkers, or the people who loved them, did it.”
—–
For more than a century, the makers of NECCO Sweethearts Conversation Hearts have come up with some of the sweetest ways of saying “I love you.” Every Valentine’s Day the company presents new messages on the tiny colored hearts that have been a holiday tradition since the Civil War.
It ain’t fair, and sometimes it ain’t pretty neither.
Life has been a little dreary and drawn-out lately, as I suppose is the natural state of things in January. I’m feeling overworked and drained, my creative juices desiccated. Gunning for big changes at work and sweating 10 hour days and wondering if anyone even notices. Unappreciated by the world (‘cept by Steph, natch) and underwhelmed by it too (‘cept by Steph, natch).
Sometimes life is ugly. Ands sometimes you think you aren't living like you should.
Sometimes you just need to keep pressing forward through the miasma of greyness and pressure and routine because you know the weather, as it must, will warm, and the Muse, as she must, will whisper in your ear again. You will be suddenly overwhelmed by the play of a sunbeam on the cutlery as you wash the dishes (again!) and the mundane will prove beautiful and you will be glad you are there, right there, to see it.
What’s that you say? “But! What I’ve left behind looks trifling. What’s ahead looks black. Am I doomed to spend my life a-lingering on?”
You look frenzied, you look frazzled
Peaked as any alp
Flushed and rushed and razzle-dazzled
Dry your lips, damp your scalp
Now I can see you’re in a rut in
Disarray
And I’m not one to butt in
But in fact I must say
If you’d take it easy, trust awhile
Don’t look blue, don’t look back
You’ll pull through in just awhile
‘Cause you’re on th right track
Don’t worry, you’re doing fine. I am too. It’s hard to feel in the groove this time of year.
Until then, if you need some inspiration as you paddle-out through the doldrums, I recommend listening to surf music. Lots of surf music:
A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.
All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.
Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see.
Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies – or else? The chain reaction of evil – hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars – must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.
Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.
I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.
Today is Elvis Aaron Presley’s 75th birthday.
I’m not sure that it is possible for people my age or younger to appreciate Elvis in the way those of my Dad’s generation did – they got the see the whole thing unfold, and we are left, mainly, with his gaudy Vegas shtick and the teeming, jokey impersonators. For those of us who have gotten past that cultural detritus, it’s maybe hip to like the Sun Sessions, those recordings Elvis made in Memphis alongside Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins (before any were nationally known). These are, time and time again, lifted up as the best thing he ever did, especially for those who came around to Elvis on their own through the lineage of punk or indie. I disagree, considering how much he developed and expanded what he could do, but, yeah, okay, I’m probably more likely to play “Blue Moon of Kentucky” than just about anything to sway the unbeliever. But you really got to stick it out further than that to get the full measure of the King.
Anyway, here I’ve compiled a little highlight reel of the best Elvis material I could find on YouTube:
We start with the sweet and rough demo, where he just sounds like an impassioned teenager starting to realize the thrilling power of his gifts. Moving through the early “country” standards, we come to his early breakout days (handsome!), and then onto his forays in sleek contemporary pop, film soundtracks, and traditional gospel — I think you’ll be surprised at the different deliveries and vocal stylings he could pull off. I’ve put in two selections from his seminal ’68 Comeback Special, my favorite televised music moment ever — after years of formula movies and recordings of variable quality, Elvis broke his 7-year hiatus from performance, because “I want everyone to know what I can really do.” This was Elvis at his peak, and he never looked or sounded better; look at just how damn cool he was in all black leather. And of course, I put in my favorite Elvis number, “In the Ghetto.” Finally, at the end, we see the self-parody he is sadly remembered as; bloated, caked in makeup, and self-medicated – but still able to give a hell of a moving performance, despite all the theatrics and fluff.
So, In honor of the King, take care of business today, and everyday. TCB, everyway.
I have never been able to deny myself anything, not even a cup of coffee if I wanted it.
–Wittgenstein
Forcing oneself to be a better person… it just doesn’t work. Trying to do something, or develop a new habit or way of being, just because we have some nagging idea that it is healthy, or useful, or should be done… this is bound to end in failure and a great gnashing of teeth besides. I certainly know I have no chance in succeeding at any endeavor if it is “ends” driven. I am good at making myself feel guilty, but I can’t really point to many positive lifestyle traits or qualities of self that are are truly a result of such. I have have never been able to make myself “better” and I doubt I ever will.
ANYWAY, ANYWAY, such New Year’s musings are just to hint at my one Resolution for this year. In 2010, I want to build The Most Useless Machine Ever!
