Music For The Masses

Huh. I've used that Talking Heads title twice. Why won't one of you warn me about these things!

This is too fuckin funny. A conservo-blogger who's looking for a little validation, tried to come up with a list of conservative approved rock songs. Apparently he's had his sense of irony surgically removed; not only are several of the songs diametrically opposed to conservative thought, he cites 'Might Makes Right' off the new Camper album; the entire album is centered around opposition to the Republicans and the War in Iraq. He dismisses this as one line. It's like the line item veto; if you take the liberty of selectively editing the lyrics, any song can mean just about anything you want.

It is totally in the tradition of the Reagan bunch trying to lay claim to Springsteen's Born In The USA. A song completely about how the USA has failed a vet. Springsteen has recast this song in performance to a solo guitar, so he can emphasize the lyrics; decoupled from the driving rock anthem effects of the E Street Band, the song is stark and painful.

Our friendly Rightie Rocker has taken offense at one commenter at Tbogg's place that told him to go back to Kenny G and Yanni. But I think with a few exceptions like Nugent and the Eagles (whose bank accounts certainly qualify them for Republican status; their drug use and sexual escapades certainly qualify them) rock music is not, largely, about maintaining the status quo and behaving yourself, listening to your elders, and all those great conservative values.

It is much more about questioning authority, living for yourself, getting out from under, fighting against authority (and, of course, for your right to party)




hey, Friday Random Ten here, for a change I'm doing it offa my iPod.

46.18 gigs of music, 11199 songs.


1. The High Party from the album “Hearts of Oak” by Ted Leo/Pharmacists. good start. punky power pop with dense Joe Jackson-y lyrics.

“and what does it take to not hear the cynics at your door saying
”it's time the turn the lights out, and you'll want to keep it down!“
so i'm lifting up that poison cup to drink a draught of propaganda,
or i'm giving up that other stuff in hopes that it will make me madder.
but either way, if you're gonna call it art,
then there's a cup in front of you and right away,
if you're gonna play your part,
you must drink it down.
and what do you make of nights
when you thought you'd make much more
than being too tired to turn the lights out
and too drunk to drink more?”

2. Ghost Town from the album “This Are Two Tone” by The Specials. 2nd gen ska from England. Deepish dub.
3. The Electric Co. from the album “Boy” by U2 . From the Mekons-list:

“So why aren't Mekons bigger than U2? They have some things in common -
haunting vocalist, wiry good-looker, genius post-punk, melancholy, and
political records. Should Jon give up drinking and drawing? If they throw out
the country influences and stop being frantic, rancorous and sarcastic will
more lives be changed? Is it because the masses can't deal with messy and
inspirational at the same time? Or is it just the Curse?”

Good song from a bunch of kids, for a bunch of kids, though.

4. I've Been Tired from the album “Surfer Rosa & Come On Pilgrim” by Pixies. I've seen the Pixies twice now. They weren't as loud the second time.

5. The Marshall Plan from the album “Cultosaurus Erectus” by Blue Öyster Cult. Ok. you can say it. More cowbell, I know.

6. The Only Unforgivable Thing from the album “Marbles (Disc 1)” by Marillion I dragged one of my music buds down to Chicago to see Marillion on this tour. They are working outside the music industry now, so they personally financed the tour; great show.

7. Love from the album “Love” by The Cult Proto-grunge. these guys devolved into mundane metal, but this album was fine. Great music to trash a house by.

8. Away from the album “Up On The Sun (Reissue)” by Meat Puppets. Again, fortunate to see these sons of the desert at Shank Hall, a small crowd of 300. Live, they could run a song from three chord punk into jam-band noodling, then bend it into the realm of near-prog; bringing it back to a three chord slam bang ending. I can only imagine what it would have been like seeing these guys outdoors in Arizona, with a bit of peyote.

9. The Ineffable Me from the album “A Thousand Leaves” by Sonic Youth. I love me the Sonics. They love the Die Kreuzen. Local Mandolin-wizard John Kruth said that while playing an open stage in NY a while back, a young man named Thurston with a very loud guitar got up next to him to play. I would have paid cash money and Bill O'Reilly's testicles to see that.

10. I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night from the album “Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era” by The Electric Prunes. Proto-punk. If you want to start a band, just listen to this disk, lift the blueprint that's most appropriate, and off you go. Great songs, three chords, what more do you want?

11. Pretty Little Poison from the album “Let's Kill Saturday Night” by Robbie Fulks My man Robbie comes up two weeks in a row. More country drinkin music.


No conservative anthems there. 0 for 11.



And for chuckles, a random five Mekons:

1. Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough from the album “ME” by Mekons . From their filthiest album. sex drugs and hedonism. Actually, through satire subtlety, the album points out the ultimate emptiness of narcissistic pursuits. All the while defending your personal rights to pursue whatever the hell you want to.

2. Dancing In The Head from the album “Oooh!” by Mekons one of the latest. On the last couple of albums, the Mekes have been evolving into kind of an alterna-vernacular death folk band, using mostly folkish instruments, violin, mandolins, something called the bouzouk, cumbus, accordion, and grouped vocals into cohesive stew that hearkens back to something primal.

3. blue arse from the album “The Curse of the Mekons/F.U.N. '90” by Mekons this album was the followup to their major label debut, 'rock 'n' Roll; The record label refused it. The mekes were confused, they thought they were doing what the label wanted. Ultimately, it's one of their best.

4. Chop That Child In Half from the album “Original Sin” by Mekons Old school. Obviously a reference to Solomonic legend. Mekons are one of the most literate bands you'll hear.

5. Circle City (Mekons vs. Peace Love Hooligans) from the album “I Have Been to Heaven and Back” by Mekons and to lighten things up, a song about football. With plenty of effects and dub.



Well, that wouldn't have helped our misguided conservative friend. the Mekons are socialists anyway.

I think all the culture warrior righties have to face the facts. They often like to say that turning right politically is a result of getting older 'growing up', learning how the world really works; moving to the suburbs and having kids.

Face it; this also entails abandoning rock music. It's not your anymore; admit that you find the idealism annoying; that the lifestyle is certainly beyond your aging body; that you'll never spike your hair or wear earrings again.

It's not even close; rock music is the province of the progressive, the lefty; Every time you listen to the Rolling Stones or U2, you face the hazard of indoctrinating yourself with leftist tendencies. You can go ahead and just have Bill O'Reilly say that almost all rock bands are simply and demonstrably Democratic Propagandists and therefore, traitors. I'm sure he needs something to blather on about since his War on Christmas is going nowhere.

You conservo-rockers don't necessarily have to listen to Yanni and Kenny G; but you really need to abandon those REM and Bruce Springsteen albums and stock up on Lee Greenwood and Charlie Daniels.

Your Party requires it of you.