Kill Rock Music

Apparently Air Canada has finally upgraded their fleet (we no longer have to pedal!), and I write this post while jetting over the Atlantic or some similar ocean (but I still have to post it later, as there is no Internet access until they upgrade the fleet again in 3240). I think I would have liked to fly back in the 60s, where anything would go. I remember reading a story in Fear and Loathing in some locale by Hunter S Thompson. Hell, I steal his style (as does any wannabe writer my age who pretends to be debauched and revolutionary), so I may as well steal his stories. He talks about flights where you walked up, bought the ticket and wandered straight onto the jet. Of course, you could drink, smoke and probably carry bombs and firearms on board (as long as they fit in the overhead compartments). Yep, those were the days, and it sounds like more fun than the current model of sardine tin microwave economy three cm legroom flights.

I live with one foot straddling either side of the Atlantic Ocean, and to carry this metaphor too far, let’s just say I’m not very good at doing the splits. This has no relevance to musical criticism, but I’m not the only one who always has an identity crisis when it comes to nationality. Hell, I don’t know or care if there are any differences between the US, Canada, or the UK worth mentioning. We’re all just children of the world right? Still, this pan-Atlantic dichotomy has resulted in some pretty good music. It’s resulted in some pretty bad music too, I’m sure, but I only listen to good music, non? Sometimes it’s just bands pretending they’re from the other side of the pond (I’m looking at you Brandon Flowers, at least apart from your fleeting Bruce Springsteen fetish, or the bloody Rolling Stones for that matter), whereas others put their money where their mouth is and actually crossbreed. I love some of these bastard children and we’re all in the 21^st century now, right, so let’s not hold it against them that they were born out of wedlock. I now present you with five bands flaunting members from Old Limey and Old Glory.

The Kills

Singer Alison Mossheart is from the creepy retirement/drug mecca of Florida, whereas Jamie Hince is from London. Together, they produce beautiful music. Or, they produce delectably sleazy scuzz rock and hump each other with their instruments to close live shows. Hey, whatever works, and for all we know, maybe the Queen and George Washington delight in sleaze. Mossheart is currently moonlighting (cheating) with Jack White and the Dead Weather, whereas Hince is equally busy with his side project, Kate Moss.

Billy Bragg and Wilco

England’s favourite left-wing revolutionary musician and America’s folk-rock alt-country experimentalists Wilco came together in 1998 to record some songs to go with unreleased lyrics of Woody Guthrie. Guthrie’s family asked Bragg to step in to tackle these songs, and he recruited the boys from Wilco to back him up and co-write the accompanying music. I think the results are wonderful, as they should be given the three talents involved. Bragg and Jeff Tweedy trade off on vocals on different tracks, and Guthrie’s lyrics range from the overtly political to the sweetly naive. They released two albums worth of material (the two Mermaid Avenue discs), and both artists continue to release new material (see the review of Wilco’s latest last week). Guthrie does not continue to produce new music, as he is, and remains, dead.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Of course Jimi himself was American, but Mitch Mitchell (drummer) and Noel Redding (bassist and backing vocals) were both English. The band first rose to prominence in the UK before breaking through in the States. Everything that could be said about Jimi Hendrix has already been said (and better), so we’ll leave it at that.

The Traveling Wilburys

These guys are my favourite supergroup. They wrote some excellent pop songs, but when your members are George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne, that’s kind of a given isn’t it? They released two albums (Volume 1 and Volume 3), but Roy Orbison died before they recorded Volume 3. The two discs were recently rereleased by Rhino as one package with bonus tracks and a DVD with music videos and a documentary. It’s definitely worth picking up.

Lou Reed - Transformer

I had a hard time picking a fifth artist for this post, as I’ve already talked about many of my trans-Atlantic choices (The Earlies, Soulsavers, the Velvet Underground). I decided to go with a track off Lou Reed’s Transformer, as it was produced by Brits Mick Ronson and some guy named David Bowie. Arguably Reed’s most famous post-Velvet Underground work, it was also Reed’s first album that broke free from his Velvet days. Bowie and Ronson took him into glam territory, while miserable ol’ Lou retained his ascerbic lyrical bite and love of the seedy. Perfect Day is, in my opinion, a nearly, um, perfect ballad.

New Music News

I finally procured the new Dead Weather record and it is…fine. It has some catchy songs and has many sonic similarities to Jack White’s 8000 other bands. I think that White is an incredibly talented musician, but he doesn’t exactly stretch himself, or move very far out of his comfort zone. Sure, both the Raconteurs and the Dead Weather are NOT just Jack White bands and have songwriting input from other very talented individuals (Brendan Benson, Alison Mossheart, Dean Fertita, that guy with the annoying glasses from the Greenhornes), but they all tend to write fairly same-y music. Therefore, you end up with a bunch of albums with variations on scuzzy, hooky blues rock - the Raconteurs a little heavier on the hooks, the Dead Weather a little heavier on the scuzz, and the White Stripes a little heavier on the blues - but all variations on a theme. That is fine I suppose, but I guess I’d rather he just stick to what he’s really good at (the White Stripes) or else challenge himself by playing with somebody completely different (I’m still waiting on the Yanni collaboration).

Mark Mulcahy, solo artists and former frontman for the Miracle Legion and Polaris writes some catchy pop songs. His wife, Melissa, died unexpectedly, leaving him with two three-year-old daughters. Shout! Factory is releasing a benefit/tribute disc for Mulcahy on September 29^th, and even if you’re unaware of Mulcahy’s work (as I am, for the most part), the album, called Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy, has an impressive indie lineup. Dinosaur Jr., Thom Yorke, Michael Stipe, Frank Black, Hayden, Elvis Perkins, my favourites the National and many more all contribute tracks. Buy it when it comes out! See you next week!

Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism

The Kills - Tape Song

Billy Bragg & Wilco - Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

The Traveling Wilburys - Handle with Care

Lou Reed - Perfect Day

The National - Fake Empire