I beg your pardon/I didn't mean you/I take the blame/don't stand accused/to you my love and apologies--Jesse Johnson
To any of my friends who might read this and think that I'm referring to any of them, please refer to the quote above. Now, on with the column.
Enough already. You lost. Learn acceptance and move on.
It was bad enough calling John Lewis a "ni**er," and Barney Frank a "fa**ot," while also spitting on another congressional democrat. No, that wasn't enough. They had to follow up with acts of vandalism and death threats.
The week after the health care bill was passed, several congressional democrats reported a variety of threats to the F.B.I.
--Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-NY came to work and found a window in her district office shattered by a brick. On her voice mail was a hate filled diatribe referencing "snipers."
--Rep. Bart Stupak, D-MI found similar threats on his voice mail as well. One caller suggested that Stupak will spend the rest of his days "looking over his fucking shoulder."
--However, the most egregious report relates to Tom Perriello, D-VA. A mentally challenged blogger named Mike Troxel from Lynchburg, VA posted what he believed to be Troxel's home address on his site with the suggestion to "drop by...and express...thanks regarding his vote for health care." As it turned out, it wasn't the Representative's house at all, it was his brother's. A brother who came home one evening last week to find his gas line cut. Troxel, who claims affiliation with the "Tea Party" movement has thus far refused to remove the address from his blog, stating that he still believes it's the Representative's house.
Which is hardly the damn point. This dangerous, backward ass fool is playing with someone's life. He is stoking angry fires that are burning deep in the hearts of those opposed to health care reform. And he seems to be saying, "Hey, if someone does something to somebody, well, all I did was post an address."
Look, it's more than fair to oppose this legislation (I have my own problems with it), and it's certainly acceptable to protest the bill. Hell, I've got no problem with people raising their voices about it and taking their case to the streets. However, once you cross over to death threats and property damage, you're pretty much a terrorist. What aim might you have other than to terrorize if you are engaged in these activities?
Of course, I know that not all "Tea Party" members are vandals or criminals, but I also don't think the number of bad elements within their ranks is that small. At least, it certainly doesn't feel that way right now. When you look at the rallies on television, the signs held up in the crowds aren't just full of anger and opposition, they are full of hate. It's one thing to call Obama a socialist, but a Nazi? Or how about the signs that depict him in "Joker" make-up? Or those that question where he was born? This is pretty nasty stuff.
Now, several "Tea Party" representatives have decried this most recent behavior, as have members of the Republican leadership such as House Minority Leader, John Boehner from Ohio. Which is fine, but also a bit late.
Republicans in Washington have clearly tried to harness the anger of the disaffected in an effort to galvanize new voters with an eye toward the mid-term elections. Several Republicans in congress have left open the suggestion that Obama is a secret Muslim, a Kenyan, and a socialist. They have encouraged "birthers," "deathers," and all manner of the willfully uninformed to support their party.
Much of this began during the 2008 election when the half-term Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin was chosen by John McCain as his presidential running mate. Palin, the pageant queen of the willfully uninformed, accused Obama of "palling around with terrorists" because he knew a Chicago Professor (William Ayers) who was once tried for terrorist activities. Nevermind that Obama's rather tenuous (at best) ties to Ayers were decades after he had been tried for his alleged crimes, Palin was not going to let pesky things like facts get in her way. Considering all the difficulty she seems to have remembering anything significant without writing it on her hand, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
However, this behavior is dangerous. This effort to appeal to the knuckle dragging, flat Earth crowd has no good end. Not only is it not good for our country, it's not even good for Republicans. Sure, they may get some short term gains in November from this crowd, but can anyone really imagine any long term benefit coming from aligning yourself with extremists?
The sad thing is, it didn't end with the 2008 election. Just last week, Palin had a map of cross hairs targeting the districts of vulnerable democrats on her Facebook page. Cross hairs! Boehner referred to one Democrat who voted for the health care bill as a "dead man walking." Not to mention Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-TX who called pro-life democrat, Bart Stupak, a "baby killer" on the house floor while Stupak was explaining his support for the bill. Maybe some people think this shit is funny, but I think it's irresponsible at minimum and dangerous at worst.
Of course, I'm well aware that right wingers aren't the only crazies out there. History is full of leftist types who often channeled their anger in destructive ways. Lee Harvey Oswald and the Black Panthers come to mind. There was even a left wing nut-job group called "truthers" who insisted that George W. Bush had something to do with planning the 9/11 attacks. They are no better, and I've got no use for them either. But that's not who we're dealing with now. And when Republican members of congress try to gin up these protesters by waving flags and cheering them on as if they're at a pep rally, well, quite frankly it's beneath them. Or at least it should be.
Don't get me wrong, I believe in free speech and peaceable assembly. I fully support the right of anyone to raise their voice in dissent. That right is an essential part of our history, and one of the truly great things about our country. But free speech doesn't mean screaming "fire" when there is none, and peaceable assembly shouldn't include epithets and projectile saliva. And it damn sure shouldn't lead to bricks through windows, death threats, and cut gas lines.
I don't know, maybe I'm not being fair here. I suppose that's possible. But I really don't think so. Sometimes, there aren't two sides to a story. Sometimes there is no "on the other hand." This I believe is one of those times.
These people who are out to terrorize democratically elected officials should be institutionalized in either a mental facility of their choice or a penitentiary of the court system's choosing. Or, they could just do the most simple and most American thing of all: Take all that anger and frustration into the ballot box with them and VOTE.
Sumo-Pop
March 24, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Return Of The Jedi
"The hell with giving people what they want. Give them what they need."--John Mellencamp
Boy, was I wrong. And I don't mean just a little wrong, I mean six ways to Sunday and in every way possible. On January 18th of this year, I wrote a column (http://sumopopblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/cant-anybody-here-play-this-game-ii.html) about all the ways the Democrats had screwed up since the 2008 election and how nothing big would ever get done again. I was full of gloom, despair and agony over watching the multi-left footed leaders of the majority party try to advance health care legislation, and their inability to hold Teddy Kennedy's Senate seat which fell to Republican Scott Brown on January 12th, 2010. I went on about how the Dem's couldn't run a campaign or stand up for what they purport to believe in. And then Sunday night, they passed health care, and I proceeded to happily eat a big plate of crow.
So, how did they accomplish this? First, President Obama reminded me of who I voted for in the first place. I suppose I had started to forget. During the many grueling months of the health care debate, he seemed passive, unwilling to fully engage and be forceful. After the special election loss in Massachusetts, I expected him to at best make an effort to nibble around the edges on health care and maybe pass some minor legislation relating to pre-existing conditions, or closing the "doughnut hole" in Medicare for seniors. It would have been difficult for politicians on either side of the aisle to vote against either of those recommendations. And that's all I thought he would do. And who would blame him? His poll numbers had dropped 15+ points, liberals and conservatives were angry as hell at him, so why not just walk away?
Instead, in a true act of political courage, he dove back in and fought for what he believed in. And he fought hard. I have no idea what this bill will do for Democrats in the 2010 mid-term elections. Conventional wisdom states that it will be a blood bath for their party and they may even lose both houses of congress. The whole thing could become an albatross around Obama's neck and result in a single term presidency. Of course, if I know this, then he certainly did too. Which is why I call it courage. He put what he thought was the best thing for the people ahead of his own job security and--even more amazingly--got enough House Democrats to go along with him.
He did this by taking on the Republican opposition twice in front of television cameras. The first time at a House Republican retreat where he went one on 140 something, and came away looking like he had cleaned their clocks. Secondly, at the Health Care Summit he brought both sides together for a frank and relatively even exchange of ideas. Then, he took his act on the road. Barnstorming across the country to better explain his vision for health care. Slowly, the polls started swinging back in his direction. And while these polls never reached the point of favoring his health care plan overall, the creeping momentum gave courage (or guilt) to enough House Democrats to bring this thing over the finish line.
In my previous grim faced, Dem bashing column that I referenced earlier, I had compared Obama to Lebron James. A great player who lacked sufficient assistance from his teammates to win a championship. Well, I now have to amend that statement. He has Nancy Pelosi. Yeah, I know, this is the point where anyone who is reading this will either start throwing shit at their computer screen if not kicking in their monitor altogether. But think about this: The first female Speaker Of The House didn't just get health care passed once, she did it twice! The first time by a narrow margin in a House created bill that included a public option. The second time, she had to get the Senate bill passed with assurances from that body of congress that they would fix the bullshit (Cornhusker Kick Back, Louisiana Purchase, etc.) that the House didn't like through the reconciliation process. She had to turn to her caucus--knowing they weren't going to get a single Republican vote--and ask them to pass a bill they didn't write, from a group of people they didn't trust, and give up the public option. Somehow, once again, she squeezed out the votes. She did her job. I have many friends who can't stand Pelosi, and some who downright hate her. But after Sunday, I defy any of them to call her weak.
Now, I should also mention that I am not completely crazy about this bill. It will be far from perfect even if all of the reconciliation fixes are implemented by the Senate. I am greatly disappointed that there is no public option. I think this would have provided competition for the execrable insurance companies and is the best tool to keep costs down. I would have liked to have seen Medicare made available to people at the age of 55. I have serious concerns about the "Cadillac tax" not going into effect until 2018. And of course, there's always the issue of whether the bill will be effective and/or too costly.
On the first count, we aren't going to know for awhile. On the second, well, we aren't going to know for awhile. What we do know is the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has declared that the bill will reduce the deficit by $132 billion dollars over the first ten years, and a whopping $1.3 TRILLION over the next ten. Now, they could be wrong. They have been before and these are only estimates. But these folks are a pretty conservative lot, who are not likely to give a "pie in the sky" outlook. And they could even be wrong in the other direction. There is a possibility that it could save us even more than they have estimated. It should also be noted, that those who opposed the bill on the basis of cost have never shied away from using the CBO's numbers when it has favored their own viewpoint.
So yes, the bill isn't perfect. But there are many good things in it. Here is a run down of what I like about it and when it will take effect:
2010:
--Tax credits for small businesses that provide health insurance to their employees.
--A $5 billion dollar pool for those with pre-existing conditions who cannot get insurance.
--Insurance companies will be barred from denying insurance to children with pre-existing conditions.
--Dependent children will be allowed to stay on their parents insurance plan until the age of 26.
--Health insurance companies will be required to cover preventive services.
2011:
--$11 billion in funding to community health centers.
--The Medicare "doughnut hole" will be closed
2012:
--$3 billion annual fee on pharmaceutical manufacturers will go into place.
2014:
--Federal subsidies will be available to offset the cost of health care for low income families.
--A state based insurance health care exchange will be created that allows the uninsured and small businesses to comparison shop for insurance policies.
--An end to all denials based on pre-existing conditions for everyone.
Not to mention covering 30 million more citizens and no longer allowing insurance companies to arbitrarily raise rates without justification.
I don't know about you, but I think these are some pretty good ideas. I know the opposition has called the bill "Armageddon," and probably worse. But did you know that there are over 200 Republican authored amendments attached to this bill? They had input, they just didn't have final say. That's what happens when you lose both houses of congress and the white house. It was that way for six years under Bush, and people like me had to grim up and deal with it. This is how it works in a democracy. You screw up, the other guy gets a chance.
Of course, many will view this bill as a screw up, and will point to the November mid-terms as their chance to take back both houses of congress. As I said before, it will be awhile before we know if this is a good bill or not, and it is certainly true that those that oppose this legislation will get their chance to take back power. However, from a counter intuitive perspective, I think it's a whole lot better for the Dem's to have an accomplishment to run on than not. Can you imagine what it would be like for the Democrats if they didn't pass this? Not only would they have to deal with the Tea Party movement, but also the loss of their base. At least now, they can say they have some chance.
To be honest with you though, I really don't care about that. If you lose doing what you believe is right, that should be something you're willing to live with. Which is what I think has happened here. And it's astonishing. It's certainly not the norm in today's politics, and on some level it deserves to be celebrated (well, by me anyway). To make a choice to do something that will be remembered versus doing something that will get you re-elected? Really, it happens so infrequently, that I think we fail to recognize it when we see it. To go against the polls, the opposition, the protesters (wasn't that a sight?), and members of your own party to do what you believe must be done to move our nation forward? It takes guts. And to drag enough members of your party with you to get it done? That takes more than guts. Hell, it takes the Force. I for one, was glad to see my President finally use it.
Sumo-Pop
March 21, 2010
Boy, was I wrong. And I don't mean just a little wrong, I mean six ways to Sunday and in every way possible. On January 18th of this year, I wrote a column (http://sumopopblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/cant-anybody-here-play-this-game-ii.html) about all the ways the Democrats had screwed up since the 2008 election and how nothing big would ever get done again. I was full of gloom, despair and agony over watching the multi-left footed leaders of the majority party try to advance health care legislation, and their inability to hold Teddy Kennedy's Senate seat which fell to Republican Scott Brown on January 12th, 2010. I went on about how the Dem's couldn't run a campaign or stand up for what they purport to believe in. And then Sunday night, they passed health care, and I proceeded to happily eat a big plate of crow.
So, how did they accomplish this? First, President Obama reminded me of who I voted for in the first place. I suppose I had started to forget. During the many grueling months of the health care debate, he seemed passive, unwilling to fully engage and be forceful. After the special election loss in Massachusetts, I expected him to at best make an effort to nibble around the edges on health care and maybe pass some minor legislation relating to pre-existing conditions, or closing the "doughnut hole" in Medicare for seniors. It would have been difficult for politicians on either side of the aisle to vote against either of those recommendations. And that's all I thought he would do. And who would blame him? His poll numbers had dropped 15+ points, liberals and conservatives were angry as hell at him, so why not just walk away?
Instead, in a true act of political courage, he dove back in and fought for what he believed in. And he fought hard. I have no idea what this bill will do for Democrats in the 2010 mid-term elections. Conventional wisdom states that it will be a blood bath for their party and they may even lose both houses of congress. The whole thing could become an albatross around Obama's neck and result in a single term presidency. Of course, if I know this, then he certainly did too. Which is why I call it courage. He put what he thought was the best thing for the people ahead of his own job security and--even more amazingly--got enough House Democrats to go along with him.
He did this by taking on the Republican opposition twice in front of television cameras. The first time at a House Republican retreat where he went one on 140 something, and came away looking like he had cleaned their clocks. Secondly, at the Health Care Summit he brought both sides together for a frank and relatively even exchange of ideas. Then, he took his act on the road. Barnstorming across the country to better explain his vision for health care. Slowly, the polls started swinging back in his direction. And while these polls never reached the point of favoring his health care plan overall, the creeping momentum gave courage (or guilt) to enough House Democrats to bring this thing over the finish line.
In my previous grim faced, Dem bashing column that I referenced earlier, I had compared Obama to Lebron James. A great player who lacked sufficient assistance from his teammates to win a championship. Well, I now have to amend that statement. He has Nancy Pelosi. Yeah, I know, this is the point where anyone who is reading this will either start throwing shit at their computer screen if not kicking in their monitor altogether. But think about this: The first female Speaker Of The House didn't just get health care passed once, she did it twice! The first time by a narrow margin in a House created bill that included a public option. The second time, she had to get the Senate bill passed with assurances from that body of congress that they would fix the bullshit (Cornhusker Kick Back, Louisiana Purchase, etc.) that the House didn't like through the reconciliation process. She had to turn to her caucus--knowing they weren't going to get a single Republican vote--and ask them to pass a bill they didn't write, from a group of people they didn't trust, and give up the public option. Somehow, once again, she squeezed out the votes. She did her job. I have many friends who can't stand Pelosi, and some who downright hate her. But after Sunday, I defy any of them to call her weak.
Now, I should also mention that I am not completely crazy about this bill. It will be far from perfect even if all of the reconciliation fixes are implemented by the Senate. I am greatly disappointed that there is no public option. I think this would have provided competition for the execrable insurance companies and is the best tool to keep costs down. I would have liked to have seen Medicare made available to people at the age of 55. I have serious concerns about the "Cadillac tax" not going into effect until 2018. And of course, there's always the issue of whether the bill will be effective and/or too costly.
On the first count, we aren't going to know for awhile. On the second, well, we aren't going to know for awhile. What we do know is the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has declared that the bill will reduce the deficit by $132 billion dollars over the first ten years, and a whopping $1.3 TRILLION over the next ten. Now, they could be wrong. They have been before and these are only estimates. But these folks are a pretty conservative lot, who are not likely to give a "pie in the sky" outlook. And they could even be wrong in the other direction. There is a possibility that it could save us even more than they have estimated. It should also be noted, that those who opposed the bill on the basis of cost have never shied away from using the CBO's numbers when it has favored their own viewpoint.
So yes, the bill isn't perfect. But there are many good things in it. Here is a run down of what I like about it and when it will take effect:
2010:
--Tax credits for small businesses that provide health insurance to their employees.
--A $5 billion dollar pool for those with pre-existing conditions who cannot get insurance.
--Insurance companies will be barred from denying insurance to children with pre-existing conditions.
--Dependent children will be allowed to stay on their parents insurance plan until the age of 26.
--Health insurance companies will be required to cover preventive services.
2011:
--$11 billion in funding to community health centers.
--The Medicare "doughnut hole" will be closed
2012:
--$3 billion annual fee on pharmaceutical manufacturers will go into place.
2014:
--Federal subsidies will be available to offset the cost of health care for low income families.
--A state based insurance health care exchange will be created that allows the uninsured and small businesses to comparison shop for insurance policies.
--An end to all denials based on pre-existing conditions for everyone.
Not to mention covering 30 million more citizens and no longer allowing insurance companies to arbitrarily raise rates without justification.
I don't know about you, but I think these are some pretty good ideas. I know the opposition has called the bill "Armageddon," and probably worse. But did you know that there are over 200 Republican authored amendments attached to this bill? They had input, they just didn't have final say. That's what happens when you lose both houses of congress and the white house. It was that way for six years under Bush, and people like me had to grim up and deal with it. This is how it works in a democracy. You screw up, the other guy gets a chance.
Of course, many will view this bill as a screw up, and will point to the November mid-terms as their chance to take back both houses of congress. As I said before, it will be awhile before we know if this is a good bill or not, and it is certainly true that those that oppose this legislation will get their chance to take back power. However, from a counter intuitive perspective, I think it's a whole lot better for the Dem's to have an accomplishment to run on than not. Can you imagine what it would be like for the Democrats if they didn't pass this? Not only would they have to deal with the Tea Party movement, but also the loss of their base. At least now, they can say they have some chance.
To be honest with you though, I really don't care about that. If you lose doing what you believe is right, that should be something you're willing to live with. Which is what I think has happened here. And it's astonishing. It's certainly not the norm in today's politics, and on some level it deserves to be celebrated (well, by me anyway). To make a choice to do something that will be remembered versus doing something that will get you re-elected? Really, it happens so infrequently, that I think we fail to recognize it when we see it. To go against the polls, the opposition, the protesters (wasn't that a sight?), and members of your own party to do what you believe must be done to move our nation forward? It takes guts. And to drag enough members of your party with you to get it done? That takes more than guts. Hell, it takes the Force. I for one, was glad to see my President finally use it.
Sumo-Pop
March 21, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Children By The Million
It was once said of The Velvet Underground, that only a few thousand people bought their records, but every one of them started a band. The same could be said of the band Big Star, led by Alex Chilton. Chilton died on March 17th from heart-related issues, and if the three albums he released with Big Star were the only worthwhile pieces of music he ever recorded, then it would have been more than enough to cement his place in rock and roll history.
But Chilton did do more. Much more. In fact for a brief period in the late 60's, Chilton was fairly famous. At the tender age of 16, Chilton formed the Memphis based Box Tops, and topped the charts with their debut single, "The Letter" (give me a ticket for an aeroplane/ain't got time to take a fast train), later covered quite memorably by Joe Cocker. Follow up single "Cry Like A Baby" was nearly as big, and all told, the group hit the top 40 seven times before disbanding in 1970,
The Box Tops mixture of southern R&B and pop song craft would not have been the same without Chilton's masculine beyond his years voice. Only Eric Burdon of The Animals had comparably soulful, whiteboy pipes in the 60's.
Chilton never had another hit after The Box Tops. No matter, because next he gave us Big Star. Chilton was joined by fellow Memphis musicians Chris Bell, Jody Stephens, and Andy Hummel in 1971. The band's first release--the ironically titled (in hindsight at least)--#1 Record has become a power-pop touchstone for every one from Cheap Trick to Weezer.
However, despite great reviews and terrific hummable tunes like "Thirteen" ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pte3Jg-2Ax4) and "Watch The Sunrise" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQqmnhSLOUQ), the record died quickly due to poor distribution on the part of their record label, Stax, which had been swallowed up by the major label Columbia Records. Who in their finite genius, saw no reason to give the record a proper release.
Their follow up, Radio City, was nearly as good. After the commercial failure of #1 Record, tensions within the band reached a boil, leading to Bell's departure. Still, Radio City was a phenomenal record with "O My Soul" ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXNf3bH3ZlU) and "September Gurls" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNKSs1J38EA) being just two of many stand out tracks. Unfortunately, Columbia did no better by Big Star this time out either, and the album met with the same fate as it's predecessor.
Down to just two original members (Chilton and Stephens) in 1975, Big Star soldiered on with a variety of session musicians and squeezed out one more album, the darkly beautiful Third/Sister Lovers. A true departure from their first two releases, Third was referred to by RollingStone as a "maelstrom of conflicted emotions. Songs are drenched in strings and sweet sentiment one minute, stark and downcast the next." The album's centerpiece is the deeply disturbing--and well titled--"Holocaust" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsQ977u8Wuk) which was so sufficiently black hearted that it was covered by 80's goth band This Mortal Coil of all groups.
If the two previous albums were not deemed worthy of a proper release, then it doesn't take a seer to guess what happened to this difficult masterpiece. It never had a chance. Third didn't even get distributed until 1978.
As time passed, this trio of great albums found their way to some pretty fancy admirers. Artists as disparate as R.E.M., Beck, The Bangles, and Elliott Smith all covered Big Star songs. Jeff Buckley's version of "Kangaroo" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMCUeSwPW28) is perhaps the best of the bunch, and Cheap Trick's cover of "Out In The Streets" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUK0mrVVxg8) the most famous. How famous is it? Well, if you've ever seen a single episode of That 70's Show, then you've heard it. It's the theme song. Betcha didn't know that!
Chilton's subsequent solo career has been marred by an inconsistency in quality and regularity of output. From 1978 to 2010, Chilton only produced nine proper albums, with Like Flies On Sherbert, and High Priest being the best of an erratic lot.
Big Star reformed on an off and on basis from 1993 to 2008. Even recording a full length album, In Space in 2005 that won kind notices if predictably few sales. Still, it will be their 70's recordings that will live on as the chain to which all future power-pop bands will be tethered. It's a pretty damn remarkable--if brief--discography.
While my little scribbled, modest tribute is well meaning enough, it can't hold a flame doused candle to that of the ramshackle scribe, Paul Westerberg. Who recorded the ultimate deep bow towards Alex Chilton on The Replacements fantastic 1987 album, Pleased To Meet Me, the wonderful and bluntly titled second track, "Alex Chilton" ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTSJYZyouek). Which in Westerberg's typically ragged voice and scrappy verse claims that children by the million/sing for Alex Chilton/when he comes 'round. Of course, this was sadly untrue. Children by the million never sang for Alex Chilton when he came 'round. That alternate reality existed only in the fantasies located in Westerberg's mind.
Mine too.
Sumo-Pop
March 18, 2010
But Chilton did do more. Much more. In fact for a brief period in the late 60's, Chilton was fairly famous. At the tender age of 16, Chilton formed the Memphis based Box Tops, and topped the charts with their debut single, "The Letter" (give me a ticket for an aeroplane/ain't got time to take a fast train), later covered quite memorably by Joe Cocker. Follow up single "Cry Like A Baby" was nearly as big, and all told, the group hit the top 40 seven times before disbanding in 1970,
The Box Tops mixture of southern R&B and pop song craft would not have been the same without Chilton's masculine beyond his years voice. Only Eric Burdon of The Animals had comparably soulful, whiteboy pipes in the 60's.
Chilton never had another hit after The Box Tops. No matter, because next he gave us Big Star. Chilton was joined by fellow Memphis musicians Chris Bell, Jody Stephens, and Andy Hummel in 1971. The band's first release--the ironically titled (in hindsight at least)--#1 Record has become a power-pop touchstone for every one from Cheap Trick to Weezer.
However, despite great reviews and terrific hummable tunes like "Thirteen" ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pte3Jg-2Ax4) and "Watch The Sunrise" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQqmnhSLOUQ), the record died quickly due to poor distribution on the part of their record label, Stax, which had been swallowed up by the major label Columbia Records. Who in their finite genius, saw no reason to give the record a proper release.
Their follow up, Radio City, was nearly as good. After the commercial failure of #1 Record, tensions within the band reached a boil, leading to Bell's departure. Still, Radio City was a phenomenal record with "O My Soul" ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXNf3bH3ZlU) and "September Gurls" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNKSs1J38EA) being just two of many stand out tracks. Unfortunately, Columbia did no better by Big Star this time out either, and the album met with the same fate as it's predecessor.
Down to just two original members (Chilton and Stephens) in 1975, Big Star soldiered on with a variety of session musicians and squeezed out one more album, the darkly beautiful Third/Sister Lovers. A true departure from their first two releases, Third was referred to by RollingStone as a "maelstrom of conflicted emotions. Songs are drenched in strings and sweet sentiment one minute, stark and downcast the next." The album's centerpiece is the deeply disturbing--and well titled--"Holocaust" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsQ977u8Wuk) which was so sufficiently black hearted that it was covered by 80's goth band This Mortal Coil of all groups.
If the two previous albums were not deemed worthy of a proper release, then it doesn't take a seer to guess what happened to this difficult masterpiece. It never had a chance. Third didn't even get distributed until 1978.
As time passed, this trio of great albums found their way to some pretty fancy admirers. Artists as disparate as R.E.M., Beck, The Bangles, and Elliott Smith all covered Big Star songs. Jeff Buckley's version of "Kangaroo" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMCUeSwPW28) is perhaps the best of the bunch, and Cheap Trick's cover of "Out In The Streets" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUK0mrVVxg8) the most famous. How famous is it? Well, if you've ever seen a single episode of That 70's Show, then you've heard it. It's the theme song. Betcha didn't know that!
Chilton's subsequent solo career has been marred by an inconsistency in quality and regularity of output. From 1978 to 2010, Chilton only produced nine proper albums, with Like Flies On Sherbert, and High Priest being the best of an erratic lot.
Big Star reformed on an off and on basis from 1993 to 2008. Even recording a full length album, In Space in 2005 that won kind notices if predictably few sales. Still, it will be their 70's recordings that will live on as the chain to which all future power-pop bands will be tethered. It's a pretty damn remarkable--if brief--discography.
While my little scribbled, modest tribute is well meaning enough, it can't hold a flame doused candle to that of the ramshackle scribe, Paul Westerberg. Who recorded the ultimate deep bow towards Alex Chilton on The Replacements fantastic 1987 album, Pleased To Meet Me, the wonderful and bluntly titled second track, "Alex Chilton" ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTSJYZyouek). Which in Westerberg's typically ragged voice and scrappy verse claims that children by the million/sing for Alex Chilton/when he comes 'round. Of course, this was sadly untrue. Children by the million never sang for Alex Chilton when he came 'round. That alternate reality existed only in the fantasies located in Westerberg's mind.
Mine too.
Sumo-Pop
March 18, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Brackets
Brackets. My favorite time of year (sports wise anyway). I would submit that the NCAA Tournament is the greatest sporting event in all of existence. There really is nothing else like it. It almost always lives up to the hype, and how many other things can you say that about? Upsets, Cinderellas, buzzer-beaters, and incredible story lines. Today is the day it all starts. So, like any other ass clown, here are my picks:
MIDWEST REGION:
Winner: Kansas--They are just too good, watch out for Georgetown though.
Sleeper(s): Tennessee, Georgia Tech, and Michigan State. The Vols have a great coach in Bruce Pearl and real guts were displayed after the loss of their best player, Tyler Smith to legal issues. Paul Hewitt's Georgia Tech team underachieved all year, but enters the tournament with some real momentum. Tom Izzo is one of the finest tournament coaches alive. Were it not for an injury to best player, Kalin Lucas, MSU would probably have been a 2 or a 3 seed. Lucas is back, and the Spartans could really challenge Kansas in the round of 16.
Upset Specials: Mark it down, 10 seed Georgia Tech will beat 7 seed Oklahoma State in the first round. And Ohio State better be ready for Tech in round two or they could see an early exit.
Best (potential) Game: Kansas vs. Georgetown in the round of 8. Both teams are loaded and playing well headed into the tournament. Big man Greg Monroe and guards Freeman and Wright could cause big-time match up problems for Bill Self's Jayhawks.
WEST REGION:
Winner: Syracuse (although with some hesitation). If the 'Cuse doesn't get Center Arinze Onuaku back from injury before the sweet sixteen, they will be in trouble. Coach Jim Boeheim has a short bench, and the lack of depth could spell trouble if Onuaku is out for longer than expected. However, at full health, the Orangemen are the clear class of this region.
Sleeper: I don't know if it's fair to continue to refer to the Butler Bulldogs as sleepers anymore, but when you watch them play and see their overall lack of athleticism, it's hard not to wonder how they keep doing it. If Syracuse is short handed in the round of 16, Butler could be poised for a huge upset.
Upset Specials: Murray State over Vanderbilt. The Racers from Kentucky won 30 games this year, and 20 of their last 21. They are under seeded as a 13, and 4th seeded Vanderbilt should have been a 6. Minnesota over Xavier. The 11th seeded Gophers hit the tournament playing their best ball of the season, and Tubby Smith is a GREAT (not good) coach who has taken three separate schools to the sweet 16.
Best (potential) Game: Pittsburgh vs. Kansas State. Two tough ass coaches with tough ass teams in a big time slug fest. Whoever wins will be seriously depleted heading into the elite eight.
EAST REGION:
Winner: Kentucky. No school in this region has better talent or a more successful tournament coach than the Wildcats. While their penchant for playing down to the competition makes me nervous, I've got a feeling that the big stage will bring out the best in Wall and Cousins, and if it does, they will be in the final four. Hands down.
Sleeper: Washington. The Pac 10 champion Huskies enter the tournament on a 7 game winning streak and are only seeded at 11. They have a big time player in Quincy Pondexter, and despite all the complaints about the weakness of the Pac 10 this year, I think Lorenzo Romar's team has a great shot at the sweet 16.
Upset Specials: Washington over Marquette in a round one nail biter. Marquette is notoriously hard to blow out, but they don't slap anyone around either. They will keep UW in the game and lose by a bucket or two. Washington over New Mexico in round 2. As I said before, I like the Huskies chances. While Steve Alford's New Mexico team has played well all year, they are coming off a loss in their conference tournament final to San Diego St.
Best (potential) Game: Kentucky vs. West Virginia. West Virginia should have been a 1 seed over Duke. Huggins' Mountaineers against Calipari's Wildcats sets up the ultimate showdown in mercenary coaches.
SOUTH REGION:
Winner: Texas A & M. Yeah, you read that right. The South is easily the weakest region of the four, and if the tough as nails Aggies get to the sweet 16, they'll be playing in Houston. Which last I checked is still located in Texas.
Sleeper: Louisville. It has been a tough personal and professional year for Coach Pitino and his 9th seeded Cardinals, but there are few better tournament coaches. Not to mention that Louisville beat Syracuse twice when the Orange were at full strength.
Upset Specials: Siena over Purdue. Purdue has been a shell of themselves since the loss of star forward, Robbie Hummel for the year. Anyone who saw the 27 point shellacking that Minnesota handed them in the Big Ten Tournament knows that the Boilermakers are very vulnerable. Louisville over Duke* in round 2. This match up should really get Pitino going. A chance at revenge against the Dukies and that turnaround jumper heart breaker by Christian Laettner over Pitino's former Wildcats that you see in ever March Madness promo will prove irresistible to a guy like Rick.
Best (potential) Game: Duke vs. Louisville.
Final Four Games: Kansas over Syracuse. Too much depth and talent for the Jayhawks to lose.
Kentucky over Texas A & M. After taking out West Virginia, Cal's Cats catch a break in Indianapolis.
Championship Game: Kentucky over Kansas. In a squeaker. With apologies to Syracuse, these have been the two best (and most talented) teams all season. Calipari vs. Self in a rematch of the 2008 championship (where Self's Kansas squad beat Cal's Memphis team in an overtime thriller) will have delicious story lines. Marquee coaches, huge talent, the youth of Kentucky vs the relative experience of Kansas, and the best point guard match up of the whole tournament (Wall vs. Sherron Collins). Don't be surprised if this one ends up going to extra sessions as well. In the end however, I think Kentucky has more talent, the Indianapolis location will turn the stands into a sea of Wildcat blue, and I'm not betting against John Wall.*
My overall impression of this year's tournament can be summed up by one word: Chaos. I expect more low seeds than ever will advance into the second round. Almost no one is safe. Parity, in all it's forms will be turning amateur prognosticator's brackets into shredder testing devices. And I think that's great.
Sumo-Pop
March 17, 2010
*Full disclosure: I am a life long Kentucky fan and a long time Duke hater. So take that into consideration when reviewing my picks. Still, I think I'm right (but then, I always do).
MIDWEST REGION:
Winner: Kansas--They are just too good, watch out for Georgetown though.
Sleeper(s): Tennessee, Georgia Tech, and Michigan State. The Vols have a great coach in Bruce Pearl and real guts were displayed after the loss of their best player, Tyler Smith to legal issues. Paul Hewitt's Georgia Tech team underachieved all year, but enters the tournament with some real momentum. Tom Izzo is one of the finest tournament coaches alive. Were it not for an injury to best player, Kalin Lucas, MSU would probably have been a 2 or a 3 seed. Lucas is back, and the Spartans could really challenge Kansas in the round of 16.
Upset Specials: Mark it down, 10 seed Georgia Tech will beat 7 seed Oklahoma State in the first round. And Ohio State better be ready for Tech in round two or they could see an early exit.
Best (potential) Game: Kansas vs. Georgetown in the round of 8. Both teams are loaded and playing well headed into the tournament. Big man Greg Monroe and guards Freeman and Wright could cause big-time match up problems for Bill Self's Jayhawks.
WEST REGION:
Winner: Syracuse (although with some hesitation). If the 'Cuse doesn't get Center Arinze Onuaku back from injury before the sweet sixteen, they will be in trouble. Coach Jim Boeheim has a short bench, and the lack of depth could spell trouble if Onuaku is out for longer than expected. However, at full health, the Orangemen are the clear class of this region.
Sleeper: I don't know if it's fair to continue to refer to the Butler Bulldogs as sleepers anymore, but when you watch them play and see their overall lack of athleticism, it's hard not to wonder how they keep doing it. If Syracuse is short handed in the round of 16, Butler could be poised for a huge upset.
Upset Specials: Murray State over Vanderbilt. The Racers from Kentucky won 30 games this year, and 20 of their last 21. They are under seeded as a 13, and 4th seeded Vanderbilt should have been a 6. Minnesota over Xavier. The 11th seeded Gophers hit the tournament playing their best ball of the season, and Tubby Smith is a GREAT (not good) coach who has taken three separate schools to the sweet 16.
Best (potential) Game: Pittsburgh vs. Kansas State. Two tough ass coaches with tough ass teams in a big time slug fest. Whoever wins will be seriously depleted heading into the elite eight.
EAST REGION:
Winner: Kentucky. No school in this region has better talent or a more successful tournament coach than the Wildcats. While their penchant for playing down to the competition makes me nervous, I've got a feeling that the big stage will bring out the best in Wall and Cousins, and if it does, they will be in the final four. Hands down.
Sleeper: Washington. The Pac 10 champion Huskies enter the tournament on a 7 game winning streak and are only seeded at 11. They have a big time player in Quincy Pondexter, and despite all the complaints about the weakness of the Pac 10 this year, I think Lorenzo Romar's team has a great shot at the sweet 16.
Upset Specials: Washington over Marquette in a round one nail biter. Marquette is notoriously hard to blow out, but they don't slap anyone around either. They will keep UW in the game and lose by a bucket or two. Washington over New Mexico in round 2. As I said before, I like the Huskies chances. While Steve Alford's New Mexico team has played well all year, they are coming off a loss in their conference tournament final to San Diego St.
Best (potential) Game: Kentucky vs. West Virginia. West Virginia should have been a 1 seed over Duke. Huggins' Mountaineers against Calipari's Wildcats sets up the ultimate showdown in mercenary coaches.
SOUTH REGION:
Winner: Texas A & M. Yeah, you read that right. The South is easily the weakest region of the four, and if the tough as nails Aggies get to the sweet 16, they'll be playing in Houston. Which last I checked is still located in Texas.
Sleeper: Louisville. It has been a tough personal and professional year for Coach Pitino and his 9th seeded Cardinals, but there are few better tournament coaches. Not to mention that Louisville beat Syracuse twice when the Orange were at full strength.
Upset Specials: Siena over Purdue. Purdue has been a shell of themselves since the loss of star forward, Robbie Hummel for the year. Anyone who saw the 27 point shellacking that Minnesota handed them in the Big Ten Tournament knows that the Boilermakers are very vulnerable. Louisville over Duke* in round 2. This match up should really get Pitino going. A chance at revenge against the Dukies and that turnaround jumper heart breaker by Christian Laettner over Pitino's former Wildcats that you see in ever March Madness promo will prove irresistible to a guy like Rick.
Best (potential) Game: Duke vs. Louisville.
Final Four Games: Kansas over Syracuse. Too much depth and talent for the Jayhawks to lose.
Kentucky over Texas A & M. After taking out West Virginia, Cal's Cats catch a break in Indianapolis.
Championship Game: Kentucky over Kansas. In a squeaker. With apologies to Syracuse, these have been the two best (and most talented) teams all season. Calipari vs. Self in a rematch of the 2008 championship (where Self's Kansas squad beat Cal's Memphis team in an overtime thriller) will have delicious story lines. Marquee coaches, huge talent, the youth of Kentucky vs the relative experience of Kansas, and the best point guard match up of the whole tournament (Wall vs. Sherron Collins). Don't be surprised if this one ends up going to extra sessions as well. In the end however, I think Kentucky has more talent, the Indianapolis location will turn the stands into a sea of Wildcat blue, and I'm not betting against John Wall.*
My overall impression of this year's tournament can be summed up by one word: Chaos. I expect more low seeds than ever will advance into the second round. Almost no one is safe. Parity, in all it's forms will be turning amateur prognosticator's brackets into shredder testing devices. And I think that's great.
Sumo-Pop
March 17, 2010
*Full disclosure: I am a life long Kentucky fan and a long time Duke hater. So take that into consideration when reviewing my picks. Still, I think I'm right (but then, I always do).
Friday, March 12, 2010
Tori Amos: Faerie Tales
Tori Amos is a kook. A flake, if you will. She believes in fairies (or at least she takes the time to thank them in EVERY one of her album's liner notes), she has willfully precious and obscure lyrics, and she recorded a whole album with a harpsichord as a main instrument. Like I said, she's kooky. However, I would submit that she has one of the richest catalogues of any artist (especially female) over the last 20 years. So, here is a definitive (cuz I said so) breakdown of each of the Pagan High Priestess's solo albums:
Little Earthquakes (1992) *****(based on the 5 star RollingStone scoring system):
One of the most fully realized solo debuts in the history of popular music (once again, cuz I said so). Tori came from seemingly out of nowhere fully formed and ready to rumble. The first single "Silent All These Years" was a real shot in the arm for female alternative artists during the grunge years when testosterone reigned. I was running a record store in Michigan at the time of the album's release and short listed it on the basis of seeing her video at around 2am in the morning during one dark night of the soul. It's funny how a piece of music can completely alter your mood. I remember looking up from my seemingly insurmountable pile of home work and saying literally, out loud, "who the hell is that." And so it began. There are times when you purchase an album on the basis of a lead track and are left wanting from the rest of the record. This was not one of those times. From the gentle feminist anthem of the first cut, "Crucify," to the titanic closing title track, there isn't one toss away. The record is as intense and uncompromising as a piano driven album can be, but not without moments of lightness. "Happy Phantom" sounds exactly like it's name, jaunty and altogether pleasing. "Leather" is a wicked delight about the pleasures of, well, leather, if you know what I mean. However, my favorite track is the absolutely incandescent "Tear In Your Hand." A tune that references Neil Gaiman's comic book series "The Sandman," while also containing the line "me and Charles Manson like the same ice cream." No, I don't know what the hell that means, but I love it just the same. Of course, as Tori fans know, the most harrowing track on the album is "Me And A Gun." An extraordinary soul scorching a capella track that takes you through her very real experience of being raped at gun point. The song's killer line is: me and a gun/and a man on my back/but I haven't seen Barbados/so I must get out of this. Gives me chills just writing it. The first of the 5 times that I've seen Tori in concert, her performance of that song absolutely stopped the show dead. There were women crying in the audience and men left speechless. That's when I knew, that's when I knew.
Under The Pink (1992)****:
It's a hell of a thing to have to follow up a landmark album that has won you a sizable, legion sized cult of admirers, but for the most part, Under The Pink delivers. First single "God," with it's quasi-sacrilegious chorus of God sometimes you just don't come through/do you need a woman to look after you? made it clear that she had no intention of selling out. And while the album isn't a giant leap away from Little Earthquakes, Amos does add to her sonic pallet. "Cornflake Girl" broke out the harpsichord, and "Space Dog" is full of a muscularity not evident on her previous recording, and "Waitress" is playfully vicious. Still, it's tracks like "Pretty Good Year," and "Past The Mission" (with hushed backing vocals courtesy of Trent Reznor) that steer closest to her debut that resonate most deeply.
Boys For Pele (1996)****1/2:
Perhaps her most contentious and polarizing album. Long (18 tracks), dark ("Father Lucifer" is a song title), and musically challenging (this is the harpsichord album), Boys is a heavy lift, but it's also quite brilliant. At least it is according to my tastes (does anyone else's matter?). It's definitely a "grower," but with each listen the album reveals new edges and corners that are as fulfilling as they may be difficult to access. Songs like "Putting The Damage On" and "Blood Roses" are despairing, even bordering on emotionally violent, and in the case of "Professional Widow," the way she bangs away at the harpsichord, brings that sense of brutality home aurally. This record is akin to Lou Reed's Berlin or even Prince's Dirty Mind. Records that challenge you to stand with them or just go away. Potentially alienating, yes. But also rather genius.
From The Choirgirl Hotel (1998)****:
After the stark and rather grim nature of Boys, Choirgirl seems comparatively frothy. Not that it really is, but you can certainly say this album is more accessible and pretty fun in spots. The added use of samples, drum loops and heavier guitars on certain tracks add a level pop sheen heretofore unseen on her three previous records. The techno bounce of shoulda been a hit, "Raspberry Swirl" and the almost jaunty rhythms of "She's Your Cocaine" are just two examples of how much more smoothly this record goes down than any of her predecessors. This is still a Tori Amos album however. Which means tracks Northern Lad and Playboy Mommy bring on the downbeat like nobody's business.
To Venus And Back (1999)****:
Venus wasn't even intended to be a regular album. Amos had originally intended to put together a rarities/live collection as a placeholder for fans while she was marshaling her forces for a proper album. However, Amos shit canned that idea after being visited by the songwriting muse (or fairy--whatever), and came up with 11 new tracks to go along with the bonus live album. Doubling down on the samples and loops, Venus is quite possibly her most fully commercial album. First single, "Bliss" scored better than average radio play for the idiosyncratic artist, and second single "1000 Oceans" deserved to be a breathrough hit of the highest order. In fact, you could argue that "Oceans" may be her best song to date. Built on a drum sample, piano (natch), and some of her most straight forward lyrics, you could almost see this tune being a big hit for someone like Mariah Carey. Of course, it would suck mightily if Carey were to put her overly produced gloss on it and added her dog whistle high note, but still, you get the idea.
Strange Little Girls (2001)**1/2:
Oh, dear. Tori designed this covers album with the idea of taking songs from a predominately male perspective and twisting them to fit some sort of feminist narrative. It didn't work. Only the title track (a cut by The Stranglers) sounds like a song that would be proud to stand among any of her other albums. The rest of the record is filled with mediocre to misguided versions of Joe Jackson, Velvet Underground, and Depeche Mode songs among others. Really, the less said about this one the better.
Scarlet's Walk (2002)****:
A nice bounce back. Any concerns related to the Strange Little Girls record are put to rest here. While some of the songs get lost in the mix of 18 cuts, there are plenty of stand outs here. First single "A Sorta Fairytale" is a great pop tune, and if you haven't seen the bizarre video( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY5XLbD5SZI) starring Tori and Adrien Brody, I would urge you to do so--if only once. "Taxi Ride," "Don't Make Me Come To Vegas," and "Amber Waves (named after Julianne Moore's Boogie Nights character) are all nearly as good. As a collection, the songs are supposed to be some sort of feminist concept album about a woman named Scarlet who travels through all 50 states. I'm sure it made sense in her head, but I would just say "enjoy the tunes."
The Beekeeper (2005)**:
Thud. The absolute nadir of her career. A shockingly listless 19 song package of depressingly unremarkable tunes. Way too long, and bereft of the trademark quirks and weirdness--not to mention song craft--that usually sets her apart from her contemporaries. I would go on about certain tracks, but I can't really remember them. This is the kind of record you might hear in the Hallmark Store, and it brings me no pleasure to say so.
American Doll Posse (2007)*****:
Now we're cookin' with gas! While this may be another indecipherable concept album, no matter, as the tunes are first rate from stem to stern. 23 cuts (although 6 are under 2 minutes) that sail by on a staggering level of song quality. Pretty much every good thing you've ever wanted from a Tori Amos album is here. Weirdo sexual hot mama track? (Big Wheel), check. Quasi-dance tune extravaganza? (Bouncing Off Clouds), check. Uplifting and effortless pop song? (Secret Spell), check. And of course, some of the trademark sad bastard ballads that one would expect (Girl Disappearing, Almost Rosey). After the Lackluster Beekeeper album, this record is nothing less than a complete reaffirmation of a ridiculous level of talent. Her second best album evah.
Abnormally Attracted To Sin (2009)***:
A solid, if unremarkable record that doesn't forecast a future slide in quality, but also doesn't give you the impression that she was really going for it here. The song craft is basically in place, the touches of weirdness are certainly evident, but the songs just don't rise to the level of previous releases. No shame in that, one just has a right to expect more from Miss Amos. "Welcome To England" and "Maybe California" are the best of a pretty decent bunch. Hopefully, this will be just a minor hiccup on the road to a better record. Although the "every other album" syndrome of up and down quality dating back to Strange Little Girls is concerning.
So there you have it, the whole shebang. You might be wondering why I wrote this now. Well, the other day I was walking my hound dog when a track (Putting The Damage On) from Boys For Pele popped up on my ipod and set my heart a-sailin.' Sometimes you lose track of an artist for a while, but you only need one song to send you back to that place of discovery. And besides, it's my damn blog, and I can write whatever I want. :)
Sumo-Pop
March 12, 2010
Little Earthquakes (1992) *****(based on the 5 star RollingStone scoring system):
One of the most fully realized solo debuts in the history of popular music (once again, cuz I said so). Tori came from seemingly out of nowhere fully formed and ready to rumble. The first single "Silent All These Years" was a real shot in the arm for female alternative artists during the grunge years when testosterone reigned. I was running a record store in Michigan at the time of the album's release and short listed it on the basis of seeing her video at around 2am in the morning during one dark night of the soul. It's funny how a piece of music can completely alter your mood. I remember looking up from my seemingly insurmountable pile of home work and saying literally, out loud, "who the hell is that." And so it began. There are times when you purchase an album on the basis of a lead track and are left wanting from the rest of the record. This was not one of those times. From the gentle feminist anthem of the first cut, "Crucify," to the titanic closing title track, there isn't one toss away. The record is as intense and uncompromising as a piano driven album can be, but not without moments of lightness. "Happy Phantom" sounds exactly like it's name, jaunty and altogether pleasing. "Leather" is a wicked delight about the pleasures of, well, leather, if you know what I mean. However, my favorite track is the absolutely incandescent "Tear In Your Hand." A tune that references Neil Gaiman's comic book series "The Sandman," while also containing the line "me and Charles Manson like the same ice cream." No, I don't know what the hell that means, but I love it just the same. Of course, as Tori fans know, the most harrowing track on the album is "Me And A Gun." An extraordinary soul scorching a capella track that takes you through her very real experience of being raped at gun point. The song's killer line is: me and a gun/and a man on my back/but I haven't seen Barbados/so I must get out of this. Gives me chills just writing it. The first of the 5 times that I've seen Tori in concert, her performance of that song absolutely stopped the show dead. There were women crying in the audience and men left speechless. That's when I knew, that's when I knew.
Under The Pink (1992)****:
It's a hell of a thing to have to follow up a landmark album that has won you a sizable, legion sized cult of admirers, but for the most part, Under The Pink delivers. First single "God," with it's quasi-sacrilegious chorus of God sometimes you just don't come through/do you need a woman to look after you? made it clear that she had no intention of selling out. And while the album isn't a giant leap away from Little Earthquakes, Amos does add to her sonic pallet. "Cornflake Girl" broke out the harpsichord, and "Space Dog" is full of a muscularity not evident on her previous recording, and "Waitress" is playfully vicious. Still, it's tracks like "Pretty Good Year," and "Past The Mission" (with hushed backing vocals courtesy of Trent Reznor) that steer closest to her debut that resonate most deeply.
Boys For Pele (1996)****1/2:
Perhaps her most contentious and polarizing album. Long (18 tracks), dark ("Father Lucifer" is a song title), and musically challenging (this is the harpsichord album), Boys is a heavy lift, but it's also quite brilliant. At least it is according to my tastes (does anyone else's matter?). It's definitely a "grower," but with each listen the album reveals new edges and corners that are as fulfilling as they may be difficult to access. Songs like "Putting The Damage On" and "Blood Roses" are despairing, even bordering on emotionally violent, and in the case of "Professional Widow," the way she bangs away at the harpsichord, brings that sense of brutality home aurally. This record is akin to Lou Reed's Berlin or even Prince's Dirty Mind. Records that challenge you to stand with them or just go away. Potentially alienating, yes. But also rather genius.
From The Choirgirl Hotel (1998)****:
After the stark and rather grim nature of Boys, Choirgirl seems comparatively frothy. Not that it really is, but you can certainly say this album is more accessible and pretty fun in spots. The added use of samples, drum loops and heavier guitars on certain tracks add a level pop sheen heretofore unseen on her three previous records. The techno bounce of shoulda been a hit, "Raspberry Swirl" and the almost jaunty rhythms of "She's Your Cocaine" are just two examples of how much more smoothly this record goes down than any of her predecessors. This is still a Tori Amos album however. Which means tracks Northern Lad and Playboy Mommy bring on the downbeat like nobody's business.
To Venus And Back (1999)****:
Venus wasn't even intended to be a regular album. Amos had originally intended to put together a rarities/live collection as a placeholder for fans while she was marshaling her forces for a proper album. However, Amos shit canned that idea after being visited by the songwriting muse (or fairy--whatever), and came up with 11 new tracks to go along with the bonus live album. Doubling down on the samples and loops, Venus is quite possibly her most fully commercial album. First single, "Bliss" scored better than average radio play for the idiosyncratic artist, and second single "1000 Oceans" deserved to be a breathrough hit of the highest order. In fact, you could argue that "Oceans" may be her best song to date. Built on a drum sample, piano (natch), and some of her most straight forward lyrics, you could almost see this tune being a big hit for someone like Mariah Carey. Of course, it would suck mightily if Carey were to put her overly produced gloss on it and added her dog whistle high note, but still, you get the idea.
Strange Little Girls (2001)**1/2:
Oh, dear. Tori designed this covers album with the idea of taking songs from a predominately male perspective and twisting them to fit some sort of feminist narrative. It didn't work. Only the title track (a cut by The Stranglers) sounds like a song that would be proud to stand among any of her other albums. The rest of the record is filled with mediocre to misguided versions of Joe Jackson, Velvet Underground, and Depeche Mode songs among others. Really, the less said about this one the better.
Scarlet's Walk (2002)****:
A nice bounce back. Any concerns related to the Strange Little Girls record are put to rest here. While some of the songs get lost in the mix of 18 cuts, there are plenty of stand outs here. First single "A Sorta Fairytale" is a great pop tune, and if you haven't seen the bizarre video( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY5XLbD5SZI) starring Tori and Adrien Brody, I would urge you to do so--if only once. "Taxi Ride," "Don't Make Me Come To Vegas," and "Amber Waves (named after Julianne Moore's Boogie Nights character) are all nearly as good. As a collection, the songs are supposed to be some sort of feminist concept album about a woman named Scarlet who travels through all 50 states. I'm sure it made sense in her head, but I would just say "enjoy the tunes."
The Beekeeper (2005)**:
Thud. The absolute nadir of her career. A shockingly listless 19 song package of depressingly unremarkable tunes. Way too long, and bereft of the trademark quirks and weirdness--not to mention song craft--that usually sets her apart from her contemporaries. I would go on about certain tracks, but I can't really remember them. This is the kind of record you might hear in the Hallmark Store, and it brings me no pleasure to say so.
American Doll Posse (2007)*****:
Now we're cookin' with gas! While this may be another indecipherable concept album, no matter, as the tunes are first rate from stem to stern. 23 cuts (although 6 are under 2 minutes) that sail by on a staggering level of song quality. Pretty much every good thing you've ever wanted from a Tori Amos album is here. Weirdo sexual hot mama track? (Big Wheel), check. Quasi-dance tune extravaganza? (Bouncing Off Clouds), check. Uplifting and effortless pop song? (Secret Spell), check. And of course, some of the trademark sad bastard ballads that one would expect (Girl Disappearing, Almost Rosey). After the Lackluster Beekeeper album, this record is nothing less than a complete reaffirmation of a ridiculous level of talent. Her second best album evah.
Abnormally Attracted To Sin (2009)***:
A solid, if unremarkable record that doesn't forecast a future slide in quality, but also doesn't give you the impression that she was really going for it here. The song craft is basically in place, the touches of weirdness are certainly evident, but the songs just don't rise to the level of previous releases. No shame in that, one just has a right to expect more from Miss Amos. "Welcome To England" and "Maybe California" are the best of a pretty decent bunch. Hopefully, this will be just a minor hiccup on the road to a better record. Although the "every other album" syndrome of up and down quality dating back to Strange Little Girls is concerning.
So there you have it, the whole shebang. You might be wondering why I wrote this now. Well, the other day I was walking my hound dog when a track (Putting The Damage On) from Boys For Pele popped up on my ipod and set my heart a-sailin.' Sometimes you lose track of an artist for a while, but you only need one song to send you back to that place of discovery. And besides, it's my damn blog, and I can write whatever I want. :)
Sumo-Pop
March 12, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Tiger Went Tiger
The only thing particularly shocking about the death of the Sea World trainer on February 24th--- due to the aggressive actions of a killer whale--- is that people are still shocked when a wild animal behaves in a way that showcases its very wildness. I mean really, it's about as stunning as Donald Trump's hair system. Sure it may be horrific, but we've seen this movie before.
This isn't the first time this has happened at Sea World. Hell, it's not even the first time this has happened with this whale. In 1991, Tilikum (as he is called) and two other whales were responsible for the drowning of a trainer at a Canadian water park. Again in 1999, a 27 year old man was found dead at Sea World, floating in a pool with Tilikum. And here's a tip: If the word "killer" is in the animal's name, maybe that should be accepted at face value.
Now I'm not trying to diminish the personal tragedy of the trainer and how that awful event affected her family, friends, and co-workers. From all reports, she was a model employee and truly loved the animals that she worked with. But there is an accepted element of risk involved when you try to train or domesticate creatures who make their homes in the wild. A risk that those at Sea World seem to be unwilling to learn. Sea World made a statement last week that they will continue to use Tilikum in events in the future, although on a more limited basis. However, the whale was already considered a high risk performer who required additional measures in handling prior to this latest death. So, one has to wonder how many more people have to die at Sea World so that animals can perform tricks for us.
Probably the best recent example of how bad things can go with a wild animal is the Siegfried and Roy debacle with a tiger in 2003. For those that don't remember, the two garishly dressed Vegas performers were doing their act when the tiger involved turned on Roy (or was it Siegfried?--whatever), latched on to his head leaving him clinging to life and resulting in permanent disability. While I'm certain that those in attendance will never get such a horrible occurrence out of their minds, I never understood why people thought the tiger must have gone crazy. Because, as my favorite living comedian Chris Rock put it: "The tiger didn't go crazy, the tiger went tiger."
Which is the whole point. Just because you remove an animal from the wild and socialize it with humans, doesn't mean you can take the wild out of the animal. In the case of a tiger, you are removing an animal from it's habitat and replacing its home with what is comparatively a blade of grass. Even worse, with a killer whale you are going from the vastness of the ocean to a pool that might as well be the size of a tear drop. Of course, I know that sometimes these animals are raised in captivity, but their underlying instincts remain. That instinct is the reason why birds fly south for the winter without having to be told.
These creatures were not born to be in the circus, a Vegas act, or a zoo. They weren't made to have handlers or trainers. And they certainly weren't put on Earth to entertain us. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that zoos serve no purpose (although the circus should be outlawed). A high quality, modern zoo is a great educational tool and some day may be the only place that you will be able to see these wondrous creatures. I once went to a zoo in Arizona and fed a giraffe from my hand. I was nearly moved to tears afterwards. That being said, we should all remember that these animals aren't in enclosures (as they are infamously referred to). They are in cages. I think we've all heard the phrase "like a caged animal" used to describe someone who acts out in a savage way, so why is it any surprise when an actual caged animal does exactly that?
A couple of years ago, my wife and I went to the Pottawatomie Zoo here in South Bend. A grossly underfunded facility that has paltry "enclosures" for the jungle cats in residence. We walked over to view two lions in a cage that must not have felt much larger than that of a paw print to the proud beasts locked inside of it. One of the lions was pacing around the perimeter of this prison when he made eye contact with me. He then turned away from me and sprayed a massive line of urine in my direction, missing me by less than a foot. I'm sure this act of defiance was nowhere near his true intentions. Were he able to, I'd bet he would have liked to have made a meal out of me. I suppose I could have been annoyed or at least amused, but I was mostly just sad. This massive beast that lives to roam the jungle, form a pride, and hunt for food, had been reduced to clanging his water cup against the bars of his cell in a vain effort to annoy his perceived oppressors. He knows he doesn't belong there, and we know it too. Or at least we should after what happened at Sea World 11 days ago.
Sumo-Pop
March 7, 2010
This isn't the first time this has happened at Sea World. Hell, it's not even the first time this has happened with this whale. In 1991, Tilikum (as he is called) and two other whales were responsible for the drowning of a trainer at a Canadian water park. Again in 1999, a 27 year old man was found dead at Sea World, floating in a pool with Tilikum. And here's a tip: If the word "killer" is in the animal's name, maybe that should be accepted at face value.
Now I'm not trying to diminish the personal tragedy of the trainer and how that awful event affected her family, friends, and co-workers. From all reports, she was a model employee and truly loved the animals that she worked with. But there is an accepted element of risk involved when you try to train or domesticate creatures who make their homes in the wild. A risk that those at Sea World seem to be unwilling to learn. Sea World made a statement last week that they will continue to use Tilikum in events in the future, although on a more limited basis. However, the whale was already considered a high risk performer who required additional measures in handling prior to this latest death. So, one has to wonder how many more people have to die at Sea World so that animals can perform tricks for us.
Probably the best recent example of how bad things can go with a wild animal is the Siegfried and Roy debacle with a tiger in 2003. For those that don't remember, the two garishly dressed Vegas performers were doing their act when the tiger involved turned on Roy (or was it Siegfried?--whatever), latched on to his head leaving him clinging to life and resulting in permanent disability. While I'm certain that those in attendance will never get such a horrible occurrence out of their minds, I never understood why people thought the tiger must have gone crazy. Because, as my favorite living comedian Chris Rock put it: "The tiger didn't go crazy, the tiger went tiger."
Which is the whole point. Just because you remove an animal from the wild and socialize it with humans, doesn't mean you can take the wild out of the animal. In the case of a tiger, you are removing an animal from it's habitat and replacing its home with what is comparatively a blade of grass. Even worse, with a killer whale you are going from the vastness of the ocean to a pool that might as well be the size of a tear drop. Of course, I know that sometimes these animals are raised in captivity, but their underlying instincts remain. That instinct is the reason why birds fly south for the winter without having to be told.
These creatures were not born to be in the circus, a Vegas act, or a zoo. They weren't made to have handlers or trainers. And they certainly weren't put on Earth to entertain us. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that zoos serve no purpose (although the circus should be outlawed). A high quality, modern zoo is a great educational tool and some day may be the only place that you will be able to see these wondrous creatures. I once went to a zoo in Arizona and fed a giraffe from my hand. I was nearly moved to tears afterwards. That being said, we should all remember that these animals aren't in enclosures (as they are infamously referred to). They are in cages. I think we've all heard the phrase "like a caged animal" used to describe someone who acts out in a savage way, so why is it any surprise when an actual caged animal does exactly that?
A couple of years ago, my wife and I went to the Pottawatomie Zoo here in South Bend. A grossly underfunded facility that has paltry "enclosures" for the jungle cats in residence. We walked over to view two lions in a cage that must not have felt much larger than that of a paw print to the proud beasts locked inside of it. One of the lions was pacing around the perimeter of this prison when he made eye contact with me. He then turned away from me and sprayed a massive line of urine in my direction, missing me by less than a foot. I'm sure this act of defiance was nowhere near his true intentions. Were he able to, I'd bet he would have liked to have made a meal out of me. I suppose I could have been annoyed or at least amused, but I was mostly just sad. This massive beast that lives to roam the jungle, form a pride, and hunt for food, had been reduced to clanging his water cup against the bars of his cell in a vain effort to annoy his perceived oppressors. He knows he doesn't belong there, and we know it too. Or at least we should after what happened at Sea World 11 days ago.
Sumo-Pop
March 7, 2010
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