I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: RHYE-Tiny Desk Concert #727 (April 9, 2018).

Rhye is one of those bands that the guys on All Songs Considered just love.  But I find that his songs are completely insubstantial from his delicate falsetto to the restrained music.  It just puts me to sleep.

As such:

It seemed only fitting that when Rhye performed the band’s Tiny Desk Concert that it be at night, illuminated by flickering light. The music Mike Milosh sings and writes conjures the evening and a swaying, romantic vibe.

It was five years ago nearly to the day that we filmed Rhye by candlelight in New York City as the band toured for its enigmatic album Woman. Mike Milosh requested that Rhye’s members be filmed “only in silhouette, with the lights dimmed low” at Le Poisson Rouge show.

This time around the hundred or so flickering lights set the tone for the sextet of strings, keyboard, guitar, bass and drums to perform music from 2018’s Blood. The sound is warm and velvety, all the instruments gently pulsing, as Mike Milosh softly sings with that high-pitched yearn.

Tiny Desk Concerts are often awkward by nature — bands playing in the middle of an office in the daytime for musicians used to playing in the evening, with stage lighting. But there was a special transformation that took place at this Tiny Desk the moment the music kicked in. I’m a sucker for a vibe in music — that feeling when a sound completely shifts the mood of a room. This vibe was more like a house show than an office, which put me in a pensive, pleasant place. Sit back and enjoy.

“Please” is just so soft that it seems to float away.  The only cool parts are the guitar and bass lines.

“Taste” I like the instrumentation of this song, especially the violin and bowed upright cello.  And when the guitar solo comes out its like the loudest thing you’ve ever heard (in comparison). But when you think the song is over it’s still got about 5 more minutes of blandness to go.

“Song For You” is seven minutes of slow moodiness.  I like the trombone solo.  And the end is very pretty.   In fact, most of the songs are pretty if they were either shorter or if those songs were actually just the ending of a song.  Otherwise it’s all kind of samey.

[READ: January 5, 2018] Protect Yourself

This short book looks at the brief history of venereal disease posters that were created during WWII.  It was edited by Ryan Mungia with an essay by Jim Heimann.

The essay has the great title “VD posters: propaganda to the penis” is short.  Mostly this is just a collection of posters.

The premise is that commanders have had to fight venereal disease and the enemy simultaneously.  During WWI, 18,000 American military personnel were incapacitated with sexually transmitted diseases each day!  By WWII it was reduced to about 600 per day.

Protection certainly helped and graphic posters were there to spread the word.

In addition to posters, servicemen were taught

Manhood comes from healthy sex organs.
It is not necessary to have sexual intercourse in order to keep strong and well.
You have a fine healthy body now.  Keep it that way.
Most prostitutes have V.D.
If you get diseased report it at once.

Many of the posters were created by the WPA–stark and graphic (and really quite wonderful).  Many out of work commercial artists found employment. Many prints were silk screened and were thus graphic and bold.  I love “The enemy is syphilis. Enlist employees to campaign against it.”  I also love the look of the one from the N.Y. State Dept of Health: “Your family needs protection against syphilis your wife or husband and children should be examined.  And treated if necessary.”

The purpose of the posters was to “shock the viewer into looking and, once having looked, t retaining its message.”

In 1941 the Museum of Modern Art coordinated a National Defense Poster Competition.  John Atherton won the Bond drive with “Buy a share in America.”

But there was dissent about the look of the posters.  Glen Grohe in 1942 created “He’s Watching You” but it was judged not favorable by focus groups because they were confused by the simple, bold and symbolic graphics (wish it was included in the book).  Admen wanted realistic representational and modernist, while traditionalists and WPA artists wanted symbolic war art like in the 1942 called How to make posters that will help win the war.

Most posters are anonymous, but some were credited: Ben Sahn, David Stone, Martin Blum artist), Stan Lee.

Arthur Szyk did anti-Nazi images of Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito in caricature style.  Come on 21st century America, wake up.

T.S. Ferree Jr. made “V.D.: a sorry end to a furlough.”

Eventually aspects of modernism and surrealism were added

The posters are almost all visual with just a few words.   Here’s some of my favorites.

The Price? YOU will pay it
As old as creation.  Syphilis is now curable (with a dinosaur) [prior to WWII, syphilis was the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.]

Syphilis:  False shame and fear may destroy your future

Loaded: Don’t take chances with pickups

Fool the Axis use prophylaxis

Stamp out V.D.

She may look clean–but..

Booby trap: syphilis and gonorrhea

Easy to Get!  Stay Aware.

Remember, they are waiting (pocket watch with family members).

V.D. can be cured by there is no medicine for regret

Don’t take a chance.  Take a pro.

Don’t go to a quack doctor; don’t buy home remedies.

No is the best tactic; the next, prophylactic

She may be a bag of trouble

Prophylaxis Provides Protection

VD worst of the three (Hitler Hirohito and V.D.)

Our carelessness; their secret weapon.

Going home?  Don’t be delayed by V.D.