SOUNDTRACK: THE SMITHS-The Queen Is Dead (1986).
Years ago, when I was a young metal head, my friend Garry expanded my musical palette by introducing me to a lot of college rock (or whatever it was called back then). The album that had the most impact on me back then was this one, The Queen Is Dead.
Unlike most listeners and fans of The Smiths, I was first drawn to them because I found this album to be very funny. Now, true, Morrissey is a funny, literate writer, but the general consensus is that the Smiths are mopey, sad, depressive, you know, goth. I guess I was more interested in the words than the music at the time?
And of course, it was “Bigmouth Strikes Again” that really sold the deal for me, as “Now I know how Joan of Arc felt…when the flames rose to her Roman nose and her Walkman started to melt,” is pretty twisted and funny. [To the sticklers: all these lyrics are paraphrased somewhat]. And “Vicar in a Tutu” is weird and wonderful, with a rollicking skiffle beat that propels the song at a mighty pace as the vicar “comes sliding down the banister.”
Even “There is Light that Never Goes Out” is a depressing sing about dying together, and yet the phrasing is pretty darn funny: “If a double-decker bus crashes into us, to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die.” And lest we forget the peculiar disc ender, “Some Girls are Bigger Than Others.” Certainly a true statement regardless of whatever he’s talking about.
My introduction to this disc was in the days of cassettes, and we listened to side 2 a lot, but side 1 is also fantastic. The title track is a great opener: fabulous melody, rocking drums and a great verse about Morrissey breaking into the palace and being told by the Queen that he cannot sing. Next, “Frankly Mr Shankly” is a 2 minute poppy song, also twisted, with lines about “making Christmas cards with the mentally ill.” And “Cemetery Gates” is a twisted little fun piece which namechecks Keats, Yates and Oscar Wilde.
And lest we forget the rest of the band, the music on this disc is varied and wonderful. The music of “The Queen is Dead” is funky bass, smashing drums and the gorgeous guitars of Johnny Marr. Since The Smiths broke up, Morrissey has been in the spotlight far more than Johnny Marr. Morrissey’s solo career is flying pretty well these days, while Marr has been a sideman in a lot of different bands (currently Modest Mouse).
Johnny Marr’s guitar playing has always been a fascinating mix of textures and effects. No one would say that he was a show offy guitarist–I don’t think there are any solos in his career at all–but the sounds he creates are weird and more than appropriate to the songs. I’ve been playing guitar for years and I’m not even sure how he makes some of those sounds.
The Smiths were a great band, and this is one of my favorite albums.
[READ: April 10, 2009] Daylight Runner
My friends Louise and Ailish told me that they met this author in their hiking group. I imagine all kinds of interesting Irish folks climbing the coastline of Ireland talking literature…. Anyhow, when they told me about this author I pictured a fledgling writer who was trying to get his book published…and they read it and thought it was really good. I was intrigued, and Louise said she’d send me a copy. And she did.
What I didn’t realize is that she was able to order it from Amazon, and that McGann is a rather prolific author in Ireland. He is primarily known for his kids and YA books. So they know a widely respected and published author. That is almost as cool as my friend Christopher being taught by Roddy Doyle before he wrote The Commitments. (more…)
SOUNDTRACK: THE FLAMING LIPS-The Fearless Freaks 1986-2006 (2006).
This is an assemblage of ten recordings from twenty years of The Flaming Lips. It’s something of a soundtrack to the movie of the same name, but it’s more of a collection of rare and unavailable tracks. Most of the tracks are live, and, since I’m not a big collector of unreleased works, they were all new to me.
30,000 views may not be a milestone for many blogs. But, for a blog like this which was intended mostly as a record of what I’ve read, the fact that I’ve had 30,000 views is pretty exciting. And it seems appropriate to let you, the readers know what you the other readers have been reading here. So, here is the top ten most read posts on I Just Read About That… with a director’s commentary tacked on.
SOUNDTRACK: THE FLAMING LIPS-The Soft Bulletin (1999).
This album brought The Flaming Lips out from the underground (or one-hit wonder status) into the spotlight of Well Respected Bands. It made a whole bunch of best of 1999 lists and even a few best of the 1990s lists.
SOUNDTRACK: FOXBORO HOT TUBS-Stop Drop & Roll!!! (2008)
This is the least cleverly concealed “side-project” in rock history. At this point Billie-Joe Armstrong’s voice is so recognizable, that it’s impossible for him to hide. But Foxboro Hot Tubs were a way for Green Day to release something different after their mega-successful American Idiot album.
I Just Read About That... 