Category Archives: Music

Rocking the Soul train

Music, , , ,

Oh yes on holiday I’ve had much opportunity to consider things… Like what music do I like, and why do I like it?

I can safely say that I like:
ROYAL TRUX
ROLLING STONES
DAVID BOWIE
ELLIOTT SMITH
DAFT PUNK
THE FALL
FLAMING LIPS
RAMONES
and numerous other groups whose music is similar to these artists.

I can’t really find any reason why I like these bands and not others. I would like to claim it’s to do with SOUL, like oh they don’t sell themselves to ad merhants, but they do (Bowie and the Stones do anyway). Or being genuine, but the Trux are a curious blend of the genuine and the not-so, and Bowie ripped off everyone. And what does genuine mean?

So now I’ve decided it’s just attitude and cool. I can’t deny it, it’s utterly superficial, but I like all of these artists because of something to do with their attitude. The whiney or groany vocals, the sweet instrumentation, the rhythm section, the endless addictions! The not giving a fuck but really giving a fuck at the same time.

I can never dig U2 or the Coldplay clones because they’re so relentlessly dull. Say what you like, and maybe Witch’s Tit ain’t the most meaningful song in the world, but the truth lies in The Spectre, Second Skin, Pol Pot Pie, Needle in the Hay, Independence Day, Brainville, Heroes, C.R.E.E.P, Judy is a Punk. Not in ELEfuckingVATION.

/rant paused (will no doubt continue)…

R’n’B, Exile, Pirates and the Trux

Music, ,

My iPod has been playing Exile on Main Street pretty much on repeat for the last week… this is my third phase of Exile in the last year; each wave more powerful than the last.

There is something purely life affirming and heavenly about this record. The songs are wonderful (especially Rocks Off, Rip This Joint, Loving Cup, Soul Survivor), the lyrics cool (“I’m drifting through the days at lightning speed”), the music eclectic (gospel, R’n’B, soul, rock’n’roll, boogie woogie, country) … all make this album a work of real mastery.

But above all, the instrumentation and Keith’s voice in the background – except in Happy where he leads – lend this album something unexpressably great. The sheer work that went in to producing the laziest, easiest sound you’ll ever hear is evident when you listen to Sweet Black Angel. On first listen, the song sounds like a messy pile of old blues and dischordant voices, complete with percussion. As you listen and listen, the complexity of the sound comes out – the layers, the tones, the rhythm. This might be the best non electric song ever recorded by a rock and roll band, whatever that means. And then the shudder as the harmonica shakes off a chord.

The key to why I like Exile above all else must be the Trux connection. I can hear Neil singing but it’s Keith. I can see Jennifer arranging and perfecting, but it’s Keith again. It’s widely recognised (well, as widely as anything like this could be) that Neil Hagerty was the driving force behind Pussy Galore‘s cover of the Exile album (something I’m still trying to lay my hands on). You can feel the influence in Trux records – and there’s nothing wrong with being influenced by the best. It’s rhythm and blues – the real thing. Let’s reclaim that genre for decent music. I hate this utter trash that masquerades as RnB.

Oh you can see Cocksucker Blues while you listen to this – the band standing, their entourage consumed by addiction and decadence. The core stable. This is the best album ever recorded by anyone. It’s that simple. And I swear an oath that I’ve never said that about any other album, whatever Gemma might have you think. And it beats Sticky Fingers hands down. Over produced those fingers, and all structured.

Keith will next be seen playing Capt. Jack Sparrow’s father in Pirates of the Caribbean… out next year (I think).

Max Carlish’s story changes

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The man at the centre of Pete Doherty’s arrest in January has put forward his version of events in today’s Guardian. Max Carlish, the down-on-his-luck documentary film maker admits that he sold photographs of Pete Doherty taking drugs to a national newspaper without the singer’s agreement.

In a slightly bizarre article, Carlish portrays himself as a sort of bumbling but lovable fool, enamoured with the image of the self-destructive rock star flying to close to the flame. His tone is most telling – it smacks of the sort of innocent, self-righteous bollocks we have come to expect from people who start a fight and then pretend they don’t know why the other guy is so upset.

Max Carlish is a man who has found that his main skill is a curious form of self loathing and self deprecation, as can be seen not only in today’s article but in work dating back five years or more. I find it hard to trust the word of a man who simultaneously asks us to trust his version of events and tells us he’s a bit sad. The victim role he plays is unconvincing, and the story lacks some key details, including Carlish’s arrest on drug offences shortly after he sold the photos of the man he professes to love.

Probably, Doherty will be found guilty in the forthcoming criminal case, because it does look as if he has broken the law. But to be fair to him, Max Carlish does sound as if he deserved it: what kind of man would do something like that and expect nothing to come of it?

See also, Max Carlish in Pete in Kate on Channel 4. (the comments are fascinating!)

Royal Trux :: Accelerator

Music

For the last couple of weeks, I have spent a lot of time listening to some favourite albums from the last few years. Specifically, I have been relentlessly turning up Fuzzy Logic by the Super Furry Animals, Screamadelica by Primal Scream and what must be a strong contender for ‘best rock n roll album ever’:

Accelerator by Royal Trux.

From the first line Now you know I’m ready/Can’t you see I’m ready in the song er “I’m Ready“, with its sick riff and crap sounding, but ultimately perfect drum fills, this album is unparalleled. It’s a combination of all the Trux’s best features; kick-ass teenage lyrics, dirty fuzzy/warped guitar parts, electronic drums, drugs, dancing, Keith Richards, long breaks, fast fills and Steven Segal.

Best songs: undoubtedly “The Banana Question“, “Juicy, Juicy, Juice” and “Song for Steven S” are my absolute favourites. “Another Year” is also excellent, as are all of the other songs. I feel like I’m going to be talking about this album for the next thirty years, and only a few special people will ever like it. Even Primal Scream agreed that

“Royal Trux are the best band in the world, and Accelerator is the best album ever made – it’s so good that we chose to name one of the songs on our platinum selling XTRMNTR album after it – this is an act of worship, not of theft!” (or words to that effect).

One of the very best things about the Trux is trying to work out what words they are singing. Now, I am not the only person who has noticed this, but there are a large number of super poncey dickheads who act like to admit you can’t understand the words in one song is like walking around screaming about how much you love the Rembrandts or something. Clearly, it is nothing like that. I hate the Rembrandts. But I do have some trouble with some of the lyrics. Did you ever love you a / Sealed up sack / So bad you had to / I don’t know but I think he says Czar after that.

Of course, the ultimate in difficult to detect lyrics must be what happens behind the ultimate guitar solos ever. I am, of course, talking about ‘Juicy, Juicy, Juice‘ – in the first verse, I can only make out: “…something something about those things/ Well even if I had to set it back/ Fly like a (mother/mama) (to/through) the bullet-holes/ In front of the cops, cut to hanging it loose/ We paid our membership dues“. Now, I can see that this looks like complete gibberish but you must understand that it is a labour of love, trying to obtain a meaning from these lyrics. I remember the joy of finally decrypting the frankly simple “Red light/ Makes ’em think we’re going the wrong way/ Wrong way!” in ‘The Banana Question‘. Trux lyrics are, even during their simplest phases, extremely freeform. They’re not just words, they’re part and parcel with the elaborately designed slack-sound of the music. Jazz poetry. Rap.
In ‘Liar‘, we are treated to some classic Trux counterpoint as Neil and Jen echo eachother in what? An argument ? They both howl “Don’t be a liar!” at strategic moments, so maybe they’re both talking to someone else. I got a taste in my mouth/ Just like a burning tyre/ I forgot what I knew with you/Don’t be a liar! Riff. Organ. Drums. Solo. Noise. Words. If there is a better soundtrack to my kind of party, I’d like to hear it. No forget it. What is that, the Rembrandts?

‘Song For Steven S‘ is the first Royal Trux song I ever heard. It’s a bit difficult, because the song has been claimed for numerous Steven S’s (Spielberg, Soderberg, Smith) – I still tell everyone who asks – and many who don’t – that it’s all about Steven Segal, “You don’t know how the camera works/ But there’s always someone there to fix ’em” – I don’t know, if you think it was another Steven then that’s ok.

This album is just great, OK? If you can’t get that then you lose. It’s difficult for me to find an album from the 90’s which rings so pure and strong now. Maybe Screamadelica. Maybe Fuzzy Logic. Maybe Loveless. Maybe Discovery. I don’t know – all of those albums (and many, many others) just seem to fade into obscurity and comedy when I play Accelerator. Perhaps I have burnt my brain out by listening to it too much? But I genuinely, honestly believe that this album is One of the best and most important of the 1990’s. We’ll see, cos there are plenty of bands right now ripping off the Clash and Television. Lets wait another five years for the Trux-alikes to come along (apart, that is, from the obvious ones like White Stripes andThe Kills).

OK so Royal Trux have completely split (it happened ages ago, it still pisses me off). Jen (now calling herself JJ Rox) has a new album out and what I have heard of it is pretty good. Accelerator style.

Follow the Winner.

Album review: Accelerator by Royal Trux. 1 out of 1. This album is one of my 5 all time top best ones.

Update: Actually, I’m not a massive fan of Jennifer’s RTX stuff. Check out Neil Hagerty’s solo albums and the Howling Hex for some really interesting music.