The Days of Lore

Now we can see … and hear

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009 | musiX, pdX, politiX | No Comments

I awoke this morning to the scent of hope … and coffee. And it smelled so good. Yesterday, Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America, and with that, things have already changed. His speech was good—not great—I’ll give it a 7.5. Put it next to any speech by George Walker Bush, and it’s an 11.5. Aretha Louise Franklin’s performance: a solid 10. She still brings it. So, enough talk about her hat.

With all of these feel-good feelings and scents and sounds I was reminded of my interview with The Thermals’ Kathy Foster in December. I asked her what the new record would be like given the changes taking place in the Oval Office. Of course, 2006’s The Body, The Blood, The Machine was a punchy punk rock diatribe on the state of affairs under neo-conservative Christian influence. Foster calls Now We Can See (out April 7 on KRS) more of an “Obama record.”

“It’s mostly written from the perspective of someone who’s died and is looking back at their time on Earth, realizing their own mistakes and those humanity has made. Now we can see! Yes we can!”

I like her feel-good optimism. The new album is one of my most highly anticipated—i.e., you haven’t heard the last of me doting over Now We Can See. Now you can listen.

“I Let It Go” - The Thermals (demo, Now We Can See)

Tags: Aretha Franklin, Barack Hussein Obama, Kathy Foster, Now We Can See, The Thermals

Hillary & the Democrats: There’s always 2012

Monday, December 22nd, 2008 | musiX, politiX | No Comments

Yes, Bill Clinton has the sexy sax skills, but it’s Hillary who apparently can write a catchy indie-pop song or four. And she’s made them available for the entire world to hear on the four-song EP from Hillary & the Democrats. OK, it’s not really Hillary Clinton … geez, I can’t get anything past you.

It’s Brit-pop in the spirit of ’80s practitioners like The Smiths and The Cure, only not as mopey. Hillary & the Demos even do a cover of Aztec Camera’s “Somewhere In My Heart.” It’s good stuff. Of course, I checked out the Liverpool four-piece because of the name, which I discovered on a UK music blog with an intriguing title—The Devil Has the Best Tuna—which I was drawn to because my love for Satan is matched only by my love for tuna-fish sandwiches. See how the pieces fit together?

Now, Hillary Clinton may not have won the Democratic presidential nomination over Barack Obama. But Obama did nominate her for secretary of state. And UK indie label Filthy Little Angels signed Hillary & the Democrats in October after hearing the band’s song “If I Were the President.” See? The pieces really do always fit together.

“Why Do Pieces Always Fit Together” - Hillary & the Democrats

“If I Were the President” - Hillary & the Democrats

Tags: "If I Were the President", Aztec Camera, Filthy Little Angels, Hillary & the Democrats, The Cure, The Devil Has the Best Tuna, The Smiths

Vote

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 | musiX, politiX | 4 Comments

Well, this is it. The big day—you know what to do. I’m going to come out and say it here, right now, on election day, that I, Mark Lore, am endorsing Barack Obama. And if I may, I’d like to suggest some songs that Obama might want to consider for his upcoming inaugural party … and no, it does not include Sheryl Crow’s “A Change Will Do You Good.” “But what if John McCain wins?” you ask. To which I respond, simply: “The Thing That Should Not Be.”

Top 10 songs for Barack Obama’s inauguration
1. “Election Night” - Nas
2. “My Aim Is True” - Elvis Costello
3. “Sign O’ the Times” - Prince
4. “Straight Shooter” - Reigning Sound
5. “Come Together” - The Beatles
6. “Here’s Your Future” - The Thermals
7. “I Got the Feelin’ “ - James Brown
8. “I Believe Barack Obama” - Jonah Matranga
9. “The Humpty Dance” - Digital Underground
10.“The Rising” - Bruce Springsteen

Have other songs in mind? Send them to mark@thedaysoflore.com, or leave a comment below. You can check out Sen. Obama’s own Yes We Can soundtrack here.

The results to the less-important “Do You Love These” election: Nirvana by a landslide over KISS. But enough of that; I think today’s going to be a good day. It’s definitely going to be a different world tomorrow.

Tags: Barck Obama, Election Day, inauguration, John McCain

Do you love these?

Thursday, October 30th, 2008 | musiX, politiX | 1 Comment

I was a little testy the other day. Politics does that to me, which is why I don’t discuss it at length … and why I’m changing the subject back to rock ‘n’ roll and youth …

When I was 5 or 6 I received a 45 of Gene Simmons‘ “Radioactive” (B-side, “See You In Your Dreams”) from his 1978 solo record. I played it as often as I could on my parents’ hi-fi—you know, one of those stereos with a record player and an 8-track inside of what looked like a piece of furniture—until it was a crackling mess. I owned three T-shirts, KISS trading cards, posters, pajamas … and I wrote a letter to Santa asking for a Gene Simmons doll. I also liked Barry Manilow … but that’s another story.

I essentially grew up liking KISS in varying degrees—losing interest at times, defending them to no avail at others, and buying their records no matter how crappy they were. KISS hasn’t been good since 1976, save for Dynasty, (Music From) The Elder and Creatures of the Night … maybe Asylum for the production … sorry, still with me? And I will to this day defend them against those who don’t know any better, and I still insist that anyone who likes rock ‘n’ roll should own copies of Destroyer, Alive! and Hotter Than Hell.

KISS still isn’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are still touring sans Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, instead playing with a career studio musician and the guy who used to fetch Gene’s coffee. Now they’ve released an album of re-recorded classics. KISS fans will eat it up … err, lick it up. It’s like television—who do you blame, the networks producing the awful shows, or the millions of people who watch them every week?

I recently listened to Jigoku Retsuden, which is available only in Japan and the Interwebs and was recorded with Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer. It definitely sounds better than some of those old tinny recordings, but it’s rather soulless and is no doubt another scheme to make a yen or ni.

But I want to know which version rocks harder, not from the standpoint of a bleeding-heart KISS dweeb, but from an objective, thinking, slightly uninterested person. I’ve taken “Do You Love Me” from 1976’s Destroyer, and I’m running it against the 2008 version. I’m also throwing in the Ralph Nader of rock if you will: a version Nirvana recorded in 1990 (it appeared on the rare tribute album Hard To Believe which also features covers from bands like Skin Yard, Smelly Tongues and the Hard-Ons).

It’s a warm-up vote before the big one on Nov. 4. Listen and e-mail your votes to mark@thedaysoflore.com. I’ll announce the winner Mon., Nov. 3 … it might be the most important pre-election election of your life.

“Do You Love Me” - KISS, 1976

“Do You Love Me - Nirvana, 1990

“Do You Love Me” - KISS 7.0, 2008

Tags: "Do You Love Me", (Music From) The Elder, Alive!, Asylum, Barry Manilow, Creatures of the Night, Destroyer, Dynasty, Eric Singer, Gene Simmons, Hard To Believe, Hard-Ons, Hotter Than Hell, Jigoku Retsuden, KISS, Nirvana, Paul Stanley, Skin Yard, Smelly Tongues, Tommy Thayer

Enter the gay-teway

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 | politiX | No Comments

I know exactly what’s troubling Republicans and “real Americans” this election: the gateway vote. Allow me to explain.

Casting a “gateway vote” will lead us down the same shame spiral associated with so-called “gateway drugs”—alcohol leads to smoking pot which, of course, leads to the heavy use of heroin and crack cocaine.

That said, voting “No” on Prop. 8 will obviously lead to gays entering holy matrimony and having the same rights as hetero couples … the next thing you know men will be butt-fucking each other on the sidewalks in front of our children.

And finally, a vote for Barack Obama will lead to blacks making the same money as Caucasians and will ultimately result in “The Star-Spangled Banner” being replaced by “The Humpty Dance” (it’s much more fun at sporting events).

There are people for whom just the scent of pot makes them want to engage in rough anal sex with black men while listening to Digital Underground. We’re living in dangerous times, my friends … wait a second … I don’t even know you. Ladies and gentlemen—I give you our new National Anthem. Dig(g) it(t)!(!)

“The Humpty Dance” - Digital Underground

Tags: "The Humpty Dance", Barack Obama, Digital Underground, Gateway Vote, Prop. 8

CBEST: The bestest test in the West

Sunday, October 19th, 2008 | pdX, politiX | No Comments

I recently took the California Basic Education Skills Test, the standardized exam you have to pass in order to substitute teach in the fine states of California and Oregon. I even studied … the night before, because I heard that a good cram-sesh is the best for CBEST success.

I was concerned about the math portion of the test because, frankly, I haven’t thought about a multivariate polynomial or a coefficient since that glorious day I passed basic algebra in junior college almost a decade ago. But as I was boning up for the test with the handy CBEST study guide, I began focusing more on the essay section. The guide says it’s OK for potential test-takers to fabricate statistics and quotes in their essays to support their ideas. No critical thinking necessary!

So, I could write something like “Barack Obama pals around with terrorists,” or “Barack Obama is not a man who sees America the same way I see America” … and it’s perfectly acceptable (and accepted), no matter how absurd it is. And if I were really smart I could say I read The New Yorker or the Wall Street Journal instead of making a vague statement like “I read most of them” … even if it’s not true! Gosh, I am so ready to shape the young minds of America.

Tags: Barack Obama, CBEST, The New Yorker

Country first, then the galaxy!

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 | politiX | 2 Comments

After Sarah Palin folked Americans right in their ears during the vice-presidential debate, who gives a rat’s ass what happened between Maverick John McCain (left) and Sen. Barack Obama, right?

I won’t waste space (i.e., your time) giving my pedestrian analysis on last night’s debate. You all know what happened … a whole lotta nothing. Issues aside: The thought of four years with a 72-year-old white-haired white guy and a pretty, four-eyed puppet that has the Republican arm deep inside of her manipulating her mouth, working overtime on the wink control (Jim Henson would be proud) frightens me.

McCain’s motto is “Country First.” Obama, “Change.” I have one myself: “Vote McCain, I’m off to Spain.” I will be poor. And I’ll live off of bocadillos and txacoli. And it will be perfect.

Tags: Barack Obama, debate, John McCain, Sarah Palin, Spain