The Days of Lore

Mission of Burma continues …

Monday, July 13th, 2009 | musiX | 1 Comment

Mission of Burma has written some of the most powerful and anthemic rock songs. Ever. 1982’s Vs. record is one of the best examples of how a band could merge punk rock energy with artiness … without sounding too arty. Credit that to the balance between chief songwriters guitarist Roger Miller and bassist Clint Conley.

And it’s a unique story. After the release of Vs.—the band’s first full-length—Miller and Conley called it quits after Miller developed tinnitus, a result of the band’s voluminous live shows. But the band would reform two decades later, making those 20 years seem like two. Mission of Burma released a pair of post-reunion records—OnOffOn in 2004 and The Obliterati in 2006—both of which continued with the band’s uncanny ability to balance energy and elegance.

Mission of Burma is working on the followup—The Sound The Speed The Light—due out Oct. 6 on Matador Records. The first single “1, 2, 3, Partyy!” is a burner in the spirit of “That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate”—a song that notoriously makes my foot heavy on the accelerator (Warning: Do not ride in Mark Lore’s car if listening to Mission of Burma). Yes. It’s that good.

“1, 2, 3, Partyy!” - Mission of Burma (The Sound The Speed The Light)

“That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate” - Mission of Burma (Vs.)

Tags: Clint Conley, Matador Records, Mission of Burma, OnOffOn, Roger Miller, The Obliterati, The Sound The Speed The Light, Vs.

Jay Reatard is so snuggly

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 | musiX, pdX | 1 Comment

When I first heard the name Jay Reatard I: a) didn’t catch the first “a” in his last name, and b) thought he was some semi-obscure punk artist from the ’70s known only within circles of dweeby vinyl collectors who don’t listen to anything released after 1983. When I discovered he was a young kid from Memphis, I was actually a little disappointed. Then I listened …

Jay Reatard (born Jay Lindsey in 1980) might as well have been part of the blank generation. He’s an old soul for sure. Reatard’s music is sort of that sloppy and poppy, lo-fi rock that could fit snuggly somewhere between The Ramones and The Voidoids. Ahh … so snuggly.

Reatard’s music has evolved, but it hasn’t lost its soul. His early days with his bands The Reatards and The Lost Sounds were more punk, less pop, ripping straight from Memphis legends The Oblivians. After years of side-projects Reatard dropped the band names and was dropping new songs, which turned into his first “solo” outing Blood Visions (In The Red) in 2006. Not a clunker in the bunch. Still, he continued churning out snarling, three-minute pop songs at a dizzying clip—Singles 06-07 and Matador Singles ‘08 soon followed and Reatard was touring the world.

Some of Reatard’s influences are obvious—Wire, Devo, The Clean—you know, the good stuff. But so are a lot of songwriters’ influences. There’s an interview with Turn It Down where Reatard perfectly sums up his songs: “I think it’s just noisy pop music.” He just happens to do it better than most.

Which brings us to 2009. Jay Reatard will release his new album Watch Me Fall on Aug. 18 on Matador Records. In the meantime, Reatard has been touring Europe and the States and will stop by Dante’s in Portland Wed., June 17 with Thee Oh Sees and locals The Nice Noys (now that is a great show). I’m sure you’ll hear plenty of new songs, including “It Ain’t Gonna Save Me” … which is just noisy pop music. And better than most.

“It Ain’t Gonna Save Me” - Jay Reatard

Tags: Blood Visions, In The Red Records, Jay Reatard, Matador Records, Portland, The Reatards, Watch Me Fall

Barbara Manning: From me to you

Monday, December 1st, 2008 | musiX | 1 Comment

I always thought you were supposed to get starstruck on that first encounter with someone you admire. Barbara Manning made it difficult. She was sweet and approachable. She liked my band. This was the woman who played with New Zealand indie rock royalty including The Clean’s David Kilgour and Graeme Downes of The Verlaines, had Calexico as her backing band, recorded a string of albums for Matador Records. Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore even called her one of San Francisco’s best songwriters. Despite all that, I ended up befriending her rather than fawning over her.

I met Barbara a few years ago through some mutual friends. All I could think of was The San Francisco Seals‘ cover of The Verlaines’ “Joed Out,” which appeared on 1993’s No Alternative with bands like Pavement, Beastie Boys and Nirvana. That was my first introduction to her music.

Name-drops aside, Barbara Manning simply writes amazing pop songs. Any critical acclaim—from her early years as vocalist and bassist for Chico indie band 28th Day, through her solo albums and rock bands like S.F. Seals, World of Pooh and The Go-Luckys!—is deserved. She’s never had tremendous range, but her voice is pure, strong and comforting. Sometimes it sounds like she’s singing to you in conversation, her voice floats and her words slip into these sort of poetic stanzas.

Barbara Manning’s name isn’t all over magazines these days. And sometimes I don’t think she’s appreciated enough in her hometown of Chico. But those who are in the know know better. She’s still writing songs, and has loads of notebooks filled with lyrics and probably more than a few tapes with hummed melodies that may or may not see the light of day. But I have a feeling there’s something on the horizon …

Aside from performing solo Barbara Manning is fronting two bands—pop-punks The Sleaze Tax and twang-janglers Champion, the latter of which recorded a cover of Portastatic’s “Through With People” set to be released on Merge Records in January to honor the label’s 20th anniversary, along with Apples In Stereo, Okkervil River, Death Cab For Cutie and Times New Viking. She regained control of her back catalog and recently launched a new Web site. Barbara also rejoined Calexico during the group’s sold-out September 28 performance at the Fillmore to perform her song “Better By Bounds.”

I’ve known Barbara Manning for almost four years now. We ended up becoming good friends. I played in a band with her. Wrote a song with her. We worked together. Finally, I get to fawn over her.

“Better By Bounds” - Barbara Manning (Champion)

Tags: "Better By Bounds", "Joed Out", 28th Day, Barbara Manning, Calexico, Champion, David Kilgour, Graeme Downes, Matador Records, Merege Records 20th Anniversary, No Alternative, Sonic Youth, the Clean, The Go-Luckys!, The San Francisco Seals, The Sleaze Tax, the Verlaines, Thurston Moore, World of Pooh

A date @ IKEA w/Pavement

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 | musiX | 1 Comment

I had never set foot into an IKEA until just last week … returned a salad spinner with my girlfriend and bought some light bulbs and a couple of multiple-outlet adapter thingamabobbers. It’s kind of like a Yuppy Wal-Mart, although I’ve never actually been to Yuppy Wal-Mart, either. Geez, I feel like I’m from Mars telling you that I have only recently stepped inside this wonderland of Scandinavian chic.

Though I hardly knew what an IKEA was until recently, I might have to sign up for this contest. To help celebrate the release of Brighten the Corners: Nicene Creedence Ed., Matador Records and imeem is going to send one lucky winner on a $500 IKEA shopping spree with a member of Pavement! You see, there was that song on the album penned by guitarist Scott Kannberg called “Date w/IKEA” … anyway, the surprise is that we don’t know which member, but we do know that Swedish meatballs are what’s for lunch. Simply send a photo and a short essay on why you deserve a date at IKEA by December 6.

The release of the B-sides and outtakes-loaded double-disc is set for December 9, the date the winner will be announced. I’m hoping for 300 multiple-outlet adapter thingamabobbers with Gary Young.

“Stereo,” off Brighten the Corners, by Pavement, w/kid accompaniment, in the car

Tags: Brighten the Corners: Nicene Creedence Ed., Date w/IKEA, Gary Young, IKEA, imeem, Matador Records, Pavement, Scott Kannberg