Category: ‘Murica AF

Posted on // 8 Comments

No Matter How Hard You Try

You’re not going to make Crocs cool. I somehow got subscribed to a ridiculously overpriced MAN’S MAN clothing and apparel site (Huckberry – the name says it all) not too long ago. Their copywriters breathlessly oversell everything, but this one really made me chuckle.

Crocs are the shoes that can bring everyone together—from the creative directors we follow for style tips, to our parents, to our buddy who’s really into bowhunting. Over the past couple years, their unreasonably comfy slip-ons have floated into our everyday footwear rotations and aren’t leaving anytime soon. Which is why we’ve been looking forward to their new batch of near-weightless clogs outfitted for the colder months with all-terrain soles, cozy sherpa linings, and Realtree and Mossy Oak camo.

No.

Posted on // 2 Comments

My Word, She’s From Germany

This song has been stuck in my head for the better part of a week, so I might as well share these great lyrics. What happens when you bring your German girlfriend home to meet your Jewish parents?

How I wished my folks were gracious hosts and not dismayed
But wit and wisdom take a backseat girl when you’re that afraid
Oh no, bring her home and the folks look ill
My word, they can’t forget, they never will
They can hear the storm troops on our lawn when I show her in
And the Fuhrer is alive and well in our paneled den
Oh no, bring her home and the folks look ill
My word, they can’t forget that war, what a war

My word, she’s from Germany
Well, it’s the same old country but the people have changed
My word… Germany
With its splendid castles and its fine cuisine

Well, the car I drive is parked outside, it’s German-made
They resent that less than the people who are German-made
Oh no, bring her home and the folks look ill
My word, they can’t forget that war, what a war, some war

My word… Germany
Well, it’s the same old country but the people have changed
My word… Germany
With its splendid castles and its fine cuisine, its lovely German women
And its wonderful rivers that do flow from her hills

My word, she’s from Germany
Well, it’s the same old country but the people have changed
My word, she’s from Germany
With its splendid castles and its fine cuisine
My word, she’s from Germany
Well, it’s the same old country but the people have changed
My word, she’s from Germany
With its splendid castles and its fine cuisine

My word, she’s from Germany
Well, it’s the same old country but the people have changed
My word, she’s from Germany
With its splendid castles, its fine cuisine
Its lovely German women and you and me!

Posted on // 3 Comments

Moe Tucker Doc

I came across this somewhat recent documentary on Mo Tucker, and it’s really interesting to see how her playing evolved and the weird kit configurations she used. Fortunately, it makes no mention of her late life conversion to kook.

Posted on // 2 Comments

Karen Dalton?

Never heard of her, but I’m intrigued! In theaters October 1, on digital November 16.

Blues and folk singer Karen Dalton was a prominent figure in 1960s New York. Idolized by Bob Dylan and Nick Cave, Karen discarded the traditional trappings of success and led an unconventional life until her early death. Since most images of Karen have been lost or destroyed, the documentary uses Karen’s dulcet melodies and interviews with loved ones to build a rich portrait of this singular woman and her hauntingly beautiful voice.

Posted on // 2 Comments

More Old Stuff

Paul Revere and The Raiders wore Minutemen uniforms, acted silly (a requirement following A Hard Day’s Night and Help), had a teen idol in singer Mark Lindsey, and perhaps suffered overexposure as the house band on the weekly pop music TV show, Happening ’68.  Earlier they were regulars on Dick Clark’s Where The Action Is, so they were all over television for a couple of years.  All that made them easy to dismiss later as tastes changed and bands were expected to dress more like hippies and act more seriously, or at least like they were on harder drugs.  That’s too bad.  They were a great band, and the proof is in the grooves. There’s the Stonesy song posted above.  Just Like Me ,  Steppin’ Out, and Hungry are among the best 60’s garage-rock songs.  Good Thing gets more sophisticated with the Beach Boys vocal bit in the bridge, but the blistering instrumental track takes no prisoners.  They earned their chops grinding it out in the Pacific Northwest club and teen-dance circuit, and you can hear it in Good Thing (no doubt some Raiders songs employed the Wrecking Crew, but this one sounds too unhinged to be the WC).  Kicks features an unforgettable twelve-string riff, and its chorus is a textbook on how to write and produce a simple, effective hook.  There’s nothing extraneous in that chorus, it just pounds in the hook.  It also pulls the amazing stunt of being a cool anti-drug song.  Does another even exist?

The Raiders ended up sort of like Max Baer post Beverly Hillbillies: once Jethro, always Jethro.  They did manage one hit with a new beards-and-blue-jeans look, but it wasn’t any good (it’s called Indian Reservation, if you really must). Just how the ball bounces.  This decade’s stars, next decade’s has-beens.