Dear Friends,
Yesterday, I rode the anxiety wave most of the day. I didn’t really realize how anxious I was until just before my students went to lunch. I had turned into a grumpy beast teacher. They couldn’t do anything right and I was just looking for them to fuck up.
That’s the worst feeling.
When I’m feeling anxious, I can become this hypercritical asshole who just wants everyone around me to be perfect. This is impossible, of course, and over the years, I have recognized this trait more and more, but on a day like yesterday, Mr. Grump was ready to play. I put the kids to work and channeled my energy into prepping for the coming days ahead.
Everyone lived.
That’s as political as I’m going to get today. I was anxious about what type of nation I would wake up today and I still am, but I made a conscious decision to avoid media as much as possible. It’s not a healthy thing.
Instead, I went over to my old friend’s house, one Chris K., and interviewed him and his bandmates about the final No Volcano show that happens later this month. That got my mind off things, and it was great to spend an hour or so with him, Jim, Bill, and James. Those guys are among my favorite people on the planet, and it was great to decompress with them.
My heart was also with my brother, Michael, and a situation he is dealing with, so I was able to remind myself that this nonsense around us that comes from the political buffoonery of these times is just a lot of noise. Sure, there may be profound impacts on the lives of people I love and myself, too, but what really matters to me is the people closest to me.
I know I said that I wasn’t going to get political, but I am now reminded of why I got so grumpy. My students had a lot of questions about the election, and I was happy to answer all of them (with the exception of who I voted for as it would be unethical for me to tell them how I cast my vote). What became more and more apparent as I answered questions is that a lot of my students are worried about being deported.
Think about that one for a minute.
I’ll just leave that right here.
What kind of a world are we going to be living in today? That remains to be seen.
*****
In 1986, I got turned on to the Subhumans. It was a gift that either Markus or my buddy, Buzz, gave me. I was aware of them and had seen the t-shirts and such on people, but once I got a copy of The Day The Country Died on a cassette that someone had duped for me, I was in.
I couldn’t find a copy of The Day The Country Died on vinyl right off the bat, but I did find Worlds Apart. I thought the cover was cool as hell and took it home and put it on my little Magnavox turntable. I was in after hearing that first record, but Worlds Apart made me a lifelong fan.
For my money, Worlds Apart is the Subhumans at their finest. They are strong across the board, of course, and all of their stuff is compelling, but Worlds Apart just rocks my world. I can honestly and wholeheartedly say that it is one of my all-time favorite records. If I were ranking the 366 records I will write about this year, it’s top 20, no problem.
Another truth bomb I can drop right now is that I thought I had already written about this one. I almost forgot to add it to the list. What a dolt! I would have never forgiven myself.
Subhumans feature some of the best songs in the punk rock world. The dudes in the band can just flat out play and they’ve been playing together for so long. Dick Lucas writes and sings some of best and most memorable lyrics, Bruce Treasure’s guitar parts are fucking great, bassist Phil Bryant absolutely rips, and Trotsky’s drums are always perfect. It’s been the same dudes since 1983.
To think they came up with this record back in 1985, I just have to tip my cap to them. They were all in their mid-20s, but the record is way more mature than that. It still rips by any standard today and blows away most of the ‘great’ records by more well-known bands.
In a way, Worlds Apart is one of the first ‘prog’ punk records. It’s got aspects of reggae and ska going through it and I usually look down my nose at most of the mid-80s ska, but I love it here. For me, the record just jams. I always kind of put Subhumans in the same category as Dead Kennedys. The lyrics are fucking smart and clever as hell and the music just rips.
Holy hell. I’m writing the word “rips” a lot.
I love every minute of Worlds Apart. I can make a compelling argument for why every song is the best song, too. On side one, I was captured by “British Disease” first, but only because “33322” is more of just an intro and outro (as it ends the record, too). It’s a great way to begin and end, true, but “British Disease” really gets the ball rolling on side one.
The bass line on “British Disease” just gets me going every time. The upbeat and hopeful intro is quickly dashed by a bombastic riff then it takes off again. I’ve never tried to play this song, and I think I’m content to just be a fan and listen. This record would be a huge workout to learn all the parts. I’d probably have to join a prog band afterwards, too.
“Apathy” is the next one that kills me. “Drink, sex, cigarettes, Ford Cortina, household pets, bombs, wars, famine, death, an apathetic public couldn’t care less.” That opening salvo of lyrics sets the tone and becomes an amazing chorus.
“Fade Away” into “Businessmen” is another great section of side one, but “Someone Is Lying” into “Pigman” is also sofa king good. The guitar riff that opens “Someone Is Lying” is quite choice. All of side one (‘Skull Side’) just rules (and I didn’t mention “Heads of State”).
“The world is run by businessmen.”
Bluurg Side starts off with a vengeance. “Can’t Hear The Words” has always been so inspiring to me. I’ve tried to recreate the vocal urgency many times without trying to flat out copy Lucas’ approach. The song just cranks and then the next thing you know, you’re starting “Get To Work On Time.” It’s manic and nasty and full of these parts that I’m sure many a British punk said were “absolutely mental.” Oh, to have been a fly on the wall when they were writing this record.
“Carry On Laughing” is an all-time favorite of mine. Actually, now that I think of it, the trio of “Carry On Laughing” into “Straightline Thinking” into “Ex-Teenage Rebel” is just stellar. All three songs are among my favorites, but there is a special place in my heart for the latter. I have to believe that there would have been a big chunk of time in my later teenage years that I would have said, “’Ex-Teenage Rebel’ is the best song ever.”
I’ve listened to that trio of songs three times now just trying to figure out how to properly extol their virtue. The way “Straightline Thinking” begins is also so powerful. Lucas just takes the piss out of conformity here and it seems so apropos to be listening to these lyrics tonight of all nights as the election results come in with the scariest news.
“We are all controlled.”
“Ex-Teenage Rebel,” as I mentioned, is one of my favorite songs. From the first note from Treasure’s guitar to the last lyric, I am just hooked. It was one of the highlights of my punk rock show going days to see them play this live back in 1998 at the Nile. Mark and I went to that and it was epic.
The last song, “Powergames” is also stellar. It’s super ska-ish, but that stuff is all over the record. I didn’t like Citizen Fish nearly as much, but maybe I should go back and listen to it more. I saw them play at Silverdollar Club back in the day and wasn’t super happy about it. I wanted to hear Subhumans songs.
I still can’t believe I almost forgot to write about this record.
******
See you tomorrow.
AI did it.
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