I gave up on music. I had been so engaged in it for so many years, I'd just had enough. I didn't like anything and what I did like was in a subculture I needed to flee. I don't think I bought music that wasn't children's music from 1996-1999, and I'm not even joking. There was nothing to hear. I missed grunge, I missed allot and I have no regrets.
I read allot I raised a kid and when and wanted music I went backwards. I had Bowie and The Cure, Squeeze and the rest to entertain me. I stumbled across Joe Strummer with "Mescaleros" one day while reading some website online. He's still around? God I loved that guy. A strong influence in my life that made me realize that punk rock could be intellectual rock if it wanted to. He helped start my interest in punk and he even helped usher me out of the dangerous scene it had become. I rested heavily on learning politics and world events. The world is huge it doesn't revolve around social outcasts and death.
I fell on to Rock Art & The X Ray Style. What the hell was this? What was Joe up to now? Had he grown up from the Brigade Rose' days too? I went to a record store and bought this pink disc. $21.99 damn that was expensive.
"Tony Adams" begins with the static of Joes infamous global radio. "Late News Breaking This Just In…" is a prefect start to a bass heavy bongo poppin sultry tune. I had no idea who the hell Tony Adams was, the footballer? The producer? Joes neighbor? The director? I didn't care really, Joe's voice was fabulous. There is some beautiful brass work in this ditty 'has the new world begun?'
"Sandpaper Blues" in time had me using my car steering wheel as a bongo drum 'ay ay ay' This is the Strummer voice I love most. That strained high pitch it has such an incredible vulnerability "keep the food upon the table- if you shake it well tonight, as well as you are able'', I was entranced. I still am every time I hear this song I fall more in love with it. There is so much going on in it. its like a stew of sound with that gorgeous rasp. sigh…'never go against that grain'
"X Ray Style" again the bongo is addictive. Joe as story teller 'I wanna dance awhile', this is Joes campfire music and it sounds relaxed and gentle like a jam session. Its got a warm feel that just makes it tough for me to elaborate on- you either get it or you don't.
"Techno D Day" what the hell is this goofball tune? BUT he does yell 'RrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraAH' so freakin cool.This song has the more notable guitar riffs. Its funny how songs can whip you into a time capsule. I can remember exactly what was going on around me when I heard this tune. It was empowering and happy and although called 'd-day' it still was almost the exact moment I thought, hey maybe music is good again 'this is all about free speech'
"The Road To Rock and Roll" has become a sad song to me. "theres allot of wreckage in the ravine". There was a load of wreckage to the scene I escaped. This song spoke to me of that time. It again, felt empowering. I swear this guy was my spirit guide without even knowing.
"Diggin The New" starts as a rock and roll slow dance fully clothed grind that sends shudders down my spine. "Live in this world and get diggin the new', and ramps up just in time to prevent it from being a melancholy bag of shit. But that's the genius of Joe the whiplash ability to transition to a pop song from a wail. There will never be an artist with more magic than Joe- ever. "remember it ain't set in cement'
"Nitcomb" 'its gonna take a nit comb to get rid of me', perfect. As if anyone would want rid of Joe. I swear to God I have no idea why he had to go and fucking Iggy is still around. 'I know its gonna be alright'.
"Yalla Yalla" the first time I saw this video I broke out in to the most hysterical cry of a decade. To this day my eyes still well with its opening notes. "lets forget you didn't show, not in my time', and this is when I realized I had to listen up again. The power in his yell the thump of the bass the 'sucking the wine right out of the vine and spitting it out again' was a sign to me to get up and get listening 'drive distance no object rasta fari…' and drove I did. Yalla Yalla will always be my rebirth tune.
Silly isn't it- its just a silly pop tune with jumbalaya lyrics yet it got me back into music. It gave me the desire to see what else was going on and peek my head out from the cave I had boxed into.
"Willesden To Cricklewood", was a nursery rhyme of hand holding departure. Pooh and piglet could walk to the sunset in to this one. To me it was the calming closure to an emotional awakening 'just once to break the rules, I know it would be so cool'. The soft piano only adds to the farewell of the song. "Come with me and be no good", it was time. Joe reminded me that its ok to hip hop at traffic lights, its ok to just be you.
From Willesden to Cricklewood
As I went it all looked good
Thought about my babies grown
Thought about going home
Thought about what's done is done
Joe Strummer nudged me to start a new chapter of life with this album. No longer the punk rock goddess I was an adult and a mother and had responsibilities and obligations and he let me know in 10 tracks that its ok to be a rocker only more wisely this time. For the record, as I wrote this tears flowed as well, again you either get it or you don't.