Jandek

[Guest Chaney]

You Walk Alone: Sounds uninspired and lazy, to me. No standout tunes. Just churning out another LP. Too much diddling of instruments. Lyrically weak. Has a neat electronic percussion effect on War Dance, though. Wouldn't mind hearing more of that.

Album #18 is called The Living End. It starts with Niagra Blues which is a minor key blues shuffle. Again the instrumentation is two electric guitars & Jandek on drums & vocals. It's good, although it felt like it could've been more intense, but never takes off. Janitor's Dead is the same song & tempo with Jandek warmed up lyrically. Another title track song with The Living End being another standard blues riff & Jandek with some loose vocals. Good performance from him. Talk That Talk gets interesting with a waka-waka riff two-thirds of the way through, then everyone plays different things at the end. The biggest surprise here is the appearence of Nancy#3, or possibily a reappearence of Nancy#1 on Embrace The World Outside. She's hard to hear as her singing is either way off mike, or she's nervous. Nowhere near as gregarious as Nancy#2. All of these women seem to have a similar folky feel in their voices. I think Sterling meets them in coffee houses. She sings on the rest of the album: In A Hush (which best describes her singing);  Take Me Away With You on which she can be hear a lot better, but she's still very tentative or meek; and Crazy which ends the album. And where's Jandek during all of this? He's actually still on drums but he's laying back a lot while the same bluesy guitar interplay is going on except on Crazy where he's an active participant on drums which makes this Nancy#3's most lively song and as a consequence, she gets drowned by the lead guitar. There's is some background vocals happening towards the end, but I can't tell who's singing along with her.

So what we have here is a bluesy album that never feels like it takes off at any point. That also best sums up Nancy#3's singing style. The songs themselves are not great, but there's nothing awful on here either. No particular songs grabbed my ear as everyone sounds very uninspired or not even all that into it. It's an o.k. album.

←

The Living End

You've nailed this one, Dave. Winner of the title: Jandek Album Most Likely To Put You To Sleep

Nancy to me sounds like Nancy #1. She doesn't sound too bad but she is as you note: tentative. Things get better near the end -- Take Me Away With You is my favorite ( ) track -- but nothing stands out.

Lotsa blues, lotsa boredom.

FOR COMPLETISTS ONLY

[dave9199]

I now wonder if it's Nancy's sister Pat who sang on No Break on Chair Beside A Window (#4). The voice has the same tentativness.

You Walk Alone is a good album to introduce Jandek. It's one of his most listenable albums.

Edited June 20, 2005 by dave9199

[dave9199]

So here's how I rank the first 5:

KEEPERS

1. Chair Beside A Window

PERSONAL OPINION

2. Later On

3. Ready For The House

4. Six & Six

FOR COMPLETISTS ONLY

5. Living In A Moon So Blue

Keepers are, obviously, the best ones; personal opinion are the middle ground that vary from person to person (these are in my opinion order of good to lesser, but that doesn't mean Six & Six is horrible); and for completists only, well, you know. I still enjoyed them all. And I did hear what you heard on Jessica, Chaney. Just when you think it can't sound any more creepier...

So now that I've finished reviewing for now, I'm listening all over again & something has always bugged me. I couldn't seperate Ready For The House from Six & Six since they're stylistically so similar, but finally I feel I've accomplished that and with that, I must change my ranking so here's my updated ranking of the first 5:

KEEPERS

1. Chair Beside A Window

PERSONAL OPINION

2. Later On

3. Ready For The House

FOR COMPLETISTS ONLY

4. Living In A Moon So Blue

5. Six & Six

I moved Six & Six because it's just like Ready For The House...only less so. House is tough to get through, but following it with Six & Six can be too much to some. But more songs stuck out to me on House and while a couple stuck out on Six & Six, they don't hold my attention the way the ones on House do. Though House is hard to digest, it's a must buy because as someone else in this thread said: It's the alpha!

Edit the next day: (Dedicated to Chaney) I moved Moon to #4 & Six & Six to #5. I hadn't relistened to Moon when I posted this and when I did, it held my attention more than Six. His singing on Moon is all over the place & I like it whereas Six is more spoken.

←

I think my initial rankings are good for the uninitiated, but now as a full blown fan, changes in thought have happened. I still stand by the initial ones unless I've changed them. These are my opinions rather than for others. Feel free to disagree.

KEEPERS

1. Chair Beside A Window

2. Later On

3. Ready For The House

PERSONAL OPINION

4. Living In A Moon So Blue

5. Six & Six

FOR COMPLETISTS ONLY

none

[dave9199]

Here's my ranking for the second 5:

KEEPERS

1. The Rocks Crumble

PERSONAL OPINION

2. Nine-Thirty

3. Your Turn To Fall

FOR COMPLETISTS ONLY

4. Interstellar Discussion

5. Staring At The Cellophane

This set was a bit tougher to rank since the initial Jandek experience went to the first 5. I'm also trying to keep in mind what albums I would tell someone not to bother with until later (completists only). I'm also thinking about people who are reading this thread & want to buy an album or 20 while combining that with my opinion of each album. This is actually my favorite part of it all. I would definately like to hear from anyone who took my advice on this.

To me, very few songs grabbed my attention and the last 3 albums I had to relisten to more than once as they didn't make a great impression on me initially. Your Turn To Fall's second half saved it from being a completists only for me. As I've said before, I enjoy all of these albums, I don't dislike any of them, but some are better than others. It's ironic also in my last review stating that I lean toward his acoustic albums & the keeper of the bunch is almost all electric. I will say this: If you want the best album out of the first 10, get Chair Beside A Window.

←

I've always felt this one had maybe the weakest keeper because it has 3 versions of one song & 2 of another so there's half the album. It's still good, but there aren't as many stand out albums in this set.

KEEPERS

1. The Rocks Crumble

2. Nine-Thirty

3. Your Turn To Fall

4. Interstellar Discussion

PERSONAL OPINION

5. Staring At The Cellophane

FOR COMPLETISTS ONLY

none

Despite these albums not quite equal to the first 5, I still think they're good. Nine-Thirty I don't remember many songs from, but I know I liked the feel of the album. Usually it's some songs that make me remember it rather than feel. Your Turn To Fall grew on me, especially the second half. Interstellar Discussion is interesting: 1/3 electric & 2/3 acoustic. The electric ones sound made up on the spot and it's good & not so good depending on how you look at it. I also like the feel of Staring At The Cellophane, but I feel it has the least to offer, but for some, it's ideal; it's on the mellower side as is Living In A Moon So Blue. After the first 5, you wonder where the great songs went with these.

Edited June 21, 2005 by dave9199

[dave9199]

Here's my ranking for the third set of 5:

KEEPERS

1. Blue Corpse

2. Follow Your Footsteps

PERSONAL OPINION

3. Telegraph Melts

FOR COMPLETISTS ONLY

4. Modern Dances

5. Foreign Keys

The personal opinion & completists were a bit harder to rank as I really liked Telegraph Melts, but for someone who isn't aware of it's sound, it could be a harrowing experience. And though Modern Dances is a lot like Telegraph Melts, it doesn't have the interesting songs (that's right, I said it) that are scattered throughout Telegraph. If nothing really jumps out at me (coming from a songwriters point of view), I put that album under completist. If you just want Sonic Youth-type scratchiness & abrasivness, go with either Telegraph or Modern Dances. Keepers, to me, are the albums with more melody & variety on them. I will say if I felt all 5 were keepers, I'd list them as such.

←

This set has some of Jandeks best albums, maybe even THE best for some.

KEEPERS

1. Blue Corpse

2. Follow Your Footsteps

3. Telegraph Melts

PERSONAL OPINION

4. Foreign Keys

5. Modern Dances

FOR COMPLETISTS ONLY

none

The only reason I put Follow Your Footsteps under Blue Corpse is it has a couple clunkers on it. The songs I love on it are some of my favorite Jandek songs period: Preacher, Didn't Ask Why & I Know You Well. Just as good as Blue Corpse & You Walk Alone for that matter. I switched Foreign Keys & Modern Dances around as Dances just has too many clunkers on it. It's not a very inspired album. Foreign Keys is more focused by comparision. I've also realized 3 of these albums (#3,4 &5) all feature Nancy. And she gets talked about A LOT, but aside from the song Nancy Sings, a lot of the others songs she is on aren't as good as you might think. She's on the jammy electric sessions where not many great songs were done. There are great electric songs, but not with Nancy singing. If she only sang Nancy Sings and nothing else with Jandek, her spot in the story would've been secured. It doesn't take away from it, but it's that 'looking for that next great song with her in it'. I don't think it's there, but what is there sure is fun to listen to.

[dave9199]

Here's my ranking of the fourth set of 5:

KEEPERS

1. You Walk Alone

PERSONAL OPINION

2. Somebody In The Snow

3. One Foot In The North

FOR COMPLETISTS ONLY

4. On The Way

5. The Living End

You Walk Alone is every bit as good as Blue Corpse, but in a more enjoyable fashion. Hearing that album first could be misleading, but so could Blue Corpse, though not as much. I thought about putting Snow in the keepers, but it comes no way near the quality of Alone. Snow would be if you've heard all of my keepers and wanted more. Quite a bit of blues playing in these five which gave them more variety all around. If you wanted just one cd out of the second 10, you have to get two: Blue Corpse & You Walk Alone.

←

A lot of fun & blues playing on this set of albums, the loosest you'll ever hear Smith.

KEEPERS

1. You Walk Alone

2. On The Way

3. One Foot In The North

4. Somebody In The Snow

5. The Living End

PERSONAL OPINION

none

FOR COMPLETISTS ONLY

none

#2-5 aren't as good as You Walk Alone, but none of them are bad at all. The only thing that takes away from Snow & Living End is the female singer (who is not Nancy, but I wonder if it is her sister Pat from the song No Break on Chair Beside A Window). She very tentative and isn't heard very clearly. The biggest change was On The Way which I had under completists and I'm not sure why. Half of the album is great, the other half is really good. So out of the first 20, I only have 5 albums that are not keepers. Quite a change.

[Guest]

http://rateyourmusic.com/user_albums/edit_...de_banners_is_f

(This is my Jandek's album rating).

My five favorites :

Six and six

Your turn to fall

Glad to get away

Graven image

White box requiem

[dave9199]

You seem to like the less melodic album phasme. Care to share your opinions why? What do you think of the acapella ones? Do you have all of the Jandek albums?

[Guest]

You seem to like the less melodic album phasme. Care to share your opinions why? What do you think of the acapella ones? Do you have all of the Jandek albums?

←

Hum, my link doesn't work...

Try this one (page 4) :

http://rateyourmusic.com/user_albums/album...t_type_is_rated

It's difficult to say (in english) the reason why i love especially these albums. I will try later. But, of course i like very much a lot of others...

I get 2/3 of a-capella albums : my favorite is 'Worthless recluse'.

According to you : what would be the more melodic Jandek's albums ?

Edited June 21, 2005 by phasme

[dave9199]

Anything I listed orginally as a keeper:

Chair Beside A Window

The Rocks Crumble

Blue Corpse

Follow Your Footsteps

You Walk Alone

Graven Image

Lost Cause

The Beginning

I originally had New Town in there, but I don't think it's as melodic as I first thought. The song New Town is fantastic though.

[Guest]

I originally had New Town in there, but I don't think it's as melodic as I first thought. The song New Town is fantastic though.

Agree with you Dave !

'New Town' is a GREAT album !

And the song TOO (one of my fav') !

[John B]

as far as I can tell, my check has still not been cashed. However, when I got home from work today, I had a note from the post office that a package from Corwood arrived.

Now that is service!

[Guest Chaney]

as far as I can tell, my check has still not been cashed.  However, when I got home from work today, I had a note from the post office that a package from Corwood arrived.

Now that is service!

←

That'll be the box of twenty I bought for you, John.

You're welcome.

[dave9199]

Happy listening John. Hope you're up to the challenge. I think it was Jim Dye who bought 11 cds and didn't really like them.

[John B]

That'll be the box of twenty I bought for you, John.

You're welcome.

←

I appreciate the thought, but twenty copies of Worthless Recluse? That seems a bit excessive...

Dave -

a friend kindly helped me prepare for the challenge, so I have no doubt I'll be happy with my order. I've been listening to six or seven Jandek albums over the past few months and know what to expect.

Corwood sent a very brief answer to the two questions I asked in my order letter.

On the back of a current catalog the words "yes" "yes" are written in what looks like two different sets of handwriting.

The questions being answered are "is the Glasgow 2004 DVD still going to be released?" and "will the two 2005 live performances be released?" So, good news on both of those.

[dave9199]

I appreciate the thought, but twenty copies of Worthless Recluse? That seems a bit excessive...

QUOTE(Chaney @ Jun 22 2005, 09:23 PM)

Corwood sent a very brief answer to the two questions I asked in my order letter.

On the back of a current catalog the words "yes" "yes" are written in what looks like two different sets of handwriting.

The questions being answered are "is the Glasgow 2004 DVD still going to be released?" and "will the two 2005 live performances be released?" So, good news on both of those.

[John B]

I still haven't had time to dig into the box yet, as I was driving all over New England yesterday with my wife, who is not a huge fan of Jandek. I have, however, spent a little time with Glasgow Sunday, and compared it to my previous mp3-sourced copy of the set. The sound quality is better on the official release. Primarily Jandek's voice seems to be more up front in the mix. The recording still sounds as if it was recorded in a cavernous room, but everything does sound slightly crisper.

I'm not sure I'm ready to do the in-depth reviews Dave and Chaney have been posting, but I'll definitely give my thoughts on each album as I have a chance to absord it.

[dave9199]

I'm waiting for the DVD to order the cd of the show.

[Guest Chaney]

Next up is #19: Somebody In The Snow. This cover is talked about as his Gap fashion model cover. Tall & thin with blond hair (his normal color is red) in a slicked back rockabilly style and dark clothes. There was also a rumor, back in the day, that his 19th album would be his last. I have no idea when or why that rumor started. Even on the Jandek board, I don't remember reading any reasons for this.

The album picks up where The Living End, uh...ended. The first song, Tell Me Who You Are, has Nancy#3 singing in the background, Jandek on vocals only, and the two electric guitarists. I like the chord progression and Jandeks singing is low key. Had the lead guitarist not played on this, I think it would've helped the song a bit. A good start. Come Through With A Smile has Nancy#3 singing lead with her nervous held notes. I have to say, no matter what kind of element Jandek puts in, it eventually finds a place that fits. Maybe not all the time, but a style of song eventually pops out that works. Nancy#3's not a great singer, but her nervous quality finds a home in this song. The last minute-and-a-half starts to build up tensionwise which helps the song. Too bad they didn't pound away on it for a bit longer.  The same thing happens in the next song; I May Not Be Around. Pastimes is the same music as I Sit Alone...from On The Way (#17). No vocals this time. It sounds like their between songs and randomly playing until a riff is agreed upon. The rhythm guitarist seems to have a hard time playing the chords right while the lead guitarist just plays over him & steers the song away from that into a blues which Jandek plays along with on drums. (I can't tell which guitarist is Eddie, if he's there at all). Next is, by far, one of the most interesting songs Jandek has done (at least on the first 20). This one is up there with Governor Rhodes on Telegraph Melts (#12). It's called Om & is just everyone chanting the word Om in long tones over each other. It's good, but can also sound really fucking creepy. Voices coming in then dropping down. Nancy#3's voice is a great touch to this one. It reminds me of music from Jesus Christ Superstar when Jesus was getting crucified (called The Crucifixtion). While I haven't heard that in a while (there are some GREAT songs on that album, believe it or not), the feel of Om reminds me of how freaked out the crucifixtion scene made me feel. I think I saw it when I was 10 or so. This topic segues nicely to the next song: Bring It In A Manger. Just Jandek & a harmonica on this one though he mentions about putting his genitals in a paper cup! That's what he would've brought to the baby Jesus, but was told maybe he should just sign the card & get some sleep instead. Walking Around goes back to the blues-Nancy#3-Jandek on drums set up, but that's the last we hear of her. The album then goes to Jandek on acoustic & drums also. With standard Jandek tuning , he sounds lyrically inspired on the next 3 songs: Sense Of Reason, Remind You & Corner Of The Street. He switches to electric for Stick With Me which, while not lyrically inspired, sounds like he's using brushes on the drums instead of sticks. What You Give Me is a sparser, durgy song that revisits the single string picking of earlier days, but with more notes involved. You Sing A Song is a fast paced fun song on harmonica & drums hammering out a beat (sic!). Walking Home closes the album with electric guitar & drums. Main lyric is: "Sit back, it's easy." Another end of tape filler and yet again, I like it. Evidently You Sing A Song wasn't long enough.

This album is much better than the previous two and more varied also. Hardly any basic blues this time and the solo Jandek songs are quite diverse too. A much more inspired album.

←

Somebody In The Snow

After listening to the first side (tracks 1 - 6), I felt I was listening to a KEEPER; it was obvious that Jandek and crew -- LOTS of Nancy... or her sister?... I think it's Nancy... put a lot of work into this one, unlike The Living End. Some tasty guitar work, drumming that's almost tasteful (uses brushes on Stick With Me: a good idea, if you're not the best of drummers); yadda yadda, and the all vocal Om. Lots of variety but still very focused.

Side two starts with a blues number, Nancy on vocals. Second track of side two is Jandek singing once again of breakup and from there on out it's all Jandek. Gee! Did Sterling and Nancy have another falling out? Heh-heh...

Not too thrilled with the words written for this one.

Side one: essential

Side two: not

[John B]

The Place

Perhaps my opinion is colored by the European vacation photos gracing the covers of this album and the two preceeding it, but I hear this album as a reflection on the transformative nature of travel. Travel in both the physical and mental sense. All of the songs reference the narrator's location, along with images of movement, confusion, hallucination and transformation.

This album is still fairly harsh and atonal, but I really enjoyed it.

[dave9199]

Alright, more reviewers and John's are out of order. That's cool and unexpexted as to which one will be next.

[John B]

I have, however, spent a little time with Glasgow Sunday, and compared it to my previous mp3-sourced copy of the set.  The sound quality is better on the official release.  Primarily Jandek's voice seems to be more up front in the mix.  The recording still sounds as if it was recorded in a cavernous room, but everything does sound slightly crisper.

←

It is really interesting to hear Jandek with a competent rhythm section. Until his voice comes in the first track sounds like a lost psychedelic / krautrock gem from the early 1970's. His voice however, is unmistakable. One of the reasons that I really enjoy this album is the expansion of his sound, given accompanyists who are able to play well and are willing to work within Jandek's limited palette without feeling constrained by his "history." Richard Youngs on bass and Alexander Neilson on drums (both uncredited on the cd) do a fantastic job working with "the representative from Corwood here.

All of the audience noise and boomy, echo-ey room sound are still here, although, as I mentioned before, the sound has been cleaned up from earlier files that were floating around and his voice is a lot more prominent in the mix.

Lyrics? - someone left him again.

Highly recommended, unless you are tied to the myth more than the music.

[John B]

"I Woke Up" (#26) has quotes around the title just like the last one, "White Box Requiem". Why, I don't know, but it's interesting in a minor way as no other titles are featured this way. This is the last album (until the live first live show in October 2004) to feature someone else on the recording. We don't find out his name and it was suggested on the Tisue site that the name of Mike was said during the last song, but you really can't hear what is said and anyway, it's not Jandek speaking on that song. So for lack of anything more concrete, I will call him "Mike".

No songs on here jump out, but it is an interesting album as Jandek plays with someone he's never played with before & hasn't since. It's nice just to hear interaction happening again. "Mike" brings a more poetry-read vocal which hasn't been featured on previous albums which brings to mind Sonic Youth's NYC Ghosts & Flowers which had half of it's songs driven by beat poetry lyrics. Not bad at all, but not one that gets remembered as much as others through no fault of it's own.

←

I'm not really sure how to review "I Woke Up." There are things I like about this disc but there is definitely a lot I did not care for, too. My main problem, to continue with Dave's naming convention, is "Mike." I don't care for his poetry or for his voice, and don't think that he adds anything positive to Jandek's discography. Perhaps this is why he only appears on this one disc.

Part of the problem might be that I didn't hear anything memorable, other than Mike's contributions, which annoyed me right from the start. I'll come back to this disc and give it another chance, but it is definitely not essential jandek. I would list this one at the high end of "For Completists Only" or the low end of "Personal Opinion."

Edited June 28, 2005 by John B

[John B]

The Living End

I was prepared to hate this album after reading the previous reviews here. Instead, I found this one to be fairly charming. I think of it as "Jandek-lite," in a way. TLE is accessible, compared to most Jandek albums. It is the bluesiest of the albums I have heard so far, with a touch of sixties garage-band rock mixed in. Nancy is too far down in the mix and some of the tracks on the second half of the album sound unfinished, and very roughly edited. On the other hand, all of these comments could also place TLE as a "for completists only" disc. This is a very un-Jandeklike album. I sort of imagine a group of amateur musicians in Houston getting together, deciding they want to perform some straight up blues / garage rock tunes, and having Jandek show up with twelve of his most recent compositions for them to play. This isn't an album I'll turn to if I'm looking for the essential Jandek sound, but I'm calling this one a keeper, as I found it to be a lot of fun.

Edited June 28, 2005 by John B

[John B]

On The Way 

I think you and I really differ on this one and on the prior album, You Walk Alone. 

As quite some time had passed since my doing this thang, I re-listened to You Walk Alone before taking notes on On The Way.  I would consider You Walk Alone  FOR COMPLETISTS ONLY and On The Way one of the KEEPERS. 

Anyway... I don't quite have the problem that you do with the sound of this album.  It's not great but, to me, not objectionable.

Album features a lot of tasty guitar and harmonica work, some nice (and welcome!) bass, and some not-too-objectionable percussion.  That being said, what in gOd's name is the story with the drumming on I'll Sit Alone and Think a Lot About You?  Rather than one man rather lamely singing and one playing an acoustic guitar, we instead get that and what sounds like Jandek's infant nephew pounding on a overturned pail.  C'mon!  If you're going for some sensitive guy routine, lose the (being kind) pedestrian drumming.  Oy! (again)

Anyway (again), I like this one a lot... with its varied sound and instrumentation.  Lyrically difficult, which is ok.  (On The Only Way You Can Go, Jandek, VERY closely mic'ed, singing in a bedroom type of voice, moaning gently and speaking intimacies in my ear.  A bit icky, that.)

A good one.  Buy with confidence.

←

I agree with Chaney 100% here. This album is most definitely a keeper. The sound levels are a bit off here and there and the drumming needs to be removed from those tracks but, other than that, I give this one a thumbs up. It is a very quiet, intimate album (although I never thought of the "bedroom voice" Chaney heard... ) meant for late night, solitary listening with a drink in hand. (Not that any Jandek album is really meant for lively, festive gatherings of friends and family, unless your circle of aquaintances is a lot nuttier than mine.