Jandek

[Guest Chaney]

Dave! Spreading rumors. Shame!

[John B]

The "Jandek for Lovers" mix I was promised in August of 2004 has still not arrived, almost 15 months later.

It has, however, been "made available" online. If anyone is still interested in what has been described as a very good intro to Jandek's music send me a PM and I'll let you know the specifics.

I'm going to start a rumor that the next album will be all cover songs, starting with Prince's "Raspberry Beret."

[dave9199]

Or maybe The Monkees I'm A Believer:

I saw her faaaaaacccccceeeeee

Now I'm a belieeeeevvveeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

guitar: CLANG!

[John B]

Interesting review of Raining Down Diamonds posted over at Dusted recently.

Strangely, the negative comments make me want to hear the album more than I did before.

[dave9199]

Does anyone hear have any of the albums he plays bass on? (The Gone Wait, Shadow Of Leaves & Raining Down Diamonds) I responded to a post on the Jandek list from a bass player of 20 years saying that he feels the bass is not an upright acoustic (which is what I always thought), but a fretless electric bass guitar. After my reply, another person responded that he also felt it was an electric bass guitar. I could be wrong, but the sound and his style of playing, to me, says acoustic bass. Can anyone give any feedback on this?

Edited November 18, 2005 by dave9199

[John B]

a very interesting link taken from the jandek mailing list:

"Perfect Sound Forever has a new Jandek tribute online:

http://www.furious.com/perfect/jandek/

Most significantly, it includes a new interview with Loren Connors about

playing with Jandek. While it's not very long, Connors still says much

more than any of Jandek's other collaborators have gone on record with.

Aaron Goldberg reviews every Jandek album (except Khartoum) on a scale

from SHIT to MASTERPIECE."

As Seth says, the NYC "review" is crap, but the Connors interview is fun and the ranking of every albums is interesting, and ties in with this thread very well.

[dave9199]

Just read that yesterday. Always interesting to read someone who reviews all Jandek albums and comparing their thoughts to yours. Speaking of that; HEY CHANEY, isn't your next review Lost Cause?

[Guest Chaney]

I thought I only contracted for 20 'reviews.' If you want more, I'll need more money.

[dave9199]

I thought we were both going all the way, man! I'm hooked on getting another opinion of these albums. I think I'll wait for the next two to come out so I can make a set o' 5 ranking with I enjoy so much.

[Guest Chaney]

I was riding in to work on the bus this morning, reading a copy of that material that John linked above (Thanks John! Good stuff!), and really wished I had brought along a disk or two (thad'd be his 21 and 22) of Jandek to listen to before work. Jandek really was made for Monday morning listening: the start of another crap work week.

I also wish I had brought along my breakfast, which is now sitting on my kitchen counter.

Edited December 5, 2005 by Chaney

[Guest]

My impressions after the wonderful London Concert (excuse, i'm too lazy to translate) :

DISASTER IS MY NAME – Jandek

St Giles on the Fields, Londres – 18 Octobre 2005

‘Sous l’arche intemporelle où trône la toute-pure nullité

et plus absent par l’absence même de mes traces…’

Louis-René des Forêts

Avions-nous fait l’erreur de venir ici ce soir ? Certes non.

Pourtant, une voix grise, après une longue et belle improvisation sur guitare acoustique dit (ou plutôt déchante, psalmodie) : ‘I made a mistake coming here today’.

Nous sommes bien aujourd’hui, et donc non hors-temps comme nous aurions pu le craindre – ce qui est déjà rassurant.

Ce qui l’est moins, c’est que celui qui prononce cette ‘sentence’, et qui - depuis son étonnant concert du 14 octobre 2004 à Glasgow - ne fait plus mystère de son mystère (il le promène même, pour ainsi dire), est venu vêtu de noir, du chapeau jusqu’aux chaussures, à la croisée du transept de cette église propre, dorée, harmonieuse, presque enjouée – où l’on se sentirait plus à prier les vivants que les morts.

Mais il se trouve que Jandek, entré par la sacristie, s’y est installé le temps d’un récital d’une heure, montre en main. Entré ? Le mot est trop fort, ou trop faible – c’est selon. Apparu serait plus approprié. Et encore : en apparaissant, c’est comme si, par on ne sait quel effet de magie, il disparaissait. Une forme sombre, au fond, qui se déplie depuis l’ombre vers la lumière mordorée d’un grand lustre à l’ancienne : la légèreté du pas étonne, tout comme son hésitation. Ou sa lenteur calculée.

La démarche de quelqu’un qui marmonnerait dans sa tête : ‘Vous avez tenu à me voir – me voici.’ Ecce homo.

Une démarche d’animal lunaire. Des pas de loup sur l’épaisse moquette du chœur. Des pas qui font un peu peur, au fond – parce que silencieux comme ceux qui précèdent une ultime comparution.

Forme flottante et noire – au sommet duquel domine un visage blême et comme frappé d’étisie – qui s’installe, lassé d’un si long périple, sur un siège en bois patiné par les âges. D’une main, une guitare acoustique et de l’autre le cahier à la couverture noire, où sont consignées les paroles qui seront proférées ce soir.

Et la messe grise peut commencer – tous les fidèles étant là, et ils sont nombreux de la nef jusqu’aux balcons, pour être cueillis à froid – grande spécialité de Jandek : ‘J’ai commis une erreur en venant ici aujourd’hui’.

Les précédents concerts de Jandek furent affaires d’intenses collaborations, de pas franchis à plusieurs. Là, le pas est solitaire, comme aux premières heures de cette œuvre singulière, monumentale, située en dehors de toute temporalité. Et c’est de cette même solitude que surgiront ce soir huit mélopées étirées jusqu’au point de rupture : micro-notes, micro-tons, accords improbables, acrobaties des longs doigts sur le manche de la guitare, balayements en tous sens avec l’autre main, celle de droite, selon des figures géométriques, en avant, en arrière, du haut vers le bas et vice versa – et voix entre le parler et le chanter, toujours là pour rendre sensible la durée du malheur d’être précisément là, sur terre – sur cette terre-là.

Entre l’urgence de dire et l’urgence de taire, il y a Jandek : la brutalité du neutre. L’art de Jandek semble en être l’exact reflet. Les micro-notes, par de multiples opérations improvisées, s’annulent entre elles, formant quelque chose qui ne s’apparente à rien – évènement sonore célibataire, langage non-asservi aux ‘mots de la tribu’, mais servant en direct une dramaturgie dont l’intimité est telle qu’elle rejoint ce qui nous hante au plus profond, ce sentiment de finitude que rien ne viendra consoler.

Nu, il se proclame : ‘I suppose – i’ve got no clothes. I guess you see me confess’ – ce qui, de toute évidence, sonne étrangement – voire comiquement – au cœur d’une église. Mais ne sommes-nous pas dans l’église des poètes (Poet’s Church – annonce un dépliant à l’entrée) ? Le dernier blues, de facture encore plus abrupte, est éloquent dès les premiers mots : ‘Disaster is my name’ – comme en guise d’excuse. Il est donné nom aux catastrophes, et le vrai désastre est dans la nomination même. Le souvenir des ouragans Katrina ou Rita n’est peut-être pas loin. Lors d’un récent concert à Brooklyn, en remplacement du concert prévu à la Nouvelle-Orléans et annulé pour les raisons que l’on sait, Jandek avait lancé, au milieu de l’une de ses mélopées où il était question précisément de catastrophe : ‘He doesn’t care at all’ – à l’attention de l’actuel président des Etats-Unis, voire d’un personnage bien plus haut placé ?

Le récital s’achèvera sur des notes en mode mineur, stoppées net – et sans un merci ni un au revoir, Jandek s’éloignera comme il est apparu, avec tout son silence, et son cri contenu. Et dehors, après une série de belles journées automnales, il se mit à tomber des cordes sur la City.

[WD45]

Does anyone hear have any of the albums he plays bass on? (The Gone Wait, Shadow Of Leaves & Raining Down Diamonds) I responded to a post on the Jandek list from a bass player of 20 years saying that he feels the bass is not an upright acoustic (which is what I always thought), but a fretless electric bass guitar. After my reply, another person responded that he also felt it was an electric bass guitar. I could be wrong, but the sound and his style of playing, to me, says acoustic bass. Can anyone give any feedback on this?

My first impression was that it was electric.

[John B]

up for some air...

two new albums mentioned on the list:

Khartoum Variations CD (Corwood Industries) [COR0782]

Newcastle Sunday 2CD (COR 0783)

KV is different versions of the same songs that appear on 781.

Newcastle is supposed to be a 1.5 hour live performance from May of 2005.

I don't think I need to hear 782 anytime soon but the live 2cd set sounds like fun.

Edited February 6, 2006 by John B

[dave9199]

I read a post from someone who has variations and said it's pretty much the same, but sounds more recent. I think it will be hard to like. I think it's a misstep in the discography. A few people are speaking up about the sameiness of the recent albums. I'm glad to see it even though I've grown to actually enjoy these albums, but it takes a lot of work.

[John B]

I loved this quote from the mailing list:

"I have held 3 monthly jandek listening parties where we listen to all of the

albums in a row including the two tribute albums, we have wine and some good

snacks and force ourselves to no sleep or bathroom breaks... it can get

maniacal but it is well worth it to immerse yourself in such an impressive

body of work....."

Man, that is hardcore. I hope that is tongue in cheek. Talk about needing to get out of the house more often...

(I hope this quote wasn't from one of you.)

[dave9199]

This topic needs some more pages. I need to know how much the new live double cd is.

[Guest]

The greatest thing John B is that it is no way tongue in cheek, and by the way I do get out of the house.

I was told to come here by Dave and I am happy that I have finally arrived.

Jandek's music is very important to my everyday, and I truely believe that if it weren't for his music I would probably have eaten a bullet by now. It levels me out, makes my thinking clearer and is perfect for getting your shit together mentally.

I will continue to subject myself to long listening parties.. the newest one is happening this weekend. A couple of my buddies and I are going to do it without food, water or bathroom breaks and at an extreme volume. We each are betting 5 dollars an album, the last one standing wins all the money, but only if they don't fall asleep, don't eat, and don't drink or piss or shit... it will be fucking fantastic.

SENSORY OVERLOAD.

small 10 by 10 room, no chairs no cushions, concrete floor.. full PA blasting it is going to be otherworldly.

i wish all of you could come along

[Guest]

I also have done 8 recreations of his albums covers with paints and photography and colored pencils.... check them out here

http://photobucket.com/albums/e317/couchso...e-LaterOn-2.jpg

when you get there you will see the pic that is my avatar and then just scroll through to look at the others

I hope you all really enjoy.

I also have solo albums of my own for sale.

take a listen at

www.myspace.com/naythenwilson

Edited March 13, 2006 by EAUOHAEF

[clifford_thornton]

I saw Jandek this weekend in Houston, sitting in with Alan Licht and Loren Mazzacane Connors. Better when he played harmonica than when he fooled around with an electric bass, that is for sure.

[Guest]

I saw Jandek this weekend in Houston, sitting in with Alan Licht and Loren Mazzacane Connors. Better when he played harmonica than when he fooled around with an electric bass, that is for sure.

I can imagine, he seems like more of a natural on harmonica and just a tad experimental on the bass, Describe how the show was if you will and i will compare it to his thoughts.

[dave9199]

If it matters to anyone, I'm not going to review Jandek albums anymore. It's just too much and I don't like his recent stuff even though I've tried very hard. I don't think the same way I did when I found out about him (i.e. I'm happier overall). I will say that his live albums, Glasgow Sunday & Newcastle Sunday are very good, some of his best. I'll buy only the live albums from now on. His studio albums (post acappella) are absolute shit.

[Guest Chaney]

Understandable Dave.

Last ones I listened to were 21 and 22. Don't remember which one of these two it was but one of them was really bad.

Edited April 4, 2006 by Chaney

[dave9199]

Lost Cause (#21) I thought was one of his best aside from half of it being The Electric End. I can listen to stuff like that though the squealy feedback gets annoying. I usually pan it to one side and listen to the guitars. The other song are good though. If you ever get past the acappella albums, God's Speed.

[dave9199]

For anyone who's curious enough, here's a link to a song from a dvd of Jandek's first show in October 2004. Just watch the chords he plays.

[John B]

up for some air...

I bought Glasgow Monday and have been really enjoying it. This is the 2cd live set recorded in May of 2005 and features the representative from Corwood exclusively on piano. The piece is referred to as "the Cell," and the tracks are parts one through nine of the suite.

Very nice. Quiet, contemplative and perhaps even somber.

This is the "prettiest" Jandek album I have heard, by far. I hope he keeps releasing live albums with varying lineups and concepts rather than the studio albums which have not been as succesful as one might hope.

Edited August 29, 2006 by John B