jon abbey Posted October 9, 2004 Report Share Posted October 9, 2004 I've skimmed the posts to this thread. It seems very few of you have heard Jandek. I've heard his first album (by "The Units," although it's obviously just him), and one later one. It's very sad. Everyone (and I mean everyone) laughs when they hear it, but it's really from a combination of horror and pity. He's obviously incoherent and doesn't realize it. He obviously can't play guitar. He obviously can't write songs. The two albums I've heard sound alike, even though he gives his "songs" differing titles. I suppose he's worth hearing once, especially after the build-up Irwin Chusid and others have given to him, but I wouldn't pay for it. Really, life's too short to spend more than a few minutes devoted to Jandek. Or, to put it another way, the idea of Jandek is a lot better than actually listening to him. incorrect, from start to finish, although again, I wouldn't actually recommend that anyone else check him out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon abbey Posted October 9, 2004 Report Share Posted October 9, 2004 Clem, FWIW, I like Willeford a lot and have read The Cockfighter along with a lot of his other books, but wouldn't compare it to Jandek, although I think I hadn't heard any Jandek when I read it, so who knows. my gut says this is a personal comparison/connection that works for you, though, not necessarily fully based in the works themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave9199 Posted October 9, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2004 I must've known you posted about that Clementine, as the thought of your post and that book crossed my mind saying, "I wonder when he's gonna ask if anyone read that?" My response? No, I haven't. Jon Abbey: Come on in, the water's fine! One other note I keep forgetting to post; Jandek's drumset is set up for a right-handed drummer except that snare & floor tom are reversed. The hi-hat is near the floor tom and not the snare. Not only is his guitar playing unorthodox, but his drum set up is left & right handed. And how does he make a harmonica also sound out of tune? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon abbey Posted October 9, 2004 Report Share Posted October 9, 2004 Jon Abbey: Come on in, the water's fine! I'm here, but like I said, I don't really have any interest in analyzing Jandek's music in this way. I spend quite a bit of my life with this kind of microscopic musical analysis, not just as a listener, but much more as a producer. Jandek I just enjoy listening to, I don't give it too much in-depth thought, and don't intend to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chaney Posted October 9, 2004 Report Share Posted October 9, 2004 Next up: Your Turn To Fall. It's better than the last two, but not great. It has it's moments like the song John Plays Drums. Everything else is solo. The 7th song is called New String & it's just that. He's tuned his low E down an octave and uses that for the rest of the album. This seems to get his lyrical juices flowing again as pretty much every song after that has a verse or two, at least. Dance Of Death is good, but the one that stands out (aside from John Plays Drums) is the last song, They Knew My Game. It's really quiet & makes the most of his shakey vocals. So I'm hoping this is an upswing. I listened to Cellophane & Your Turn To Fall again. I like them better after a second listen, especially Your Turn To Fall. Cellophane isn't as bad as I thought. I may have been all Jandeked out & didn't realize it at the time. I also have to relisten to Moon, though I know it wouldn't change on my list, but I won't listen to it with any expectation either (as it's after Chair Beside A Window which is great, I think that was my problem). Your Turn To Fall I'm not sure how this album will compare to what's to come but right now, I consider this one a Jandek masterpiece. His guitar playing is strong and imaginative throughout; he seems willing and now able to intentionally compose and play a tune in a much more dramatic manner. AND his signing is coming along nicely. There's less strain when he's vocally going for the upper register and he's doing some very un-Jandek like things with his voice. (Listen to how he signs the line I took a seat down in the chair in the song Centaur Train and bits of If Your Fortune Fails You (sic) and the end of They Knew My Game.) A while back, I feared that I might miss his brittle vocal style as he seemed to suddenly favor -- or discover -- singing in what I'm guessing is his more natural voice. My fear has diminished considerably. Lyrically, it's a pretty good one. Fortunately, even the stingily-worded songs are saved by his playing and evident interest in the material. He also uses that underwater sonic effect nicely. BUT WHERE'S THE FOOT TAPPING? A few tunes cried out for that thump... thump... thump... but nothing! (Think I heard a couple of hand claps during I'll Come Back, though.) Tunes I didn't care for? John Plays Drums which, to my ear, is mostly artless (is that a word?) and clumsy; but how could it be otherwise considering that John seems incapable of bending his arms at the elbow. Also, New String. Interesting that Jandek had made a change and cared to document same with the inclusion of this track but aside from its historical appeal ( ), . ~~~~~~~~~~ I've listened to his next one, The Rocks Crumble, once or twice. That's the one on which Jandek does his Mick Jagger thang. I want to have another listen before inflicting my thoughts upon you folks. ~~~~~~~~~~ clem: I borrowed Cockfighter from the library and will start it soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon abbey Posted October 9, 2004 Report Share Posted October 9, 2004 Clem, I looked it up. I see what you mean, but Mansfield only plays guitar, he doesn't sing. I guess my problem is everyone wants to pigeonhole Jandek into something else, just let Jandek be Jandek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave9199 Posted October 10, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 (Listen to how he signs the line I took a seat down in the chair in the song Centaur Train...) Is that the first line of the song? Another thing that jumps out to me as really good but forgot to put it in my review. He sings and actually melody line on that line. Too bad he didn't (couldn't?) keep it going through the song. Glad to see you liked it Chaney. Hey, where's JohnB in all of this with his review/comments? Jon Abbey: I can understand your desire to have something to just enjoy espicially if music production is what you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 (edited) Hey, where's JohnB in all of this with his review/comments? immersing himself in Albert Ayler, for the time being. I've got some Jandek "on deck," but really need to get a check out to Corwood sometime soon so I can really dive in along with the two of you. I'll plan on spinning Chair Beside a Window and Telegraph Melts this weekend and try to chim in tomorrow night or Monday, which, although I have to work, should be pretty quiet. Edited October 10, 2004 by John B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chaney Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 (Listen to how he signs the line I took a seat down in the chair in the song Centaur Train...) Is that the first line of the song? Another thing that jumps out to me as really good but forgot to put it in my review. He sings and actually melody line on that line. Too bad he didn't (couldn't?) keep it going through the song. Glad to see you liked it Chaney. Hey, where's JohnB in all of this with his review/comments? Centaur Train Bitter tears in shades of blue I go to the Everglades for you Ride a horse into the rain Looking for a pony trail Oh got up on some kind of rail Some kind of rail I took a train tonight I took a seat down in a chair And death around me everywhere ~~~~~~~~~~ Hmm... This somewhat rhetorical question might be DUH!-inducing but do you think this one's autobiographical? Also, I'm guessing that he ad lib'ed the lyric to The Knew My Game. If true, I wonder why he did / does that. Deadline? (If so, imagined deadline would probably be more accurate.) Laziness? As an experiment? Whatever the reason, I wish he'd STOP. (LISTEN to Tony, dammit!) ~~~~~~~~~~ C'mon John! Stop listening to GOOD music and listen to some JANDEK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon abbey Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 clem: yeah, Willeford rocks, even if I'm more of a Jim Thompson/Chester Himes guy. we actually just had a brief discussion about this over at I Hate Music: http://ihatemusic.bagatellen.com/viewtopic.php?t=1395 you should come over, you'd fit in well there, just from the posts of yours I've read today. Jon Abbey: I can understand your desire to have something to just enjoy espicially if music production is what you do. it's not exactly that, my background is as a fan, and I think even if I hadn't become a producer, I'd be hesitant to analyze Jandek and his work. for me, he just is what he is, he's an American original, and I don't think that closer analysis would help me enjoy him more, like it does with so much of the rest of the music I listen to/work on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 11, 2004 Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 I listened to Interstellar Discussion earlier this evening. I don't know what it was, but I had a tougher time getting a handle on this one than the other discsc I've listened to. I'll have to give this one a few more spins before feeling comfortable commenting on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chaney Posted October 11, 2004 Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 (edited) And to continue that trend, here's The Rocks Crumble. #8 starts with a couple of acoustic songs; one of which is called Birthday, and it's the same lyrics (with current tuning) as Nancy Sings & John Plays Drums, which I almost missed that detail. Then it's electric guitar with 3 versions of European Jewel, of which there have already been 2. First is just guitar, second & third are with drums with the second being more tighter with beat in reference to the drums. Next is 2 versions of a great songs; Message To The Clerk. He works the lyrical sylibals (sp?) well with the drums. It actually sounds like he's LISTENING TO WHAT GOING ON AROUND HIM!!!! I think this is one of those albums where it's Jandek playing drums & guitar as mentioned in a letter that Chaney had posted earlier. A really good album, but I had a hard time wanting to post about it. I think once you add usual rock instruments, no matter how it's played, it takes away from what Jandek started as, which is more intimate (though repititious). I've been waiting to hear this electric stuff & yet wasn't as excited as I thought I would be initially. That will change once the ebb & flow of 20 albums falls together in my own mind. It's interesting that as I go along, not only do the albums change, but my perception changes with every shift on instrumentation. And when I've adjusted, he's switches again. That is a great musician/songwriter/artist/what-have-you. Two words you won't find on any Jandek album: Bonus Tracks. 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 The Rocks Crumble Dave: I'm a bit surprised to see that you consider this one a keeper as your review is far from glowing. I agree with what you've written. I'd just add (or reiterate) that the drumming seems to improve as the album progresses. It's never very good but on European Jewel II ( ), it's positively dreadful. (I'm not sure the drummer is Jandek; it may be the elusive John. John 'Poe' is it?) Anyway, at its most effective, the drumming tends to have a martial type sound and works pretty well on a few of the tunes. Anything with a relatively steady beat HAS to be an improvement. I liked Message To The Clerk (Parts 1 and 2) (VERY disturbing tunes with the primitive drumming style working to good effect/affect) and European Jewel 501 ( ). The rest? Well... let's just say I'll not be revisiting this one any time soon. (NOT as bad as the atrocious Living In A Moon So Blue, though.) Cripes, and THIS, after the terrific Your Turn To Fall. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As I seem to be going at these in pairs, the next two? Interstellar Discussion (WITH A DRUMSET ON THE COVER!!!) and Nine-Thirty. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PS: I'm not doing the ranking thing but if I were to amend your list to agree with my position, The Rocks Crumble would be moved to FOR COMPLETISTS ONLY, Staring At The Cellophane would be moved to PERSONAL OPINION and, needless to say, Your Turn To Fall would be moved to KEEPERS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PPS: European Jewel 613 ain't bad. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PPPS: And now John has me afraid to listen to Interstellar Discussion. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PPPPS: That's our John, not John, the alleged drummer. B-) And ON THE EDIT: Two words you won't find on any Jandek album: Bonus Tracks. Edited October 11, 2004 by Chaney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 11, 2004 Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 PPPS: And now John has me afraid to listen to Interstellar Discussion. PPPPS: That's our John, not John, the alleged drummer. B-) And ON THE EDIT: Two words you won't find on any Jandek album: Bonus Tracks. no need to be afraid, I figured out the source of my confusion. I'm either fightintg off or about to come down with a cold and am starting to feel really loopy. Listening to Jandek didn't necessarily help with any remaining vestiges of mental clarity I might have possessed. Another two words you'll most likely never see on a Jandek album: SACD remaster. The fidelity of Interstellar is all over the place. Very lo-fi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave9199 Posted October 11, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 (edited) Careful Chaney, you might be having the same reaction I did listening to Moon after Chair. Gotta give it a bit of space then listen again. I think I've got to review differently as I think you have a point there. The last 2 I was listening to as I reviewed. When I don't do that, I forget to write things such as the 2 or 3 things you've mentioned that I felt, but forgot when I wrote the review. Another word you won't find on any Jandek album: Personnel. Edited October 11, 2004 by dave9199 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave9199 Posted October 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 (edited) Foreign Keys is album #11. It's all electric with (I believe), a live drummer.The first half has Jandek singing with most of the second half sung by Nancy (I'm assuming). The first name to pop into my head with regards to her singing was Grace Slick. I'm having a harder time reviewing these as he seems to have gone all improv since Living In A Moon So Blue. Maybe that's why you don't like it Chaney? He seems to be able to guide a jam session into an album that is fun to listen to. Nothing jumps out at me songwise except for the first and last songs. The album is bookended by the same song in 2 versions & 2 different titles: Spanish In Me & River To Madrid. The latter has both singers ("Broke my neck until 3/Broke my neck until 4/Broke my neck until 5!"). Some Of Your Peace has Nancy holding a note on the word "peace" for about 8 seconds & the word "glad" for 19 seconds, sounding a bit like Yoko Ono. She has a particular bluesy scale she sings in a few songs & she helps to add some melody to Needs No Sun while Jandek takes it all away with Ballad Of Robert. His vocal gymnastics are right in the room with ya sounding (and even looking) a lot like Thurston Moore at times. This is the first album where the vocals are pretty much peaked on the VU meters, especially when Jandek jumps on the mike. Overall o.k. Edited October 16, 2004 by dave9199 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave9199 Posted October 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 (edited) Album #12; Telegraph Melts; seems like a continuation of Foreign Keys. Electric, drums & Nancy, but has a number of interesting twists & turns that the previous album doesn't have. Starts out with a fast-paced near instrumental called You which I like. Go To Bed continues with the same drum pattern as You but with Nancy singing so I liked that one also. Reverb becomes a member of the band again along with a special appearance from Feedback on Ace Of Diamonds and I really liked that! Absolutely chaotic drums! Only slightly less chaotic on the next song; Twenty-Four. Another title track song, Telegraph Melts, foregoes drums in favor of harmonica with Nancy's bluesy vocals & a toned down vocal verse from Jandek. Definately sounds like the lyrics were written out beforehand. The most interesting & different song on the album is Governor Rhodes. It's got nothing to do with anyone, but has Jandek saying (not yelling) phrases like, "Chant with love, chant with magic...", in a commanding & ritualistic tone with Nancy backing him up. The drums focus on the floor tom to complete the tribal feel. Different, even for Jandek, and quite good. Star Up In The Sky has Jandek holding notes for 13 seconds, then again immediately after that for an excruciating 17 seconds (almost tying Nancy's 19 second record), along with some more howling on either side of those notes. It's a tough minute to get through, but just then...the next song starts, You Painted Your Teeth. A hysterical vocal & song if you can stand it. Mothers Day Card is a total 180. It's a lyrical ode, in Jandekian sing-songy style, to his mom. Someone from the Jandek list says she sings this song to her mother every Mothers Day & has taught younger cousins the lyrics so they all can sing it. She finds it a bit humorous knowing where it came from. The Fly has another 30 second series of backup vocals by Jandek (overdubbing over his main vocal); up & down like a fucking distorted roller-coaster, along with a few just plain screams. This is a great album if you can stand the distorted vocals & the headache you get every damn time you listen to it.. It has more songs rather than jams. But even if they are all jams, everyone is focused and playing together (sic!). A great example of electric Jandek. Edited October 16, 2004 by dave9199 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chaney Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 Sounds like there'll be some interesting listening ahead! (Haven't gotten to numbers 11 and 12 yet. I'll soon post my thoughts on 9 and 10.) Nancy returns? And doing a Grace Slick thing? Hmmm... Others seem to be more fond of Nancy than I am so I'll not pop the cork on the champagne bottle just yet. Sounds like Jandek's going in a more aggressive direction again. (Again? His aggressiveness seems to generally be short-lived which for me is a good thing. I much prefer -- at least to this point -- the quietly observational and depressive Jandek.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ John: How's the health? Has your doctor prescribed regular doses of the feel good sounds of Jandek? Did Jandek For Lovers ever arrive? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jim Dye: Order arrive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 John: How's the health? Has your doctor prescribed regular doses of the feel good sounds of Jandek? Did Jandek For Lovers ever arrive? better, thanks! No, unfortunately my wife prescribed less doses of Jandek as we drove to Boston and back this weekend. I will start back in on the Jan man tomorrow on the way to work. Jandek - for Lovers is still mia, unfortunately. I'm going to order my box o' 20 this month, so I'm not so sad about it never appearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 I'm sort of hoping this is a hoax, but apparently Jandek just performed live, for the first time ever: Jandek live? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 (edited) copy and paste this into your browser: http://www.ihateaol.co.uk/misc/pics/10.18....:42P1010025.JPG Edited October 18, 2004 by John B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 (edited) apologies for the huge picture, that is Jandek on the far right. as the picture I posted is no longer working, I added the URL to my above post instead. Edited October 18, 2004 by John B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chaney Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 (edited) Really incredible, John. And GOOD for Jandek! 'Bout time he got out there. I for one applaud his making a public appearance. (I can't say that I've ever believed -- or wanted to believe -- that he was some sort of loner whacko.) (Not that all loners are whackos.) Can't wait to get home and check out the Jandek list. Edited October 19, 2004 by Chaney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 some new info, just posted on IHM: "he will issue the performance as an album on corwood apparently and also a dvd of the gig." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chaney Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 Slightly interesting that this occurs just before the DVD release of Jandek on Corwood. I wonder how the makers of that documentary feel about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Dye Posted October 19, 2004 Report Share Posted October 19, 2004 There are MP3's of the show circulating. If you see any links, please post them here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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