Reblog: beardedmenace: Hurts More Than Pain (#002)

beardedmenace: Hurts More Than Pain (#002): [ DS ] (Re-upped 1/17/13@7:10PM) Round two. I have been pleasantly surprised with the positive response to last week's post, and i...

Reblog: beardedmenace: System System System (#001)

beardedmenace: System System System (#001): [ FC ] (RE-UPPED 1/31/13) And we're back! Before we begin, I suppose I should address the change in format. I suspect I'll lo...

Shin Joong-hyun and the Yup Juns - Volume 1

I mentioned that I'd write more about Shin Joong-hyun and his band the Yup Jeons. Shin's been called the "Godfather of Korean rock" and him and the group lay down some quality grooves together here.

As with most things these days, it started with a Groove article about an upcoming Korean history book. It mentioned Shin Joong-hyun and his influence on Korean rock music. The article triggered the thought that for all the Kpop I buy and enjoy, rock and roll will always appeal more. Reading about him combined the two big passions of music, and so I did a bit of research on what records were out there. I bought the Volume 1 album without hearing a note of it. A description of the song "Beautiful Woman" and how the song got banned seemed like enough to go on.

I tracked down three albums from him and this group: Volume 1, Volume 2, and Instrumental Best. Of the trio, Volume 1's the best, but all 3 have their merits.

The Volume 1 LP's full of funky rocking grooves. From the opening "Beautiful Woman" to the Hendrix-style "Sunrise," it is 45 minutes of classic rock bliss. Actually, classic rock wouldn't accurately describe all the heavy funk bass lines and soulful singing. Think Isaac Hayes' album Hot Buttered Soul and you'll get close. As good as Shin's guitar work is, Lee Nam-i's bass and Kwan Young-nam's drumming shine as well. They make a good rhythm section here. "I Don't Know" rocks like any number of blaxploitation soundtrack songs and "Lady" rides a tense crescendo into a driving chorus a couple of times. 

The version I'm describing's actually a recent American reissue. It features expanded, all-English liner notes, and an LP-style jacket. The notes help explain the story of the record and what Shin was thinking when he recorded it. Much as I like the translations of the lyrics, the Korean lyrics would have been good to have, even if American listeners may not be able to read them. They'd certainly help with learning Korean.

Volume 1 didn't take off like the band expected, so the group ended up issuing a rerecorded version of it instead. It had more fuzz guitar overdubs and a different, flatter mix than the original issue The cover’s also different. All of the songs I've posted here have come from version two because version one can't be found on YouTube. The rerecorded version’s available for much cheaper in Korea than the original version, but the original has a fuller sound and better packaging. It also appeals to my record collector sensibilities, because I’m a sucker for the words reissue, limited release, and original mix. 

"미인" (Me-in "Beautiful Woman")

"나는 몰라" (Na neun mol la/"I Don't Know")

"긴긴 밤" ("Gin gin bam/"Long Long Night")

"설레임" (Seolleim/"Anticipation")

Link to a site about Shin Joong-hyun and the Yup Jeons

The Strike - Shots Heard Round The World

Sometimes you get the urge to hear an LP you haven't heard in years. The feel jumps out of nowhere into your brain: I got to hear this again. Tonight had one such instance.

Shots Heard Round The World's the 2nd album from this Minneapolis band. If it weren't for seeing a review of the LP in Ride, the BMX magazine over 10 years ago, I may never have known about them. The review mentioned 1977 and leftist lyrics, plus the cover looked like a Soviet propaganda poster. I ordered the LP and proceeded to play the hell out of it in the ensuing days and years. When I got my first car, I made of tape with this LP on one side and the UK edition of the first Clash album on the other side. It got heavy play in that old Ford Tempo.

To this day, it's one of my all-time favorites. I'm in love with the slashing open chords, tight rhythms, and upbeat leftist/populist lyrics. While some bands were content to trash the system and scream about its injustices, The Strike sang about the positive instead. To them, it was the bright new days ahead, not the dark times of the present that were worth trumpeting. And trumpet they did.

"Shots Heard Round The World"

Uncle Lou

New York (1989)

One of my best bargain bin purchases. Of all the Lou I've heard, I come back to this one the most because of sharp, cynical lyrics and driving guitars. The lyrics rank among the best of his career--if not the best.

Lou and Mike Rathke deliver the goods on the guitars.

Coney Island Baby [1975]

1. "Crazy Feeling" – 2:56
2. "Charley's Girl" – 2:36
3. "She's My Best Friend" – 6:00
4. "Kicks" – 6:06
5. "A Gift" – 3:47
6. "Ooohhh Baby" – 3:45
7. "Nobody's Business" – 3:41
8. "Coney Island Baby" – 6:36

[edit]30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition bonus tracks

1. "Nowhere at All" – 3:17 recorded November 18 & 21, 1975 at Mediasound Studios, NYC
2. "Downtown Dirt" – 4:18 recorded January 3 & 4, 1975 at Electric Lady Studios, NYC
3. "Leave Me Alone" – 5:35 recorded October 19 & 20, 1975 at Mediasound Studios, NYC
4. "Crazy Feeling" – 2:39 recorded January 3 & 4, 1975 at Electric Lady Studios, NYC
5. "She's My Best Friend" – 4:08 recorded January 4, 1975 at Electric Lady Studios, NYC
6. "Coney Island Baby" – 5:41 recorded January 6, 1975 at Electric Lady Studios, NYC

[Source: Wikipedia]

From Rock N Roll Animal (1975)

Transformer (1972) 

Gain's "Bloom" vs Miss A's "I Don't Need A Man"

[Cross-posted with Musings of Random Plebeians because of its connection with relationships and sex]

I find it quite interesting that these two songs came out at around the same time because it seems like Miss A wants to pick up where Destiny's Child left with their "independent women"/"we don't need a man" tropes. The group sings about how they can earn their earn money and take care of themselves.

And then there's Gain's "Bloom," a high flying ode to how much her lover (presumably a man) rocked her sexual world. (Note: Gain is pronounced Ga-in) The song oozes sex from its disco beat to its ecstatic chorus. Clearly, she's smitten with her lover.

Upon hearing these two tunes, I couldn't help but think about the following things:

--Gain rocks that disco beat.

--Sex with the one you love can be a really, really, enlightening and moving experience...but female singers can somehow make it sound even more enlightening.

--A friend once said "Love is sacred. Sex is biology." The Velvet Underground said that "Love makes you feel ten feet tall." Love makes the sex good, and love makes her feel like a flower in bloom.

--A woman making her own money and taking care of herself isn't so much about being an "independent woman" as it is about being a productive adult. Taking care of yourself comes with adult life. It's nothing groundbreaking or earth shattering.

--Miss A may sing about how they're independent and free now, but they'll change their tune if they have some good sex or some appealing man comes along.

--Miss A's song is more about how they don't want to be beholden to anyone...but supposing a man they liked came along, they'd change their tune. "Boy, don't play," they say, and of course they mean it. Women don't want "boys" or immature men supplicating them or even bothering to say hello.

Gain - Bloom

Miss A - I Don't Need A Man

Enjoy

For my money, "Bloom" is the better song. It's easier to dance to, for one, and I can't help but love that chorus and the snappy guitar lick in it. Clearly, her and her producers were listening to the Bee Gees when they recorded this song. "I Don't Need A Man" sounds boring by contrast. Hip-hop pop with fake attitude. Yay.

Neil Young live