Pete Droge
This week, LETTERS FROM THE ROAD features the legendary Pete Droge (OMG!)… we are MASSIVE fans here at Outlandos. Hopefully you will be, too.
Incidentally, for a refresher, LETTERS FROM THE ROAD is our guest post series where we invite musicians we are utterly nuts about to take over and write whatever they like. Three rules: it has to be in the form of a letter, it has to have something to do with music, and the weirder the better. Fun stuff!
What I love about this post from Pete (and I hope I don’t embarrass him too much) is that number one, he was a tad skittish, as a lot of folks are about publishing a blog, if blogging isn’t your usual thing, perfectly human reaction (and its nice to know our idols are human). It’s great though is that none of it has to be perfect, it just has to be genuine for me — and for you — to dig it. And Pete’s got genuine in spades, as you can read below. But what’s more is, this idea of his is quite smart… if you’re going to dive into an iconic catalog, chronologically doesn’t always make sense. This would make a good book actually, a guide to the best order in which to sift through iconic catalogs. You up for that Pete?
Thanks for letting me twist your arm to do this one!
Dear Music Fan Who Is Not up to Speed on JJ Cale, Leonard Cohen or Gram Parsons,
I find that where you enter an artist’s catalog can make a huge difference on how they connect with you. Case in point, my friend who thought, “I really should check out this Bob Dylan cat that so many hipsters are into… hmm where to begin? How about his first album?” Seeing as Bob is so adored for his writing and his first record consists of mostly covers this is probably not the best place to enter his body of work (If you have not heard his version of Man of Constant Sorrow go get it right now… George Clooney, eat your heart out). I digress. I have many times served as mid wife in the birthing of a newborn Dylan fan. I am always shocked, outraged and ultimately jealous of anyone who is naive to all things Bob. Generally speaking, with Bob, I would point the newbie towards Bringing It All Back Home. Side One is Bob 101. Opens with Subterranean Homesick Blues, need I say more? Side Two, Bob 201. Opens with Mr. Tambourine Man and closes with It’s All over Now, Baby Blue, and in between those two, Gates of Eden and It’s Alright Ma, (I’m Only Bleeding). After that, I would point them to more records from the 60s like Highway 61, Times They Are a Changin’, and Blonde on Blonde before sending them out to other eras (Oh Mercy, Time Out Of Mind, Infidel, Planet Waves, Blood on the Tracks, Basement Tapes and so on).
Enough on Bob. I’m sure you are all up to speed already. Let’s get to some folks that some of you may not be into.
JJ Cale. I remember the first time I heard JJ Cale… or John as his friends call him… yes, that’s right, the name John Cale was taken (ok musical hipsters, John Cale was a member of what seminal ban? Anyone… anyone? Yes, THE seminal band of all seminal bands, the Velvet Underground. Very good). I digress. Where was I? Oh yes, the first time I heard JJ Cale. In my Datsun 210, on the once great rock station KISW (Seattle’s Best Rock). I know this song, but holy shit — this is way swampier than Clapton’s version, I thought. It was of course the original version of Cocaine that Eric had the big hit with. This track stopped me in my tracks. So, I would recommend to anyone who wants to look into JJ Cale start with the album it comes from, Troubadour. It was his fourth record. Next stop… go back in time to his first record Naturally (which opens with another song Clapton had a hit with, After Midnight)… then jump ahead to Okie, then back to his second record, Really, then his fifth, Five. By this time, if you are not a total fan who is ready to devour every note he has ever laid down, then I would suspect that you are a cold blooded reptile from another planet. You will never get it and I am sorry for you (that sounds a tad harsh… sorry). Moving on.
Leonard Cohen. Again, I was in transit when Leonard Cohen’s music really got to me. We were on a cross-Canadian tour, early winter 1996, supporting Neil Young. Something about curling up in my bunk with Leonard’s voice on the headphones soothed my paranoia about the bus careening off the road (I was also reading Kafka on that tour and suffering from codeine-induced stomach aches. Good times, indeed. And my fans wonder why I don’t tour anymore). I digress. With Leonard, I would make a case for taking things chronologically. By the time he made his first record in 1967, he was already a successful poet, so he had the word thing together (listen to me — “he had the word thing together” — now I am beginning to feel very self-conscious about my writing here… don’t give in… push on… it’s only a blog after all… it is supposed to read like a first draft). Songs of Leonard Cohen, Side One, song one: Suzanne. Great place to start. But wait, some of the songs on this album, though incredible, might not quite their hooks into the uninitiated. Bearing this in mind, I started to compile a list of cuts you could grab on iTunes… I got to his second record and realized almost all of my picks are on a compilation album The Essential Leonard Cohen. Now let me be clear, I do not condone you buying this collection and calling it good. But, it’s a good place to start. Props to Leanne Ungar & Bruce Dickinson for putting together a great intro to LC. (Bruce Dickinson was the lead singer of what heavy metal band? Anyone… anyone? Yes, that’s right… Iron Maiden. Something tells me it’s a different guy, what do you think?) I digress. This is a good place to start. The one spot I think they miss is an album produced by Phil Spector called Death of a Ladies Man. It does stand out within LC’s catalog as a bit of an odd bird. And I would say it’s a record you should buy — if for no other reason than because you can brag about owning it at dinner parties. Try it and watch your hipness quotient go thru the roof (you could also collect some stories about Phil actually brandishing a pistol during the sessions and this will surely impress your dinner guests). I digress. Leonard’s work is always so thorough and complete, I can’t imagine not owning all of the records. If there are songs that don’t get you right away, keep listening. And really go to the words. Be with the words. Lyrics don’t get better.
Gram Parsons. With Gram, I would take the opposite approach as we did with LC. Start at the end and work your way back. He was interested in what he called “cosmic American music.” Others would later make it sound way less interesting and call it country-rock. And many would give the late great Gram credit for inventing it (as much as I love Gram and his legacy I always felt like this was not very accurate. To me, that is like saying someone invented soup. Maybe Monsanto will genetically modify country-rock and claim a patent for it. If you don’t get this joke, rent Food Inc.) I digress. Gram did have a vision though. Sadly, his career was cut short by a heroin OD in 1973. I would start with both of his solo records at once. GP and Grevious Angel. At first, if you are having trouble with the frailty of his vocals and you are thinking, “it sounds like he just smoked a huge doobie,” keep in mind, he probably did. Many of you will recognize the voice of a young Emmy Lou Harris singing harmony. Next step is to move back in time to the group he formed with Chris Hillman, The Flying Burrito Brothers. 1969’s Gilded Palace of Sin. Then check out the record he made when he was a member of the Byrds, Sweetheart of the Rodeo (This is a total classic record that makes lots of all time best album lists). From this classic, we are entering into terrain more suited to the already established super fan, so if by this point, you feel you qualify, get Burrito Deluxe, the International Submarine Band’s Safe at Home (his first official record). And then you can start digging into the live stuff (he had an amazing road band and some of the live stuff is among my all time favorite live recordings).
I will sleep like a baby tonight, knowing that in my small way I may have helped you to find your way into a wealth of music that these three artists have given us.
Happy listening,
Pete Droge
1/5/10 | Comments (2)Tags: CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, Jeremy Messersmith, KATE BRADLEY, LETTERS FROM THE ROAD, OUTLANDOS MUSIC, Pete Droge —
You read that right, it’s the Top 9. Two qualifiers: 1) an album totally worth the price, your money will be well spent and 2) an album that’s stood up on replay, ad infintinum. Hence, there were only nine. Trying to squeeze in a 10th felt like a copout. And we can’t have that. So, just in time for your shopping lists, our faves around Outlandos HQ for the past year:
1. Michael Miller, I Made You Up 
Awash in a melodic swath of near-psychedelic ether, Miller’s sound teeters between that delicate dream state of newborn refuge and Milky Way haze. But don’t let the SoCal singer-songwriter thing fool you: Miller’s unassuming yet gumptious approach places him squarely alongside the likes of troubadours Pete Droge/Steve Forbert but with flecks of Supertramp/Bowie-style transcendental grandeur. No kidding. Which is why it’s my top pick. |
2. Chris Velan, Solidago
Solidago was on my tops last year because I had an early copy (the release was April 2009) but it’s so good I’m putting it on the list again. The scoop: cunningly disguised as jangly chill-lax pop, Solidago reveals whipsmart songcraft and no-bullshit guitar rockers juxtaposed amidst easy-going ditties. Think Paul Simon, Tom Petty, The Wallflowers, Bob Marley. The kind of political/romantic moxie that makes me think hell yes, I too am a Hard Way Learner. |
3. Mike Gent, Mike Gent
A pop masterpiece. Seriously. It’s easy, it’s smart, it’s fun, AND it has balls. Like Wilco used to (think Box of Letters, Monday). Speaking of balls, Mike’s other band, the Figgs, has long been one of my favorite badass live outfits. |
4. Glasvegas, Glasvegas
Timeless Glasgow glampop at its uber-finest. Echo and the Bunnymen-esque, bigger drums. Shit-hot. |
5. Gidgets Ga Ga, The Big Bong Theory
Fountains of Wayne meets Cheap Trick meets Strawberry Alarm Clock. Lots of bouncy, chimey guitars, and an authentic garage sound. Plus the album has a million songs on it. Loads of bang for your buck. |
6. Contramano, Contramano
Argentinian chamber-punk. Go figure. It’s spectacular. Seriously, you need to own this record IMMEDIATELY. |
7. Roman Candle, Oh Tall Tree in the Ear 
The Bees (US) are easily one of my fave bands ever. Unfortunately, for legal reasons, they had to change their name to The Silver Seas. They should have a new album out soon (yay!). In the meantime, Bees’ cofounder Jason Lehning has been keeping busy. Roman Candle is his latest project and everything you would expect from a Bee. Smart, fun, shades Steely Dan, Pretzel Logic-style. |
8. Passion Pit, Manners 
A dance record! Who knew. Fun fun fun. Very Jackson 5. Plus a lot of synth. |
9. Gary Yerkins, Compass 
Gotta have a touch of blues in your list. Gary has a sweet Robert Cray sort of thing going on. Produced by guitar great Pete Droge who plays all over it as well. Total gem. xo |
Tags: Bob Marley, Cheap Trick, Chris Velan, Contramano, CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, David Bowie, Echo and the Bunnymen, Fountains of Wayne, Gary Yerkins, Gerry Rafferty, Gidgets Ga Ga, Glasvegas, Jason Lehning, KATE BRADLEY, Michael Miller, Mike Gent, NOW PLAYING, OUTLANDOS MUSIC, Passion Pit, Paul Simon, Pete Droge, Robert Cray, Roman Candle, Steely Dan, Steve Forbert, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Supertramp, The Bees, The Figgs, The Jackson 5, The Silver Seas, The Wallflowers, Tom Petty, Wilco —
Been digging through the holiday stacks here at Outlandos HQ, getting ready to program THE DAILY DOSE for December. I tell you, it nearly killed me trying to figure out what to play next to the McKenzie Brothers doing the 12 Days of Christmas. But it’s my favorite holiday song so I have to play it for you guys. Be sure to check in each day to see what we’ve got cookin’ for the holidays along with our hand-picked wine and cheese recommendations to go with each song. Yes, we are bonkers.
That said, if you haven’t already, join THE DAILY DOSE on Facebook and become our friend (it still always feels sooooo high-school asking that). We’ll look forward to checking out pictures of you when you were 12… or whatever it is you’ve got posted there.
Now for what’s been playing at Outlandos HQ so far this month:
1. WDST’s Unleashed
One of the best new music shows out there. Mostly new but they pipe in some older gems as well. Sound familiar? Ida and Dave have killer taste and a great on-air presence. It’s my new Sunday night must-listen. You can catch whole episodes by clicking here.
2. Gary Yerkins, Compass
Totally reminds me of Robert Cray/Gerry Rafferty. Produced by guitar great Pete Droge who plays all over it as well. Total gem, you should own it. Hear Gary on THE DAILY DOSE December 3.
3. Sam Prekop, Who’s Your New Professor?
Wow, wow, wow. Thanks to NEXT Music’s Chris Bro for the intro to Sam, of The Sea and Cake. Is it electro-jazz rock? I don’t know how to describe it, except to say smart. Hear Sam on THE DAILY DOSE 11/24.
xo
11/16/09 | Comments (0)Tags: Cris Bro, CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, Gary Yerkins, Gerry Rafferty, KATE BRADLEY, OUTLANDOS MUSIC, Pete Droge, Robert Cray, Sam Prekop, The Sea and Cake, Unleashed, WDST —
