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Saturday, March 20, 2010

NYTimes: Paul Westerberg: Beyond the Box Tops

Color Me Depressed…until I read this. (Hey…at least it ain’t Pavement!)

It was some years back, the last time I saw Alex Chilton. We miraculously bumped into each other one autumn evening in New York, he in a Memphis Minnie T-shirt, with take-out Thai, en route to his hotel. He invited me along to watch the World Series on TV, and I immediately discarded whatever flimsy obligation I may have had. We watched baseball, talked and laughed, especially about his current residence — he was living in, get this, a tent in Tennessee.

Because we were musicians, our talk inevitably turned toward women, and Al, ever the Southern gentleman, was having a hard time between bites communicating to me the difficulty in ... you see, the difficulty in (me taking my last swig that didn’t end up on the wall, as I boldly supplied the punch line) “... in asking a young lady if she’d like to come back to your tent?” We both darn near died there in a fit of laughter.

Yeah, December boys got it bad, as “September Gurls” notes. The great Alex Chilton is gone — folk troubadour, blues shouter, master singer, songwriter and guitarist. Someone should write a tune about him. Then again, nah, that would be impossible. Or just plain stupid.

Repoz Posted: March 20, 2010 at 10:00 PM | 51 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: history, music, yankees

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1. 'Spos Posted: March 20, 2010 at 10:44 PM (#3482913)

Of the many tributes I've seen, this is the one that matters. Thanks for posting.

2. JC in DC Posted: March 20, 2010 at 10:50 PM (#3482919)

pretty lousy piece. i'm disappointed.

3. xdog Posted: March 20, 2010 at 11:00 PM (#3482921)

This is better:

http://philnugentexperience.blogspot.com/2010/03/big-enough-anyway.html

4. 'Spos Posted: March 20, 2010 at 11:22 PM (#3482928)

Well, it has more words.

5. Perros Posted: March 20, 2010 at 11:48 PM (#3482936)

Never could have imagined seeing Paul Westerberg's byline in the NYT.

Strangely, the desperation in the line "I hate it here, get me out of here" made me, of all things, happy.

Exactly.

Like Paul, I don't want to dwell too much on the fact one of my heroes has died, but that he experienced such romantic desolation, expressed its exquisitely beautiful sadness, and lived on. As his music lives on.

Hey hey, my my, rock 'n' roll will never die.

6. saltfarmer Posted: March 21, 2010 at 12:09 AM (#3482946)

Chuck Prophet's remembrance is much better:

http://chuckprophet.com/blog/alex_chilton

7. xbhaskarx Posted: March 21, 2010 at 12:15 AM (#3482949)

Uhh, I don't think this was posted because it's the "best" one, it's Paul freaking Westerberg...

8. jwb Posted: March 21, 2010 at 01:53 AM (#3482971)

Just listen to this and be glad he was here.

9. Perros Posted: March 21, 2010 at 03:11 AM (#3482984)

The Chuck Prophet piece was excelllent, as are the comments following. O my soul indeed.

Ive quoted several lyrics since Wed but they cant really do Chilton's music justice. You should get the essential Big Star on two discs if you havent already. Still, Ill leave one more set here as a parting message from AC.

Take care not to hurt yourself
Beware of the need for help
You might need too much
And people are such

Take care
Please, take care

Some people read idea books
And some people have pretty looks
But if your eyes are wide
And all words aside

This sounds a bit like goodbye
In a way it is, I guess
As I leave your side
I've taken the air

Take care
Please, take care

10. Roger Freed Is Ready Posted: March 21, 2010 at 04:48 AM (#3483007)

Wow, these days I find out about the deaths of cult-pop icons by reading BBTF.

I'm sure it's heresy around here, but I gotta say it: I felt like I should appreciate Alex Chilton. I felt like if I didn't get his genius I would be exposed as a music snob poseur. But I just didn't. There were a few songs (Holocaust comes to mind; Bangkok too, particularly as The Nomads covered it), and a few associations (Cramps/Panther Burns) that I appreciated. But my personal experience with Alex Chilton the performer(I think 3 shows in the 80s and 90s before I owned up to the fact that the guy just wasn't that speical)is summed up by this clip:

the ultra-casual, spiky-haired guy in bermuda shorts I saw onstage bore little resemblance to the power-pop genius we all so revered. Neither did the music his trio (Chilton on guitar and vocals, Doug Garrison-drums, Rene Coman-bass) played that night Instead of Big Star classics like “You Can’t Have Me”, “Daisy Glaze”, or “Back Of A Car” Alex played obscure Memphis soul covers, some equally unknown blues tunes, “In The Street” to placate old devotees, and of all things, “Volare”, a song my dad used to sing in the shower when he’d been drinking. This was disappointing, but me and my aging (early 30’s) hipster clique pretended to take it in stride

http://blogs.alternet.org/yc342/2010/03/20/alex-chilton-1951-2010/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=alternet_blogs_all

Mostly he was boring. Playing crappy songs with pickup bands. This may have inspired Mr. Westerberg to take his Replacements in the same boring "ooh, isn't it hilarious, they're playing Havin' My Baby" way c. 1985 (and before that they used to be a truly electric live act), but I wouldn't call that a claim to fame. Then again, Mr. Westerberg ran out of songs at roughly that time, so maybe emulating Alex Chilton was his best idea ...

11. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: March 21, 2010 at 04:55 AM (#3483011)

I can't take issue with [10]'s take on Alex Chilton the performer. I was thrilled about seeing him open for the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (in...1998? '99? ####, I'm getting old) but I found him disappointingly dull. The most lively moment of his set was a cover of Jan and Dean's "GTO." I know people who really liked his solo stuff, but I wasn't one of them.

But that doesn't take away the three wonderful, beautiful, flawless Big Star records. Some of our most perfect songs are on those records.

12. wcw Posted: March 21, 2010 at 05:15 AM (#3483015)

Obscure Memphis soul, unknown blues, In The Street and Volare sounds like a pretty good set to me.

RIP.

13. Daunte Vicknabbit! Posted: March 21, 2010 at 06:18 AM (#3483018)

I'm pretty new to this thing with the various rock bands beloved by BBTF, but in listening to Big Star the past couple months (the box set is fantastic) I have started to really appreciate them. With the death of Alex, I was listening to Big Star yesterday when I realized that in "The Ballad of El Goodo" when he is singing the line "Hold On" it sounds a lot like Malkmus on the song "Cold Son" off Real Emotional Trash. Thought that was a pretty interesting parallel. Kinda shocking.

14. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: March 21, 2010 at 06:55 AM (#3483020)

I'm glad you're enjoying them but "appreciate?" Interesting. I appreciate Radiohead but I ####### love Big Star.

15. Daunte Vicknabbit! Posted: March 21, 2010 at 07:00 AM (#3483021)

Oh, yeah. I'm actually really liking Big Star right now. Was blasting it with my windows down earlier today. But I haven't even listened to half of their stuff yet. Kinda like how I'm getting into Sonic Youth but have only listened to two of the albums, just listened to them 3 or 4 times already.

16. birdlives is one crazy ninja Posted: March 21, 2010 at 08:28 AM (#3483029)

The interview with Alex Chilton on "Big Star Live" is a classic. I love how the interviewer expected to be regaled with stories of rock and roll glory upon asking Alex to reflect about his days with the Box Tops and Alex simply responds, "Pretty scummy... about as scummy as now," followed by nervous laughter by the interviewer. He then launches into an absolutely gorgeous, solo acoustic version of El Goodo followed by a heartbreaking cover of Motel Blues. R.I.P. Alex.

17. PreservedFish Posted: March 21, 2010 at 09:00 AM (#3483030)

I'm actually really liking Big Star right now. Was blasting it with my windows down earlier today. But I haven't even listened to half of their stuff yet. Kinda like how I'm getting into Sonic Youth but have only listened to two of the albums, just listened to them 3 or 4 times already.

Are you 18 or younger? When I was young I had a capacity to absolutely fall in love with bands/writers/etc after very quickly consuming a tiny fraction of their output. Seems like it doesn't happen that way anymore.

18. Avoid running at all times.-S. Paige Posted: March 21, 2010 at 11:09 AM (#3483035)

I find, at the ripe old age of 32, that I still have the capacity to fall in love with writers, but I've lost that with bands and rock stars. Instead, with the latter, I find myself appreciating the canonized few whom I ignored before. Specifically, I now understand how absurdly talented and interesting Prince was and is. Or I now hear the brilliance of Paul Simon's "Graceland". But as for new stuff, I'm completely lost, or, rather, I recognize it as a young person's game. They're a part of the zeitgeist now. They're the cool. I'm in museum curator mode.

Writers, on the other hand, I'm still discovering anew. For instance, I'm in the middle of Roberto Bolano's 2666, and, along with The Savage Detectives and few other stories I've read, I think I've just discovered one of my favorite writers.

19. yo la tengo Posted: March 21, 2010 at 11:11 AM (#3483036)

In the early to mid 80s when I was in college at UF, Alex was a regular at a club on the beach in Jax, FL. I must have made the trip to see him 8 or 9 times. He opened for the Replacements on the inaugural date (at least that is how I remember it) of their Pleased to Meet Me tour. While he did not play all of the favorites and he was a bit of a grump at times, I always enjoyed those sets and never felt bad about the 90 minute drive. I am very happy to have those memories. Yeah, he played Volare almost every time...

20. tribefan Posted: March 21, 2010 at 01:52 PM (#3483054)

I'm sure it's heresy around here, but I gotta say it: I felt like I should appreciate Alex Chilton.

Music touches everyone differently, for chrissakes Repoz doesn't even like the Beatles. I "appreciate" Bruce Springsteen, but outside of the Nebraska album, it's all fairly average stuff to me. Wait til he dies, you'll read some pretty over-the-top tributes for sure.

Instead of Big Star classics like “You Can’t Have Me”, “Daisy Glaze”, or “Back Of A Car” Alex played obscure Memphis soul covers

Yeah, I'd probably be a little disapointed if I saw AC and he played a bunch of stuff I didn't know, but it's hard to blame a guy for wanting to do his own thing and not play the oldies to please the crowd, you know? Still doesn't mean he's not a genius.

But that doesn't take away the three wonderful, beautiful, flawless Big Star records. Some of our most perfect songs are on those records.

Yep.

21. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: March 21, 2010 at 02:06 PM (#3483065)

Writers, on the other hand, I'm still discovering anew. For instance, I'm in the middle of Roberto Bolano's 2666, and, along with The Savage Detectives and few other stories I've read, I think I've just discovered one of my favorite writers.

Do you think 2666 is worth the effort? I enjoyed The Savage Detectives, but I found it a little tough to get through. It started strong and moved fast at first, but then everything sort of fell apart, and while it was amazingly well-written and translated, I just found the chaos and descent in madness almost too depressing compared to the fun and excitement of the first section. I just discovered Bolano too, and he's been one of my favorite new writers.

22. Avoid running at all times.-S. Paige Posted: March 21, 2010 at 02:30 PM (#3483078)

I definitely think it's worth the effort, although I'm not even halfway through and just beginning the most critically acclaimed section of the book. As opposed to Savage Detectives, 2666 is basically depressing and disturbing throughout, but I find it sharper thematically, less unwieldy than the Detectives. But it's also very disturbing because it takes on the insane violence and killings of women in Juarez as its major subject.

23. scotto Posted: March 21, 2010 at 02:40 PM (#3483081)

Yeah, I'd probably be a little disapointed if I saw AC and he played a bunch of stuff I didn't know, but it's hard to blame a guy for wanting to do his own thing and not play the oldies to please the crowd, you know? Still doesn't mean he's not a genius.

I've seen John Doe solo a few times, and he almost invariably says something like "Here's the song everyone's been waiting to hear" before playing "White Girl". It's usually about 2/3 of the way through his set, and it's generally delivered with an additional sentence and a tone that runs anywhere from resignation to mock bitterness to good humor.

He's always in the crowd after the show, and is very open to conversation and autograph requests. I've found him amiable, anyway. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a 50 year old who's constantly being asked about stuff that I'd done 30 years prior, and rarely being asked about my current work. I'd probably be a ton less patient.

24. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: March 21, 2010 at 02:45 PM (#3483084)

I enjoyed 2666 rather a lot, but I had to take a break from it for like a month with about 100 pages to go. It's a pretty profound book, but it's not easy, stylistically or emotionally. I just started The Savage Detectives last week, and I'm taking it very, very slowly, because these days I'm in grad school and reading three books at once.

25. base ball chick Posted: March 21, 2010 at 04:29 PM (#3483133)

can someone please tell me what is the connection between baseball and paul westerberg/alex chilton

26. Non-Youkilidian Geometry Posted: March 21, 2010 at 04:39 PM (#3483139)

But that doesn't take away the three wonderful, beautiful, flawless Big Star records. Some of our most perfect songs are on those records.

Repeated for truth. I first listened to Big Star maybe 10-12 years ago, after having heard about them for years. I discovered them through the usual route (the Replacements song, praise from musicians like Peter Buck, etc). I now just wish it hadn't taken me so long. I wouldn't call the three albums "flawless", but they are absolutely wonderful, beautiful and essential.

A public service announcement: if you stumble onto this thread and don't know what we are talking about, drop what you are doing and go buy the #1 Record/Radio City combination package.

27. Non-Youkilidian Geometry Posted: March 21, 2010 at 04:41 PM (#3483141)

can someone please tell me what is the connection between baseball and paul westerberg/alex chilton

Remote, but if you read Westerberg's piece he talks about running into Chilton and going back to Alex's hotel room to watch the World Series with him. Good enough for me.

28. Roger Freed Is Ready Posted: March 21, 2010 at 04:42 PM (#3483142)

23, good comment about John Doe. And the difference there is that JD seems comfortable with his past, present, and future. He's a guy who truly found his voice in his 50s.

Chilton was the opposite. Yes, he was an interesting character. But at some point in my life (I think I first reached that point watching the Replacements when they were doing the drunken goofball shows I referred to above), I also came to appreciate just a little bit of respect for the audience and a commitment to putting on a decent performance. I mean, nobody was more f'd up than Johnny Thunders, and I saw him put on a few pretty decent shows around the same time I saw Alex Chilton simply collecting a paycheck ...

29. Mark Edward Posted: March 21, 2010 at 05:34 PM (#3483172)

I finished reading Our Band Could Be Your Life about a month or two ago; it's about indie/punk of the 1980s. I'm 25 so I didn't get a chance to see any of these bands in their prime, but if I could go back in time & pick a band to see from that book, I think it would be The Replacements, circa 1984. Them or Beat Happening.

I have Third/Sister Lovers on my iPod but have only listened to it once & didn't get much out of it. I guess I should give it another spin...

30. Perros Posted: March 21, 2010 at 05:34 PM (#3483174)

I find, at the ripe old age of 32, that I still have the capacity to fall in love with writers, but I've lost that with bands and rock stars... as for new stuff, I'm completely lost, or, rather, I recognize it as a young person's game.

At 44, I find that I have lost my capacity to fall in love with an image of people..but with a artifact of creation - never. So I still got a huge smile on my face seeing young Avi Zahner-Isenberg with his Neil Young whine singing what's in it for me..and it's entirely possible that Merriweather Post Pavilion saved my life in 2009. But I'm not building any new shrines to any artists of any stripe, young or old. That was pretty much Chilton's own disillusionment. He poured his heart and soul out on those three records and nobody cared. So he let all the expectations of the game go and never looked back. My favorite artists, esp musicians, subvert the whole idea of worship, fandom, and audience expectation. They do it for themselves, not as means to money and fame, to be put on a pedastal, but to inspire you to do it yourself, for yourself.

My favorite musical resonance this week was listening to crooked rain and hearing Lou Reed's voice coming out of the speakers. That's the magic. You just have to have the balls to get down and dirty with it in your own soul.

31. tribefan Posted: March 21, 2010 at 05:54 PM (#3483182)

I think it would be The Replacements, circa 1984

1981 would have been pretty good too.

32. Lassus Posted: March 21, 2010 at 06:25 PM (#3483206)

Hi, we're the Replacements, and we're playing in a rock and roll band...

Where's Tommy?

33. scotto Posted: March 21, 2010 at 06:27 PM (#3483208)

I finished reading Our Band Could Be Your Life about a month or two ago; it's about indie/punk of the 1980s.

Great book, although the stories tend to get a bit repetitive after a bit. About half of the bands got their start after seeing Black Flag. It would've been nice to see a profile of a few bands out of that particular orbit. The whole Television/Hell/Thunders scene, to name just one example.

I am of the age where I could've and should've seen Mission of Burma, the Minutemen, and Husker Du (among those in the book) and X (not in the book for some reason) but didn't. Fortunately I've had the chance see MoB and X since then.

He's a guy who truly found his voice in his 50s.

Those X songs hold up pretty well, especially that Wild Gift/Under the Big Black Sun/More Fun in the New World streak of sheer incredibleness. He's a gifted cover singer, too. His most recent release with the Sadies is one of my faves from last year.

34. Mark Edward Posted: March 21, 2010 at 06:56 PM (#3483226)

Scotto, I'd agree with that critique. It's still worth reading though.

Re. #31,
I like the Replacements' poppier/melodic side more than their early punk leanings, though YMMV. IMO they were at their best during the Let It Be/Tim/Pleased To Meet Me period. Let It Be is one of my favorite albums. The '08 reissue is pretty excellent too- Perfectly Lethal's there, plus great covers of Temptation Eyes & Heartbeat- It's a Lovebeat.

35. tribefan Posted: March 21, 2010 at 07:03 PM (#3483231)

Let It Be is one of my favorite albums.

I agree, that's the album that introduced me to college radio/indie/whatever you want to call it. I just love that show from 81 that's on youtube.

36. scotto Posted: March 21, 2010 at 07:50 PM (#3483246)

And I meant to say, Repoz probably's hung out with at least 3/4 of the names in OBCBY.

Yes, ME. No disagreement from me.

37. Lassus Posted: March 21, 2010 at 07:54 PM (#3483247)

I came in a bit late to the Replacements, my first being TIM. It was definitely my "I'm so cool I'm calling the college radio station to play a band no one I'm in high school with has ever heard of" album. And it has Bastards of Young on it, which is a great, great, great song.

38. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: March 21, 2010 at 08:13 PM (#3483254)

Discovered Chilton/Big Star as a Game Theory/Loud Family acolyte. I don't share the adoration for Chilton that many have but, man, he put out some quality stuff. As stated earlier, the #1 Record / Radio City combo disc is near required listening if you like indie rock / power pop / etc... Grade A.

39. Roger Freed Is Ready Posted: March 21, 2010 at 10:47 PM (#3483312)

29 and 31, to engage in a pointless but fun debate: Replacements c. 1982 or 1983 would be the version to see. Hootenanny was the first real shot of them thinking everyone just loved listening to them get drunk or stoned (actually, both) and goofing off. They didn't bring that to their live shows until after Let It Be. Back when they were still in a kind of friendly competition with the Huskers they absolutely ripped it up as a live band.

For absolutely mind-blowing live performances of that era, my hands-down winner is the Minutemen. Black Flag c. 1982 was pretty special too (the era of Henry with hair and Dez on 2nd guitar).

40. Repoz

Posted: March 21, 2010 at 11:31 PM (#3483342)

Repoz probably's hung out with at least 3/4 of the names in OBCBY.

Now if only I could remember...

41. scotto Posted: March 22, 2010 at 12:52 AM (#3483383)

For absolutely mind-blowing live performances of that era, my hands-down winner is the Minutemen.

We Jam Econo is a look back at the Minutemen and D. Boon in particular. Lots of interviews, but best of all lots of live footage that the filmmakers somehow got a hold of. It's out on DVD, and is one DVD I'm very glad to own.

The Unheard Music is a good one focusing on X, and there's always The Decline of Western Civilization Part 1, which featured Black Flag, The Germs, X, The Bags (billed at the time as The Alice Bag Band), Circle Jerks, Catholic Discipline, and Fear.

42. Phil Coorey. Posted: March 22, 2010 at 01:02 AM (#3483387)

I finished reading Our Band Could Be Your Life about a month or two ago; it's about indie/punk of the 1980s. I'm 25 so I didn't get a chance to see any of these bands in their prime, but if I could go back in time & pick a band to see from that book, I think it would be The Replacements, circa 1984. Them or Beat Happening.

I have Third/Sister Lovers on my iPod but have only listened to it once & didn't get much out of it. I guess I should give it another spin...

Third/Sister Lovers is shockingly awesome.

scotto got me onto "Our band could be your life" 4 or 5 years ago - what a great book. I still read it. From there I fell in love with Mission of Burma.

I liked the Westerberg tribute that was linked - but then again I liked All Shook Down as well...

Hope all are well , its been a while

Phil

43. Der_K is feeling better now. Posted: March 22, 2010 at 01:22 AM (#3483401)

39: I have, but don't remember much about it. Never really thought Miller and co. were great interpreters of others work - but love their albums (um, the Anton Barbeau one excepted).

44. Obo Posted: March 22, 2010 at 02:22 AM (#3483423)

Watch the Sunrise:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQqmnhSLOUQ

So simple, so pretty.

45. Phil Coorey. Posted: March 22, 2010 at 04:15 AM (#3483469)

So simple, so pretty.

Great song

46. Perros Posted: March 22, 2010 at 04:22 AM (#3483477)

I cant get any youtube links to work, but there's a great interview with Jim Dickinson on there talking about recording Sister Lovers.

God, those recordings make me feel like I'm dying.

47. Mark Edward Posted: March 22, 2010 at 04:26 AM (#3483479)

Hey Phil,

Long time no speak... I'm going to see Los Campesinos! in April, most likely. Have you got a chance to listen to Romance Is Boring?

48. Phil Coorey. Posted: March 22, 2010 at 06:55 AM (#3483539)

Long time no speak... I'm going to see Los Campesinos! in April, most likely. Have you got a chance to listen to Romance Is Boring?

I wish they would come to Australia!

I have been playing Romance is oring a fair bit and I really like it a lot - though my favourite album this year (so far) is easily the new Titus Andronicus. Great great fun

In terms of LC! I'd rate their second the best over Romance over the debut. I just frigging adore We are beautiful, We are Doomed

49. Perros Posted: March 22, 2010 at 11:58 PM (#3483977)

Read this bit from Ken Stringfellow of the Posies, and I thought it captures Chilton's persona perfectly:

I’d heard all sorts of things (about Chilton),” says Stringfellow. “Like he could be difficult and arbitrary, kinda broken. We were just waiting to see what kind of character we were dealing with. He came through the door and didn’t say much, just set up his guitar and then asked, ‘Y’all mind if I smoke?’ His detached, cool-guy persona seems like a weird pursuit of some sort of Zen. It’s an image he thinks works for him, gives him an edge. But when Alex plays his music, underneath all that, there are so many emotions that are so powerful. He loses half his years and all of his nihilistic construction."

50. phredbird

Posted: March 23, 2010 at 12:24 AM (#3483989)

i'll be 55 in july. when i was a preteen i lived in nigeria and in those days you couldn't get the cool stuff kids had in america. one year my dad had to go back stateside on business and he came back with a bunch of 45s ... one of them was 'the letter'. my brothers and i listened to that until the grooves wore out.

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