dave9199

I was just about to post that! I've never seen the whole skit, just clips.

It's definitely not Jandek on guitar so yes on another guitarist. Jandek doesn't play regular chords & this person is.

Next up is #19: Somebody In The Snow. This cover is talked about as his Gap fashion model cover. Tall & thin with blond hair (his normal color is red) in a slicked back rockabilly style and dark clothes. There was also a rumor, back in the day, that his 19th album would be his last. I have no idea when or why that rumor started. Even on the Jandek board, I don't remember reading any reasons for this. The album picks up where The Living End, uh...ended. The first song, Tell Me Who You Are, has Nancy#3 singing in the background, Jandek on vocals only, and the two electric guitarists. I like the chord progression and Jandeks singing is low key. Had the lead guitarist not played on this, I think it would've helped the song a bit. A good start. Come Through With A Smile has Nancy#3 singing lead with her nervous held notes. I have to say, no matter what kind of element Jandek puts in, it eventually finds a place that fits. Maybe not all the time, but a style of song eventually pops out that works. Nancy#3's not a great singer, but her nervous quality finds a home in this song. The last minute-and-a-half starts to build up tensionwise which helps the song. Too bad they didn't pound away on it for a bit longer. The same thing happens in the next song; I May Not Be Around. Pastimes is the same music as I Sit Alone...from On The Way (#17). No vocals this time. It sounds like their between songs and randomly playing until a riff is agreed upon. The rhythm guitarist seems to have a hard time playing the chords right while the lead guitarist just plays over him & steers the song away from that into a blues which Jandek plays along with on drums. (I can't tell which guitarist is Eddie, if he's there at all). Next is, by far, one of the most interesting songs Jandek has done (at least on the first 20). This one is up there with Governor Rhodes on Telegraph Melts (#12). It's called Om & is just everyone chanting the word Om in long tones over each other. It's good, but can also sound really fucking creepy. Voices coming in then dropping down. Nancy#3's voice is a great touch to this one. It reminds me of music from Jesus Christ Superstar when Jesus was getting crucified (called The Crucifixtion). While I haven't heard that in a while (there are some GREAT songs on that album, believe it or not), the feel of Om reminds me of how freaked out the crucifixtion scene made me feel. I think I saw it when I was 10 or so. This topic segues nicely to the next song: Bring It In A Manger. Just Jandek & a harmonica on this one though he mentions about putting his genitals in a paper cup! That's what he would've brought to the baby Jesus, but was told maybe he should just sign the card & get some sleep instead. Walking Around goes back to the blues-Nancy#3-Jandek on drums set up, but that's the last we hear of her. The album then goes to Jandek on acoustic & drums also. With standard Jandek tuning , he sounds lyrically inspired on the next 3 songs: Sense Of Reason, Remind You & Corner Of The Street. He switches to electric for Stick With Me which, while not lyrically inspired, sounds like he's using brushes on the drums instead of sticks. What You Give Me is a sparser, durgy song that revisits the single string picking of earlier days, but with more notes involved. You Sing A Song is a fast paced fun song on harmonica & drums hammering out a beat (sic!). Walking Home closes the album with electric guitar & drums. Main lyric is: "Sit back, it's easy." Another end of tape filler and yet again, I like it. Evidently You Sing A Song wasn't long enough. This album is much better than the previous two and more varied also. Hardly any basic blues this time and the solo Jandek songs are quite diverse too. A much more inspired album.

Album #18 is called The Living End. It starts with Niagra Blues which is a minor key blues shuffle. Again the instrumentation is two electric guitars & Jandek on drums & vocals. It's good, although it felt like it could've been more intense, but never takes off. Janitor's Dead is the same song & tempo with Jandek warmed up lyrically. Another title track song with The Living End being another standard blues riff & Jandek with some loose vocals. Good performance from him. Talk That Talk gets interesting with a waka-waka riff two-thirds of the way through, then everyone plays different things at the end. The biggest surprise here is the appearence of Nancy#3, or possibily a reappearence of Nancy#1 on Embrace The World Outside. She's hard to hear as her singing is either way off mike, or she's nervous. Nowhere near as gregarious as Nancy#2. All of these women seem to have a similar folky feel in their voices. I think Sterling meets them in coffee houses. She sings on the rest of the album: In A Hush (which best describes her singing); Take Me Away With You on which she can be hear a lot better, but she's still very tentative or meek; and Crazy which ends the album. And where's Jandek during all of this? He's actually still on drums but he's laying back a lot while the same bluesy guitar interplay is going on except on Crazy where he's an active participant on drums which makes this Nancy#3's most lively song and as a consequence, she gets drowned by the lead guitar. There's is some background vocals happening towards the end, but I can't tell who's singing along with her. So what we have here is a bluesy album that never feels like it takes off at any point. That also best sums up Nancy#3's singing style. The songs themselves are not great, but there's nothing awful on here either. No particular songs grabbed my ear as everyone sounds very uninspired or not even all that into it. It's an o.k. album.

Wow, that's your shortest review yet Chaney. Not much caught your ear? (Or maybe too much?) Looking forward to your next review!

I think half of Rope is great, the rest is alright. I love Combat Rock much more. And who could forget the best of them all...Cut The Crap!

It's definitely a high point. Though releasing (presumably) everything, you get a mix of lackluster mixed in with the best stuff. I get the feeling it may have been his high point, period, but I'll hold off on that until I hear everything.

The next album, #17, is called On The Way. The cover is another shot of his drum set, but looks like the flash didn't go off so it's almost all black except for some silhouette near a window. One comment from the Jandek site said it's the kind of picture you get your money back for at a one hour photo. The first 2 songs have sound balance that is very uneven; lead guitar & vocal way in front; guitar & drums way in back. I can't tell if it's Jandek playing everything though. Hard to get a good level for listening. Message To The Clerk makes a reappearance here in a blues with electric guitar, harmonica & Jandek on vocals & drums. I like the versions on The Rocks Crumble (#8) better. Give It The Name has some really good blues guitar & vocals from Jandek, but the guitar covers over everything. There's also bass on this song. Ambient Instrument is a minor key surfy instrumental. Good riff. Sadie uses another blues riff like Ray Charles's Hallejuiah (sp?) I Love Her So. The next song could've been the highlight of the album, but again, sound balance interferes. I Sit Alone & Think A Lot About You has Eddie on vocal & acoustic with Jandek quietly thumping the drums in the background. The level is too quiet though it is brought up throughout the song. It sounds like Eddie's not close enough to the mike & you end up missing the heartfelt lyrics & delivery. Very unfortunate. The guitar chords of I'm Ready remind me of Jethro Tull's song Look Into The Sun from Stand Up (not a huge Tull fan, but it's a great album). Eddie on acoustic & impassioned singing from Jandek, possibly my favorite from the album. This album is not as inspired as You Walk Alone, not by a long shot. The sound balance problems only hinder that along with the songs not being as good either. Is it horrible? By no means, but it's the lackluster-album-coming-after-a-great-album syndrome (see Chair Beside A Window to Living In A Moon So Blue). This comes after 2 great albums. Only o.k. So far I think Eddie is Jandek's best musical partner. He adds melody & leaves room for anything Jandek cares to do. Whereas Jandek may sound like he's not listening to others, but when he plays drums, you can hear he does listen. He just listens differently.

Album #16; You Walk Alone starts with a very melodic 2 chord instrumental on electric guitar (no acoustic on this one) called Lavender. Extremely enjoyable. With the usual reverb, it's got that mid-60's guitar sound which I always love. Jandek on drums and, I believe, Eddie on guitar. The album then steers to the actual blues with Time & Space. There's a guitarist playing a blues riff, another guitarist playing enhancments off the chords & Jandek singing & playing drums. He sounds like he's enjoying himself singing. It really does sound very Velvet Underground, especially with the lyrical content. As a VU fan, I really enjoy this song also. The Cat That Walked From Shelbyville is a quieter song that has a similar feel to VU's Here She Comes Now off of White Light/White Heat. The lyrics are actually a song done on Follow Your Footsteps (#13) called For Today. Next is another version of Quinn Boys from Blue Corpse originally, called Quinn Boys II. It's the same riff as the last song, but a bit faster with Jandek on drums, using only one drumstick, moving the song along. I like this version better than what sounded like a rough try out on the last album. The next song, The Way That You Act, has an interesting guitar bit that flips between major & minor which give an interesting color with the second guitar around it. Jandek gives some good inspired screams in this one. Not the creepy kind, but the into-it kind, very Iggy Pop circa The Stooges. I Know The Times is the weakest song on the album. It's a slow blues riff with Eddie on vocals. I think what makes it weaker is there's only one guitar on it so there's no intertwining guitars like on previous songs which really added to them. It's also the shortest song. The next song is called When The Telephone Melts and is the first downbeat (i.e. minor key) song on an almost entirely upbeat album. The lyrics & singing style would've fit onto Blue Corpse easily. For some reason it brings The Rolling Stones more bluesier & slower songs to mind, but I can't think of any song in particular. Maybe a faster Angie crossed with the vocal style of Monkey Man? I think Sister Morphine might be what I'm thinking of. Definitely good. War Dance, a minor key vamp, ends the album. This is another great album. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to dip their toe in the water of Jandek. Very enjoyable, upbeat &, yes, melodic. Not crazy at all.

John B: Too bad Chaney & I weren't reveiwing the 2nd 20, that way you'd have a more informed choice for 20. I, like Chaney, wouldn't change my order. I'm loyal to bands & artists. I like to explore the whole history; good, bad or mediocre. I think most of the second 20 is mostly solo; acoustic & electric.

I never thought of this, but this would make total sense. I would not be surprised if that's exactly what he did. Makes it more humorous. I'm not sure what your asking in reference to two different sounds on his guitar, though you're right about his singing/higher, talking/lower vocal style. On the next couple of albums there are some acoustic songs at the end & he uses his singing voice. I think if he's wound up with an electric guitar & friends, he just lets it all hangs out. By himself he's more introspective. As a musician, that's par for the course. I thought your head would explode on Telegraph Melts & again you kept me guessing as to what your overall opinion will be. Keep it up! BTW, No Break on Chair is sung by Nancy's sister Pat as mentioned in Smith's letter to Chusid.

Ahhh, the first step of the Jandek method. Don't be scared Chaney, I'm here for you! As for Nancy; with only one song from Nancy #1, and a lot from Nancy #2, I can see how anyone might think it's the same person, but I'm still sticking to the #1, #2 theory. You never hear #2 sound like #1, ever. She's a lot louder & more extroverted a singer than #1. I also think there's a #3 on Somebody In The Snow & she sounds more like #1 than #2 does. I predict more confusion in your future; $10 please.

Uh-oh, emotional projection onto Jandek. Happens to everyone. If you sing along with screaming Jandek, record it & listen to it, you'd be surprised at how different your voice sounds. I think you have the tools for a breakthrough Chaney & with the Jandek method, I think you can move forward. Secret agent guitar? Oh yeah, that's him.

It's him. You've got to believe Chaney. Believe. Just wait to Telegraph Melts. AHAHAHAHAHA!

Wow Chaney, I can't second guess you at all. I figured you'd like it because of it being acoustic. Can't wait to see what you think about Telegraph Melts & Modern Dances. I'm also wondering what your take on Blue Corpse will be.

Here's my ranking for the third set of 5: KEEPERS 1. Blue Corpse 2. Follow Your Footsteps PERSONAL OPINION 3. Telegraph Melts FOR COMPLETISTS ONLY 4. Modern Dances 5. Foreign Keys The personal opinion & completists were a bit harder to rank as I really liked Telegraph Melts, but for someone who isn't aware of it's sound, it could be a harrowing experience. And though Modern Dances is a lot like Telegraph Melts, it doesn't have the interesting songs (that's right, I said it) that are scattered throughout Telegraph. If nothing really jumps out at me (coming from a songwriters point of view), I put that album under completist. If you just want Sonic Youth-type scratchiness & abrasivness, go with either Telegraph or Modern Dances. Keepers, to me, are the albums with more melody & variety on them. I will say if I felt all 5 were keepers, I'd list them as such.

I bet he'll put out another studio album, then put out the live set as album #40. I said before that when I spoke to him and guessed his 40th album would be out the first half of 2006, he said something like, "It'll probably be sooner". Now I figure by June 2005 latest, me & Chaney will be able to order our 2nd box o' 20!

This is usually agreed upon as the best Jandek album so far, Blue Corpse, album #15. John B, I know I said I liked You Walk Alone better at first, but I think because I listened to this with an expectation the first time. When I listened again, I liked it a whole lot more & agree with you're comment. The reason this album can be called possibly his best (or at least one of his best) is because...wait for it...it is. Let's walk through it together alright? I haven't talked about the covers of his albums, but this has a black & white in motion shot of him walking outside (shirtless, no less), but what looks odd is the possibly evil looking grin he has and the blurred right part of his face which looks like his face is extented. It's a creepy shot. This album has only two players: Jandek (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica & drums) & Eddie (acoustic guitar, vocals). Great albums start with great songs. I Passed By Your Building has Jandek on acoustic & Eddie singing the lyrics. His voice is lower & can search for notes just like Jandek, but finds those notes more easily. Yet when he searches for those notes, it adds to the feeling of this song. It's a breakup song and I wonder if Eddie maybe wrote the lyrics because when someone else sings a Jandek song, Jandek will usually redo it later on with himself on vocals, but I don't have all the cds yet. I Passed by the Building I passed by the building you were working in I wanted to step inside it I wanted to lie in your arms again I passed by the building that you live in And I wanted to die I just stood there and cried For then the way I felt For the way I was gonna cry For loving you I passed by the building where you sleep And I wanted to sigh At the sweet smell of your loving But I just weep at the morning I just weep Even with Jandek strumming a tuned guitar & playing it all open, the vocal & lyrics carry this song. The next 2 songs also feature Eddie on vocals; C F has Jandek playing an actual C chord through it! Definately improvised, but enjoyable. Variant has Jandek on a G chord and is as enjoyable as the last song. The songs aren't great, but Eddie's voice is soothing. They then switch and Jandek is on vocals which, unfortunately, drown out the acoustic guitar a lot more. Part II is the next song and sounds like a jam in progress. Actually it sounds like a earlier try of a later song (& highlight) on the album. Your Other Man sits along side any of Jandek greatest & most heartaching songs. Your Other Man Well, I guess your mind’s made up Well, I guess there’s not much left to do Go on, see your other man Walk up the stairs That’s where the stars are Go on, see your other man Well, you wouldn’t believe it tastes like candy Gimme a fork, yeah a gimme a fork Eat some potato Shades are falling Shades are falling This songs mainly revolves around a chord progression of Em-D-C & with heavily reverbed vocals creates a perfect feel, especially when Jandek moans. Not a usual long, lingering moan, but a moan of frustration or even resignation at the topic of the lyrics. Long Way is a :58 second jam that actually breaks the mood with a bit of laughter, and it's placement actually works! Down At The Ball Park has Eddie working in mostly an E7-A7 progression & Jandek free associating over the top. This is where we find out Eddie's name as Jandek says: "Take it Eddie". You know it's a great album when on it is a 5-and-a-half minute song called Harmonica that is just that, and it still can not take away from the stronger songs. Phew! Again, like Long Way, the playing feels more nostalgic or at least sentimental when in the context of the best songs on this album. If it were on another album, I might not look at it like this. Eddie strums quietly in the background. Next is (as far as I know) Jandek's only released cover song, House Of The Rising Sun. If you didn't know it, you wouldn't realize it's this song. Jandek sings the lyrics in a slow, dragging improvisational way against Eddie's strumming which he puts his own spin on. I didn't know it was this song until the guitar drops out & Jandek sings the last verse a cappella. Fits the feel of the whole album. Next is the biggest highlight of the album; Only Lover. Only Lover You never smoke a cigarette when you are doing something Only when your are half doing it You are a teenage runt with a lot of cream, sparky Gone floating down a river to Madrid And a car pull in softly Waiting for the footsteps How has as she followed me here? The tent I went to wasn’t mine, it was a cantaloupe’s Cantaloupes are so good to eat When you dream of your ??? in a shower Gone floatin’ down a river to Madrid I love you my lady I love you like I do Why you make me so blue? A-kill me, kill me, kill me Achilles, kill me I think I’m a goner When I see one of your shoes Gone floatin’ down a river to Madrid You’re the reason I live You’re the cause of my death I love what I can’t help You took my success Will you take my failure? After Arny (?) took a pill from the bottom He wasn’t n’er the same You ought to be gone floatin’ down a river to Madrid I hear you bought a new dress A red the color of your kiss Darlin’ are you with me now? A-kiss me, kiss me, kiss me Ahh it’s my time to die When I think of your black lips Gone floatin’ down a river to Madrid Found a painted pony in your breast Can I tell you the rest? I love you goddess Listen mister, can you be my monkey? Feel my pulse take a stab at my arm I was meant to have a garden Gone floatin’ down a river to Madrid Jezebel, you’re my favorite — in your country I roam Listen to me now, lady Worst I had to tell you was I followed you here First you made me promise that I wouldn’t leave Then I found my freedom Gone floatin’ down a river to Madrid Lost some lovely on the way You gave them back I heard you say You’re my only lover Like a kangaroo I’m only half doing what I do Jesus stares at me from the wall And I think I like your bosom Aww gone floatin’ down a river to Madrid Ahh, you hear my music Oh, lord I think it’s hard to tell how she followed me here At 10-and-a-half minutes this songs gets more intense as it goes along. Jandek on vocals & drums at the very end, Eddie on acoustic. The concensis on the Jandek board is it's about a break up with Nancy#2. I agree since the words River To Madrid get repeated a few times recalling the song of that title, which is aka Spanish In Me, both done with Nancy #2. The best songs are all about that same thing. This song hits it's peak 7-and-a-half minutes in with Eddie doubling the tempo of the same Em-D-C chords used in Your Other Man and Jandek tapping his foot with heavy reverb. This part is used in the trailer to the documentary & looped to great effect. Quinn Boys comes next and is done to better effect on a later album. The album ends with One Minute and starts with Eddie saying, "Looks like about a minute to me." Jandek then proceeds to bash away on drums until the tape runs out with Eddie saying the following: Just relax folks, just relax That’s right, settle back in your chair Listen to the music Close your eyes and watch the pretty colors dancing around in your hair Follow the music The tape cuts off and with that one of the best Jandek album ends. Yeah, I think this beats Chair Beside A Window. What makes this album is it's packed with feeling lyrically & that comes across musically just as much. Seth Tisue, who runs the Jandek site, said to Irwin Chusid in his book Songs In The Key Of Z that he's listened to all of the albums at least 20 times, but has listened to Blue Corpse 100+ times at least. Well, now you know why. What's amazing is that an album that has 7 out of 12 songs under 2-and-a-half minutes with 2 of those songs being things being literal throwaways (Long Way & One Minute) and and 5-and-a-half minutes of Harmonica, this is still an incredibly strong album. Without having heard the next 20 or so albums, I'd wager if you want only one Jandek album, get this one...NOW!

Modern Dances is a crazy album like Telegraph Melts. #14 in the Corwood series starts with a second version of a song from Telegraph Melts called Painted My Teeth. So far, his wildest performance is this song in either version. Nancy#2 is in on this album and song. Jandek on guitar and a third person on drums. The title is pretty much the whole lyric delivered in a tone that makes you believe, he's serious about wanting to do said activity and all the more power to him. Another yelping song follows called Twelve Minutes Since February 32nd (not a typo!) which he states: everybody dies. The drummers name is possibly Tom because in Hand For Harry Idle, Nancy#2 sings to give a hand to Harry & Tom. Then she says, "Tom doesn't want a hand!". Number 512 seems to get to Nancy#2 as during the slow pace she tries to get the others to go faster with no result which annoys her more: What we need very quickly is a change A real change, okay? And immediately we will change the pace Because we’re tired of this one Okay? Let us change the pace Oh boy did you ride? Don’t got a ride that night All I heard about drummers must be true To stand there lookin’ at you Fast, somebody’s got to go fast with me Because oh god, I get so bored On Nothing Is Better Than God (not a song you'll find in any hymn book at any time) Jandek sings the word God for 14 seconds while a little later Nancy#2 holds it for 15 seconds while Jandek samples various notes with the same word all around Nancy#2's held note. All of this is in the foreground of the speakers. I would go to any church if they were doing this song just to see it done. Spanish In Me makes a reappearence titled Spanish In Me 003. I Want To Know Why is another back & forth between Jandek & Nancy#2 with the most humorous part being the following: [woman] Why did I ever leave Ohio [Jandek] I’ll tell you why [woman] Why? [Jandek] I’ll tell you why [woman] Why? [Jandek] Oh this is why, this is why [woman] Why [Jandek] You want to know why? [woman] Yeah, I want to [Jandek] You want to know why? [woman] Yeah why? [Jandek] The cows came home [2x] The last 3 songs, again, are acoustic solo Jandek. They recall the pick-a-string-not-strum guitar playing of his earlier albums. This is a good & definitley fun album. Not as varied as Telegraph Melts, but keep the aspirin nearby. The VU meters hardly come out of the red, even on the acoustic songs his vocals hit the right frequencies to keep the meters pinned. A good album to drive through the city with & blare out the hatchback to all unsuspecting listeners.

Follow Your Footsteps, album # 13, starts with a sounds-like-were-testing-the levels instrumental called Honey which kicks into a nice melody two-thirds of the way through when Jandek stops drumming. Definitely another guitar player on this one as it's regular chords being played. The female singer, which I'll call Nancy #2, makes a one line appearence on this album by saying the title of the second song: What Do You Want To Sing. I find that humorous as she isn't on the rest of the album. The next song, Jaws Of Murmur, is the same chords as the last song except it has lyrics sung by the guitarist which are not too audible unfortunately. The reverb of the drums covers over his singing. Jandek's drumming a constant tribal beat which suits the feel & the title of the song, I feel, ominous & acoustic. Preacher has a great quick sliding guitar riff on acoustic along with Jandek chiming in on electric and some great vocals. He sings an actual melody though it's stark, but it's there. Reverb-drenched vocals really suit the breathiness of his voice. The next song, Didn't Ask Why, is another great one. Again acoustic, but the lyrics seem personal & heartfelt. Didn’t Ask Why You didn’t ask me why You just watched me cry Well, you were so sad Oh, then you were so bad Now back on the street My own two feet But you didn’t ask me why I Know You Well has a similar feel but is not a repeat of Didn't Ask Why. It's just as great. I Know You Well Can’t come around the way you do Say that you’re somebody new I knew you from before That’s the way you are once more Can’t come ’round here Say you’re somebody new ’Cause I know you I know you well Well, well, well I know you well And it’s been tough You’ve been around I know you well Time won’t tell What you’ve been doing Time won’t tell I know you well Well I know you well The album then loses it's way a bit for the next 3 songs. Dearly Need Some Words (the only lyric sung by the other guitarist) has acoustic & Jandek picking out notes on electric around it. Straight Thirty Seconds (which is 2:40 long) has Jandek on electric and the second guitarist on drums on this & Bring On Fatima. I'm certain it's not Jandek, as the drummer uses his hi-hat to keep time in one spot and...well, you can't mistake the guitar playing now, could you? These 3 songs being the weakest part of the album, yet they don't take that much away from it. The last 3 songs are acoustic Jandek. For Today has possibly been done before under another title, but I'm not totally sure. He has done that before (i.e. Spanish In Me/River To Madrid both on Foreign Keys). It's quite an outrageous chord that runs through the song Collection. The album ends with, so far, my favorite last minute fill-the-tape songs called We're All Through. A very rhythmic and simple rhyme with the title, almost like a kid's song by which I mean playful. We’re All Through All together now One, two All together now One, two, we’re all through I've mentioned almost every song from this album and when I do that, you know I think it's a great album. Again a mix of acoustic and electric with 2 (or more!) very touching songs and some instrumentals to add to the quirk factor. The lesser songs don't take away at all from the overall quality of this album. Great!

Yes Chaney, quite interesting how were hearing the same albums so differently. Makes for a great thread! By the way, Sterl's birthday is in just a few days: October 26th (1945). That's right, he's about to turn 59! I've seen his copyright entries for his albums and it lists his D.O.B. as the above. Also, I think the woman singing, who people call Nancy, is actually multiple women, 3 actually across the first 20 cds. There's Nancy on Nancy Sings, but the woman who shows up on The Rocks Crumble through Modern Dances is not Nancy. Her voice is quite different. Then another woman shows up on Somebody In The Snow & One Foot In The North. The last is quieter than the second. Whatcha think Chaney (or anybody else)?

Yeah, it's a reworked cover of a Bee Gees song called, "I'm Just Trying To Get My CDs To You Dave". Crowd went nuts!

I'm still floored by it all. What amplifies it is that I've known about him for only 2 months, got 20 cds not quite a month ago and then he plays out. I can't imagine someone's reaction who's been listening since the 80's & here I am, a fan less than 2 months & BAM! He's definitly smart in getting his cds onto Amazon just before the DVD & the show. The only thing I get sick of is the endless speculating & announcments of disappointment over him having played live. Guess what? He's a real human being just like you.

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.

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.