“She looks like Eve Marie
Saint,
In “On The Waterfront”,
As she reads Simone de Beauvoir,
In her American circumstance…,
“Rattlesnakes” – Lloyd Cole & The Commotions (1984)
For the most part, Rock music
has avoided the weight of intellectualism. You didn’t need to be au fait with
the existentialist philosophy of Simone de Beauvoir to appreciate songs about
cars and girls and good times. When Lloyd Cole released “Rattlesnakes” he
brought Rock and intellectualism closer together. It didn’t matter that most
radio listeners had never heard of Ms. de Beauvoir, much less read her books.
Nor did it matter that it was Eva Marie Saint (not Eve) who starred in “On The
Waterfront”. Having drawn much of his inspiration from Bob Dylan, Cole was
again moved to action after hearing Bob’s recent ‘Tempest’ album. Contrary to
the inference of its title, Lloyd Cole’s just released album, ‘Standards’ sees
the 52 year old singer not trawling the Great American Songbook (a la Rod
Stewart) but musing on mid-life themes and “going electric” for the first time
in two decades.
Another newly reinvigorated singer
featuring in this edition is Sting. Having finally put the lid on activities
with The Police – and putting aside his dalliances with Classical music – we
present the first song from his next album, ‘The Last Ship’, due in
September.
In this edition of JR we even
have something for Cricket fans as Pop eccentrics Neil Hannon (The Divine
Comedy) and Thomas Walsh (Pugwash) return to the crease for a second innings as
their alter egos, The Duckworth Lewis Method. With guest appearances from Cricket
commentator Henry "Blowers" Blofeld, Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe
and the unspeakably Anglo Stephen Fry, the pair’s new album, ‘Sticky Wickets’
is the perfect Pop soundtrack for The 2013 Ashes Series as you thumb through
the latest Wisden’s Almanack.
In a week dominated by grand
returns, this edition of JR also features the latest from England’s Pet Shop
Boys, veteran American Blues guitar hero Buddy Guy and Australian Rock band
Baby Animals.
Meanwhile, the JR Radar this
week picked up on the French model, actress and singer/songwriter, Lou Doillon.
Daughter of English actress and singer Jane Birkin (remember, “Je t’aime… moi
non plus”?), Lou Doillon’s debut album, ‘Places’ is now released in Australia.
The JR Radar was also quick to
alert us to a (not-so-traditional) String band from Western Australia called,
Stoney Joe. In true Bluegrass style, they don’t have a drummer, making do
instead with wobble board, slapping spoons and other innovative forms of
percussion - but where Roly Skender and his bandmates break with tradition is
with the many shades and textures they can wring from a vintage Roland
synthesizer. Their 2nd album, ‘Hot Jerky’ is officially launched in
Perth on July 26th but before then, you can hear their fusion of
Folk, Country and Electronica, right here.
Lloyd Cole: “Period Piece” (from the
album, ‘Standards’)
The Duckworth Lewis Method: “It's Just Not Cricket”/"Third
Man" (from the album ‘Sticky Wickets’)
Pet Shop Boys: “Weekend” (from the album, ‘Electric’)
Stoney Joe: ”Big Rock”/"Stars, Moon
& Sea" (from the album, ‘Hot Jerky’)
Buddy Guy: “Meet Me In Chicago” (preview
from the album, ‘Rhythm & Blues’)
Lou Doillon: “I.C.U.”/"Devil Or
Angel" (from the album, ‘Places’)
Sting: “Practical Arrangement” (preview
from the album, ‘The Last Ship’)
Baby Animals: “Winter's Afternoon” (from
the album, ‘This Is Not The End’)
Just Released is heard
Saturdays at 12pm and Sundays at 4pm (AEDT or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio in Brisbane, Sydney,
Canberra,
Melbourne,
Adelaide
and Perth,
and via the streams of our metropolitan stations on the Gold Coast,
in Newcastle,
Hobart
and Darwin.
You can also listen to JR
during the week on ABC Dig Music Mondays
@ 2pm, Wednesdays @ 8pm & Thursdays @ 11am (AEDT or AEST) and on Radio
Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific.
To stream Just Released on
demand, simply connect to our web pages via the hot links above. …(or even
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{](-_-)[} ♫ Thanks for listening.
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