Dancing about Music
Writing about music is not like dancing about architecture. Nor is it like herding cats. It's neither impossible nor futile, and it can be done well. Examples of good writing about music abound in this year's music issue of the Oxford American, "The Southern Magazine of Good Writing". There's an excellent piece about Richard Hell (who was born in Kentucky), a respectful profile of Bob Dorough (who wrote and sang "Three Is a Magic Number", and who is a member of the Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame), and a convincing comparison between the band Drivin 'n' Cryin and the platypus.Each year the Oxford American packages its music issue with a wide-ranging compilation CD of Southern music, which is not to be confused with Southern Rock. This year's CD includes Eartha Kitt, Sun Ra, Big Star, the Voidoids, and more. Find it among the literary magazines at your bookstore, or go online and subscribe.
Here's a band that's from the South, and they rock. I've written about the Marked Men before. This particular song packs more energy and hooks into 80 seconds than most songs that are twice (or thrice) as long. I usually listen to it at least three times in a row, because that money note at 0:39 only comes around once.
Marked Men: Don't Lose It
6 Comments:
That does it, I'm going to have to track down everything the Marked Men have ever recorded. These guys are so great. Thanks for turning me on to them.
Rocks the fuck out. Why can't there be more bands this good?
Good question, Neal. Anyone who thinks the guitar/bass/drum format is played out should listen to the Marked Men. I scavenge the internets and the record stores looking for music that will give me goosebumps, and this band lights me up.
3,6,9
12,15,18
21,24,27
30
I liked the song - it reminded me of the Dickies.
Little bit of Dickies, definitely. Little bit of Buzzcocks, too, plus a dash of Ramones.
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