"Darkest Hour," "Windmills," and in particular "Last Sunset" and "Blindsight" became my refuge. Those four songs formed a cocoon that gave me distance to reflect. They even helped make sense of those reflections. Other than their connection to Glen Phillips, I am not sure any of these songs really belong together anywhere but in my own mind and on my own iPod. I suppose that is the beauty of music as an individual experience. I don't know if I received the messages Phillips was trying to send with any of those four songs. Whether or not I hear the songs as he intended I did hear something- and it did touch me and it did move me and it did help me.
Thanks, Glen.
II.
If I stopped here I believe I have made my position on Mr. Lemons clear: It is highly recommended listening and it has been an invaluable companion during an intense time. All that and I have only discussed two of the album's 11 songs. There are some other excellent moments on the CD besides "Last Sunset" and Blindsight."
"It's different now but it's stronger," the last quoted line from "Blindsight," is a great segue to another standout track on Mr. Lemons, "I Still Love You."
I think what I like most about that line and "I Still Love You" as a whole is the idea of love songs for adults. I know it makes me sound old, unhip, and grouchy to pour scorn on the shitty, disposable pop songs that pass for love songs these days. I guess I will have to live with that because I am right. They do suck. Just ask Johnny Cash. He'll back me up on this. Well, he won't now. But he did. In the liner notes to his Love God Murder box set:
What has happened to our love language? We have brought it down to three-minute sound bites - sandwiches in cute words that rhyme. And it's a shame that those love songs are played everywhere with no follow-up kisses to seal the words.
Lust and passion have their place. Unfortunately, most of today's love songs stop there. They skip from lust and passion to the pain of the tragic, inevitable breakup. The sustaining powers of real, lasting love are apparently not ingredients of hit singles. What a shame. In addition to filling people's head full of rubbish about what love is and isn't, they don't get to hear about some of the best parts. The 'ring of fire' still burns. "It's different now but stronger." Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, and Glen Phillips get it. "I Still Love You" is a love song for couples with a few years in the books. It is a song about knowing someone well enough to know their flaws and idiosyncrasies and allowing them to know those same things about you. "I Still Love You" is a reminder that youth might be wasted on the young but the adults still have something over on the kids. Some things do get better with age.
Article comments
1 - Connie Phillips
I'm so sorry for you loss. Music is an incredible thing, there to celebrate the good times, and an amazing source of comfort in the bad.
You make an excellent point about love songs. I only wonder if it's a reflection of our society which doesn't seem to value commit and marriage the way it once did.
2 - Mat Brewster
Excellent stuff, Mr DJ. My grandfather died of alzheimers a few months back so I know some of the emotions you're going through.
I remember the last time I saw him. He was literally half the man he used to be, cheecks caved in, t-shirt hanging off of his wire frame, and he had no idea who I was. His eyes were cold and blank, not a simmer of recognition behind them.
But good review, I'll have to check it out.
3 - DJRadiohead
Thanks, Connie. I don't think it's an accident that at weddings and funerals and other momumental life events that music is included. There's just something about it that I can never explain. As it is I am stammering while I type this. It can't be described or explained- just felt.
As for whether or not it is a reflection of society... I'd say probably a little. I think it has more to do with music mostly being aimed at the kids- at least the popular music is anyway. "Ima Stickwitu" makes all the sense in the world when you're 15 (incidentally, what a truly awful song). And Adult Contemporary- well, first its unlistenable and second they sound like they are trying to convince adults they can still act like teenagers. Maybe it comes down to a realism/escapism conversation. Either way, I wish there were more songs like "I Still Love You."
4 - DJRadiohead
Sir Brewster, thanks for checking this out and by all means do consider checking out the record. It was recorded just down the road from us (in Nashhogan). Having read a few of your pieces in Bootleg Nation, I think there is half a chance you might dig this one.
Obviously, for me, the days were mostly spent comforting TWTWIAM and observing as folks who knew him much better and longer. The last time she saw him there were still faint flickers or recognition burning slightly around the edges. Those didn't last much longer and he was gone.
I'm sorry for your loss, too, Sir Brewster.
5 - Mark Saleski
very nice dj. funny how music attaches itself to almost all of life's events.
ps. favorite Toad The Wet Sprocket song: their acoustic over of "Rock and Roll All Night" on that Kiss tribute cd.
6 - DJRadiohead
Sir Saleski, thanks for that. Maybe music doesn't attach itself for everyone like it does us but when it does it just fuckin' does.
The Kiss cover is balls funny. Talk about going your own direction with a thing. I like it.
7 - Matthew T. Sussman
Mr. Lemons. That's Chet and Meadowlark, correct? Nice to see this "Glen Phillips" is a Tigers and 'Trotters fan.
"Whether or not I hear the songs as he intended I did hear something- and it did touch me and it did move me and it did help me."
OK. If I took my vision of a song and made it into a story of music video, well, I'd have that job as long as Mike Price had the position of Alabama football coach, only I wouldn't have as good a time.
8 - EaTsLeEpAnDwAtChTv
You're right, Mr. Lemons, like Abulum takes a few listens to fully enjoy. He's very underrated... kinda sucks when I'm on business travel and forgot to pack quality music. I'm left to listening to commericially successful wannabe-punk bands and forever grateful to Gwen Stefani for horrible lyrics and her teaching me to spell B-A-N-A-N-A-S
9 - DJRadiohead
Thanks, Suss, for whatever that was.
Glen's from Santa Barbra, CA. I don't think he covets Tigers baseball.
10 - DJRadiohead
EaTsLeEpAnDwAt, Thanks for commenting. I am with you on the Gwen Stefani blast. That song is attrocious. Mr. Lemons is subtle and worth the repeated listens.
11 - Matthew T. Sussman
Hey, not every article gets a Chet Lemon reference. Consider yourself special.
12 - Swede
A great album that take a few listens to sink in. Be sure to check out his live disc "Live at Largo" for a taste of what he sounds like live. There is also a great live set "Live at the Jammin' Java" that can be downloaded.
And 'Mr. Lemons' is named after the studio it was recorded in (which is named after a deceased cat).
13 - DJRadiohead
Swede, thanks for checking out the review. I have Largo but haven't downloaded Java. I will have to look into that.
14 - Swede
DJ - check out archive.org
15 - David
overall the album is decent. a bit mediocre compared to what we all know he can do but he seems happy with how it turned out.
my main problems lie in the general mix of the album, and in "I Want A New Drug", which is useless to me, and "I Still Love You", which is horrid compared to the gorgeous version produced by John Fields for "Winter Pays For Summer"
so ultimately, it's got 9 pretty good tracks on it. if it had one more original song on it I'd feel like I got a full album of worthwhile listening