New Son Volt album in Spring?

[turpentim]

Just meant he wasn't being deliberately political because he thought all those snowflake liberals would buy it. Put on your pussy hats and buy Union.

First of all, even though Jay’s politics are no-doubt left of center, it seems to me that the overarching message of the forthcoming record is a call for unity and a recognition of a common humanity. Jay has explicitly said as much. We are all, no matter how we vote, part of "The 99."

Secondly, if standing up and speaking out against injustice, inequality, and the grossly unconstitutional policies currently being carried out in the name of America makes me a snowflake, well paint my frozen ass white and watch me float to the ground.

There is an enormous irony here (in the term "snowflake"), namely that it is the bravest and most daring individuals throughout history — freedom fighters, civil rights activists, revolutionaries, etc. (read: snowflakes) — who have put their very lives on the line and often paid the ultimate price in the name of what they believed, in the name of empathy and justice. Meanwhile, those who use the term "snowflake" to disparage are typically those most rapt in fear. The overarching tactic of the right — in America and elsewhere, now and throughout history — has been to tap into and stoke the latent fear of the public. And it is, by and large, an enormously effective tactic. Look at Nazi Germany. Fuck, look at November 2016, when a frightened electorate took to the polls and brought us a xenophobic reality TV clown hellbent on driving the country into the ground and alienating it from the rest of world, allies and enemies alike. It is so-called snowflakes who refuse to be bullied and manipulated into the toxic forms of fear that Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, and that ilk so desperately want to sell us.

In a word: "Trying not to wear hearts on sleeves / That’s the way it seems to always be / The salt and the steel of the breath of those not keeping still / And you’re out there doing what you would die for / Believing till there’s no turning back."

Tim in the ATL

[Tokyo Fan]

I can understand the thinking that an incident specific song could be thought of as dated, it's a generational thing. I'm old enough (63) to remember Kent State, but younger people probably don't know anything about it unless they have been taught about in school or their own research. And younger people probably can't feel any connection to it because the country hasn't experienced anything like the 60's and early 70's that they can relate to on a personal level.

I agree with you that music is meant to address the immediate, or the past I suppose in some cases, but only time will tell how well it stands up to the test of well, uh, time. Will people a generation or two from now have any idea what Jet Pilot is about?

Re: Jet Pilot. I would guess, mostly "no, folks won't know who Jet Pilot is about." But the idea of using/or being propelled to positions of power by daddy's wealth and connections is readily understandable, even a generation hence.

Pink Floyd's "The Fletcher Memorial Home": maybe Reagan will be remembered a while longer but, for Americans, Mr. Begin? Paisley? No. But I would argue that it doesn't matter as it doesn't take away from the impact of the song as "Home for Incurable Tyrants and Kings" line makes it very clear as to the occupants of the institutional home. "Boom boom, bang bang, lie down you're dead."

Just as no one needs to know who Mr. Wilson and Mr. Heath are to continue to enjoy The Beatles' Tax Man. That it references real-time personages doesn't detract from the song.

[farrarfan1]

I can understand the thinking that an incident specific song could be thought of as dated, it's a generational thing. I'm old enough (63) to remember Kent State, but younger people probably don't know anything about it unless they have been taught about in school or their own research. And younger people probably can't feel any connection to it because the country hasn't experienced anything like the 60's and early 70's that they can relate to on a personal level.

I agree with you that music is meant to address the immediate, or the past I suppose in some cases, but only time will tell how well it stands up to the test of well, uh, time. Will people a generation or two from now have any idea what Jet Pilot is about?

[Tokyo Fan]

Other artists "flaunt" their political views by making movies and tv shows, some by writing books, others paint pictures in order to "make a buck". Some make a whole lot of bucks by flaunting their political views and there's nothing wrong with it, in fact, it's a good thing.

I would think an artist whose family, fellow band members, tour venue owners, etc, depend on him to sell his craft for their economic well being and security would do everything in his power to sell as much of it as possible, and would constantly be looking at ways to increase sales to his fans/customers.

Obviously he's not giving his albums and merchandise away for free, and traveling around the country putting on free shows so I think there's some attempt to "make a buck" and I truly hope he makes a whole bunch of them for his work.

Well, yeah. I took your earlier comment to mean that Farrar had met with his marketing group and determined that writing x number of political songs should drive sales up 42% (or some arbitrary number). That political-content lyrics were a sure-fire money maker. That I doubt very much.

He's always written in this manner.

Ha-ha, I doubt there was anything that formal! I was theorizing that the decision to announce via interviews that this album was politically driven, something I don't believe he's ever done before, may have been directed at his core fans/customers and maybe a way to get the attention of new fans/customers. And maybe it wasn't. If it was I was giving him credit for good marketing skills.

Now I'll stand back and await the barrage of insults headed my way. But not from you, I believe we've gotten along in the past.

I guess I don't know if he's done that type of interview. Jet Pilot is pretty in-your-face, as a song, but Farrar does seem to tread pretty carefully when it comes to advocacy while being interviewed.

I frequent another music forum where politics are strictly forbidden, posts deleted, members being given the boot. But...in one rather interesting exchange, it seems some folks get especially upset if the lyrics specify one particular moment in time. It "dates" the song (according to this thinking), which, I don't think matters one bit. Music is meant to address the immediate. At least pop music is. Further, personally I don't think it is dated. "Ohio" is pertinent anytime.

[unchartedthickets]

Just meant he wasn't being deliberately political because he thought all those snowflake liberals would buy it. Put on your pussy hats and buy Union.[/quote

Jay is expressing a time honored tradition of protest song.
Denying that facet after listening to his work is like
watching Fox News for the news. As I type this with my
pussy hat on, I watch the snowflakes flutter to earth.

[farrarfan1]

Other artists "flaunt" their political views by making movies and tv shows, some by writing books, others paint pictures in order to "make a buck". Some make a whole lot of bucks by flaunting their political views and there's nothing wrong with it, in fact, it's a good thing.

I would think an artist whose family, fellow band members, tour venue owners, etc, depend on him to sell his craft for their economic well being and security would do everything in his power to sell as much of it as possible, and would constantly be looking at ways to increase sales to his fans/customers.

Obviously he's not giving his albums and merchandise away for free, and traveling around the country putting on free shows so I think there's some attempt to "make a buck" and I truly hope he makes a whole bunch of them for his work.

Well, yeah. I took your earlier comment to mean that Farrar had met with his marketing group and determined that writing x number of political songs should drive sales up 42% (or some arbitrary number). That political-content lyrics were a sure-fire money maker. That I doubt very much.

He's always written in this manner.

Ha-ha, I doubt there was anything that formal! I was theorizing that the decision to announce via interviews that this album was politically driven, something I don't believe he's ever done before, may have been directed at his core fans/customers and maybe a way to get the attention of new fans/customers. And maybe it wasn't. If it was I was giving him credit for good marketing skills.

Now I'll stand back and await the barrage of insults headed my way. But not from you, I believe we've gotten along in the past.

[amzie]

...

[Tokyo Fan]

Other artists "flaunt" their political views by making movies and tv shows, some by writing books, others paint pictures in order to "make a buck". Some make a whole lot of bucks by flaunting their political views and there's nothing wrong with it, in fact, it's a good thing.

I would think an artist whose family, fellow band members, tour venue owners, etc, depend on him to sell his craft for their economic well being and security would do everything in his power to sell as much of it as possible, and would constantly be looking at ways to increase sales to his fans/customers.

Obviously he's not giving his albums and merchandise away for free, and traveling around the country putting on free shows so I think there's some attempt to "make a buck" and I truly hope he makes a whole bunch of them for his work.

Well, yeah. I took your earlier comment to mean that Farrar had met with his marketing group and determined that writing x number of political songs should drive sales up 42% (or some arbitrary number). That political-content lyrics were a sure-fire money maker. That I doubt very much.

He's always written in this manner.

[Tokyo Fan]

As farrarfan1 pointed out, this album is being presented as some kind of manifesto. I think we are all aware of the sad condition of this country--Jay doesn't have a corner on such angst. Whatever. I also doubt he is trying to make a buck--don't get it. Anyway, when I used the word redundant I was referring to the fact that there is a great deal of overlap in all the merch peddled as Farrar, Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo and other incarnations with vinyl, CD, etc. I was referring to someone's comment about his collection.

I see (on redundant).

Re: manifesto. If so, it's a pretty humble one ("but the idea that all walks of life were working together is important.") Later, he talks about The Replacements and making music to (paraphrasing) forget our troubles.

(I don't want to leave this page to copy and paste because I had all sorts of problems getting in earlier. I lost two long posts.)

[farrarfan1]

Other artists "flaunt" their political views by making movies and tv shows, some by writing books, others paint pictures in order to "make a buck". Some make a whole lot of bucks by flaunting their political views and there's nothing wrong with it, in fact, it's a good thing.

I would think an artist whose family, fellow band members, tour venue owners, etc, depend on him to sell his craft for their economic well being and security would do everything in his power to sell as much of it as possible, and would constantly be looking at ways to increase sales to his fans/customers.

Obviously he's not giving his albums and merchandise away for free, and traveling around the country putting on free shows so I think there's some attempt to "make a buck" and I truly hope he makes a whole bunch of them for his work.

[amzie]

...

[Tokyo Fan]

I doubt Farrar is flaunting his political beliefs in order to make a buck. That actually made me laugh. Farrar has always included songs with politically-tinged lyrics (and the list noted upthread is spot on).

Redundant? Again, I gotta laugh as the album hasn't even been released yet. All we know are a couple of songs and a bunch of song titles (other than what he tells us in the interview).

"High pass filter on a balanced line, or a cigarette on a headstock....All the same just make it rhyme "

Nothing political there. I don't like cigarettes but I'll still sing that line.

[farrarfan1]

From a business standpoint I think this is a brilliant move. Since some on the left, and this group is his clearly his target audience, believe the political conditions in the country are the worst they've ever been in the last 200+ years he might be able to capitalize on these emotions and make a killing financially. And if that happens I applaud him for his genius and business savvy!
.

I shudder to think that anyone would blatantly take the position of
Commander and Chief for their own gain. Isn’t being the president supposed to be a position of sacrifice for the greater good of the country and it’s citizens? It certainly does seem like trump is in it for the greater good of himself and his family given the extreme nepotism.

On the subject of the wall that he wants to build, that he has failed to start and shut down the government for at the loss of 11 Billion dollars, trump not only jeopardized his own citizens but also decided to finally fire the illegals he hired for his personal businesses. That’s extra special and savvy! Let’s not forget 6 bankruptcies. He’s a genius for sure.

Huh? I was talking about Jays business savvy and hoping it
pays off for him financially.

[unchartedthickets]

From a business standpoint I think this is a brilliant move. Since some on the left, and this group is his clearly his target audience, believe the political conditions in the country are the worst they've ever been in the last 200+ years he might be able to capitalize on these emotions and make a killing financially. And if that happens I applaud him for his genius and business savvy!
.

I shudder to think that anyone would blatantly take the position of
Commander and Chief for their own gain. Isn’t being the president supposed to be a position of sacrifice for the greater good of the country and it’s citizens? It certainly does seem like trump is in it for the greater good of himself and his family given the extreme nepotism.

On the subject of the wall that he wants to build, that he has failed to start and shut down the government for at the loss of 11 Billion dollars, trump not only jeopardized his own citizens but also decided to finally fire the illegals he hired for his personal businesses. That’s extra special and savvy! Let’s not forget 6 bankruptcies. He’s a genius for sure.

[unchartedthickets]

Has anyone listened to this gem from the pride of Michigan (along with Kid Rock)?

https://www.tednugent.com/pre-order-the ... do-it-now/

Surely a great listen.

Not only is his music an exemplar of freedom and Merican values, that’s not all! Book your Sunrise Safari Hunt with the man himself and get that endangered species on your wall to impress your wife’s hot friends that take part in Shemane Nugent’s healthy life style program, when they come over
for the next get-together.