Thanks Joe

A belated acknowledgment to 22 December, the five year anniversary of a tremendous loss. The poet, artist, statesman, deity; Joe Strummer, gone entirely too soon.

His ideals are still omnipresent, providing never-ending lessons and still-relevant  allegories:

‘ In the end all bands influence each other and there are only 12 notes, so there’s is only so much that can be done. But I think that there is definitely still a place for the whole punk, thrash thing. Largely because of two main elements – it’s fun and it’s noisy and let’s face it even vicars must have times when they want to turn the music up.’

(thanks T)

If we can learn anything, it should be that many genres and artists can be connected, broadcasting the same message, albeit in different applications. Me personally, I’ve gone back to such pre-Clash staples as The Who, Bob Dylan and Neil Young. The message is all the same: isolation, fear, celebration, change, acceptance/refusal of change, social consciousness…the gamut.

Essentially, do not fall victim to voluntary pigeonholing. Embrace those artists and themes you feel you may have outgrown or disassociated from for sake of social acceptance. As long as the music isn’t shit, and has a cogent message, reacquaint yourself away!

BA

undergrounddiscs.com

Billy Bragg is back !!!

Billy is back….well he never really went away. He wrote a novel after all and also has worked on fund-raising for the Jail Guitar Doors project and toured as always.

I’m thrilled to learn Billy Bragg is going to be releasing a new album in 2008. It’s been far too long and I can’t wait to hear it. A couple of tracks are available online so I will scribble a review this week.

Billy launches his new album, Mr Love & Justice (released on 3 March 2008), with a gig at the Roundhouse in Camden Town, London, on 4 March 2008 He is also heading dan sarf (down South if you are not Cockney) to Australia and N.Z. in Jan/Feb so hopefully he will be over here in the Spring/Summer. In fact I would guarantee it – it’s an election year and he should be ready to help kick over the statues following the 8 year farce we’ve all endured.

Cheers

Tim

Baseball…sort it out !

Hear me out – I’m going to ramble a bit – but I really love baseball -

so I have a few thoughts/questions

1. I consider myself a minor historian of the game – and the past has taught us that as a rule most (85%+) players will perform at their peak levels ages 27,28,29 – a slight drop off will occur ages 30-33 – more significant drop ages 34,35 – and very few players perform even at acceptable levels after age 36. Strength/Conditioning over the years has probably moved that bar to the right – but most of the ‘named’ players totally buck 100+ years of evidence

2. At any given time in baseball history there have been a handful of players performing at star or all star levels ages 36-41. Perhaps 2-5 at any time. A few freaks of nature are still amazing into late 30’s and most of these end up in HOF – or at least close to it. We will always see a Greg Maddux, Mark Grace, Ted Williams, Nolan Ryan – but if you look at history – dominating seasons at those ages are really few and far between. I’ve wondered for years how come so many players are turning in better than career years at such advanced ages – Clemens, McGwire, Sheffield, Palmeiro – and those are just the obvious ones….truth is I bet the report is the tip of the iceberg.

3. It really makes you look deeper at just how the great that ’super’ Yankee season was? Half the bloody roster are named – and if 50% of the team are getting injections you just know the coaches and ultimately the manager are aware. But…they were great and winning…so it was cool?

4. How do you punish it? Guilty til proven innocent? Of course Clemen’s lawyer says it all fabrications- but I think the fans would support a lifetime ban for all those named. F*** it – clean up the game – and ban anyone else caught in the future. If the Olympic committee can make it happen…why not MLB? I think every except the players union would love to see the players barred – and what could send a better message to the kids coming through the minors now?

5. I think this puts Rose / Black Sox and players who jumped to the Mexican League or Federal League and got banned into perspective. This is beyond cheating – it’s completely messed up. If the same data affected soccer I’d want the same.

Anyway…I hope it changes the game – as it makes it very hard to celebrate any stats at all over the last 10 years. Everyone says the pitchers are getting worse – which is wrong as the talent pool to pick from (global now) just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

enough already…