Center Of The Universe #5

Giant Sand, “Center Of The Universe”

(Welcome to the Center Of The Universe, featuring the finest in rock & roll, according to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's current definition of the term. Former Go-Between Robert Forster’s new album is out, and it might be his finest solo album yet. Inspired by wife Karin Baumler’s battle with ovarian cancer, The Candle & The Flame is a remarkable attempt to capture how cancer creates this awkward state of impending loss, a threat neither certain nor ambiguous. All albums about loss flirt with vanity - how do you make it about yourself when someone else dies? - and to do it when they’re still alive, contributing harmonies, is all the riskier. Anybody with any affection for Forster and the Go-Betweens needs to check it out. Here’s “I Don’t Do Drugs I Do Time.”

Robert Forster, “I Don’t Do Drugs I Do Time”
Soundgarden, “Fell On Black Days”
Sheryl Crow, “A Change Would Do You Good”

(2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominees Soundgarden sure wouldn’t mind a change on their ode to spontaneous depressive states, “Fell On Black Days.” 2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominee Sheryl Crow agrees that “A Change Would Do You Good.” Up next is “Ghost Blog” from Dylan Hicks & Small Screens' Airport Sparrows, as seen on my Favorite Albums Of 2022 list. I guarantee it doesn’t sound like you think a song called “Ghost Blog” would.)

Dylan Hicks & Small Screens, “Ghost Blog”
Cyndi Lauper, “Money Changes Everything”
Willie Nelson, “Pages”
Lungfish, “Put Your Hand In My Hand”

(I found out from a sponsored ad that Dischord had new vinyl copies of Lungfish’s classic Talking Songs For Walking available this Bandcamp Friday. Glad to finally have it! That was the last song on the album. Beforehand, 2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Nominee Cyndi Lauper leaves her old man behind on “Money Changes Everything.” Then 2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Nominee Willie Nelson tried to forget the young woman who left him on “Pages,” from 1968’s Good Times. Up next is “Echo” from New York City, the latest album by Brooklyn’s The Men.)

The Men, “Echo”
Missy Elliott, “Lose Control (feat. Ciara & Fat Man Scoop)”
New Order, “Confusion”
Ministry, “Revenge”

(While Ministry has yet to receive a Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Nomination, their delightful pre-industrial anthem “Revenge” sure fits in nicely with 2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominee New Order’s electro-tribute “Confusion” - Substance version - and 2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominee Missy Elliott’s electro-interpolation “Lose Control.” I haven’t kept up with the Go Team! in recent years, but on their new album Get Up Sequences Part Two, they sure sound as chipper as they ever did. Here’s “Gemini.”)

The Go! Team, “Gemini”
George Michael, “Monkey”
Rage Against The Machine, “Guerilla Radio”
Rocket From The Crypt, “Tarzan”

(Rocket From The Crypt - sadly never bound for the Rock Hall - bringing in grunting chants, sitars, horns, and a cavalcade of animal references for their single “Tarzan,” found on the second All Systems Go! compilation. Before that, 2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominee George Michael bemoaned your “Monkey” and 2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominee Rage Against The Machine praised your “Guerilla Radio.” I'm almost positive Dick Valentine has sung of primates - there's no way that lyrical content is beneath him - but I decided to spotlight his brand new album This Is Hell! with a song that dares to demand “Go Fund Me.”)

Dick Valentine, “Go Fund Me”
A Tribe Called Quest, “Mind Power”
The White Stripes, “Sister, Do You Know My Name?”
Bonnie Raitt, “Down The Hall”

(Bonnie Raitt has already been in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame since 2000, but she’s not done getting awards! As you may have heard, she won Song Of The Year at the Grammys last night for my third favorite original on her excellent 2022 album Just Like That. Like that freshly-acclaimed title track, “Down The Hall” was also inspired by her fallen compatriot and “Angel From Montgomery” writer John Prine. I wish more artists were inspired by him. Before that, we heard 2022 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominee The White Stripes and 2022 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominee A Tribe Called Quest. Now we’re going to hear Jack White and Q-Tip duet on ”Hi De Ho,” from Jack’s 2022 album Fear Of The Dawn. Buckle up!)

Jack White feat. Q-Tip, “Hi De Ho”
Kate Bush, “Rubberband Girl”
The Spinners, “The Rubberband Man”
Warren Zevon, “Life’ll Kill Ya”

(2022 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominee Warren Zevon with the title track of his 2000 album, clearly plenty morbid before his late 2002 terminal cancer diagnosis; the guy was promoting an album named My Ride's Here when he found out. Before that, 2022 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominees Kate Bush & The Spinners sang praises of the two Rubberband genders. I wound up changing my proposed fan ballot to facilitate a potential All-Star Rubberband Jam (if anything would get Kate to show up...), at the expense of 2022 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominee Iron Maiden. If they don’t get in this year, I promise to vote for Eddie and all who have played behind his portrait next year. And so we leave the Center Of The Universe with a person who sadly passed away the same year as Warren Zevon, Anton Maiden, reminding us to “Die With Your Boots On.” Thanks for your time!)

Anton Maiden, “Die With Your Boots On”