Art Rush's Blog

"Compassion" by Todd Rundgren

2009-09-21T15:13:00.001-07:00

I dreamt last night that myself, Adam and a faceless third person were in an Italian piazza-style outdoor mall when these creepy guys wearing orange jumpsuits asked us for change. Adam made some smart-assed remark so they snapped and chased us, and eventually one of them cornered me. "Give me your bag", he said, sounding jumpy like a crack addict. I went to give it to him but then thought twice. I value my life more than the stuff in my bag so I wasn't so much worried about that, but something instinctive told me I would be missing the point of the exercise if I just gave it up. So I said no to this guy with as little fear in my voice as I could muster. The dude was bewildered for a few moments and kept asking, and I kept saying no. I let the simple fact that it would be unjust of him to have all my stuff motivate my words, keeping my mind as clear as possible and fear a distant phantom. He and his orange-suited companions began to melt like wax, and Todd Rundgren's "Compassion" began to boom over the PA - as if I had just passed the test.

Saying goodbye to Michael - The Sydney funeral

2009-08-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

In the weeks following Michael Jackson's death, I didn't go a day without thinking about him and feeling a warm sadness in my gut. As these weeks became months and the media tributes began to dissipate, I almost wanted to go back to the week he died so I wouldn't feel so silly about continuing to miss him. I really surprised myself with how much all this had affected me; after all, he was just a celebrity who I had never met.

I was glad to discover that Jason Jackson was arranging a Sydney memorial service for Michael's birthday on August 29. Earlier in the month I'd been to see Jason's MJ tribute show at the Burwood RSL, and was deeply impressed by his dedication and flawless dancing. There's something you've got to respect about a 35-year-old with a backyard replica of Neverland, still living with his parents and making a living from Michael Jackson tribute concerts. Life gave him his calling, and damned if he didn't run with it. So maybe I wasn't the only one who hadn't quite healed from this yet.

Today was a surreal day. Adam and I drove down to Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Leppington, about an hour out of town. The service was held in what we later learned is a scale replica of the Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills building in which Michael will be buried. We both wore our This Is It – London 2009 T-shirts, merch from the ill-fated tour that was later sold off from Michael's official site. A lady who worked at the funeral parlour noticed what we were wearing and cheerfully asked me if I had been to London to see him. Smiling, I told her I hadn't. She didn't realise. I'm sure she meant well. “Childhood” came over the PA and they asked me if I'd like to write something in the register. Choked up, I wrote “Michael -” and Adam finished off, “We'll miss you”.

A hush fell over the chapel as the gathered mourners rushed to the window, where a limo was pulling up outside. Getting out was Jason Jackson, clad in full Dangerous-style military clothing with bright white skin, perky nose, and permed hair hanging over his aviator sunglasses. A human scale replica, with a scale replica following of about a hundred and fifty. As he walked past me to light a candle at the alter, I noticed the plastic badge on the side of his jacket; it read “Security Guard”, and I recognised it from a toy store.

With his delicate lisp and cameras whirring all around him, Jason gave a touchingly shaky eulogy about what Michael had meant to him. “When I had cancer”, he told us, “I found Michael's music to soothe my soul.” I made a mental note to remember this the next time I heard the phrase “just music”. I made another mental note to use my own music to do good for others, wherever possible. As Jason played us a song he had written, “See You In Heaven”, I noticed a crying lady – a lot of us were crying – dressed in the full Billie Jean outfit, clutching a small Michael Jackson doll. On closer inspection, her little idol was wearing a NSW Blues jersey. Each to their own.

As they played “Smile”, Michael's favourite song, Jason led a procession out of the chapel. Adam and I were two of eight or so people chosen by the chapel staff to sit in the front row for the service and then carry a balloon each in this procession, probably because of our shirts. We were honoured to do so. Jason led us to a garden where he unveiled a tasteful memorial plaque, and released four doves into the sky. We let our balloons go too, and I gave him a hug.

Everyone was crying when somebody said, “Happy birthday, Michael”. Then another person began to sing. Others joined in, and it was the saddest version of “Happy Birthday to You” that I will ever hear. It was a beautifully awkward moment hearing it sung by a chorus of quietened, choked-up voices in a cemetery.

Here was a real bunch of eccentrics, and I felt right at home. In fact, I feel much better now. It validated my emotions to attend a funeral for someone so important to me, and to know that others felt the same. I think I can move on now. Just as if I lost a loved one.

"Don't You Worry Bout a Thing" by Stevie Wonder

2009-08-22T04:21:00.000-07:00

Isn't music great!?

--art

"Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd

2009-08-07T23:48:00.000-07:00

Lately I feel a lot like Bart Simpson after Krusty died. Watching The Wall at last night's Pink Floyd double feature, I couldn't help but think of Michael Jackson; the messed-up rockstar filling in the gaps of a lost childhood with fame and money, doped to the eyeballs by his entourage, breathing just enough to get through the next show.

When I was a kid Dad used to tell me that one day I would "take rock music seriously, like all teenagers do". I never believed him until I found out what he meant when I got into the Floyd at age 13. Listening back as I'm almost 20, The Wall rings as true as it always did.

--art

"It's Raining Today" by Scott Walker

2009-07-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

A spooky, evocative song from Scott Walker, the weirdo's answer to Andy Williams.

--art

How to moonwalk

2009-07-15T05:19:00.001-07:00

Been practicing a lot lately. A lot of tutorials on the net make it seem hard - this guy breaks it down to a simple two moves. Just needs practicepracticepractice. And the smoothest surface you can find.

--art

"Vulcan Worlds" by Return to Forever

2009-07-13T21:08:00.000-07:00

Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke were the Lennon/McCartney of acid jazz. Add in the fresh blood of then-19 year old guitarist Al DiMeola and you've really got magic. Off Return to Forever's seminal classic Where Have I Known You Before comes the jam "Vulcan Worlds", perhaps the most epic rock'n'roll moment they ever had.

--art

"Jezebel" by the Golden Gate Quartet

2009-07-13T21:05:00.000-07:00

Discovered this on a 2-LP gospel compilation called Straight Street. Tight, jumpy vocals; soulful rhythm. Very inspiring.

--art

"Hot Street" by Michael Jackson

2009-07-01T02:41:00.000-07:00

Well, I said I'd do a series of posts on lesser-known MJ songs and I guess there's more reason than ever to deliver. "Hot Street" is a great song! This was an outtake from the Thriller sessions and remains unreleased. I've been listening to this shitty quality leaked version since I was 13 years old. I'm still in shock about his death, but I guess the silver lining will be the posthumous releases of the reportedly hundreds of unreleased MJ songs in the vault. I'm very much looking forward to a full-quality version of "Hot Street" sometime in the next few years. Interestingly, this alternate leaked 30-second snippet reveals that the song was originally titled "Slapstick" - maybe we'll get to hear that sometime soon as well?

--art

"Stranger in Moscow" by Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

I can't understate how important Michael Jackson was to me.

"Stranger in Moscow" was one of his best songs. Legend has it he wrote it after looking out of a Moscow hotel window to see hundreds of fans gathered there to see him -- and thinking, "I am the loneliest person in the world".

Good art redeems all. I'll be playing his albums forever.

--art

"I Want Tomorrow" by Enya

2009-06-06T14:15:00.000-07:00

Enya blows up a car with lightning from her finger in this forgotten and very dated video from 1987. I like how ragged she looks in this one, especially as she pretty much floated in one ethereal landscape after another in all her subsequent videos. This was her first solo single, balanced halfway between her Clannad roots and the lush sound she later became famous for. There's a distinct eeriness to this song that she never really went near again. Note the guitar solo in particular; I don't think she's ever used a guitar since. "They came before me, those men from the sun..." I've always been fascinated by Enya. I wonder what darkness lies beneath her tranquil waters.

--art

"Word to the Badd!!" by Jermaine Jackson

2009-06-02T05:29:00.000-07:00

I read about this a few years ago and finally looked into it today. Jermaine Jackson recorded "Word to the Badd!!" as a cynical diss to Michael in '91. This version never got further than promo singles, and the track was re-done as a generic jealous lover song by the time his album came out.

An interesting moment in the Jackson saga. It gets pretty cold. "They may love you, they don't know you, lonely superstar... In the back of my head, I know you're still a child". Ouch.

Reading the shitfight in the comment box, it seems Jermaine wrote this when his producers deserted him halfway through work on his own album to work on Michael's Dangerous. Others say it was just jealousy, and if he actually said that Michael's success was solely because of "timing and luck" that might be right.

In any case, Jermaine was quickly dropped from his label after this fiasco, his album tanked and he hasn't been heard from since. "Word to the Badd!!" killed his career. Really, that's a pretty good way to go out. I love a bit of cynicism and spite in my music.

--art

"Legs" by Art of Noise

2009-05-31T05:11:00.001-07:00

What even IS this? Don't think, just watch. =D

--art

"Sure Do Like the Fire" by Reggie Watts

2009-05-24T22:56:00.000-07:00

Free Mp3 stream via iMeem

Loop pedal king Reggie Watts' eight sold-out shows at the Sydney Festival in January this year gained him a significant local following. Word quickly spread along the lines of "you have to see this guy", and no-one was spreading it more enthusiastically than I. His live sets are entirely improvised streams of consciousness - hypnotic songs, weird sketches of characters that seem somehow familiar, a bunch of words strung together that almost make sense.. the voices you hear in your head as you fall asleep. It's hard to explain and it's completely unique. Check out "Fuck Shit Stack" on YouTube.

While he's been making a name for himself with his absurdist comedy of late, it's lesser known that he released an R'n'B album entitled Simplifed in 2004. It's nothing like his live performances at all but it's a great, smooth seduction record. I wanted to post the first track "Wanna Get" - KILLER! But I could only find a stream of "Sure Do Like the Fire". Which is also very good.

--art

"I Can't Help It" by Michael Jackson

2009-05-24T18:50:00.000-07:00

Today Channel Nine announced a competition to win tickets and airfare to Michael Jackson's London shows. You have to make a 30sec video of yourself dancing like Michael Jackson, with points for "showmanship and effort". Now I'm aware there's going to be thousands of people who are already very good at dancing in such a manner, and probably a couple of them are very cute kids who are in with a good chance. But I'm damned if I'm not going to give this a shot. Michael Jackson has been a big deal to me for literally as long as I can remember; my very first memory is watching the "Remember the Time" video on TV in 1992, when I was one or two years old. So I guess I'm learning to dance.

Here's "I Can't Help It", a smooth and unjustly overlooked ballad written by Stevie Wonder for 1979's Off the Wall. Michael's got three underrated songs for every hit; maybe I'll do a series of posts, yeah?

--art

"Saint James Infirmary Blues" by Cab Calloway (Betty Boop's Snow White)

2009-05-05T07:26:00.000-07:00

I went to a screening of The Shining tonight and this Betty Boop cartoon was the pre-show entertainment. Absolute genius - One weird idea after another! Nothing beats these early pioneers of animation (also see Flip the Frog).

The centerpiece here is Cab Calloway's song "Saint James Infirmary Blues" at around 4:10. A great song presented in a surrealist sequence that still seems cutting edge 75 years later. Such good stuff!

--art

"My Only Offer" & "Proofs" by Mates of State

2009-05-01T18:12:00.000-07:00

Few things sound better than Mates of State. This married couple writes abstract pop like nobody else, with a blend of voices as sweet as sugar in coffee. I've always fantasised about meeting a nice girl and becoming a travelling singing couple like they are. "My Only Offer", off their latest album, should've won a Grammy. "Proofs" off their 2000 debut is an early example of their interwoven, intensely delivered melodies.

--art

"Born Under a Bad Sign" by Homer Simpson & "Look At All Those Idiots" by Montgomery Burns

2009-04-29T05:46:00.000-07:00

Heard this on the radio today. Pretty cool version. Must put it on a mixtape sometime. Tonight I also discovered "Look At All Those Idiots" off the same Simpsons Sing the Blues album - Mr. Burns rapping! Awesome. I also love that Smithers plays the guitar solo. Why have I never heard these before?

--art

"Trust Me" by The Streets

2009-04-19T02:24:00.000-07:00

free mp3 stream/download via zshare

A girl once said to me "Yeah, I can imagine what going out with you is like.. 'I love you baby, but not as much as The Streets'". That actually sums me up pretty nicely.

That's me with Mike Skinner and my mate Adam above, backstage at the Playground Weekender festival earlier this year. I only had the pleasure of his company for a few seconds, in which I told him "I think 'The Escapist' is the best thing you've ever done!". I meant it, too; few songs have moved me so.

But yeah, lately Mike's been uploading new songs from his upcoming record Computers and Blues and posting them to his Twitter, free of charge. So far the best of them is the irresistible "Trust Me".. a fresh-faced groove something akin to an updated version of "Weak Become Heroes", produced by Jamiroquai. Check it out.

--art

"The Complete History of Communism, Part IV" & "Don't Let the Record Label Take You Out To Lunch" by Jeffrey Lewis

2009-04-08T05:31:00.000-07:00

Some friends took me out to see Jeffrey Lewis at the Hopetoun last night-- what a great performer! I felt like a kid again as he had the audience completely rapt with his deadpan songs, limericks and giant flipbook stories. The highlight of the set was Part IV in his History of Communism "paper movie" series. In this video you can't see the pictures as clearly as we could on the night but still! Also, below is his song "Don't Let the Record Label Take You Out to Lunch" - I so completely agree with every word of his sentiments on this. I should cover it sometime.

--art

Variations on a theme -- "Spain" by Chick Corea

2009-04-05T23:15:00.001-07:00

What is it about "Spain" that just rings true? There are endless variations of Chick Corea's classic composition on YouTube and I'm yet to hear a bad one. Above is the original as included on Return to Forever's 1972 album Light as a Feather. Below are three of my favourite reinterpretations.

Chick Corea & Hiromi Uehara, 2006:

A broken-in jazz great takes on the new kid on the block -- The wordless clash of personalities here is fascinating!

Chick Corea, Bela Fleck and Bobby McFerrin (part 1 & 2):

This unusual rendition pits loveable scatmaster Bobby McFerrin against banjoman Bela Fleck, while Chick oversees the proceedings. While the three sounds muddle and fight with each other a little, it's a fresh and interesting experiment.

Jake Shimabukuro:

And finally, my ukulele homeboy Jake Shimabukuro (of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" fame) takes on "Spain" with his weapon of choice. What is great jazz, after all, but variations on a theme?

--art

"Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" by Ryuichi Sakamoto

2009-04-05T22:01:00.000-07:00

A moving live version of Ryuichi Sakamoto's most famous composition. One of the Japanese language comments on this video reads:「切ないですね。日本人の心だ。」- "This is heartwrenching. He has captured the soul of the Japanese." The more I think about that, the more it haunts me.

--art

"Coming Up" by Paul McCartney

2009-03-29T15:53:00.001-07:00

I'm only recently getting into the Beatles (I always felt the massive hype distorted what was actually there), but this I can dig any day of the week. 1980's McCartney II album is a unpredictable funky experiment that's as many parts Kraftwerk as Todd Rundgren, and surprisingly not much like Wings. I like to play "Coming Up" loud in the morning.

--art

"Sandstorm" by Darude

2009-03-29T04:52:00.001-07:00

When we were studying postmodernism in Year 12, Nathan Ryan brought this ridiculous video in as a "related text". My class and I all sat around watching it on my laptop, furrowing our academic brows. When Darude and the spy babes sailed into the sunset at the end, Nathan had this wicked grin on his face and we realised we'd been taken the piss out of. With Darude, of all bloody things. Now whenever I hear "Sandstorm", I imagine academics trying to analyse it and I can't help but laugh my ass off.

--art

"Ain't it a Shame" by The B-52's

2009-03-15T05:33:00.000-07:00

(click for free mp3 stream via imeem)

Everyone loves The B-52's. Their self-titled debut is one of those must-own classics. Their second album Wild Planet is less consistent, but worth owning for the standout tracks. The David Byrne-produced Mesopotamia is wallpaperish, but strangely appealing. 1983's Whammy! is marvellous and highly underrated. In 1989 they came roaring back with their second must-own LP Cosmic Thing and the smash hit "Love Shack". But before that came this oddity, 1985's in-between album: Bouncing off the Satellites.

The band's guitarist, Ricky Wilson, died of AIDS halfway through this album's production. This understandably caused the band much distress, especially as he was vocalist Cindy Wilson's brother. They were forced to finish the record while not really feeling up to the task, and the result is quite unique; a half-hearted but charming effort from a party band in mourning, trying their hardest to put on a happy face.

While most of it is quite muddled, there are some choice cuts: "Girl from Ipanema Goes to Greenland" in particular is killer. But the real highlight comes on side 2 with the only moment that feels genuine, "Ain't it a Shame". The wackiness of every other B-52's track makes this sparse & poignant breakup song all the more striking, especially considering the circumstances. Ricky Wilson co-wrote this song, and lived to sing backing vocals on it. I don't know whether he had passed away by the time Cindy dropped her lead vocal take, but either way it's very sad hearing the two of them together singing "Oh, our love is/Like a fuse that's burnt out".

Apparently there's a Sinead O'Connor cover of this. I can just imagine her soaring voice giving this song exactly what it needs, and I'd love to hear it. Bouncing Off the Satellites gets little attention nowadays, but it's an interesting little chapter in the B-52's saga. And you can listen to Cosmic Thing for the happy ending. I'm sure Ricky was watching, while removing the two middle strings from his guitar in heaven.

Also, did you see the naked photo of Kate Pierson that leaked a while back? She's looking great for her age - good for her!

--art

"She's Lost Control" by Grace Jones

2009-03-14T06:33:00.000-07:00

Shades of Yoko Ono in Grace Jones' bizarro cover of Joy Division's "She's Lost Control". Grace has a knack for taking weird songs and twisting them into something entirely her own. This appeared as the B-side to her 12" single "Private Life", an electric reworking of an originally lifeless Pretenders track.

Ever since she played Sydney Festival earlier in the year, I've been fascinated by this lady. Warm Leatherette and Nightclubbing have rarely left my turntable. I'm also fixated on the Slave to the Rhythm LP, the most blatantly egocentric thing I've ever heard in my life. The music is so good she actually gets away with it; in fact, the self-worship is strangely refreshing. All of this has been very inspiring. Wait till you see how I work this influence into my next few records. ;)

--art

"Her Town Too" by James Taylor

2009-03-13T06:29:00.000-07:00

My singing coach once told me to never give audiences 100%; give them 80%, she said, cause that's all they deserve. Someone must've given that advice to James Taylor, cause what I've always loved about him is his subtle, unforced delivery. He sings like breathing.

"Her Town Too" tells the story of his divorce from Carly Simon with admirable maturity. It was a minor hit in 1980 and is somewhat forgotten today in the shadow of his 70's work. Less is more as the confronting honesty, minimal accompaniment and soulful backing from JD Souther make this one of his finest songs.

"It's got nothing to do with pity
I just wanted to give you a call"

Dad loves his work.

--art

"Main Street People" by The Four Tops

2009-03-06T02:50:00.000-08:00

I've always been in awe of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" and the impact it had on music. The simple yet profound sentiment of that killer single arrived at exactly the right place and time. This was the song that made the world pay attention, that made both Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson decide that maybe they should start writing their own shit, too. Maybe they too had something to say. Music, especially black music and especially Motown, was never the same again.

I don't have any proof that "Main Street People" by the Four Tops came about from the ripples caused by What's Going On, but it wouldn't surprise me. This is a great song, rich in nostalgia and perfectly carried by Levi Stubbs' robust Tom Jones-esque vocal. Unfortunately, the Main Street People LP met little attention when it was released in 1973. It's a shame that nobody really talks about the Four Tops anymore, especially for such an iconic band with at least two songs that everyone knows under their belt. Outside of cheesy compilations their albums are hard to come by, especially those from their post-Motown days. When it comes to classic R&B, they're hard to beat.

I was lucky enough to see Stevie Wonder late last year. Levi Stubbs had passed away the day before the show so we were treated to a moving cover of The Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)". Halfway through the song, Stevie cried. It was beautiful. But I really flipped out when he suddenly dropped this in the set. A religious moment, I'd say. "Brother..."

--art

"The Digger" by Ipi N Tombia

2009-03-04T03:51:00.000-08:00

I discovered Ipi N Tombia's album The Warrior by chance in the dollar bin at The Vintage Record, Stanmore. I bought it only to round off my purchases to a cool $20, and Phil at the counter told me it was "a bloody good album". Turns out he was right; this is great African music, rich in joy, laced with bittersweet weariness.

I was particularly moved by the final track, "The Digger". This song tells the story of a man who leaves his village to find work in Johannesburg and spends his life as a labourer. He sings from his deathbed, mourning that after a lifetime of work he has nothing to pass down to his son. Something about this resonated with me. I suppose we're all a bit scared of going out like that - realising that we wasted all our time, that we neglected all the important things in life.

"I smile, but is this my face?
I cry, but where are the tears?"

I'm told that the name "Ipi N Tombia" translates from Zulu as "Where are the chicks?". Right on.

--art

"Dreamin'" by G. Love & Special Sauce

2009-03-03T03:47:00.000-08:00

I discovered G. Love by chance through the seminal "Milk and Cereal", and promptly decided I had to own as many albums of this guy as possible. His sloppy fusion of blues, hip-hop and summertime grooves was just much too addictive.

In 2007, I played this song in the shower every morning before I went to school. "Dreamin'" provided just the right amount of pep to get me through the pointless treadmill days. It'll always make me think of waking up late, chucking on my uniform with minimal effort, and turning up to school halfway through period three.

Stop daydreamin, is what my teachers used to say
While they kicked a bunch of crap I forgot anyway
Education's important to make a man complete
But everything I learned at school, I learned again on the street

Amen, G.

--art

"The Kiss" by Judee Sill

2009-03-03T02:46:00.000-08:00

I recently discovered heartbreaking pop footnote Judee Sill. She spent most of her youth on the streets, falling into a serious cocaine habit, prostitution and eventually jail. In the early 1970's she released two albums that never really found an audience and then dropped out completely, fatally overdosing in 1979.

While you'd never guess at such darkness from her geeky looks and perfect harmonies, I suspect her life experience is responsible for the sincerity and richness of her voice that makes her so appealing. Here she sings "The Kiss", a highlight from her exquisite album Heart Food.

I like what she says here about the "union of opposites". I know what she means. If she's feeling the same energy I think she is, it's the same point I tried to make with Castle Towers. Male and female, positive and negative; in every individual a constant battle of abstracts and absolutes, a debate, a question. Eventually I found the answer; making the best out of my surroundings, and loving my fellow man to the best of my ability. "Sweet communion of a kiss..."

--art