today is the 25th anniversary of elvis's death on the pot that mournful day as punk was exploding all across the western world. in reading the trashy beach novel which is '24 hour party people' tony wilson describes the moment he found out - of another generation and too northern for sex pistols nihilism, he was moved, felt an era end.
interested then, the rolling stone article about how no one really gives a shit about elvis anymore. ya, i read mystery train but i'd be inclined to agree with those 18-year-old kids they profiled, and Public Enemy who seemed to think the King's legacy had no personal effect on them. likewise, my elvis was bob dylan or the psychedelic furs, sonic youth or the clash. maybe dylan has some of the elvis in him in tha he owed a larger debt to the tradition from which he came, he became a name through the old tradition of playing covers and paying your dues. but he evolved quickly where elvis became a pacified, pastel clad sinatra with only a truck driver's grace and little more. he wasn't even sexy like brando in streetcar, just a lumpen moving the shellac-ed hair about a stage. don't get me started on the comeback special.
on an unrelated note, i wanted to hate spoon but find that their blend of strokes rave ups and vaguely smarty lyrics shrouded in dumb sideliners making you not really sure - are these guys geniuses or just savants?- which is sometimes my favorite rock query. the iggy pop conundrum.

just finished a huge piece on the bluegrass band jim and jennie who have sort have become my pets. talking to 'bluegrass unlimited' magazine i got that unpleasant, itchy feeling of not knowing anything about a certain genre...wanting to dive right into it. bill monroe, at least.
saw a blues band last night and think i finally understand what that's all about. why should the blues be something i don't understand? well, i don't understand the cliched, white-guy in khakis relating thing and now i do. actually, yesterday there was an ad for the atlantic city george carlin show where he went off on his gravel-mouthed rant against white people singing the blues. don't know about the race card but the blues does seem like the black equivalent to country - a tradition with about five major themes to be taught and learned down the generations.
not at all like the blues is ladytron's new album, which i'm listening to right now. will it make it past the fischerspooner/adult world we live in now? things like trans am and ladytron, once thought kitsch, proved to be 'ahead of their time'? and depeche mode, ever faithful, has been around long enough for it all to come back around but couldn't even muster the pre-sets to get into the game. brushing off the gratuitous laments about the loss of youth and beauty (is the song about models? electro? i can't follow all the meanings) the album is pretty damn good in the lush, all keyboards go midtempo, cheesy handclap effect at just the right moment type vibe. i feel like i'm back on the gravitron circa 1987. and that's not a bad place to be.