The 1981 Listening Post - The Blasters - The Blasters

 The Blasters - The Blasters

#638

By Jed Francese
December 1981

The Blasters

The Blasters

Genre: Architects of Root Punk (-Allen)

Allen’s Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Jed’s Rating - 4.7 (yeah I said it) out of 5

Highlights: 

Border Radio (pure gold)

Hollywood Bed

Marie Marie

I Love You So

First Review! Gulp.

A not so quick backstory. I was raised on Adult Contemporary / Pop music, didn’t really get into cool music until at least junior high & it took me a long time to stumble on to Bad Religion, Op Ivy, The Ramones, not to mention the post punk/rockabilly revival.  So "The Blasters, The Blasters" was new to me once I was already a hack garage musician & honestly, I didn’t get to bands like them & X until long after The Talking Heads, etc…Television & Kris Kristofferson came even later. But that’s what’s great about music. FF to 46 years old & I have a vinyl collection I”m fairly proud of & when I wanted to review my first record for this group I really wanted one I have on wax & Mr. Lulu was kind enough to provide (thanks).

Holy Shit. I just realized this review is going to be super self-involved. Apologies (mostly) in advance? See, I listen to records differently now than I used to. I hear different things. So as much as I’d love to break down all of that, I’d also like to keep it relatively concise since I am wont to talk. Especially about me. OK. So back to me…I’m now, still an amateur songwriter. One who is growingly fascinated with how songwriting breaks down to three chords and the truth. I truly believe that. Now, if you can add super kick ass talent, well - that just turns a cook into a chef.

The Blasters were not as well known as they should have been. Sure, you’re gonna likely know Marie, Marie if you’re of the age and were paying attention but, unlike X - they hadn’t quite caught fire when this record came out. In fact, I believed this record to be from 1982 because that’s when Time Magazine gave it a top 10 album rating of the year.

One of the things we’re asked of to write a review in this group is name the genre. Well frankly, fuck genre (my opinion only). Some of it sounds like Elvis, some Buddy Holly, a lot a rockabilly, cowpunk, blues, bar room scat & then some sounds like it birthed one of my favorite current bands The Yawpers out of Colorado - check them if you don’t know. But at the end of the day it’s Rock & Roll. Simple, right? Three chords, maybe four & the truth. But it a'int that simple baby because then you need badass musicianship sprinkled on top until it’s let’s fucking go time. This album (as I would argue all great records) should be played at top volume, neighbors & ears be damned. One thing I did NOT know until I researched is that The Blasters are partly responsible for Dwight Yoakam getting discovered. Remember what I had to say about genre?

Alright, the songs - you’re not going to find a dud that’s for sure. Some C or B grade songs - 1 or 2, but honestly - once you grab your favorite drink, whether it be iced cold tea, rot gut moonshine or anything in between - this is the record you want to party to. You can hear who the Violent Femmes were listening to as they were coming up & you can hear where Americana (fuck genre) was firmly planted in 1981 - whether you thought Wilco invented it or not. (I love Wilco)

Back to me.. As I’m currently working on my solo record with a trumpet aficionado, So Long Baby Goodbye’s sax tracks are so sexy. I mean it, they’re sexy. So simple, so right, sound easy - but they're not. Also, I would kill (a bad person) for the stand up/drunken bar/piano sounds they have on this record to be on mine. Gene Taylor, I didn’t know your name before today but thank you brother. (Hollywood Bed is my favorite piano tune and maybe my fav track on the album.)

So check this - the producer, as crazy as this may sound is - The Blasters. Album title, band, producer, The Blasters. I’ve listened to it 6 times front to back recently (including as I type this) & I’m not sure it’s coming off the deck anytime soon, especially tonight (election night) .

"The Blasters, The Blasters” is just short of a perfect rock n roll record. Why just short - see definition of perfect. If it’s not your bag - I get it - same as politics. But. But. But. If Phil Alvin can yodel and make me smile while I feel unsure about the world, well then pass me that good tequila mama.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzlldshZi2I&list=PLlvn8uktX5Ls-AXHCKQiXxVzPWqIN0hMw