newcritics

In response to Tom’s query “one bit of media that touched your life in the last year”…

If forced to pick, I would have to select Tom Petty’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream” (well covered here at Newcritics by my esteemed collegue in all things rock Mr. Ted Wilson esq.). It’s been a while since something so inspired me and so bummed me out at the same time.

It’s a long four disc DVD set, but once you press play you’re in for the long haul. It quickly captivates as my wife discovered for herself as she attempted to go about her business and I sat down to watch it a few Sunday’s ago. After thirty minutes of overhearing it, she stopped whatever it was she was doing and joined me on the couch with a cup of tea in one hand and bowl of munchies in the other for the duration. Hit after hit pounding in the background of his interview responses. His undying and uncompromised reverence to REAL rock and roll is infectous. His ability to recognize the value of keeping in a band together and his dedication to making it happen. He made Bob Dylan’s music accessible to a whole new audience (present company included) at a time that ole Bob just may have slid into the annals of mythical sixties lore and Chervokas deification (Tom made Bob rock a bit harder too IMHO). He took on the labels and was willing to go the distance with them on both record pricing and publishing rights. I’m not a big fan of his Jeff Lynn tainted records, solo, Traveling Willbury’s, or otherwise (the Heartbreakers weren’t too keen on them either), but Tom’s able to explain to me and his band why he had to make them without coming off defensive or angry and I’m left feeling very cool about it all, hell, I might actually take another listen to those records (it’ll be hard to get over the Beatles/ELO sound-a-like thing though). He’s humble about his mistakes and hides very little from us. A highlight that had my wife and I rewinding the disc was Dave Grohl’s retelling of his call from Tom asking him to fill in on drums for an SNL appearance after Stan Lynch’s not so surprising departure from the Heartbreakers. Grohl’s amazement and reverence is written in the grin on his face during the on air performance.

The film bums me out because it clearly provides hard evidence of the death spiral rock and roll is in that even the most ardent optimists can’t deny. Tom doesn’t point fingers or assign blame, or even address the subject directly, but the usual suspects are in plain sight and fully exposed for all to see as the final credits roll. Just watch Tom tear down a gaggle of label assigned producers working on Roger McGuinn’s (one of TP’s major influences) alleged comeback record. “Maybe we can re-write some of the lyrics” one of the swill merchants exclaims to the group assembled in the control room. Tom retorts, “Fuck the lyrics, how ‘bout writing some better songs for this guy. Are you even familiar with his discography? He’s an American legend for cripes sake and you want him to record this crap?”. Roger thanks Tom for sticking up for him and saying what needed to be said, but how foretelling is the piece, huh?

If forced to pick here at this blog, I’d have to say Dan Leo’s “Confessions of a Hater” as my fav of the year. I laughed again re-reading it while getting the link. His other posts rock as well.

Overall, I’d have to say the entirety of the blogging experience has again overwhelmed me and touched my life in a very positive way over the last twelve months. It has allowed me the opportunity to continue to keep in touch with old friends, find lost ones, and most importantly make new ones. That’s not such an easy thing to do as one gets older, becomes more crankier and cynical with each passing day. I can say with all sincerity that I continue to learn more from the pages of my blogroll than if I was matriculating at some university. So here’s to you Tom and fellow Newcritics on a fine first year! Look forward to reading more of your musings and meeting you all in person someday soon.