Το Orange (1994) ήταν το πρώτο άλμπουμ που άκουσα απ’ τους Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Ένιωσα άμεσα μια οικειότητα για το απαγγελτικό φωνητικό στιλ του Spencer, και για τον πρωτογενή ηχητικό συνδυασμό blues και garage punk, που σε συνεπαίρνει ανεξαρτήτως “συνθετικών επιδόσεων” : είναι το “ήθος” που μετράει πάνω απ’ όλα εδώ, πράγμα που ουσιαστικά ισχύει για το σύνολο της παράδοσης των blues. Αυτό δεν συνεπάγεται την απουσία τραγουδιών σημαντικών, όπως τα δυο που ακούμε από το άλμπουμ τους Damage, κυκλοφορημένο 10 χρόνια αργότερα. Πρόκειται για το πρώτο στο οποίο εμφανίζονται με το όνομά τους συντομευμένο. 🔴 🔴 Orange (1994) was the first album I ever heard by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. I immediately felt familiar with Spencer’s declamatory vocal style, and the raw combination of blues and garage punk that sweeps you away regardless of “compositional achievements”: it’s the ethos that matters above all else here — something that essentially applies to the entire blues tradition. That doesn’t mean there’s a lack of significant songs, like the two we’re hearing from their album Damage, released ten years later. It is the first on which they appear with their name shortened.

HELP THESE BLUES
Good evening, ladies and gentleman, it is an honor to be here tonight with you everybody. I wanna say hello and welcome to the party. We are Blues Explosion and wanna play some rock ‘n’ roll. Now ladies and gentleman, this is not the devil’s music, but it feels like the devil’s time. We are not in the service of the devil, but sometimes I feel his sick breath on my behind. Said I feel so bad sometimes. I wanna sing about it in my song! I want everybody, I said I want everybody…
I want someone to help me with these blues
I’m gonna hang up my rock ‘n’ roll shoes
Take one in the head and one off the wrist
Won’t you help me? Please help me Miss
Check it out now
It’ll wreck your mind, destroy your health
What good is whinin’ when you need help
I didn’t need no one I thought I knew better
Before I used to walk, but now I only crawl
This burning cross, this life that I choose
Won’t someone please, please help me with these blues?
Well I been feeling bad, so down for so long
‘Bout the only thing that I got left
Is some sweet sad song and pay some dues
If you want help with your blues, then pay some dues
But I’m so tired of all this misery
C’mon please baby, please baby set me free
Burn these clothes, throw away this key
Kiss me now honey, set me free
It’ll wreck your mind, destroy your health
What good is whinin’ when your soul needs help
I see the sky turning red, feel the earth does move me
And I know, and I know in my heart
I said, I said, I said I need help with these blues

BLOWING MY MIND
Get up and greet the brand new day
Feelin’ so good
Everything’s comin’ up our way
Baby, you got on that favorite dress of mine
You lookin’ so good now baby
Oh, I can see everything
In all that mess with the sunshine
You’re so fine, more than fine
The smile in my eye
I said you’re blowin’ my mind
I’m gonna think about it
Very careful like
And figure it all out
I’ve got something real important
I want to say right now
Without a doubt
No doubt
‘Cause you see, my mind is made up
And my aim will be true
Baby, I said I’m in love with you
You’re so fine, more than fine
The smile in your eyes
I said you’re blowin’ my mind
Baby, what do you want me to be?
I’m gonna bend over backwards
If it will bring you to me
Just a little bit closer now
That’s some supersonic soul
Goin’ way down to the bottom
Make me feel like I’m gonna lose control
Crazy love, that’s some of that crazy love
Make me lose my mind
‘Cause you’re so fine
You’re one of a kind
You’re blowin’ my mind