"Things are Gonna Change"...

..and stay the same

The title above is the new Ray Davies single that Ning is all "best song ever" about.
(just kidding. He likes it but not that much).
In any case, this entry is inspired by two things:
--I just listened to half the new Ray Davies album.
--This weekend I picked up the new Uncut magazine, with the cover story on 1966 (i.e. 40 years ago.)

Why was 1966 so cool? Well, it was when pop was getting intellectual (the Beatles, the Who), the intellectual was getting pop (Dylan, Simon+Garfunkle), there were no prescedents (playing folk on electric? wow! playing pop on a harpsichord? damn!) and drugs were informing and inspiring, not damaging and jading.
It wasn't flower power yet and definitely wasn't roll around naked in the mud. It was more black turtle neck, shades and pointy boots. It looked forward to new wave and punk--before being derailed by aforementioned flowers and mud. I mean, listen to Revolver! It was more city than country and it was a good hair cut.
It's the 60's I think of and bring up when history treats the whole decade as Woodstock and riots.
Of course, I wasn't there, so my ignorance is bliss.

So anyways, by this summer we will have had been treated to new works in the past 12 month period by 4 of 1966's young UK geniuses: Mccartney, Davies, Townshend, Jagger/Richard(counts as one).
In 2005-6,they've all seemed to return to their strengths. I mean, one should explore all they can in their creative lives because you never know what you'll happen upon.
But it's just worth noting that due to any number of either personal or business-minded factors, they all seem to be comfortably back in familiar territory where they can be great and not give off an "help! I'm lost!" vibe that they might have during the 80's or 90's.

So strange, how you can travel the world 'round, be up and down, almost die, be arrested, have grandkids, make and lose and make millions of dollars and fans...
and still, your strenghts are your strengths.
The new Ray Davies album. What was he doing best in '66? Dissecting members of modern society to a toe tapping, hummable tune. The new album has got it. Next Door Neighbors, Life After Breakfast and Stand Up Comic all are pretty great.
What was average in '66 Kinksville? Bluesy filler. This album has got that too. Plus, the occasionally generic production is a drag.

Let's carry my thesis to the other peerformers I mentioned.
The Stones strength is still sexist lyrics put to Charlie's "Ok, I'll rock..but I'm really a jazzer you know!" beat and Keith's "Same licks as in '66" playing, mixed with Mick being very aware of popular culture.

At his best, Paul McCartney can still make you a) smile b) want to punch him depending on your tastes or mood. Personally, I love "English Tea" from his new one. I've played that song and "Jenny Wren" to about 10 people and almost all say "this is NEW?". They both sound like White Album era songs.

The wild card here is The Who's impending release. I'm just hoping for some clever songs with a fist pumping chorus. I'd even take a "You Better You Bet". No need for a concept album.

Ok. That's all. I care about these people. They're like my surrogate dads. This is why I write about them like this.
Then there's Neil Diamond's return to form, which was ok.
And then there's Nesmith. Let's skip over all that.

By the way, that Uncut mag came with a "New Music 2006" CD and I'm very excited for this year.
What's up with Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffitti 5 ? I dig the song on the CD.