I'm talking about making rock & roll music, any old way you use it. What the fuck else could I be talking about anyway, you salacious, race-based bastards?
Generally speaking -- or should that be generally blogging - I'm not a big fan of the white man. In politics, for instance, or corporate America, white dudes are generally overpaid and frankly overrated. But late last night I was listening to my iPod on Random Shuffle and heard "Scare Easy" from the recent album by Mudcrutch, the original group that brought Tom Petty from Florida to El Lay. The band featured two other eventual Heartbreakers - the perennially under worshiped god Mike Campbell and the eternal keyboard guru Benmont Tench, as well as guitarist Tom Leadon and drummer Randall Marsh who missed out on rock fame by that much, as Maxwell Smart might say. Proving that sometimes late actually is better than never, Mudcrutch have delivered not only one of the year's greatest rock album, but one of Petty's better efforts ever. I was fortunate enough to catch Mudcrutch during a recent show at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, and it was one of the most joyous, life-affirming concerts in recent memory. Old white guys may not be able to last quite as long as they once did, but at least we try hard, and like Petty says, we don't scare easy.
Here's further proof that after we Caucasians give up our historic hold on the presidency -- as well we goddamn should -- there ought to still be some gigs left over for old white guys -- which for the purposes of this discussion covers anyone over the age of 40.
HOME BEFORE DAWN -- Neil Diamond.
Both Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench can be heard on Diamond's latest and arguably greatest album - a mature and extremely passionate song cycle. To borrow a phrase from one of the inspired songs here, he shows some "Pretty Amazing Grace" for a white guy at any age. Home Before Dawn recently became Diamond's first #1 album ever -- one of the most encouraging and attractive examples ever of a mature white guy on top.
NOTHING BUT THE BEST -- Frank Sinatra
Okay, the Voice may have been silenced, and the man only rocked and rolled the way he wanted to, yet I defy you to find a better singer than Old Blue Eyes anywhere on the charts. Want to know why Sinatra still matters and charts so well? Take one listen to the opening "Come Fly With Me" and feel it for yourself, boys and girls. As an old white guy from the Garden State myself, the Chairman still makes me proud.
HALFWAY, PLEASED -- Curt Smith
For some, Smith may be just the other white guy in Tears For Fears, but to me, he's an old friend and fellow dad who's just made one of the stronger albums of 2008 by writing and singing beautifully about his own middle ages. As he presents songs about life, love and family here, there are moments of pure harmonic convergence that reminded me of Brian Wilson at his best. And speaking of Brian Wilson at his very best, I just got a first sneak preview of his upcoming album. Get ready because it's not just some marketing line this time -- Brian's Back!
DETOURS -- Sheryl Crow
Okay, so Sheryl is clearly a woman -- a still red hot woman too, I'll unnecessarily mention -- but do yourself a favor and give this album a first or second chance because Crow has come through the good, the bad and ugly, and delivered her best and most pointed album yet. I've known Sheryl a bit since before she had an album out, and I've never felt her put more of herself in her music. This is a heartbreaking yet inspiring album that I suggest old white guys put on as they do the right thing and write those checks to the Obama campaign in the months still to come.