Jon Spencer
Sick of Being Sick
A long time ago Steve Albini was on the Marc Maron podcast and was asked who his favorite people were to produce. Albini mentioned Jon Spencer and said something like “he knows exactly what he wants.” If you don’t know who Jon Spencer is, or don’t like his music, doesn’t that at least command some form of respect? Of all the people Albini has worked with, and been underwhelmed by, Spencer stands out.
Luckily for me, Spencer’s work and work ethic have always stood out to me. He once said that good music needs to be at least a little bit weird. Ain’t that the truth! That little insight has helped me for years when trying to figure out if I’m able to appreciate a certain artist or album. Not that it’s the be-all end-all of a good album. Since the Blues Explosion’s demise, Spencer has gone the solo route, and even though he has put out valiant efforts, his last album Spencer Gets it Lit was a little underwhelming. It was certainly plenty weird, but it just lacked hooks. Where was the outrage which the old Spencer music was soaking in? Had Spencer lost his bite?
Enter Sick of Being Sick!
This EP put all those fears to rest. Everything about Sick of Being Sick is marvelous: the urgency, the bite, the grip, the melodies, the odd choices, the SOUND of it all. This short EP has more power than most full lengths, and I love the fact that it is “just” an EP. Maybe it’s the new rhythm section of Bowman and Wind, but it’s as if new energy has been injected into these Spencer songs. The band seems laser focused delivering pure energy at lightning speed. Even the vinyl has some added goodies with an extended “ending” to the closer Disconnected, all pressed on fancy pants clear wax. Sick of Being Sick is a perfect album for newcomers and old fans of the Bles Explosion alike. Bring it on! Let’s hear some more!
Get it from Spencer’s Bandcamp page.
