The Kinks//Picture Book

Thinking about yesterday’s song on my way home from work, made me realize that there’s something a big Kinks-like about ETM. Sure, they’re a little goofier and are clearly never going to be the classic that The Kinks are, but something about the tone of the sound and the riffs remind me.

The Kinks are another one of those bands that I came to way way late. I still don’t really feel well-versed in their discography, but I know I kinda fall head-over-heals for everything I hear. Not that that’s really so unique—in a way, they’re kind of like the Stephen King of rock-and-roll—almost everybody likes them. The New Wave-rs, Punks, Classic Rockers, Metal Dudes, Mainstream and Brit-Pop kids all love them and cover their songs with glee. Besides, how you gonna hate with guitar tone like that?

Although it didn’t sell well at the time, I really like this album a lot (hint hint)—don’t really think there are any bad songs on here.

Kinks Trivia Question #1: This song was used in a somewhat memorable commercial a few years ago. What was it?
Answer: You got it.

Kinks Trivia Question #2:Which previously featured OSS artist was once the lead singer of The Kinks?
Answer: Seriously!?

Kinks Trivia Question #3: Know why The Kinks are called The Kinks?
Answer: Apparently it’s because they dressed “kinky” onstage, in leather capes and boots. I’d believe it.



Picture Book.mp3

Picture book;
A holiday in august, outside a bed and breakfast in sunny Southend.
Picture book;
When you were just a baby, those days when you were happy, a long time ago.

The Raincoats, The Kinks//Lola

To celebrate my upcoming trip to San Francisco, America’s very own homo Mecca, One Sweet Song is getting totally gay this week. Yes, please welcome (with loving arms and lots of alcohol) OSS’s Queer Week.
Expect: raucous fun, queer action, FABULOUS!!!!!, gender bending jams, all-night parties, gay shame, hard liquor, miller high life (champagne of beers, btw).
Don’t Expect: rainbow stickers, pink triangles, the color purple, u-haul jokes, gay pride, clay aiken, miller lite.
I'll also be giving you bonus songs on some posts to make up for my upcoming "days off" from blogging.

Getting down to business:
I attended an impromptu dance party last night and, I have to say, this song about falling for a tranny woman in gay, gay ol’ Soho (this could lead to a whole world of other stories for me, so I’ll refrain) was woefully missing from the playlist (take a note on that, Mitch). While the Kinks version can definitely stand just fine on its own, it’s this version by late 70s proto-riotgrrl/post-punk group The Raincoats, that truly does the song justice. The cover relies on a more disjointed rhythm, injecting a jagged aesthetic and adding even more gender bending confusion. What better way to kick this gay week off?

Unsurprisingly, The Raincoats have big ties to that other pillar of London’s late 70s proto-riotgrrl/post-punk/new wave scene, The Slits. (remind me to tell you about my “ariupisgod” screen name from 2003). They’ve also inspired a host of much-esteemed indie/grunge icons, from Chicks on Speed to Kurt Cobain to Sonic Youth.



Lola.mp3 [Raincoats]

As an aside, Karl, his dad and I really rocked out to some Kinks in the car pre-Palmyra show on Saturday, so it makes me happy to be able to give them a shout-out today. We are the village green preservation society.



Lola.mp3 [Kinks]

You can get The Kitchen Tapes, recorded live in '82 at NYC's The Kitchen, at Other Music Digital here.

One Gay Fact: Ray Davies says that he was inspired to write this song after the band manager Robert Wace had spent the night dancing with a transvestite.

Well, I’m not the world’s most masculine man,
But I know what I am,
And I’m glad I’m a man,
And so is Lola.