REVIEW
VARIOUS ARTISTS
KEROUAC - Kicks Joy Darkness
CD
[1997 Rykodisc]
So somehow this slipped by last year with out ever getting a review here,
so I thought I would bring it to your attention. This is a collection of
works by the late Beat guru JACK KEROUAC, each read and done in personal
renditions by other poets and celebrities. (The only exception being a
short "Ode to Jack" by HUNTER S. THOMPSON)...appearances are made by other
word war casualties ALLEN GINSBERG & WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS..as well as
people like MAGGIE ESTEP, LAWRENCE FERLINGETTI, JIM CARROLL, JOHN CALE,
JOHNNY DEPP, PATTI SMITH.. and many others.. even an appearance by KEROUAC
himself, via a late 50's recording accompanied with music by ex-Clash
frontman, JOE STRUMMER. This release is a fine modern interpretation of
the words of Kerouac.. even giving light to 5 new pieces that have not
previously been published.. and showing some fine vintage photos and
drawings in the package. All of the performances and readings caught for
this release are really awsome recordings.. the music doesnt ever
overpower the words.. some of the stronger cuts are Estep's rendition of
"Skid Row Wine" (w/ the band The Spitters)...Burrough's erie voice telling
of "Old Western Movies"..."Bowery Blues" by LYDIA LUNCH.. and "Have you
ever seen anyone like Cody Pomeray" by Grateful Dead lyricist ROBERT
HUNTER. A few of the people chose to read on this disc are not very
familliar with the vocal acting needed to recite someone else's words..
and they come off weak and are hard to pay attention to.. of these are
MICHAEL STIPE, JULIANNA HATFIELD, & EDDIE VEDDER (see any connections
here?..hmm?) ..but there are some really sweet surprizes, with great
readings by folks like STEVEN TYLER of Aerosmith, Sonic Youth's LEE
RANALDO.. JOHNNY DEPP with COME doing "Madroad Driving...".and ANNA
DOMINO's "Pome On Doctor Sax".. and they are are all very well mixed
together.. so the disc never really loses you.. it is a really
entertaining collection.. and a great way to introduce a friend to poems
and words by one of the greats of our fading century, KEROUAC.
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