Righteous Pagans
Michelle K. swans back in time to rediscover the stars of her old stomping grounds The Pagans, a tip of the Cleveland Punk Iceberg!
by Michelle Williams, Editor at Large
first published: June, 2008
first published: June, 2008
all you yoots, blastin' whatever that is out of those A&F stores... You should blast this instead
The Pagans
Blue Album
(Smog Veil)
Do not forsake your punk soul for the threads of modernity, I say.
The Pagans most recent release, "The Blue Album" is for all you out there in the grind to 5 fondly reminiscing of those mosh pits of old and sweaty clothes and boots... Yes this is for you.
Man, I just have to say, some incredible music comes from Ohio. Yah, I'm not arguin', great punk has emerged from New York, London, Chicago, Los Angeles...but CLEVELAND had a great punk scene. Check out http://www.clepunk.com/nav.htm to see what I mean.
The 'Blue album' has a little something for every mood. These guys are clearly here to bring the music, bent on offending and just letting it all out. But they are a lot of fun and it's most easily enjoyed from the perspective (if you can wrap your mind around it) of the days before we were so politically correct all over the place.
"Us and All Our Friends Are So Messed Up," has a jangling, ballad-ic, sing-along quality to it, you can imagine being there (messed up!) and swaying along too. If it has not been optioned for a feature film yet... I can see that in the Messed Up's future. Since that's what they do to songs that you used to really dig these days. Just wait, it'll be heard sellin' a gas guzzler.
"She's a cadaver," is funny, partially because it's sick humor, the kind where someone falls and gets hurt, but you can only laugh, even before you know if they are alright. I know this because I am usually the one on the ground there.
Michael Hudson provides us with the necessary raspy desperation required in good punk vocals; note it on "Heart of Stone." You WANT your voice to do that too.
Most people into punk are really into it. It gets in your veins and it stays there. The Pagans do that. They are Classic, The are Necessary and it's too bad they did not always get due praise. Beginning here, I'll do my part, let me tell you. Do your research, listen up this album, it's good for your punk bones.
And you can find out where they are today with a little digging.
Calling all you yoots, blastin' whatever that is out of those A&F stores... You should blast this instead. You wouldn't make any friends, scare customers away maybe, but I would come in.
Because this is a live album, recorded in Madison, Wisconsin, 1988, you are right there, and by the end I wanted them to come back out onstage, and rage...oh, but... I am at the bus stop
Michelle Williams
Editor at Large
Michelle Williams lives in Berkeley and is a former youth footballer star. Michelle's modern girl maxim? “Read lots, and always dress right for your motorbike!”
about Michelle Williams »»
all you yoots, blastin' whatever that is out of those A&F stores... You should blast this instead
the weekly guide to new releases
10 clickable things
☉ Bruce's Beach. Reparations really, or what? (NYT) ☉
Drag Shows are banned ☉
QPR: Promotion push to relegation fight, 474,000 a week losses and a rescue mission ☉
How to talk like a Chelsea coach ☉
De La Soul Streaming at Last (Gothamist) ☉
Why 1997 Changed Everything (NYT) ☉
Robert Forster: why Venus by Television is the most perfect song of all time (Guardian) ☉
Magentaverse ☉
Elvis returns to the Las Vegas Hilton ☉
Marc Newson designs a toilet ☉
RECENT STORIES
Adventures in the archives
RANDOM READS
What Readers are Reading Right Now
- Track by Track: 'Stanford' by Senestra
Alan Rider talks us through Senestra's new Dark Electronic production, Stanford - Outsideleft Week in Music: Trombone Universe
We're hearing from - Kalia Vandever, Kokoroko, David Bowie, Eric Bibb, Edward Ka-Spel, Depeche Mode, Angel Olsen, Tinariwen, Yves Tumor, Sleaford Mods ft Perry Farrell, Fever Ray, Fenne Lily, Rodriguez, Sudden Infant, The Luka State, Lonnie Holley, David Benjamin Blower, Media Giant, Psyclon Nine, Miles Davis, Sam Gellaitry, Ghost Love, Blue Statue, Telecom, Grandma's House and Cosmic Crooner - Edward Ka-Spel is a national treasure
Alan Rider seeks Permission to Leave the Temple - John Robinson's Exhaustive, Masochistic and Entertaining (For Us), Chart Survey
John Robinson listens to this week's Top 40 Countdown, so you don't have to - Cosmic Crooner...
Tim London gives some thought to the Perks of Being a Hypocrite... That's the title of Cosmic Crooner's LP - Outsideleft Week in Music: Glorious Games with El Michels and Black Thought
We're hearing from... El Michels Affair and Black Thought, TEKE::TEKE, New Order, Sparks, Tom Waits, Jeremy Gluck and Paul Hazel, Simply Red, Eddie Chacon, Rudy De Anda, De La Soul, Lisa Said, Esben & The Witch, Scott Crow, Glitter Wizard, Eyesore & The Jinx, Iguana Death Cult, AJJ, McKinley-Dixon, Laura T, Alice Low, Joanna Sternberg, David Heatley, Beach Fossils, Bobby Harden and the Soulful Saints, Dippers, Les Imprimes, Evangeline Playboys, Alma, Anika + NI Vash and The Tallest Man on Earth - Outsideleft at SXSW: Angel Applicant - Documentary Review
Lake looks at the winning doc in the SXSW Grand Jury Awards - The Book Of Bare Life & Returns
Tim London Considers Alcohol and Redemption while listening to David Benjamin Blower's new LP - Outsideleft at SXSW - The New Americans: Gaming a Revolution - Documentary Review
Lake on the meme-filled scattergun doc on the gamification of American culture - Outsideleft at SXSW: THIS WORLD IS NOT MY OWN - documentary review
In the first of this year's reports from SXSW, Lake views a documentary on the artist Nellie Mae Rowe.
All About and Contributors
HELP OUTSIDELEFT
Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]
WRITE FOR OUTSIDELEFT
If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]
WRITERS thru' the Years
Alan Devey, Alan Rider, Alex V. Cook, Ancient Champion, Andy Allison, Annemiek, Belle Plankton, Bruce Bailey, Caiomhin Millar, Chantal, Cheiron Coelho, Chris Connolly, Christian Present, Damon Hayhurst, Dan Breen, David Hackney, Denni Boyd, Dirty Lillie, DJ Fuzzyfelt, Dr. Richard Bennett, Duncan Jones, Erin, Erin Pipes, Erin Scott, Gracey Babs, Graham Baker, Guilaine Arts, H.xx, Hamilton High, Henderson Downing, Holly Martins, J. Charreaux, Jay Lewis, Jaycentee, Jennifer Lynn, Jenny McCann, Jeremy Gluck, Jez Collins, Joe Ambrose, John Robinson, Julie O, Karl Morgan, Katherine Pargeter, Kelsey Osgood, Kevin McHugh, Lake, Lee Paul, Luke Skinner, Malcolm, Marek Pytel, Mark Piggott, Meave Haughey, Michelle Williams, mindy strouse, Neil Campbell, Neil Scott, Ogglypoogly, OL House Writer, Pam, Paul Hawkins, Paul Quigley, Peter Williams, Pixie McMowat, Pixievic, Rene Williams, Rick Casson, Ronan Crinion, Ruby Lake, Ryan 'RJO' Stewart, Samantha Charles, Seth Sherwood, Shane O'Reilly, Sheridan Coyle, Sofia Ribeiro Willcox, Sophia Satchell-Baeza, Spanish Pantalones, Speedie John, Spencer Kansa, Steve McCarthy, The Conversation, Tim London, Tim Sparks, Toon Traveller, Wayne Dean-Richards, and founders, Alarcon & LamontpaulWEEK IN MUSIC
OUTSIDELEFT UNIVERSE
outsideleft content is not for everyone