A few months ago I purchased a Record Player that would convert vinyl into Mp3s. It is pretty much the coolest thing ever. However, it is quite time consuming to convert all of these records into digital format. Along the way I have discovered several hidden gems within my record collection, as well as the collection of my parents and friends. I decided that every once in a while I would update you fine people (or person) on some long forgotten masterpieces. They won't necessarily be old, and I won't even necessarily make this a re-occurring feature, but for now...here we go:
The Jim Caroll Band
Catholic Boy --------------------originally released 1980
This is a record that makes you cooler just by touching it. Jim Caroll is a poet first, a rock and roller second. But god damn you wouldn't know that to listen to these songs. Included on this record is the closest Jim Caroll and the boys every came to a hit with "People Who Died", which closes the first side of the record. The song keeps on trucking through...even when most artists would have packed it in around the 3 minute mark. The song is a touching dedication to those he has lost, a true masterpiece. The rest of the album is extremely impressive, with great tracks like "Wicked Gravity" and "Three Sisters" bringing the first side to the aforementioned closer. Opening up the second side is a near epic cut "City Drops Into Night" this is the song for me that defines the entire record. A very atmospheric and lurking opening leads into Jim and his seven and a half minute poem set to a rocking soundtrack, complete with saxophone. When you listen to the quiet but menacing verses, you can picture yourself walking down a dark (and probably frightening) city street watching all of the characters in the song prostitute themselves and try to buy drugs.
Picking back up with the rock and roll the next few tracks prove that this is indeed an important record in the development of rock and punk rock as we know it. This album has all of the early 80's anger of Elvis Costello, Patti Smith but with a little more edge. Listen to the autobiographical title track and you'll hear the "punk rock" coming out. I can't say why Jim Caroll is not more popular than he is. This is an album that has stood the test of time and 28 years later still packs a punch.
If you haven't heard it- check it out now.
