On the Shelf 143: Lydia Lunch and Cypress Grove & Spiritual Front

Lydia Lunch is an artist that occasionally will pop up on my radar. She has also amassed a career that is nothing short of amazing.

She started out in Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, which appeared on the compilation "No New York", effectively creating a genre called "No Wave" and infleuncing noise rock permanently.

In the 1980s, she pushed the limits of music, collaborating with like minded folks like the Birthday Party, Sonic Youth, Foetus, and others, and was making her own recordings, writing books through her own press, and making indie films. Essentially, what she was doing in the 80s was paving the way for the trends of the 90s (self-publishing, indie movies, spoken word). To the point, in the 90s, even DC Comics was having her write (through Vertigo, with Toxic Gumbo).

So her credentials are bona fide. Checking in with Lunch in recent years, she has gotten a lot of acclaim for working with a guitarist named Cypress Grove. Grove is probably best known as a devotee of Jeffrey Lee Pierce, became a collaborator with Pierce, and has championed Pierce's music, as a driving force in The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Session Project- three albums of which people like Nick Cave, Debbie Harry, Iggy Pop, Mark Lanegan and others.

It's faint credit though just to label Grove a Pierce disciple. He's a very accomplished and unique musician in his own right. he weaves in blues and Spanish folk and the kind of Americana that you would find in the likes of Nick Cave and some other Lunch cohorts.

2014's collab A Fistful of Desert Blues was a critical hit which brough Lunch back on to my radar, and strong proof that she is still going strong in her 4th decade of music. So i was interested in checking out her split LP (with Grove) with Italian neofolksters Spiritual Front, Especially, as it featured Lunch covering "Hotel California".

I wasn't familiar with Spiritual Front, but I have really been interested in neofolk (or apocalyptic folk, if you prefer) for the last few years, and especially digging through the back catalog of Current 93.

For me, it combines the folk and goth genres that I love, much in the way of combining say Fairport Convention and Sisters of Mercy. Of course, although this genre is right down my alley, I found out that like every genre, 95% of it's crap. Current 93 and others like Sol invictus may be masters, but they are the exception, not the rule. Which of course, it is with all genres.

Also, this genre uncomfortably seems to draw in a lot of people who seem to be interested in say Ernst Rohm, some more explicitly into nazi regalia, while others uncomfortably just blur the edge. That's a bit unsettling.

I wasn't familiar with Spiritual Front, but they do seem to be pretty good at what they do, and as far as I can tell aren't explictly Right wing. Like industrial music (which neofolk seems to pair up with quite well, which may be ironic, but quiet is the new loud, and like metal and goth, you have to play it straight, and sometimes it lends to parody).

In any case, Twin Horses, the collab LP hasn't got the buzz that Fistful of Desert blues has, which is probably fair. It's nothing spectacular. The SF stuff I do like, including a cover of WASP's "L.O.V.E. Machine" done as a goth dirge.

As far as "Hotel California", i really wanted to like it. it seems on the surface, perfect. All the Crowley-influenced lyrics delivered as near spoken word by Lunch; but I suspect it's familiarism. The joke gets played out. if everyone wasn't so well acquainted with the song, it would probably work, but since we know what is coming, it seems like a joke,

The rest of the Lunch/Grove stuff is of various quality- some strong, some forgettable. Over all, this LP is one that will probably not make a Favorite Album list at the end of the year, but is a bit of a nice diversion to spend time with.

"Lydia Lunch & Cypress Grove - Hotel California - Twin Horses (Rustblade)" (Watch on YouTube)

"L.O.V.E. Machine" (Watch on YouTube)

Book Reviews- May

1920: The Year of the Six Presidents- by David Pietrusza -
The basis of this book is that the 1920 election was dominated by six personalities- former and future Presidents, and it’s unlikely due to the 22nd Amendment to ever see that again. In 1919, Teddy Roosevelt, after his failed 1912 third party campaign- looks to be undoubtedly headed back to the White House as a Republican. Unfortunately, he dies that year. Woodrow Wilson is the current President, and although he is too ill and too unpopular to likely win a third term, it is his not so secret desire to do so. Taft, at this point is alive, but a non-contributor as he is only interested in fulfilling his life long dream to become a Supreme Court Judge. Harding and Coolidge of course get elected in 1920, and Hoover and FDR are both on the ascent and figure heavily into the mix (FDR is the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 1920)
Pietrusza has pretty solid Conservative credentials. He is a Fox News regular and this book has been mentioned as a favorite of Dubya Bush’s, Karl Rove’s and Glen Beck’s. That said, the prospect of the book hooked me. I have heard Pietrusza called a “Conservative Howard Zinn” or a “Conservative Tom Wolfe”. I don’t know if that is accurate. That said, he is immensely readable.
I didn’t detect any undue bias if that is what you are afraid of. David is clearly a Coolidge fan. Silent Cal has become a hero for today’s GOP. The TR of Pietrusza’s book is Rushmore-worthy, but the more I read on Teddy, the more I agree. Woodrow Wilson is the most unsympathetic character. He is vain, narcissistic, racist, unpopular and to a certain extent self-delusional. Still, I have heard many of the same accusations levelled by the most liberal of historians and writers.
I can’t imagine many people give the Election of 1920 much thought, but Pietrusza sells it as a fascinating race. TRs death takes an obvious result and throws it into disarray. The two leading nominees both claim to be TR’s heir. There is General Leonard Wood, a personal friend of TR who also enjoys the support of Teddy’s family. Sen Hiram Johnson from California’s claim is that he was the Bull Moose nominee running mate of Teddy’s in 1912.
Neither man is particularly charismatic. They may have TR’s ideas, but they have none of his personality. I am reminded of the parade of candidates who claimed that they were heirs to Ronald Reagan (Al Haig, Gary Bauer, Alan Keyes, Dan Quayle, Pat Buchanan, Donald Rumsfeld) but were laughed at by the electorate at large.
Illinois Gov Frank Lowden has a claim at the nomination, but is a terrible campaigner and appears that he wants to buy the nomination outright, which makes him unpopular when that fact emerges. Pennsylvania Governor Sproul would be a real contender, but his state is not in play, so he is a no-go. So, after much balloting and the famous “smoky backrooms”, Harding emerges as the eventual nominee.
Famously, Harding is asked if there are any reasons he should not run (i.e. skeletons in his closet) and he answers no, though he really has an illegitimate daughter with a woman he still is seeing and essentially is buying her silence.
The Democratic side is similarly unorganized. Wilson is hoping he gets nominated for a third term, so he chooses not to get out of that way, nor does he bestow his blessing on any of the contenders. Treasury Secretary (and Wilson’s son-in-law) William McAdoo is a front runner, but paralyzed by Wilson’s actions. Attorney General Alexander Palmer is popular as the election cycle campaign, but the “Red Scare”(and Palmer Raids) which made him popular in 1919, only make him look like a fool when the great ‘communist conspiracy’ doesn’t pan out. Vice President Thomas Marshall isn’t particularly interested, nor does he have any of the qualifications to be President. Like Wilson, three times nominee William Jennings Bryan also has delusions that he will be called to run.
The Democrats settle on a compromise in James Cox. Like Harding, a newspaperman from Ohio. Cox is Governor, Harding a Senator. Harding campaigns from his front porch. Cox goes on tour, but clearly doesn’t have the right personality. FDR emerges as the future star. (meanwhile, Herbert Hoover was the Colin Powell of his time, He could have probably ran as a Democrat or Republican, and gets support from both, though his campaign doesn’t exactly ignite this time around. We will have to wait until 1928 for that).
There’s Eugene Debs, of course running from prison. Meanwhile, various third parties convene in Chicago to find a candidate that can unite them all, but the movement is doomed, the parties are disorganized, the nominee Utah lawyer Parley Christensen is a failure. (I am reminded of the 2012 Americans Elect movement- in which it sounds like a good idea on paper to unite all these disparate movements, but only succeeds in giving some kooks center stage)
There’s some racy stuff here (Harding and FDR’s love lives, there’s the KKK, we have socialists, communists and anarchists) but it’s all pertinent. FDR, while serving as Deputy Secretary of Navy sees a scandal that affects him to the negative. He is called to appear in Senate hearings, as there were allegations of his boss using young men to ferret out homosexuals in the navy, by taking any actions necessary to “out” them, which means what you think it does
The book is incredibly readable- the kind you can’t put down and wish could just continue. Of course, we know the ending, but it’s a credit that you can’t wait to see how it unfolds. The only downtime is maybe that the FDR Navy scandal goes a bit more in depth than it needs be. I recommend this to political junkies of all stripes.

1941: The Greatest Year in Sports – by Mike Vaccaro. The conceit here is hard to prove. 1927 usually gets some consideration (Yankees Murderers Row lineup, Tunney vs Dempsey, Bill Tilden and Bobby Jones in their prime) 1984 gave us Carl Lewis, Mary Lou Retton, Georgetown vs Houston, Celts vs Lakers. 1972 was the Dolphins perfect season, Mark Spitz, the Immaculate Reception, A’s vs the Reds, John Wooden at UCLA and Jack Nicklaus. 1969 was Namath’s Super Bowl promise, the Miracle Mets and Chamberlin vs Russel-era Lakers vs Celts.

So, greatest year is subjective, and if I put more work to it, I would say I saw some of the best years. I feel like the years of my youth (the 80s) were truly high points. There was Magic and Bird, Schmidt and Brett, Reggie, Nolan Ryan, Gretzky, Sugar Ray Leonard, Chris and Martina, Petty and Waltrip, Montana and Bradshaw. The Indy 500 was an event. Even the marginal sports in the 80s had heroes (Bill Rodgers, Greg LeMond, the Mahre Brothers). In the 90s, I saw athletes who caused the nation to pause and stare- there was Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson, and Tiger Woods. There was Aikman and the Cowboys, Brett Favre, Lance Armstrong, NASCAR’s rise, Red Wings dominance and of course, the most electrifying summers may have been McGwire vs Sosa. The 21st century has given us Michael Phelpsand Usain Bolt and continue to keep us entertained.
So, does it get better than 1941? I don’t know, but it’s the hyperbole you need if you are writing a book. 1941 apparently was pretty great. There’s Whirlway, a Triple Crown winner rode by Eddie Arcaro- that has been somewhat lost to history, but was America’s big hero. Joe Louis at his prime- of course, known for his “Bum of the Month club” as he was so much better than his competition. In 1941, he took on someone who seemed like a legitimate threat- light heavyweight champ Billy Conn. Baseball was king though ,and 1941 gave us two records that baseball fans will know- Joe DiMaggios 56 consecutive game hitting streak and Ted Williams .400 season. Both of these seem unreachable now. Joe’s streak feels like it will never be broken, and though there are a handful few who have made a legitimate run, no one has hit .400 since Ted did it.
“1941” is the kind of book for those with the romance for the game. You don’t need to necessarily watch ESPN 24/7 to enjoy these kinds of stories. Vacarro pulls from newspapers, interviews and other source material to bring the year to life.
The thing that accelerates the fandom is the fact that WW2 is the backdrop, and not only does the month-by-month breakdown give you the sports stories, but also tells the story of the Nation slowly moving towards war. The Germans are increasingly aggressive, while isolationist Charles Lindbergh is a vocal opponent against involvement. We know how it ends, but the tension is the backstory.
1941 ends inevitably, but lest we forget, the sports heroes of 1941- Williams, DiMaggio, and Bob Feller leave the majors for service in the military. Although their numbers are legendary, their potential numbers (like Hank Greenberg who also served around this time) are clipped because of missing some of the best potential years of their career.
A thought which of course is impossible to believe now. Can you imagine any of today’s athletes leaving their sport for their military, while in their 20s and maximum moneymaking potential? These men left for love of the country, but also because of the peacetime draft.
1941 gives an important story of a time we don’t think about it much, and gives the kind of details that will interest those who might want to read more about these times.
As an aside, if you google Vacarro, you will see that Keith Olbermann calls his book on the 1912 the most inaccurate sports book ever published. I don’t know about that, but given the time frames, I am sure the info around 1912 is not nearly as made available as 1941, so no issues here. Also, Vacarro wrote that book more in tone with a novel than this book.