Pub Rock  


E. McQ's recording 

At lunch, while trying to waste time at a nearby book dealership & showroom in Edge City, Texas, I spotted a copy of Elizabeth McQueen's latest Happy Doing What We're Doing - a nice set of Pub Rock tunes as filtered through a Texas bar band. Rocking performances, nice vocals, and some steel guitar right when it needs it. On first listen, I checked the liner notes to see which Nick Lowe or Elvis Costello album was covered on track number 5. Holy moly, it's an original, written with the Casting Couch's Wendy. Other tracks I like: "When I Write the Book," (one of the better vocal tracks) "Seven Nights to Rock" and the title track.
As an adult-baptized punk, I have a curious relationship to Pub Rock. There's that uncomfortable moment in a motel room outside Magnolia, Texas where a girl played "My Aim is True" and I was confused and disturbed by an Elvis that wasn't the Elvis (there were two living Elvises at that point in history). (that was not the only thing was confused and disturbed about, but that's a story that's not quite tragic enough for retelling). And, of course, a few years later, when I shuffled off the shroud of European program music and stamped feet first into my initial pair steel toed Redwings, Pub Rock seemed a tad, you know, fey. I've lost my way several times since: big fan of Elvis Costello, bought a Nick Lowe record, sold a Nick Lowe record, bought a bunch of Squeeze (a Squeeze tune is covered on E. McQueen's recording), still have the Squeeze and lost interest in Costello around King of America. So I have odd feelings hearing "You Ain't Nothin But Fine" again.
Confused and disturbed.  

Posted: Thu - March 3, 2005 at 07:08 PM           |

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