Best of 2006 - Photographer Theresa K.
I met Theresa Kereakes on the Goner Board (the quninessential underground music forum hosted by Memphis' own Goner Records), and then officially when she visited Memphis several times this year. She's the "go to" woman when you need an answer about just about anything. She's been there and done it twice. She has also always been a photographer. When punk rock happened in Los Angeles, she captured it. Her photos appeared on record sleeves like The Germs "Forming" and in magazines like Lobotomy, Creem, Rolling Stone and Playboy. She shares photos and memories from those days on her blog punkturns30.
Check out Theresa's top albums of 2006:
1. Modern Times - Bob Dylan
I love this record and everything about it from the evocative cowboy songs to the juxtaposition of the title against the cover art - it's a whole different "modern times" reflected there (as in art moderne). It's the same reliable Dylan: word-play and nods to obscure poets and old fave bluesmen (as in "Rollin' n Tumblin" - credited to Dylan, but of course, it's a blues chestnut made popular to my ears by Muddy) and lines like: "I got troubles so hard, I just can't stand the strain
Some young lazy slut has charmed away my brains." (from "Rollin & Tumblin") To me, this record is exactly where Bob Dylan ought to be in his career, musically. I enjoy the way the band plays - totally laid back and "in the pocket," as the critics like to say - loose, underplayed and easy but oh, so incredibly tight at the same time.
Working Man's Blues - MP3
2. Love - The Beatles
Sometimes the old reliables are simply the best. This collection is a producer's record, though. Of course, with all the technology resources available to Sir George Martin and his son, there's no way the record would sound anything but stellar - what I really am blown away by is the pure creative producer genius at work - taking the vocal track from one song, putting it onto the instrumental from another and having it work perfectly and then layering into it yet a whole other song... its not exactly new…... The Dirtbombs did it with their Stones cover ("No Expectations," over the beat of "Sympathy for the Devil" with the outro to "Hey Jude," mixing both Stones and Beatles), but for the producer of this grail-like music to mash it up gives me proof that George Martin was an equal part of the genius phenomenon of the Beatles... as if there were any doubts. My favorite might be how "Within You Without You" and "Tomorrow Never Knows" work together.
Stream 4 Tracks from Love
3. Flipside Kid - Jack Oblivian
Of course, you knew I'd pick this, but even after listening to the unmastered demo version of it for months before its release, when the real version came out, I found new things to love about it! What I like about Jack's music and his approach to it is that he understands and embraces his strengths and knows how to work with the limitations his recording situations present... he also has a remarkable and keen ear for covers... he dug up "Chills and Fever" and "Night Owl," both great songs with a great feel and gives them his own treatment. That "Chills and Fever" is just fantastic and sultry. I like the way he uses his voice and applies it to each very different track on the record... he's like Iggy or Lou Reed on any number of lithe and muscular growlers, like "Hong Kong Girl"... and on the other hand, he's got a sweet touch...when he's singing about "Black Boots" he summons up Billy Joe Royal's honest, earnest voice from the 60s hit, "Down in the Boondocks."
LISTEN
He's one artist who can interpret his own phenomenal record collection without recording an homage... he's an artist whose influence is not so much on his sleeve, but inherent in his blood.
4. Solo Cholo - Kid Congo Powers
Kid Congo is my oldest friend in the world. We've known each other since we were teens and since he's like a brother, I can be both his harshest critic and his loudest champion at the same time - this record is a feat that makes me proud in a sort of family-like way. I love this record because it represents the breadth and depth of Kid's eclectic powers and prowess. This record is Kid with the various bands/artists he has played w/ over the years. I kind of lean towards the Knoxville Girls tracks.
5. In The Meantime - Viva L'American Deathray Music
This is another eclectic record that interprets the very best record collections of three intensely talented musicians and offers up not an homage, but a whole new twist on the thing we know as rock n roll. Their level of musicianship and their tight connection with one another as players allows this album to be transcendent... of course, nothing can compare to the live execution of this material. That track "Dub S.S." really kicks my ass.
Needle to the Heart of the Matter - MP3
Here's a cool impromptu photo TK took of me with The Leather Uppers at Goner Fest 3 this year.
Check out Theresa's top albums of 2006:
1. Modern Times - Bob Dylan
I love this record and everything about it from the evocative cowboy songs to the juxtaposition of the title against the cover art - it's a whole different "modern times" reflected there (as in art moderne). It's the same reliable Dylan: word-play and nods to obscure poets and old fave bluesmen (as in "Rollin' n Tumblin" - credited to Dylan, but of course, it's a blues chestnut made popular to my ears by Muddy) and lines like: "I got troubles so hard, I just can't stand the strain
Some young lazy slut has charmed away my brains." (from "Rollin & Tumblin") To me, this record is exactly where Bob Dylan ought to be in his career, musically. I enjoy the way the band plays - totally laid back and "in the pocket," as the critics like to say - loose, underplayed and easy but oh, so incredibly tight at the same time.
Working Man's Blues - MP3
2. Love - The Beatles
Sometimes the old reliables are simply the best. This collection is a producer's record, though. Of course, with all the technology resources available to Sir George Martin and his son, there's no way the record would sound anything but stellar - what I really am blown away by is the pure creative producer genius at work - taking the vocal track from one song, putting it onto the instrumental from another and having it work perfectly and then layering into it yet a whole other song... its not exactly new…... The Dirtbombs did it with their Stones cover ("No Expectations," over the beat of "Sympathy for the Devil" with the outro to "Hey Jude," mixing both Stones and Beatles), but for the producer of this grail-like music to mash it up gives me proof that George Martin was an equal part of the genius phenomenon of the Beatles... as if there were any doubts. My favorite might be how "Within You Without You" and "Tomorrow Never Knows" work together.
Stream 4 Tracks from Love
3. Flipside Kid - Jack Oblivian
Of course, you knew I'd pick this, but even after listening to the unmastered demo version of it for months before its release, when the real version came out, I found new things to love about it! What I like about Jack's music and his approach to it is that he understands and embraces his strengths and knows how to work with the limitations his recording situations present... he also has a remarkable and keen ear for covers... he dug up "Chills and Fever" and "Night Owl," both great songs with a great feel and gives them his own treatment. That "Chills and Fever" is just fantastic and sultry. I like the way he uses his voice and applies it to each very different track on the record... he's like Iggy or Lou Reed on any number of lithe and muscular growlers, like "Hong Kong Girl"... and on the other hand, he's got a sweet touch...when he's singing about "Black Boots" he summons up Billy Joe Royal's honest, earnest voice from the 60s hit, "Down in the Boondocks."
LISTEN
He's one artist who can interpret his own phenomenal record collection without recording an homage... he's an artist whose influence is not so much on his sleeve, but inherent in his blood.
4. Solo Cholo - Kid Congo Powers
Kid Congo is my oldest friend in the world. We've known each other since we were teens and since he's like a brother, I can be both his harshest critic and his loudest champion at the same time - this record is a feat that makes me proud in a sort of family-like way. I love this record because it represents the breadth and depth of Kid's eclectic powers and prowess. This record is Kid with the various bands/artists he has played w/ over the years. I kind of lean towards the Knoxville Girls tracks.
5. In The Meantime - Viva L'American Deathray Music
This is another eclectic record that interprets the very best record collections of three intensely talented musicians and offers up not an homage, but a whole new twist on the thing we know as rock n roll. Their level of musicianship and their tight connection with one another as players allows this album to be transcendent... of course, nothing can compare to the live execution of this material. That track "Dub S.S." really kicks my ass.
Needle to the Heart of the Matter - MP3
Here's a cool impromptu photo TK took of me with The Leather Uppers at Goner Fest 3 this year.
Labels: Best of 2006, Theresa K.
