Jason Matu – Lost My Mojo (And Both of My Dogs)
Before you go out believing all of the movies about the rockstar way of life and decide to drop out of school, let me just stop you. You’re doing a wonderful thing! More people should do the same, and our collective playlists and record collections will thank you forever. In fact, chances are that someone like me will write poetic reviews about you, comparing you to some Greek God or another.
That’s sorted. But since you did just sign on the dotted line, know that you’ll also be making a terrible, terrible mistake. You’re unlikely to make any money, and the dentists won’t work for free. Sure, you’ll have people who love you, but most folks won’t care one way or the other. There’s a high likelihood that your family will break contact with you, and the only thing that you’ll have to eat (beer) will just make you fat. But at least you’ve had the bravery to give it all up for something beautiful.
There’s something heartbreaking but also rather heartwarming about Jason Matu’s music. Yes, the storytelling of “Lost My Mojo (And Both My Dogs)” is a tragedy, largely on account of the dogs. But there’s a way in which Matu applies himself to the art of singing that tells you he’s in this for life. It also tells you that Matu has probably written many tunes. Do you think those record collections and playlists keep getting supplied on their own? Nah, it takes people like Matu. We can only wish the best for his mojo and his pets.
Thirsty Curses – All That’s Left of Us Now
Your favourite band or musician may have given up making new records. They don’t sell nowadays anyway. Or, it’s just as likely that none of their most recent ones are any good. It could even be that the musician in question has shuffled off this mortal coil and, for very practical reasons, can’t make an appearance anymore. But you shouldn’t worry.
Chances are that the things which worried them, broke their hearts and caused them endless anxiety are still out there in the world. As it turns out, nearly everything that inspired an artist you love is likely to inspire a younger artist that you don’t know already but are fated to one day hear. Love and despair tend to stay the same.
The first thing about Thirsty Curses is that the band makes folk rock that’s easy on the ears and, on most days, could be confused with the early work of one of the genre’s more famous bands, Counting Crows. But the other to take off is just how much “All That’s Left of Us Now” is a meditation on the nature of time that all of us can understand. Memories are the only things that we can hold on to for a while, and nothing helps them flood back quite like a good song.
