JD Hinton – Where Do I Sign?
There are so many movies, documentaries and books about rock stars available nowadays that collectively we should’ve learned something by now. What’s the greatest lesson that all these similar stories can provide? Well, if there’s one thing that the first minutes or pages of any of these provide, it’s that… you shouldn’t do it if you value your health.
Rock stars get shameful diseases. They pick up bad habits that are hard to shake off. And all of their acquaintances are the kinds of people that your mother won’t want to invite over for Sunday dinner.
But, ah, what a glorious set of problems to have. Sure, the story didn’t exactly end up great for Keith Moon, drummer extraordinaire for The Who. But if that’s the price for parking a new Rolls-Royce in a swimming pool, then, eh, at least give me a moment to think about it.
JD Hinton reinterprets the myth of the Faustian bargain to a country-rock beat on “Where Do I Sign?” If the title hasn’t given it away, Hinton used his moment and came to a quick decision. His hilarious lyrics about all of the things that he wants before the payment is due speak to our shared fantasy of becoming rock stars. The world’s full of rules, but not for these folks. And even if it doesn’t last, well, at least they’ll make a movie about you or put your picture on the cover of a book.
Harry Fennell – Ablutions
There’s no such thing as a high-functioning alcoholic or psychopath. Every person who deals with a mental issue and has not yet been forced to retire is also forced to be a functioning member of society. How would the bill get paid and the milk cartons get bought otherwise? But there ain’t no use bragging about it. All people learn to be great actors when that’s required.
They do say that the greatest stories and songs don’t need to be spelt out. You could write about catching the train and never mention a murder. But if it’s in there, it should show. The people hearing or reading the story will be able to tell. That’s why the greatest artists love to hide their victims, themselves included, in their work, hoping for someone to find them. Harry Fennell is one of the ones able to do that.
Fennell’s “Ablutions” is, on first listen, a folk music-flavoured walk through Irish streets. You’ll easily pick up on the fact that Fennell possesses a nice singing voice and knowledge of the great songwriters of the genre. But blow up the picture and you’ll, eventually, notice the important details. Just like terrible things happen on the most ordinary days, this simple tune sung over an acoustic guitar backing hides gruesome details. Fennell’s waiting for you to find them.
