One of the most seasoned and accomplished artists in the genre has made an unusual move, namely released a cover album. Well, it's actually an EP. The man behind the idea is no less than Colorado-based artist Slackeye Slim. I wrote about the project two months ago. Then the EP was tentatively called "Perpetual Doom". Now it's released as "Perpetual Tunes". The covered songs are an odd bunch: "Cowboy Dan" (Modest Mouse), "Cold Cold Ground" (Tom Waits), "Heel on the Shovel" (16 Horsepower), "Climbing Up the Walls" (Radiohead), "Anthem" (Leonard Cohen) and "Mack the Knife" (Kurt Weill via Louis Armstrong). In a newsletter Slackeye Slim explains: "I've wanted to record some covers for a really long time, so I picked six of them, recorded them on some gear I found in the dump and fixed, and Perpetual Doom Records was kind of to release it as the first installment of their new series." Interesting choice of songs to cover, indeed. One song particularly stand out, 16 Horsepower, "Heel on the Shovel". Slackeye Slim elaborates: "When I got interested in country music and what other kids who’d grown up on punk rock had done with it, Sixteen Horsepower was one of the first bands I found. I grew up Pentecostal. Dave Edwards’ scary Jesus schtick reminds me of the absurd things my dad used to say and do. I don’t know if I consider myself goth country. Not really, but 16 Horsepower was one of the first bands to do it and I’ve borrowed a lot of ideas from them over the years." The other songs are not bad in any way, but doesn't stand out in the same way. In descending order of interest: "Cowboy Dan", "Climbing Up the Walls, "Anthem", "Cold Cold Ground" and "Mack the Knife". You can listen to "Perpetual Tunes" and buy it in digital format at Bandcamp, just click here (opens in a new window).  

Death is coming. Rest assure. However, some people find death hard to accept. In the quest for eternal life, billionaires are turning to cryonic freezing, the science of freezing bodies with the hope of future revival. Death is inevitable. People understood this centuries ago. The engravement in the old master print published by Philips Galle (Philip) circa 1570 reads "Mors sceptra ligonibus aequat", which means "Death makes sceptres and hoes equal". The latin word ligonibus translates into a mattock, grub-axe or hoe. Under the gaping cranium there's another line "Mors vltima linea rerum", which means "Death, the final boundary of things". The fine print reads "Divitiis flores, et maiorum nobilitate te iactas, et exsultas de pulchritudine corporis et honoribus qui tibi ab hominibus deferuntur. Respice te ipsum, quia mortalis es, et quia terra es, et in terram ibis." which means "You flourish in wealth, and boast of the society of the great and powerful; you rejoice in the beauty of the body and the honours which men pay to you. Consider yourself, that you are mortal, that you are earth, and into the earth you shall go." Early modern people stoically faced the music. That is more than you can say about the vanity-infested people who continue to burn money even after they are gone. Cryonics is a very expensive process. The cost can vary significantly, up to $200 000 or more, depending on the provider, the type of cryopreservation (whole body or brain), and other factors. Annual membership fees and long-term storage costs can add to the overall expense. Cryogenic freezing temperatures are typically defined as at or below -150°C (approximately -238°F). The oldest cryonically preserved person is James Bedford, who was frozen in 1967. His body remains preserved at the Alcor Life Extension Foundation. If he was revived today he would have a shock from which he never recover. When he passed away The Beatles ruled the world. These days a plagiarist band called Oasis are having a reunion tour. That brutal awakening will probably make him want go back into the freezer and never to defrost again. 

Woodbox Gang have released their first album in 13 years, "Brown Cane Toad". What triggered them to pull themselves out of retirement? Apparently, they felt an urge to make some new music because there's new things going on in the world. And, it's not for the better. The album cover is telling: a brown cane toad pushing a bitcoin in a back slope. You don't see that every day. If the album cover is allegorical, then the lyrics are literal. They mean every word the say. This manifests itself in a satirical take on contemporary economic, social and political issues. A dirty word and some explicit content here and there only reinforces the messsage. The lyrics are deeply rooted in trashcan Americana and caustic acoustic cacophony. Be that as it may, the soundscape on the album is rich and detailed and very well-sounding. "Brown Cane Toad" is an all-acoustic album including a washboard (upgraded with a paint brush cleaner to achieve a softer sound), dobro, acoustic guitar, upright bass, mandolin and banjo. As a mark of quality in the production, you can hear every instrument clear. The thing that strikes me most is the attitude, energy and vitality. In March 2025 it's going to be 25 years since the Woodbox Gang played their first show together at the Yellow Moon Cafe in Cobden, IL. Apparently, WBG is unbowen, unbent and unbroken. Best songs are "Nostradamus", "Hank and Waldo", "God Either", "Make Money", "Claudia and Elsie" and "Final Hours". You can listen to "Brown Cane Toad" and buy it in digital format at Bandcamp, just click here (opens in a new window). Physical copies are available through Etsy. You know what to do.     

There are many different ways of saying that a problem is not your responsibility, or that you have no interest in a situation. "Not my circus, not my monkeys" could be placed in the more allegorical category. The reference comes from an Polish proverb "Nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy". This direct translation is one of few Polish idioms that works well in both languages - and keeps its meaning and rhythm intact. It's believed to stem from rural life and old traveling circuses that brought chaos, animals and entertainment into small towns. "The circus is in town" is often used in the Swedish language to describe a messy or chaotic situation. The Poles are hard chastened people with a long history of devastating wars, suppression and suffering. The proverb may reflect their coping strategy for dealing with (and staying out of) social and political conflict, advocating a detached attitude for the sake of protecting yourself and conveying the idea that you can’t control everything. Or more bluntly put: I got enough problems. I don't need another problem. Especially not yours. Some people have appropriated "Not my circus, not my monkeys" as their motto in life to protect themselves. The variation "Not my circus, not my monkeys, but I know the clowns" acknowledges awareness of the individuals involved ("the clowns"). This website is dedicated to gothic country. I identify myself as the ringmaster. I take full responsiblity för the circus, the monkeys and the clowns.   

Now and then, people make contact. Some people have obscure questions, while other people wants me to consider a review or a coverage. I think it's appropriate given the nature of the website. But, I'm only a Swedish civil servant with an internet connection and free time. And, not insignificant, with a certain appeal to flattery. I think we can establish that my impact in the world is limited. But, I would rather be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond. I have no problem with people contacting me with suggestions for reviews or coverage. My main concern is the low accuracy. The mission statement of the website is: "To explore and promote gothic country, southern gothic, gothic americana, american gothic and dark americana and ...whatever". A mission statement should be concise, clear, and memorable, outlining purpose and guiding principles. I think the requirements are fulfilled. However, almost all suggestions fall outside the mission statement. In fact, way outside the perimeters. I don't know which is worse. Do people atually think that their music fall into gothic country, southern gothic, gothic americana, american gothic or dark americana? Or is it non-precise "carpet bombing". The cost of bulk email is very low compared to other marketing methods, especially if you do it yourself. Or have I, after all, failed in communicating what the website is all about? Did I stutter?