In a previous post, I had suggested I would cut Jericho and Tenth World, and
move Otis and Marlena to Jericho's spot. SCJoniGuy then posed the question:
"So anyway Bob, are you saying that it should not have been released in
studio form at all? Would it have fit better on Hejira? (I think maybe it
fits better there). Or maybe you're thinking something else."
I originally replied off-line so as not to offend anyone, but my opinions
seemed no stronger than some others that followed, so I will share my reply
to Bob M.
"I am replying off line so as to avoid irritating others on the list who hold
Jericho among their favorites.
First, my post was intended to be semi-humorous, in that I really think it is
pretentious of me to be second guessing her on what "should" (a big word) or
should not be on her creations. Hopefully, I made that clear.
Second, that said, I really was thinking "how could I turn DJRD into a
regular length CD ?" And my answer was sincere in that regard, albeit
arrogant and therefor stupid (since I am flirting with repeating the mistakes
of my past).
Primarily, I do not think it fits on DJRD. DJRD is, to me, a brilliant but
sort of manic-depressive work. More manic, actually. Punctuated by Silky
Veils, the depressive side, and perhaps revealing of the source of the manic
behavior. Jericho is much more rational, contemplative, intellectual. It
really does not fit to me. However, I think she did well to leave it off of
Hissing (and certainly Hejira, since I think it would have diluted that
album, and I suspect that album begins where the Jericho relationship itself
tumbled down).
Also, however, I find the song musically mediocre, and the lyrical content
disappointingly shallow - almost immature. She says to Love "I promise to do
better, and work harder at it, at making it a two way street" (I paraphrase,
at best). If these were then current revelations or insights that she was
sharing (my gut reaction is "duh"), they hint to me that the depths of her
prior self absorption must have been quite great, which I prefer not to
accept as the likely truth. I think, rather, that the work lacks confidence -
she is on unsteady ground, as the lyrics themselves suggest - and is trying
too hard to force success in an area with which she has been struggling. She
sounds like the golfer who feels she needs to re-vamp her whole swing, when
really it is just one or two corrections, and her swing is basically pretty
much ok as is. In a sense, then, she is in between games, and the cut is
perfectly placed in MOA, which as a tour album is part of a transitional
period for her. I guess, then, if I were in charge of the editing, I would
have left it off of the studio albums - at least the ones she actually
produced. Sentimentally, I think it might be better suited to WTRF, but I am
not yet really into that album enough to feel strongly about that - just an
impression at this moment. I could be all wet.
I always enjoy your posts - you have a fan here.
Bob S."
