I ate scum off the street
Eat raw macaroni
Mess up in a minute
Come on now girl, you got to show me
If you want me to
Anything I would
Solid gold guarantee
My love

Baby, I dig you

I love this album so much – Jon Spencer and Cristina Martinez snarl and wail over punk blues rhythm and guitar, messy and in love. Side A (or as the record indicates “Beef Side”) highlights: “Winn Coma” (which appears in the film Joe’s Apartment), “Ski Bunny,” “I Dig You” and “What the Fuck.” Side B (or “Mah-Jongg” side): “I Idolize You” and “Strawberry.”

The album includes a Boss Hog turntable platter, a particularly nice touch.

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We’re seeing them play this summer in Madison, WI at the High Noon Saloon and I’m excited to dance my behind off. I’ve seen JSBX perform many times over the years, the first time was in May of ‘93 at O’Cayz Corral, probably days after the release of “Extra Width.” Very small venue and small show: the band wasn’t well-known at this point. Lots of Judah’s family and friends were there, including his brother Donovan, who I hung out with at the bar.  After the show Russell came over by us and was looking for a place to crash for the night so I introduced to him to a friend of mine who had an extra couch (whispering to me the query “Is this guy OK, like not weird?”); he stayed there and I popped over in the morning, I think to bring breakfast and nab a copy of the new album. The other recollections I have from JSBX shows (having a few opportunities to be backstage or in the case of the O’Cayz show – no backstage, just a little recombobulation corner) are noticing Spencer’s extreme quiet and reserve offstage, basically looking exactly like the cover of “Extra Width,” but given the guy’s amazing stage energy and outlandish bravado, I’m guessing he saves it all for the audience. THE BLUES IS #1!

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20 Miles was (is?) Judah’s side project from JSBX and he, along with his brother Donovan, recorded this 8 song 45 rpm set of blues originals and classics in ‘96 after finishing JSBX’s “Now I Got Worry.” It’s stark, raw: just guitar and drums. Their cover of G. Wiley’s “Beaujolais” is particularly raucous and miserable: perfect for the blues. “20 Miles,” an original track, showcases Bauer’s blues guitar talent.

For grins, here are a couple of photos of Donovan and Judah from 1987.

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According to Pop Catastrope’s website, the title for this album comes from the Public Enemy song “Burn Hollywood Burn” from their 1990 album “Fear of a Black Planet.” Towards the end of the track someone asks Flava Flav the following question: “Now we’re considering you for a part in our new production, how do you feel about playing a controversial negro?” The artwork used on the promotional album along with the title Controversial Negro was originally intended for “Now I Got Worry.” An article from Vox states “Jon Spencer is playing with fire. He’s gleefully taunting the inverse-racists of so-called liberal America with incendiary images. He is, after all, a graduate of semiotics (the brand of linguistics concerned with signs and symbols), so he knows exactly what he’s doing. Controversial Negro works on two distinct levels: firstly it’s a timely reminder to the journalistic ‘squares’ of far simpler times, when Jagger and his Rolling Stones (now untouchable old-guard stalwarts) were similarly decried for ‘bastardizing the blues’; secondly, it’s a forceful visual communiqué that the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion staunchly refuse to be intimidated into artistic compromise.” So knowing that, I’m not sure how to interpret the run-off groove scratchings which include on Side 1 “Amerikkka’s Most Racist” and on Side 2 “Cut the rockstar bullshit.”

The live performance is tight, crisp and frantic, but missing is the visual crazed energy of hardworking frontman Spencer, whose best line ever is from “Can’t Stop” (second track on Side 1) where he barks “Throw your hands in the air and kiss my ass ‘cause your girlfriend still loves me.” Yep.

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That New Year’s Eve I was up in Appleton to see family and friends and went out to Jim’s Place, a bar on College Avenue. There was Judah, hanging out and having a cocktail. I told him I read the Spin article about JSBX and had purchased the CD. He told me all about the band and living in NYC and from there I was hooked as a JSBX fan forever.

Both albums are intense, heavy and experimental. There are a few cuts that made both releases, such as “Chicken Walk,” “’78 Style” and “Comeback.” Being a good Wisconsin girl, my favorite track is of course “40lb Block of Cheese,” mainly because I can imagine the writing process that went into the song (i.e. Judah regaling Jon and Russell with tales of growing up in a small Wisconsin town with nothing much to do other than eat cheese).

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