Lewis, Jeffrey / 12 Crass Songs
Album: 12 Crass Songs   Collection:General
Artist:Lewis, Jeffrey   Added:Jul 2008
Label:Rough Trade Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2008-07-27 Pull Date: 2008-09-28
Week Ending: Sep 28 Sep 21 Sep 14 Sep 7 Aug 31 Aug 24 Aug 17 Aug 10
Airplays: 2 3 1 1 2 2 1 6

Recent Airplay
1. Jul 12, 2017: Brownian Motion with Red West (special guest!)
Big A, Little A
4. Sep 20, 2008: Lost and Found
I Ain't Think, It's Just A Trick
2. Sep 27, 2008: Lost and Found
End Results
5. Sep 19, 2008: Oatmeal
Walls (Fun In The Oven), I Ain't Think, It's Just A Trick
3. Sep 23, 2008: Emphysema For Emphasis
Do They Owe Us A Living
6. Sep 13, 2008: Lost and Found
Punk Is Dead

Album Review
mike
Reviewed 2008-07-27
JEFFREY LEWIS - "12 Crass Songs" CD (Rough Trade)
Anti-folk, folk, singer-songwriter covers of anarchist punk band CRASS'S songs. These are not straight covers. They are quirky and acoustic. This makes the political/social/anarchist lyrics stand out. On most songs, Helen Schreiner helps; often singing backing vocals and doing CRASS songs without female vocals would be odd. Think THE MOLDY PEACHES or DANIEL JOHNSTON but doing quirky acoustic version of anarchist punk songs. Songs are censored so all are fcc OK.
**1. Starts out with pretty acoustic guitar then he sings in a geeky anti-folk voice, rambling the lyrics to this great CRASS song. Some toy sounding instruments. Ends a few seconds early.
**2. Finger picked guitar and organs. Distant with sloppy group vocals. Backing female vocals throughout the track.
**3. Hand drums and strummed guitar. Great contrast between the male and female vocals.
4. Whistle, train-like rhythm, subdued. Harsh lyrics.
5. Poppy.
6. Slow, brushed drums, organ, lazy.
**7. Speedy, bass strings on guitar, male/female vocals. Classic CRASS song.
8. Poppy strum.
9. Radio sounds and accordion (?) create a drone. Multitracked male vocals. Drone throughout the entire track. Mellow almost psych.
**10. Starts with acapella female vocals. Enter male vocals. Enter plodding, electric guitar and crashing drums. I've always loved this song. Rock.
11. Funny. Starts with electric piano. Then pretty finger picked guitar for a cover of "Punk is Dead". When did CRASS write this song? 1978?
12. Hand drums, toy instruments, many voices. Sloppy.
Great stuff. -mph

Track Listing
1. End Results   7. Do They Owe Us A Living
2. I Ain't Think, It's Just A Trick   8. Securicor
3. Systematic Death   9. Demoncrats
4. The Gas Man Cometh   10. Big A, Little A
5. Banned From The Roxy   11. Punk Is Dead
6. Where Next Columbus   12. Walls (Fun In The Oven)