~Phase One: Mi Vida Loca (score)~
It was disappointing that an original score/soundtrack wasn’t released with this Allison Anders film that John composed this music for. I purchased a copy of the movie to take in a new film by one of my favorite female filmmakers and to soak up the songs lingering behind the plot. It was a good marriage, set in California, backed by music that sounded the part. I was instantly an enthusiastic spectator of both the film and the score. A soundtrack would have been grand but it is with great pleasure that I can now turn on the score and get lost in "just" the music. It really does have a life of its own, apart from the film and is worthy of much play.

It is very apparent this work was born in the "Meltdown" epoch. I can feel hints of Notorious in them also. I can feel the streets of Echo Park, I can feel the characters in the film as if they were standing right next to me. I like to call this portion of the disc "Return to Magic On Lookout Mountain". These songs are wonderful and I am partial to the track "Mi Vida Loca". There is something stunning in that piece.

I have dubbed the seventh track of the score "Boys Song". It reminds me of the men in the film and the execution of El Duran by gunfire. Perhaps it is the bassline that puts me in mind of the man vibe. The bassline is also reminiscent of John’s handy work on early Duran songs. The track "Blue Flame" has an interesting feel and that cool little T-Rex riff going on.

~Phase Two: Feelings are Good (live)~
Tracks ten through twelve are the kinds of songs that get right into the heart of me. I have never had the pleasure of seeing John play live, so hearing any snippets always excites me. It is especially wild to now be witness to the early live shows when he was fresh into his solo career, hot off the heels of making a very angry record, quitting a huge band and moving into another time in his life, post change.

Listening to these songs after hearing various bootleg shows and the one show released at TTP, it is evident as to how much John as "progressed" as an artist. He was cutting his solo teeth on that stage and by the time he got around to the live shows in Japan he was in full bloom - with a stronger voice and a keen sense of artistic self while still maintaining his vulnerability and vision.

I am greeted with "2:03" like I have never heard it before. It boasts an interesting ZZ Top- esque sound toward the end. I love love love the lyrics in this song and having it last that much longer is a real treat.

Always Wrong returns my mind’s eye back to Neurotics. And live, this song matches the raw power and reverence it does with the SoCal super group. With "Look Homeward Angel"his voice isn’t as strong as it is now but this one song is one of those I always thought would make great for a soundtrack to a film. This live version is cool though, it’s like the closest thing you will ever get to hearing John Taylor front a Seattle band. hehe

"Losing You", being a year later, is sultry and lovely as it always is. This song took a long time to grow on me when I first bought Feelings, but it has come to be one of those songs I adore. I love hearing it live, it has such pains and emotion - one of those songs that (to me) translates better in a live setting instead of a studio.

~Phase Three: Techo For Two In Japan ~
These songs (and I am guessing most who have purchased MetaFour will agree) are fucking fantastic. I am really interested in "the process" the progression of a song’s life, how they are created from a line on a napkin or scrap of paper, to a melody or tune and fleshed out. The songs here are the germ stages of songs that we already know and love, but how awesome it is to rewind time and get a glimpse of the songwriting process he went through to complete them. I recall seeing a sidewalk (video) performance with John and Gerry (DD Con I think) and hearing "Hey Day" coupled with "Panhandler" at the time. This is exactly what this reminds me of, indeed. I am a sucker for acoustic tunes so these songs in their early stages delight me and are guaranteed to delight you too. It’s fantastic to hear his initial thoughts for the songs and have the rough cuts and final product in hand.

~Phase Four: Musician’s Institute Q & A ~

"sometimes you need to be lonely"

This segment is excellent. It is great to just sit and listen to John talk shop, wax poetic on things that mean something to him - Duran Duran music, playing bass etc. The Musician’s Institute Q & A is my favorite segment of the disc, above the music et al. There is much revealed, little learned and more respect to be had for a talented and diverse artist. The backing track is also interesting. I confess (now and then) to trying to tune out his talking to hear the music. Perhaps these songs will be later released on some other project by TTP (hint hint). I have taken to singing the quoted song lyric above daily.

As always, TTP has dropped another gem in our laps. Full of interesting and phat items, it is yet ANOTHER reason to love the creative team that is John Taylor and Patty Palazzo (forgive me for sounding like a broken record but one cannot review a TTP product without giving props to the both of them for their tireless efforts, astute vision and admirable team work). And so, in closing, I say, "It’s a crazy life but it’s full of music and if someone has to live it, it might as well be me."

Ole’

Nicole D. Myers
June 11, 2002