Tag Archives: gun

#1245: The La’s – Son of a Gun

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The shimmering notes from an acoustic guitar are the first things you hear if you were to press play/lay the needle on the record after obtaining The La’s self-titled/debut/only album from 1990. First time I heard ‘Son of a Gun’ the opening reminded me of Rusted Root’s ‘Send Me on My Way’, even if though that song was released some years after. Maybe there’s some influence there, I don’t know. But it goes to show, if you can get the right tone on the strings of an acoustic guitar, people will start falling at your feet. Even before Lee Mavers started singing, I was really into the rhythm and the sound of that sole acoustic, so even when he did, I was already under its spell.

“If you want, I’ll sell you a life story” are the first words Mavers delivers on the microphone, and that’s what ‘Son of a Gun’ is. It’s a tale about a man who lives with his demons, but also recognises that he’s not like a lot of other people out there and takes great pride in that aspect. With Lee Mavers being the ever elusive, reclusive man he is, I think ‘Son of a Gun’ is the one song by him that provides an insight into how the guy felt about life. There might be another La’s tune that does it better, please direct me to it. But for me, it’s the clearest ‘song about myself under the guise of someone else’ that I can think of right now as I’m writing to you. Lifts the haze on that sense of mystique, which I think is quite cool.

Lee Mavers didn’t like the sound of The La’s when the album eventually came out in 1990. The band had spent a couple years trying to get the album down, but Mavers was never happy with any of the results. There are many different versions of the songs from the record that you’ll be able to find online. Personally, I think the final version we all know mixed and produced by Steve Lillywhite showcased the best treatment any of those tracks got as recordings. It is interesting to hear other producers’ takes though. ‘Son of a Gun’ by Mike Hedges is in a higher key, utlises more electric guitar and has a bounce to it via added bass drum. A John Porter version has a monoaural mix. I could go through them all. It’s a lot to explore.

My iPod #312: The Kooks – Eddie’s Gun

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The Kooks are coming back. In fact, they are back. They’ve announced an album “Listen” which is due for release in early Autumn this year, and the tracks unveiled from this upcoming release “Down” and “Around Town” show that the group from Brighton have definitely taken a new approach in their music. Sounds pretty similar to Arctic Monkeys’ change on AM with those R&B vibes going on on both tunes. But whatever. It is a good time to be a Kooks fan.

“Eddie’s Gun” was the first track I ever heard by The Kooks. It was their first single almost ten years ago. The video appeared on MTV2’s new music section/programme thing the channel would do when there was a new band that was on the rise, or if new music videos were out in general. I think I saw the full video once that time, and then a second of it appeared in an advert or something. But I liked it, thought it was cool. Then time was getting closer towards the release of “Inside In/Inside Out“; “Naïve” and “She Moves in Her Own Way” were becoming popular tracks and the band were gaining more and more popularity. The album came out, “Eddie’s Gun” was on there…. but the band had re-recorded it to make it sound better. Understandable…. but it wasn’t the same.

The album version’s alright, but it’s the original/demo version that I have on my iPod. Just because it reminds me of when I first saw its music video and introduced me to The Kooks’ music.

It’s about erectile dysfunction. Just saying.

Here’s the album version, if you want to hear it.