"Gone Fishin' " Album Review

“Gone Fishin’” (Subterranean, August of ’84) boasts another clever cover concept by Ted. This one features cut-outs of the tour van – “Flipper Suffered For Their Music, Now It’s Your Turn” – spray-painted on the side, members of Flipper (my friend Bridget said, ‘Bruce looks kind of hot in that picture’), Steve’s drum kit, a guitar case, amp and amp head (w/cat). Though not a live album, some of the songs have a live feel, others sound slicker (i.e., “First The Heart”).
Both derided and praised as Flipper’s arty second album, there are many gems. One of my favorites, “Survivors Of The Plague” (Lyrics: Will, Music: Bruce) is a bombast of sound, triumphant and moving:

“Oh we are a mirror/ a distant mirror/when you look at us you will see/
all your hopes/ all your dreams/crushed upon the sea.”

The album opens with what could be Flipper’s Theme Song, “The Lights, The Sound, The Rhythm, The Noise” (Lyrics: Bruce, Music: Will):
“Hit my body like a thousand dances, everyone knows/ Where nothing is something”.

Next is a somewhat of a departure with “First The Heart” (Lyrics:Jeri Wilkinson, Music: Bruce and Steve). Featuring Will on vocals and great sax work by Kirk “Charles” Height, “First The Heart” is as poetic as it is emotive. It is similar to “In Your Arms” and “Shine” in that way.
“Hits outnumber, ten to nine/Missing/
A ravaged target”.
“In Life My Friends” (Lyrics: adapted by Bruce from a W.S. Harris poem , Music: Ted) gives rise to what some believe is Flipper’s credo:
“…so don’t look for future paradise/ take heaven now is my advice”

“Survivors…” is the outro of side one.
Side two finds “Sacrifice” (Lyrics and Music: Will):
“So the nation will live/ So the people will remain as cattle
They demand a sacrifice.”

“Sacrifice” is not just an anti-war song, but is an incisive look at how nationalism and hegemony defines and controls people. It is just as prescient today as it was twenty-odd years ago, perhaps even moreso.
“Talk’s Cheap” (Lyrics:Will, Music: Bruce) is next, followed by “You Nought Me”(Lyrics:Bruce, Music: Will) is as nihilistic as Flipper gets:

“I have nothing, sweet nothing how about you…
So you can go fuck or suck your thumb/ Or take more drugs and
Play ‘On The Run’”

“Gone Fishin’” ends with “One By One” (Lyrics: Will, Music: Ted):

“All prisons/Every bank/ Shall cease to exist”
The “Gone Fishin’” album must have been difficult for some hardcore punks to understand let alone enjoy. I love it as an example of how mind-and-heart-expanding a record can be. There are moments of brilliance in the songwriting and execution, moments of pure joy – the very essence of life. Pain and beauty combined in an intoxicating mixture that transcends ordinary-joe-hardcore. Creatively mesmerizing, “Gone Fishin’” stands out, a blood red ruby in the rough.

Target Video Is Genius

The recently released Flipper video by Joe Rees is on my top five things to watch and listen to at this time. I bought this video at the Flipper gig at the Funhouse on June 26, 2008. It is jam-packed with music from two live gigs -- one at Berkeley Square (1980) and the other when they opened for Throbbing Gristle. The Berkeley Square show is a window into the world of the new-ish band (formed in '79). Will Shatter's sloppy bass, Ted Falconi's squelching guitar feedback, Bruce Lose's smack-upside-the-head vocals -- all backed by the more accomplished Steve DePace's drumming, laid the groundwork for all that was good and true in punk, before it became hardcore.

Just look at what people were wearing then. There weren't any leather jackets (it was summer, though). People just wore whatever felt fun and right to them. There weren't the rules that stifled the scene later on.

The gig's highlight is the Will Shatter/Denny DeGorio duet "The Wheel" -- a most fucked-up, funny, beautiful triumph.

I will comment on the TG/Flipper gig later.

Flipper Still Rules, OK?!

This blog was created to celebrate/praise/illuminate/exalt the band Flipper and its members.
For the past 27 years I have loved Flipper. It excites me that they have re-united yet again, this time with Krist Novoselic on bass. The Flipper experience is total and without any compromises.
I've seen them several times and each time had moments of transcendence which left me in awe.