As 2011 has come to an end, we are taking a look back at some of our favorite posts of the year by our guest editors.
The 25-year career of singer/songwriter John Wesley Harding has skyrocketed of late with the publication of no fewer than three critically acclaimed novels under his birth name, Wesley Stace. Equally amazing, the artist named for Bob Dylan’s misspelling of Texas gunfighter John Wesley Harden has just released the finest album of a career that’s seen him record at least 18 longplayers for labels ranging from high-profile majors to imprints so small the back catalog was stored in somebody’s garage between the cat box and the washing machine. Produced by old pal Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows) and fleshed out by no less than R.E.M.’s Peter Buck and the Decemberists, The Sound Of His Own Voice (Yep Roc) is a full-bore stunner with Wes (nobody calls him John) weaving his usual lyrical magic through knockout arrangements of extraordinary songs that revive the ghosts of the Kinks, David Lynch soundtrack guru Angelo Badalamenti and wall-of-sound maestro Phil Spector. For yet another career-topping milestone (gasp), JWH will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week for (yes it’s true) the second time. Read our brand new Q&A with him.
Harding: I was so happy to find this memory the other day. Joey Ramone and I were on a show together at the Bottom Line in NYC in 1990, hosted by Vin Scelsa (one of the great DJs, as I’m sure you know), and he and I ended up hanging out most, if not all, of the night, with his lovely friend Robin, and he played me his new song “Cabbies On Crack.” He showed me how to spin the Astor Place Cube and told me what to order at Gem Spa! It was kind of a dream come true. He also loved ABBA, and we talked about them a lot.
The inside of the card reads … Actually, I was going to transcribe it, but I think I’ll just scan it, because it’s not only what he says, but the entire presentation that makes this a treasured possession I thought long, long lost. Long live Joey Ramone.
“Kill in ’92”!
Photos after the jump.
