Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Underrated Classic-John Lennon "Sometime in New York City"

In the month we look at the anniversary that would silence the greatest voice in music history, we must also reflect on what John Lennon has given us. While his solo career be marked by Imagine and Double Fantasy, it is Sometime In New York City that we see the true Lennon. Back by the Elephants Memory band, John and Yoko not only get political but personal on the 1972 recording. Writing songs like "Woman is the N**** of the World," and "Attica State," Lennon puts all of his anger and frustration of America and his native land of the U.K. on wax. Lennon also talks about his heritage for the first time (he is of course half English and half Irish), writing about that clash of English and Irish in "Sunday Bloody Sunday," something U2 would bring more to the mainstream, and Lennon's look into the life of his brethren in "Luck of the Irish." John touches on all subjects of creed, race, religion and ideology. With its cover mocking the New York Times and printing the albums controversial lyrics on the jacket, Lennon did not hold anything back and took all chances when writing one of his most profound and overlooked pieces to date. However, with all the bad, Lennon also wrote about the good. His love for the record's mother city in "New York City," and his love of course for Yoko on "Don't Worry Kyoko." If you have not herd Sometime in New York City or maybe you have, in 2005 Yoko remastered the record for CD and added bonus tracks of "Xmas Time" and "Listen the Snow is Falling." If there is anything you should stuff your stocking with, add this to your music list this Christmas.