In the late eighties, Acres for Cents did for alt-country what Doing it for the Kids did for indie pop. Provided me with a bundle of songs I didn't like and one that I half-liked for £1.99.
Of course, we didn't call it alt-country then. I can't remember what we did call it, but it was all over Andy Kershaw's programme on Radio 1 like a rash (after Liz Kershaw joined the station, John Peel muttered darkly about "hordes of Kershaws in their R.E.M. tour jackets" in the same way as he would wonder aloud about the preponderance of DJs called Mark a decade later). Nevertheless, I was surprised to hear how much alt there is in the sound, and how little country — compared with the current incarnations that wear the 'tradition(s)' more or less on their sleeves.
The other surprise was that I was expecting to find that, as with Sounds of the New West a decade later, bands who were obscure unknowns to me back then would now seem like household names. But, no, almost are just as unknown, or more so, in 2009 compared with 1987. The Long Ryders, I remember them for sure, via Kershaw. And Guy and Paul occasionally talk of Danny & Dusty, but I stopped paying attention when they told me that Danny is from Green on Red — never liked Green on Red.
The one song on this album that I remember liking — in fact it's the only one I remember at all — is Heartland by The Band of Blacky Ranchette, one of two bands on the collection led by Howe Gelb. Now Howe can justifiably count as having moved from obscurity to household name, in this part of this household. Not so much on the strength of his songs, which I've sort-of liked but not enough to bother to listen to a whole album's worth; but mostly for the advice to new parents which I believe he gave to a friend of Gideon Coe, and which Gideon was kind enough to pass on to me when the Boy was on the way, 364 days ago. I hope neither of them mind me reproducing it here.
its a boot camp.
takes about a year.
puts a whole new measure on time.
but relax.....this is what your psyche has been waiting for.
at the end of the first year (all you have to do is survive it...and survival means you're doing fine) you will look back and think it was not so bad....you will be more in love with your child than you could ever imagine....it will begin to double in love every day...(how is that possible?)...... just is.
and of course a large line will be permantly drawn in the sand.....on one side are your friends with children, and on the other the ones who don't know yet.
that there is the crux.
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