la dimension de trastos: POLY STYRENE'S BLACK CHRISTMAS

THE DAY GLO HAS DIMMED: POLY STYRENE HAS PASSED AWAY (The latest, added 4/25/11)
NEW POLY STYRENE STUFF IS POSTED HERE (Added 4/23/11)

It might be hard to explain the significance of X-Ray Spex to someone who wasn't around at the time. If you've grown up knowing the term consumerism, you're more aware than most young adults were back then. In 1978, few people had any view whatsoever about consumerism, one way of another. So, try to imagine the context: While other bands were singing anarchy and white riots, X-Ray Spex wrote songs that made anti-consumerism relevant and fun. This was before any real anti-consumerism movement, before Adbusters, before "Live Simply" bumper stickers. The lyrics were thought provoking without preaching, and the music was loud. Here was a band without ripped clothing or intentionally shoddy appearance, with a singer in braces and a saxophone player, singing about subjects that were universal and doable. It wasn't mean spirited, it wasn't angry, it was simply a message; and by virtue of that, your guard down and receptors up, it was relatable and palatable. To top it off, with the combination of Poly Styrene's unique voice, and the inclusion of saxophone, they sounded like no one else.

It's somehow apropos that the first holiday song I've run into, on "Black Friday" of all days, is Poly Styrene's new one "Black Christmas" a pop-ish reggae number, that features her daughter Celeste. It basically calls bullshit on all the phony Hallmark good cheer. While not quite what you'd call straight-up reggae (her pre-Spex 45 as Mari Elliot, "Billy, Billy," is a little closer to that), it is catchy, and dare I say, comforting to hear that voice again (though she has recorded since X-Ray Spex, it's been a while since I've heard any of it). There was a one-off X-Ray Spex reunion in 2008, that was released on a CD/DVD combo, but I haven't seen but a few clips ("Oh Bondage, Up Yours!" can be seen here). I think her last appearance was on Goldblade's "City of Christmas Ghosts" (video link below). Here's enough stuff (below) to reward you for participating in Buy Nothing Day. You did, didn't you?

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Friday, November 26, 2010

POLY STYRENE'S BLACK CHRISTMAS

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