From: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org (jangle-poets-digest) To: jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Subject: jangle-poets-digest V9 #149 Reply-To: jangle-poets@smoe.org Sender: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk jangle-poets-digest Friday, April 18 2008 Volume 09 : Number 149 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [JP] Better Dreams - pix of P&M - discography [Nieldsforever@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:18:32 EDT From: Nieldsforever@aol.com Subject: [JP] Better Dreams - pix of P&M - discography I've been meaning to mention the pix of Pete & Maura on Better Dreams for some time. The picture of TK on the back of the Better Dreams CD strikes me as extraordinary. I can't remember another one like it, and this longish post is designed for documentation and comparison. There is a "look" about P&M in the pic to which I'm referring. They often have a "look" about them, sort of a style they've developed over the years. But what's different this time is the emotional tenor of this new look. Maura looks wistfully off to the right. Pete's gaze is directed somewhere behind Maura, appearing downright pensive -- maybe even pissed! I just can't get this image out of my mind. This is an entirely different look coming from the Kennedys! I think the composition of this shot of the two of them is brilliant. There is a kind of yin-yang duality, with the two faces peering in different directions, Janus-like. The expressions suggest sadness, hurt, and anger, or at least dejection from Pete, qualities we haven't commonly associated with TK in the past! The matching costumes in earth-hues suggest to my imagination that P&M represent spirits of the earth who are not happy with the way things are going. In the background, perfectly dividing P&M or the two earth-spirits, is the image of a tree, or a clump of trees bunched together. The tree-image is dominant elsewhere too (on the front picture and on the CD itself). What a great picture! :-) By way of comparison, here is a backward glance at pix of P&M from all of their albums in chronological order, including the Stringbusters, but excluding the Strangelings and the Snacks. River of Fallen Stars (1995) This was originally released under the artist name "Pete & Maura Kennedy" -- the rerelease identifies them as the Kennedys. There is a haunting look about the front cover as P&M look like 2 sawgrass sages or prairie poets, standing amidst tall grass before a mysterious-looking grouping of pillars. My favorite photo from this album is the back cover of the original album, with P&M wearing cool-looking jackets as they stand before the intricate fractal randomness of a daubed-looking or raw-hewn stone enclosure. Almost all of these pix are in B&W, making for an antique, old-time feel. Life Is Large (1996) The original CD innersleeve folded out into a poster! TK assume a sort of rock star pose in the most emblematic Life Is Large photos, and in vibrant colors of mostly red and off-yellow. The rerelease CD has some different shots of TK -- one on the back with Maura holding flowers in her hand (with a priceless doey-eyed look on her face), and one on the back of the booklet in an almost bizarre bright green, with both P&M looking even more "rock star" than in any of the other pix. TK exude a sort of "arch-cool," with Pete looking even a little edgy. I think this might be a reflection of the times -- the Nields' Greta album from the same period also exhibits an edgy, rock star look. Angel Fire (1998) There is a markedly more homey, almost carefree look about P&M in the pix of the front and back of the CD booklet, as they sort of lounge around with guitars, cups and saucers, and favorite books. Maura looks sort of elegant! Evolver (2000) Evolver has a radically conceptual album design, almost an Andy Warhol look about it. The front picture shows two seated figures where the heads have been cut off as in a poorly aimed photo. A bluish 3-color striped dress or shirt is featured elsewhere, along with photos of P&M in the innersleeve that look calculated to give an appearance of complete randomness. Positively Live! (2001) P&M are shown in an onstage pose. Get It Right (2002) In bold reds and blacks, P&M display a carefree look like Angel Fire, only with Maura looking less elegant, affecting almost a "party-girl" look in these pictures. Stand (2003) Bright yellow predominates, with the whole look suggesting the psychedelic 60's. P&M look to be totally grooving to the music. Half a Million Miles (2005) The orange album! Do TK plan these color schemes, maybe, years in advance? P&M look incredibly happy, confident, and sure of themselves in these pix. My favorite on this album is the B&W pic in the inner sleeve where P&M are walking away with their guitars slung over their backs, toward a bridge over some sort of overpass or ravine. A bend in the river, maybe, or about to go across the great divide? :-) Songs of the Open Road (2006) P&M look happy on this album too, surrounded by gorgeous locales from all over with the open road as their backdrop. The front cover makes me think, if U2 had a Joshua Tree album, why shouldn't the Kennedys have one too? :-) Stringbusters Rhapsody in Uke (2007) P&M look great in vintage clothing, suggesting the old-timey, jazz, and swing feel of this side project -- sitting surrounded by instruments! Better Dreams (2008) On the front cover, Pete looks like a wandering minstrel who has found the "Sweet Holy Grail" of his craft, a guitar-tree, heavy-laden with guitars as with ripe fruit on the vine, in an enchanted place where Maura as a dancing pixie livens up the scene. I've already described the back picture, where TK seem to represent 2 elemental spirits of the earth, alternately sad and mad about what's going on. Bruce Check out the Kennedys' Official Home Page: http://www.KennedysMusic.com/ Fab photos, the Official tour diary, dashboard Buddha haiku, groovy merchandise...what more could you ask for? ------------------------------ End of jangle-poets-digest V9 #149 **********************************