James Mercer aka The Shins joins The Pickaxe Podcast
Since we have put Wall Street Silver under new management, we’ve had some wild brainstorming sessions. The facts are that only 1/2 of 1% in the USA believe in silver and gold investing. We set an ambitious goal to move that to 3% in the USA by branching out throughout critical demographics, including reaching subcultures such as...
Youth
Women
Doctors, Lawyers, Scientists, Service Industry, Hospitality, et al.
LGTBQ+
Skaters
Bikers
Skiers / Snowboarders
Pornstars
Punk Rockers, Indie Rockers, Heavy Metal fans, Country Western, K-Pop, Disco, Club
Gamers
Geeks
Freaks
Jocks
So I talked to James off air about this mission and provided context like remembering when Snoop Dog started hanging out with Martha Stewart (an unlikely pairing) … Well, Precious Metals and Precious songs by James are a fit.
Here is our interview, and below that is a music story on James Mercer (with a very long introduction) setting up my thesis as to why Mr. James Mercer could be the best songwriter in today’s competitive music industry.
Foreword: I write about silver, gold, energy, history and geopolitics. But those topics always lead to discussing depressing themes. Once a month I am publishing articles on music, architecture and some other cultural phenomenon. Hope you don’t mind.
The Music of James Mercer
The quote "writing about music is like dancing about architecture" is most commonly attributed to Martin Mull, an American actor, comedian, and musician.
Mull's sentiment describes the difficulty of writing about music in a way that does justice to the experience of listening to it. Music is an inherently abstract and subjective art form, and describing the emotions and sensations it evokes can be challenging.
Now that the stage is set for the impossibility surrounding music editorial let me give it a shot.
I have invented a method for evaluating songwriting based on five criteria
1. Degree of originality
2. Degree of infection
3. Quality of melody line
4. Use of dynamics and surprises
5. Lyrical content
I. Degree of originality asks, is the songwriter doing something original? or is their music a derivative of someone else?
Here are some examples of derivatives. A derivative is something that derives value from an underlying asset (in music, sounding like someone else)
One of the more annoying genres has been an outcropping of "alt-country" bands. The original Southern rock bands (before gospel southern) may have been bands like the Allman Brothers, The Band, Lynrd Skynrd, or perhaps Jayhawks.
When Uncle Tupelo split into Wilco and Son Volt, all these wannabees came out of nowhere ( Whiskeytown, Old 97s, Drive-By Truckers). I don't like to "shit" on musicians; that's why I write about gold and silver, but this "trucker hat" subculture was based on formulaic themes, a contrived aesthetic, western shirt-wearin', songs about trains, and so unappealing yet so popular (and quite a boost for Dickies and Carhartt sales)
II. Degree of infection is the extent that the song can be remembered long after it's played. If infectious, it sticks in your brain because, through the clever use of rhythm, rhyme, repetition, and melody lines, the song is remembered, can be whistled, and can be sung by a group.
Musicals have this characteristic. The superstars in this domain are legends like Henry Mancini, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Meredith Wilson, and many others.
When you think of the degree of infection criteria, one of my favorite songs from a musical is "If I Only Had a Brain," a song by Harold Arlen (music) and Yip Harburg (lyrics).
One of the most beautiful melodies with astounding lyrics. The line “With the thoughts you’ve been thinking, You could be another Lincoln if you only had a brain”
So sweet yet. So cerebral. So Genius.
I live in Pittsburgh and just learned that the motherfucker that wrote Camptown Races and Oh! Susanna, Mr. Stephen Foster grew up in Pittsburgh.
We can all say with 100% certainty that in the 1800s, these were monstrous hits. Foster wrote some of the most "catchy" melody lines and covered tunes. He undoubtedly has more total listens (including around the campfire) than Hendrix, Zeppelin, The Doors, CCR, CSNY, KISS, The Stones, and The Who...combined.
If that doesn't blow your mind, Stephen Foster (whom you have yet to hear of before this article) wrote these three songs too.
Beautiful Dreamer (1864)
Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (1854)
My Old Kentucky Home (1853)
Like Stephen Foster or not, Foster understood the importance of my point, which is the importance of the "degree of infection."
Using the degree of infection criteria, my favorite songs are by Neil Sedaka and The Bee Gees. I think the song "Breaking up is Hard to Do" by Sedaka and "How Deep is Your Love" (pun intended) are beautiful songs.
Both The Bee Gees and Sedaka are grossly underrated. I saw Neil Sedaka open for Joan Rivers in 1980 in Las Vegas; this show was one of the tops I’ve seen!
III. Quality of Melody Line
This is everything and goes to the degree of infection. One common trap is when a melody line tracks the chords. This problem yields a boring-sounding song and signals songwriting immaturity (or lack of imagination). The songwriter has to figure out a way to sing a melody line that rises above the underlying chords, not track them. Leaders in this space are writers like The Beatles.
The Beatles had 34 top 10 hits in the United States during their eight years as a band. This includes 20 number-one hits.
Here is a list of their top 10 hits:
Please Please Me
From Me to You
She Loves You
I Want to Hold Your Hand
Can't Buy Me Love
A Hard Day's Night
I Feel Fine
Ticket to Ride
Help!
Yesterday
We Can Work It Out
Day Tripper
Paperback Writer
Rain
Eleanor Rigby
Yellow Submarine
Strawberry Fields Forever
Penny Lane
All You Need Is Love
Hey Jude
Something
Come Together
Let It Be
The Long and Winding Road
IV - Use of Dynamics and Surprises.
There are standard formulas in pop music. One is the typical verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, verse, chorus. This formula has nothing wrong but can lead to listener fatigue. Introducing a surprise in a song takes a lot of skill. Writers like Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Queen, and even more mainstream acts like Katy Perry and Taylor Swift understand how to splice in surprises at unexpected times.
V - Lyrics
Lyrics equal half of the song, but there are instances where a mediocre songwriter with brilliant lyrics can overcome some deficits in composing melodies. What's unique about music is that it combines literature, storytelling, and music. This is why musicals can be so entertaining. Even when the music is mediocre, the show can still succeed if the story is excellent. Leaders in lyric writing are Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Rennie Sparks, Bernie Taupin, Tim Rice, and thousands more.
I met James Mercer (1990) in a small nightclub across the street from the University of New Mexico. His band Flake (three of the four members), was too young to play in a lounge. I remember approaching the manager and convincing him to let the band play. We forged some parent permission slips, and Mercer got to perform.
This may have been Mercer's first live performance. (not counting house parties.)
By the time Flake's first set was over (around 40 minutes tops), most of us, with gut feelings and brains, figured out James would be an extraordinary figure in music.
Living in Albuquerque during his first seven years of playing out, I probably saw him perform 35 times.
Using the five criteria above, here is my assessment of James Mercer.
There have been people in sports, business, science, and academics who are once-in-a-generation superstars.
For example, in golf, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus won all four majors (The Masters, US Open, PGA Championship, and British Open.) I've met people with two advanced degrees (Like they are lawyers and doctors. Pretty insane, right?)
Mercer scores the highest in all 5 of these criteria.
1. Degree of originality
2. Degree of infection
3. Quality of melody line
4. Use of dynamics and surprises
5. Lyrical content
Let's take the song titled "Australia" This song has a lot of surprises and things going on besides having a degree of infection that breaks the thermometer. The tune begins with a counter melody then immediately kicks in with an unexpected verse building towards a powerful chorus. The melody line in Australia may be the best in pop music history. There are so many damn twists and turns in this song.
One thing Mercer does that is scarce among song crafters is he creates a "call and response" illusion, almost like a musical, but all sung through one person.
He may not be aware that he creates this effect, or it could be subconscious, but it showcases his vast imagination. The complexity is remarkable, but it's not "all over the place" like some confusing progressive rock tune that King Crimson or Yes would bore people with.
Why else would you see this kind of enthusiasm around the world?
Below are three videos of fans playing along with Mercer’s tune Australia
These are random people putting extraordinary work into learning and performing Mercer's songs. Amateurs displaying admiration for Mercer but also showcasing they can play a complicated tune. These three videos represent about one hundred hours of rehearsal, stopping the recording, etc.
I am introducing a 6th dimension.
The professional music world is very lethal. I used to dabble in music and almost died due to the lifestyle involved. The hours suck; you start at about 6pm and get home at about 4 in the morning.
Nothing healthy happens past midnight, TRUST ME ON THIS!
I have had over 20 friends who have died from the side effects of independent rock. Yes, most are self-inflicted wounds. The music industry is highly lethal. (Hendrix, Joplin, Cobain, Whinehouse, Morrison, thousands more)
I'm going back to a sports metaphor. I used to be a sports betting addict, and in the end, the key to forecasting success is the degree you can get through the season avoiding injury.
Mercer should also receive kudos for staying healthy. Check out the chart below I made.
Concluding thought
Music is different than any other art form. When you create a painting, sculpture it takes up space in the physical world and can lead to clutter. Think of the physical world being made up of matter. There are 12 notes in a scale yet infinite combinations to make up infinite amount of songs. These songs (absent of vinyl or CDs) don’t take up any space. They are just notes people hear.
A new song can changes things in our world if we allow this. The problem is that out of 100 songs written 99 are bad.
RE the remaining one that is good , James Mercer is still 10 times better than that!