Jandek plays a very strange and frequently atonal form of folk and blues music, often using an open and unconventional chord structure. Jandek's music is unique, but his lyrics closely mirror the country blues and folk traditions of Eastern Texas.
Barely a handful of people claim to have contacted Jandek, whose steadfastness in anonymity is legendary. Without any conventional attempts at promotion, he releases albums through his own record label Corwood Industries, which is addressed at a Houston post office box. Fans can write to Corwood for a typewritten catalogue and order Jandek’s albums, usually at inexpensive prices. Jandek’s work has been available on vinyl and on compact discs. Many of his albums feature pictures of the same young man (seen above) at various ages; in light of Jandek's live performances it is almost entirely certain that the person featured on the album covers is Jandek himself.
Jandek’s first album, Ready for the House (1978), was first accredited to a band called “The Units” but it was obviously a solo work. Jandek presumably plays acoustic guitar and has recorded much of his work apparently unaccompanied (assuming that the person singing is also the person playing guitar). However many other songs feature female vocals and/or different male vocalists. Others feature bass guitar, electric guitar and/or drums, presumably played by collaborators. No proper credits list has ever appeared on an album, but song titles have included "Nancy Sings" and "John Plays Drums".
Some of Jandek’s allure stems from his small but devoted fan base which has included Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore, Kurt Cobain, Indian Jewelry, and K Records founder Calvin Johnson.
The mystery of Jandek's identity was partially resolved in October 2004 when Jandek performed live in Scotland, at the Instal 04 music festival in Glasgow. This was Jandek's first known live appearance and performed with Richard Youngs (bass) and Alex Neilson (drums). The man on stage was obviously the same man who appears on the album covers. Corwood stipulated that the performance was not publicized in advance. Since then, "The Representative of Corwood Industries" (as Jandek sometimes insists on being called) has played a lot of concerts and recorded all of them for future releases. The last years have seen an even higher release frequency, even for Jandek.
For more information, you may go here:
www.tisue.net/jandek
www.jandekoncorwood.com
You Think You Know How to Score
Jandek Lyrics
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You think you know how to score
At face value, the lyrics of Jandek's "You Think You Know How to Score" might seem straightforward, but a deeper interpretation of the words reveals a darker meaning. The song is likely about addiction and the false sense of control people may feel they have over their substance abuse. The line "you think you know how to score" could be interpreted as someone believing they have a handle on their drug use, but in reality, they are being controlled by it.
The repetition of the phrase "you think you know" emphasizes the delusion and denial associated with addiction. The lyrics "you don't know what you're doing, your head's in the sand" further emphasize the idea that the person is not in control and is ignoring the reality of their situation.
The use of the word "score" also has a dual meaning in this context. It can refer to obtaining drugs or achieving a high from drug use, but it can also mean trying to win or succeed at something. This further highlights the false sense of control and power the person may believe they have over their addiction.
Overall, Jandek's "You Think You Know How to Score" is a haunting depiction of addiction and the struggle for control that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
You think you know
You believe that you understand or have knowledge about something
You think you know how to score
You are confident in your ability to succeed in achieving or obtaining something
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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