Scott Kempner by Denise Sullivan
Saving Grace
Back when dinos… Read Full Bio ↴Scott Kempner by Denise Sullivan
Saving Grace
Back when dinosaurs roamed rock stages, New York's the Dictators and Scott Kempner (aka Top Ten) came along with their pre-punk savage beat and contributed to their extinction. In the '80s Kempner wrote the songs and fronted the rootsier Del Lords, the kind of band you could rely on to deliver no BS rock 'n' roll in an age when carefully coiffed bands, from the hair metal variety to Flock of Seagulls, ruled the radio waves and MTV. An American guitar band could barely get arrested back then, but that didn't stop Kempner and his bros from running down the dream in jeans and workboats to the tune of a sweaty American beat.
I don't think I was the only one back then who had a hard time distinguishing the Del Lords' urban boogie from Boston's twang-tinged Del Fuegos (when it came to roots-rock I relied on my home state's the Blasters). But when the Del Fuegos lent their image and sound to a beer company, which was just about the uncoolest thing a band could do at the time, sides were drawn and the Del Lords bumped up a few notches on the real deal, roots rock radar.
Yes, that was all a frighteningly long time ago and today people of a certain age are more familiar with the Del Fuegos' Dan Zanes than they are with the Del Lords' Scott Kempner: Zanes is a children's music artist with old fans who play his records to their kids while Kempner's profile is significantly lower. He hasn't made a solo record since the early '90s (and when you think of it, that is also a frighteningly long time ago). But when he does step out, as he did with Little Kings—the band he formed when original Bronx rocker Dion ("The Wanderer", "Runaround Sue") called him up for a little co-creation—he doesn't stray far from his roots.
Dion and Kempner wrote "Heartbeat of Time" during those '90s sessions and Dion sat in on the recording of it for Saving Grace. Both "Heartbeat of Time" and the new album's "Love Out of Time" have that tentative, fluttery, and yet steadily rising Brill Building sound, like something Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman would write back in the day (and a little like a certain type of song Bruce Springsteen still writes). The Bruce connection runs deep round these parts: Bruce loves Dion and so does Kempner who also proclaims to be charged up by the Boss and their mutual influences, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan. Which leaves Kempner open to further comparisons to East Coast rock types and a specific type of songwriting performer: One who combines sincerity with swagger, as Southside Johnny, Little Steven, and the two Willies: Nile and DeVille, all do. Of course Bruce was the one who made their genre his, by fusing retro song values with Byrds and Beatles-styled guitar and a workingman's point of view. And you can hear Kempner's version of that formula on the tough but restrained "Beyond the Pale" and "Baby's Room", with their guitars that sing out with a vintage jangle.
"Stolen Kisses" is like a punky boogie party. I want to say that throughout the album (gulp) J. Geils Band came to mind even though I know some people will hate me for just conjuring their name (personally, I can't deny their '70s hits). There's one song by an outside writer—"I'll Give You Needles" by Tommy Womack—a popular singer-songwriter that I'm afraid I just don't understand. Kempner takes seriously his American musical heritage and surrounds himself with longtime musical companions as well as session guys of some repute (bassist Bob Babbitt, drummer Ed Greene, and engineer Bob Olhsson).
"Passion Red", a song steeped in old world imagery complimented by an edgy arrangement, provides a refreshing chaser to the 10 otherwise straight shots of roots rock, while "Here Come My Love" provides another opportunity for Kempner to showcase his looser side. He plays great guitar on the album, and when he gets Link Wray-ed like he does on these tracks, it made me think a little more of that woulda been good.
Seeking redemption through real rock 'n' roll is a pretty old-fashioned and romantic ideal; it's rarely achievable in modern rock song unless your name is Joe Strummer or Bruce Springsteen. But you can't hold it against a guy like Kempner for trying; most rockers don't even bother attempting it anymore.
Saving Grace
Back when dinos… Read Full Bio ↴Scott Kempner by Denise Sullivan
Saving Grace
Back when dinosaurs roamed rock stages, New York's the Dictators and Scott Kempner (aka Top Ten) came along with their pre-punk savage beat and contributed to their extinction. In the '80s Kempner wrote the songs and fronted the rootsier Del Lords, the kind of band you could rely on to deliver no BS rock 'n' roll in an age when carefully coiffed bands, from the hair metal variety to Flock of Seagulls, ruled the radio waves and MTV. An American guitar band could barely get arrested back then, but that didn't stop Kempner and his bros from running down the dream in jeans and workboats to the tune of a sweaty American beat.
I don't think I was the only one back then who had a hard time distinguishing the Del Lords' urban boogie from Boston's twang-tinged Del Fuegos (when it came to roots-rock I relied on my home state's the Blasters). But when the Del Fuegos lent their image and sound to a beer company, which was just about the uncoolest thing a band could do at the time, sides were drawn and the Del Lords bumped up a few notches on the real deal, roots rock radar.
Yes, that was all a frighteningly long time ago and today people of a certain age are more familiar with the Del Fuegos' Dan Zanes than they are with the Del Lords' Scott Kempner: Zanes is a children's music artist with old fans who play his records to their kids while Kempner's profile is significantly lower. He hasn't made a solo record since the early '90s (and when you think of it, that is also a frighteningly long time ago). But when he does step out, as he did with Little Kings—the band he formed when original Bronx rocker Dion ("The Wanderer", "Runaround Sue") called him up for a little co-creation—he doesn't stray far from his roots.
Dion and Kempner wrote "Heartbeat of Time" during those '90s sessions and Dion sat in on the recording of it for Saving Grace. Both "Heartbeat of Time" and the new album's "Love Out of Time" have that tentative, fluttery, and yet steadily rising Brill Building sound, like something Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman would write back in the day (and a little like a certain type of song Bruce Springsteen still writes). The Bruce connection runs deep round these parts: Bruce loves Dion and so does Kempner who also proclaims to be charged up by the Boss and their mutual influences, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan. Which leaves Kempner open to further comparisons to East Coast rock types and a specific type of songwriting performer: One who combines sincerity with swagger, as Southside Johnny, Little Steven, and the two Willies: Nile and DeVille, all do. Of course Bruce was the one who made their genre his, by fusing retro song values with Byrds and Beatles-styled guitar and a workingman's point of view. And you can hear Kempner's version of that formula on the tough but restrained "Beyond the Pale" and "Baby's Room", with their guitars that sing out with a vintage jangle.
"Stolen Kisses" is like a punky boogie party. I want to say that throughout the album (gulp) J. Geils Band came to mind even though I know some people will hate me for just conjuring their name (personally, I can't deny their '70s hits). There's one song by an outside writer—"I'll Give You Needles" by Tommy Womack—a popular singer-songwriter that I'm afraid I just don't understand. Kempner takes seriously his American musical heritage and surrounds himself with longtime musical companions as well as session guys of some repute (bassist Bob Babbitt, drummer Ed Greene, and engineer Bob Olhsson).
"Passion Red", a song steeped in old world imagery complimented by an edgy arrangement, provides a refreshing chaser to the 10 otherwise straight shots of roots rock, while "Here Come My Love" provides another opportunity for Kempner to showcase his looser side. He plays great guitar on the album, and when he gets Link Wray-ed like he does on these tracks, it made me think a little more of that woulda been good.
Seeking redemption through real rock 'n' roll is a pretty old-fashioned and romantic ideal; it's rarely achievable in modern rock song unless your name is Joe Strummer or Bruce Springsteen. But you can't hold it against a guy like Kempner for trying; most rockers don't even bother attempting it anymore.
Blame Me
Scott Kempner Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Blame Me' by these artists:
A Jigsaw Blame me for the wings that won't grow Blame me for…
A June & J Beat Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Adema I'm always gonna be one life behind It's why I'm all…
Adham Girl I don't expect you to understand I know life gets…
allen centeno Shut up, we′re done with this Last night you were a…
Aynes We are not to blame. For so many things. So who can…
BL8KE G I normally don't talk before my songs But this is my…
BLAcK ON (Hook) How could you blame me I want dough I want…
BLVKES I got a reason that makes me wanna meet you…
Boybarbii Heard you trynna blame me You can't blame me After all the…
Chris Knight Sit down Mary they don't know what they're talkin' about Si…
cma You talk so slow I don′t know if you could take…
Craig Morgan She's pony-tailed, and she's halter-topped Her bumber sticke…
Crash And The Void You just smile, but don't talk to me I already told…
Crypt Joey Nato & ATLUS Let me ask you consider this deeply Have you ever wondered…
D.V.S Pressure Too close when the front line calls Tough niggas do…
Dropping Daylight What does it take to satisfy your need for someone to…
Eden Row Remember when we used to talk About the way we met Remember…
Ellery Honey, you're gonna have to come home sometime I can't seem…
Emmanuel Carlos St.omer BLAME ME I don’t want to lose you Can’t imagine living on…
Feder Something got me paranormal Losing my steps Walking down thi…
Hugh Bob and the Hustle Blame me, Blame me its all my fault Spendin’ all your…
J.M.B. Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Jaheim Who dares to go against me? Yeah, yeah, oh When you're spe…
James & Bobby Purify Tired of living in a god damn lie I don't got…
Kedo I want you to be better (Yeah) I want you to…
Knight Chris Sit down Mary they don't know what they're talkin' about Si…
Kobane One more day to forget But not to forgive All the pain…
L'Rain You were wasting away, my God I'm making my way down…
Landon Wordswell & A June & J Beat Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Latto Can't blame me (Oh, no) Yeah I'll admit it, I be tripping '…
Lehmann B. Smith I never wanna cry like this I never wanna see you…
Lennie Tristano Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Limbo its the way you do your hair the glitter in your…
Lo-Pro So I ruined everything By ever coming into your life Pleas…
L’Rain You were wasting away, my God I'm making my way down…
Melvin Alex I hate the way you're always right I hate it when…
Molotov Míralo You really wanna know why nothing works out You bitc…
Molotov (Randy Ebright) You really wanna know but nothing works out You bitch Yo…
MONSTA X (Monthly, weekly, nightly and daily) (If I'm falling, baby, …
Morgan Craig She's pony-tailed, and she's halter-topped Her bumber sticke…
mulatto Can't blame me (Oh, no) Yeah I'll admit it, I be tripping '…
Neverest Sitting here telling myself that she was wrong Didn't under…
OhGeesy (Diego) Put the blame on me Was it all my fault? Put the…
Past-X I don't really understand why You had to go and change…
Pressa Ooh I've been wondering why these niggas, why they hatin', w…
Project Vela I see a face I don't recognize Calloused by your mask…
Randy X Molotov You really wanna know but nothing works out You bitch Yo…
Rikki I been through a lot. This shit never stops. Bout to go…
Sam & Dave Don't get tired, I hope I'm not buggin' you It's just…
Sarina Oh baby, If loving you is what they call crazy They…
Signum A.D. Pressure Too close when the front line calls Tough niggas do…
The Pretty Reckless Sitting in the back, baby park it or drive Breathing out…
The Roses I am the one to blame For your careless insensitivity I let…
Thea Sofie Move on, live on, let us proceed Healed wounds starting to…
TiDUS Wake up And get high every day I dont know man this…
Tricky Nicki Blame me Hate me Tryna' always blame me, tryna' faze me Putt…
Two Feet When I die The things that I said will come out…
VOTA (Verse) You point your fingers at the left and the right Got…
xekro Teenage years, in the prime of my life Spend my time…
XUITCASECITY VERSE Last night was amazing Remember you vaguely My vis…
♪♫ The Pretty Reckless Sitting in the back, baby park it or drive Breathing out…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Scott Kempner:
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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