1996 they released an album which is regarded as their masterpiece, "Now I Got Worry". An unwieldy mess of an album, Now I Got Worry, starts with a series of piercing screams and never stops confounding until the end. Featuring the legendary Rufus Thomas howling and barking on Chicken Dog, and The Dub Narcotic Sound System on Fuck Shit Up, Now I Got Worry was a glorious celebration of what an open mind(s) could do with white trash rock and roll.
Touring endlessly, JSBX gained a small but enthusiastic global audience. Subsequent albums were "Acme" (1998), "Xtra Acme USA" (1999), "Plastic Fang" (2002), "Damage" (2004) and the earlier "Crypt Style" (1992) and "Jon Spencer Blues Explosion" (1992).
Jon Spencer as well as the other members of the band had several side-projects. They recorded an album together with The Dub Narcotic Sound System. Jon Spencer played together with R.L. Burnside ("A Ass Pocket Of Whiskey"), David Holmes ("Bow Down to the Exit Sign"), The Honeymoon Killers ("Hung Far Low") and other artists. He is also a member of Boss Hog, along with his wife Cristina Martinez. Together with Matt Verta-Ray of Speedball Baby Spencer formed a rockabilly revival band called Heavy Trash which has released three albums. The band has also been associated in various ways with The Beastie Boys, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and others.
On the Blues Explosion's album "Damage" (2004) they left out the "Jon Spencer" prefix of the band's name to show that they are a genuine band.
Talk About The Blues
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ah-OOOOOOOOOOOOOH!
That's right
I'm talkin' 'bout the blues
I said I feel so good baby
OOH!
I'm talkin' 'bout the blues
Rolling Stone magazine
Talk about the blues
Right now OOOSH!
LOOK OUT!
Yeah
hahahaha
That's right ladies and gentlemen
Thank you for letting me into your home
I'm gonna do it right now
I'm gonna talk about the blues
OOH!
Rolling Stone magazine
Comin on the phone, baby
Talkin' 'bout that
fffffashion
uh haah!
Uh!
(I use the microphone like a plumber use a tool)
Hey
Spin Magazine
Wanna tell you what to wear
But I ain't gettin' with that
Or MTV
Make up your own mind, ladies and gentlemen!
(That's bullshit, man!
You know what I'm talkin' about?)
Do your own thing
Yeah
'Cause that's the rock 'n' roll blues we did
Rock 'n' Roll, yeah!
Rock 'n' Roll on the real, c'mon
And right now, ladies and gentlemen,
right now, right now
We're gonna break it on down, everybody
Do it!
AAAH!
Stay with baby
Because I got something I want everybody to hear right now ladies and gentlemen
I don't play no blues
I play rock 'n' roll!
That's right
The blues is #1
The blues is #1, ladies and gentlemen, but
There's something I gotta tell you right now
I do not play no blues
I do not play no blues
I play
Rock 'n' Roll
Get it!
I play
ROCK 'N' ROLL
Yeah!
That's right baby Come on Momma
Do it babaaay
I said I feel so good
I said I feel so good
I said I feel so good baby
I said I feel so motherfuckin'
Good
Uh!
That's right
Hooo
On behalf of myself,
Mr. Judah Bauer,
Russel Simins,
and everybody at Rolling Stone magazine
I'd like to say
Rock 'n' Roll
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's song "Talk About The Blues" is an anthem to the power of rock 'n' roll. At the beginning of the song, Jon Spencer asks, "Is it on?" before launching into a primal scream, "ah-OOOOOOOOOOOOOH!" As the song progresses, Spencer talks about the blues, Rolling Stone magazine, fashion, and MTV, all while insisting that he doesn't play the blues, he plays rock 'n' roll. The song is full of energy and attitude, as Spencer defiantly proclaims his love for the raw power of rock music.
Throughout "Talk About The Blues," Jon Spencer seems to be pushing back against the traditional blues sound, asserting that he and his band play something different. He name-checks Rolling Stone, Spin Magazine, and MTV, all three of which are associated with mainstream, commercial music. By insisting that his band plays rock 'n' roll, Spencer is staking out a position outside of the mainstream, alternative to what he sees as the watered-down versions of rock and blues that these outlets promote. The song is a celebration of the raw power of rock music, and an assertion of the band's independence and authenticity.
Overall, "Talk About The Blues" is a high-energy ode to the power of rock music, full of attitude and defiance. Jon Spencer's vocal performance is one of the highlights of the track, as he alternates between screaming, shouting, and talking, creating a sense of urgency and passion. The lyrics are full of allusions to music magazines and the commercial music industry, which Spencer seems to be pushing back against. In the end, the song is a celebration of the raw, unadulterated power of rock 'n' roll and a declaration of the band's independence.
Line by Line Meaning
Is it on?
Are we ready to start?
ah-OOOOOOOOOOOOOH!
Expressing excitement or enthusiasm
That's right
Affirming a previous statement
I'm talkin' 'bout the blues
Discussing the genre of music known as the blues
I said I feel so good baby
Expressing a positive feeling
OOH!
Expressing excitement or enthusiasm
Rolling Stone magazine
Referring to a popular music magazine
On the telephone, baby
Indicating a conversation or interview over the phone
Talk about the blues
Discussing the genre of music known as the blues
Right now OOOSH!
Expressing urgency or a call to action
LOOK OUT!
Warning of potential danger
Yeah
Expressing agreement or approval
hahahaha
Expressing amusement or laughter
That's right ladies and gentlemen
Addressing the audience in a respectful manner
Thank you for letting me into your home
Showing gratitude for being welcomed into someone's home or space
I'm gonna do it right now
Indicating a forthcoming action or performance
Rolling Stone magazine
Referring again to a popular music magazine
Comin on the phone, baby
Indicating a conversation or interview over the phone
Talkin' 'bout that
Discussing a topic, likely related to music or culture
fffffashion
Sarcastically referring to the superficiality of the fashion industry
uh haah!
Expressing agreement or amusement
Uh!
Exclamation of surprise or anticipation
(I use the microphone like a plumber use a tool)
Drawing an analogy between the use of a microphone in music performance to the use of tools by a plumber
Hey
Informal greeting
Spin Magazine
Referring to another popular music magazine
Wanna tell you what to wear
Criticizing the fashion advice given by magazines
But I ain't gettin' with that
Rejecting the notion of following fashion trends dictated by magazines
Or MTV
Referring to a popular music television network
Make up your own mind, ladies and gentlemen!
Urging the audience to think for themselves and not blindly follow trends promoted by media outlets
(That's bullshit, man!
Expressing frustration or disagreement with a previous statement
You know what I'm talkin' about?)
Rhetorical question indicating the audience's familiarity with a topic
Do your own thing
Encouraging individuality and creativity
Yeah
Expressing agreement or approval
'Cause that's the rock 'n' roll blues we did
Describing a style of music that combines rock 'n' roll with elements of the blues genre
Rock 'n' Roll, yeah!
Celebrating the music genre of rock 'n' roll
Rock 'n' Roll on the real, c'mon
Expressing the authenticity of rock 'n' roll music
And right now, ladies and gentlemen,
Addressing the audience in a respectful manner
right now, right now
Emphasizing an urgent or important message
We're gonna break it on down, everybody
Announcing a change in the performance or style of music
Do it!
Encouraging the audience to participate or enjoy the music
AAAH!
Expressing excitement or enthusiasm
Stay with baby
Asking the audience to continue listening or enjoying the music
Because I got something I want everybody to hear right now ladies and gentlemen
Announcing an important message or announcement
I don't play no blues
Making a clear statement of what the artist does not do
I play rock 'n' roll!
Describing the artist's preferred music genre
That's right
Affirming a previous statement
The blues is #1
Acknowledging the significance of the blues genre
The blues is #1, ladies and gentlemen, but
Qualifying the importance of the blues genre with an exception
There's something I gotta tell you right now
Announcing an important message or announcement
I do not play no blues
Making a clear statement of what the artist does not do
I play
Describing the artist's preferred style of music
Rock 'n' Roll
Celebrating the music genre of rock 'n' roll
Get it!
Encouraging the audience to participate or enjoy the music
Yeah!
Expressing agreement or approval
That's right baby Come on Momma
Addressing two members of the audience informally
Do it babaaay
Encouraging the audience to participate or enjoy the music
I said I feel so good
Expressing a positive feeling
I said I feel so motherfuckin'
Intensifying the previously expressed feeling of positivity
Good
Expressing a positive feeling
Uh!
Exclamation of surprise or anticipation
On behalf of myself,
Speaking on behalf of oneself
Mr. Judah Bauer,
Addressing another member of the band
Russel Simins,
Addressing another member of the band
and everybody at Rolling Stone magazine
Extending gratitude to a popular music magazine
I'd like to say
Expressing the intention to convey a message
Rock 'n' Roll
Celebrating the music genre of rock 'n' roll
Writer(s): Jonathan Spencer, Judah Bauer, Russell Simins
Contributed by Savannah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
konami1979
Twenty-four years later and the production is still sick.
Jeremy Larsen
true goodness
never ages.
..... how this band never caught on
baffles me.
Ed Campbell
RAWK N ROLL-this shit saves lives.
維加斯小恩
awsome
luke tracey
🍀
SANDINISTAS - punk rock
good !
Kimmo Laine
BLUES...
Owen Kirschner
EXPLOSION!
Marcus Coquer
Fuck yeah
David Cauley
Fudgie the whaleeeee. Now there's a JSBX deep cut reference for you.