RICHARD LLOYD – Field of Fire – (Moving Target) – 1985

Lloyd was punk at the dawn of punk.

Wikipedia bio (abridged): Richard Lloyd (born 25 October 1951, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the rock band Television…. During his solo career, as a guitarist and session musician he has worked with various artists in the music industry, including Matthew Sweet, John Doe (of the band X), and Stephan Eicher. In 1990 Lloyd recorded a cover version of the Roky Erikson/13th Floor Elevators song "Fire Engine", which was included on the various artists tribute album Where The Pyramid Meets The Eye….He is also known to teach other aspiring guitarists in his studio in New York, where he frequently produces other acts. He acted as producer and recording engineer as well as a member of the band Rocket From The Tombs, entitled Rocket Redux, which was released on Smog Veil Records. He has also produced a number of records for other local bands, including The Blondes, Inc., Chris Purdy, Miss Mother USA and Kevin Otto… He has now released six solo albums. Alchemy in 1979, Field of Fire in 1986, his live disc Real Time in 1987 (recorded at CBGB’s) and The Cover Doesn’t Matter in 2001. The Radiant Monkey was released on Parasol Records in late 2007. The CD features Lloyd playing everything but the drums (manned by session drummer Chris Purdy and on one track Television’s own Billy Ficca). 2009 saw his most ambitious album yet: "The Jamie Neverts Story", a tribute to his hero Jimi Hendrix and dedicated to the memory of Velvert Turner, who was Jimi Hendrix’s only authenticated protégé and guitar student. It was released on Parasol Records. "Jamie Neverts" was the secret codename that Velvert and Lloyd came up with to prevent all the kids in the neighborhood from trying to come along when they went to see Jimi.

“Field of Fire” is punk but it’s not punk as we now know it or as it was in 1985 when the album was released.

This album despite some production sounds like something from 1977, 1978 or 1979 when musical boundaries were still being challenged and punk was more than a bunch of stereotyped notes, poses and uniforms.

This is Lloyds second album, his first being released in 1979. He spent some time dealing with his substance abuse demons so perhaps the intervening years never happened for him. Perhaps that is why this album sounds from an earlier time.

As it was, the 80s underground, though not without its current darlings, never turned its back on music of yesteryear. The sound or style didn’t matter as much as conviction. The underground was populated with new punk, old punk, Detroit, jangle rock, rockabilly and any other number of styles, who lived in relative harmony. It is in this milieu that Lloyd ‘s album fits in even with all its reverb and big drum sound..  

The music would be called alternative rock now and I suppose there is nothing with wrong with that but I’m trying to avoid nauseating images of lame alternative arena rock like Pearl Jam.

The music isn’t always pretty but it’s muscular and direct.

There are mainstream rock licks, blues licks and some pop but all are slightly twisted andf off kilter.

Mainstream rock, blues and pop fans are unlikely to be happy.

That’s punk enough for me.

Lloyd can’t sing that well either but his voice complements the muscularity of his guitar and he has conviction – and a growl which will keep him forever outside the mainstream. Think David Johansson, Bruce Springsteen or Mick Jagger being covered by Tom Waits, or perhaps Mark Lanegan.

I can’t sing either. Lloyd gives me hope. Now if I could only write a song. The general rule is if you can’t sing you better know how to write. Lloyd writes all the songs apart from “Pleading”: which is a co-write.

The album was recorded in Sweden with, mostly, Swedish musicians.

Tracks (best in italics)

• Watch Yourself – Catchy and a possible anthem….and quite Television-esque: 

I stood out alone and shaken.

All the love it had been taken.

Cast adrift on a stormy sea.

Been cut up bad.

But, I’m too blind to bleed.

I’m pleading, baby, take away the pain.

Pleading, baby lake away the pain.

• Losin’ Anna – bruising and tough – the equivalent of being mugged by a drunken bum on the street. Quite Rollings Stones in its own way.
• Soldier Blue – an anti-war song with a danceable beat.
• Backtrack – good harmonica work
• Keep on Dancin’ – a touch of the New York Dolls
• Pleading –  mid tempo, almost pop, by Lloyd standards. Clearly Lloyd is aiming for something more poppy here …it must be an interesting world he inhabits. But the song is a beautiful ragged “plea” and quite evocative.
• Lovin’ Man – straight rock with a little late Stones swagger.  Not especially memorable  … like a lot of late period Stones.
• Black to White – another mid tempo punk rock ballad …”punk rock ballad” ? Yes Virginia, it does exist.
• Field of Fire – facing your demons by writing about them. The guitar work is great – lots of soloing but it never sounds like bad guitar rock wanking. If you want to hear the difference between a punk and a straight rock guitar solo – listen up. The difference in sound is actual small – but you could drive a (stylistic) truck through there. Hypnotic: 

I’ve been up and darling you can’t bring me down.

No.

Cause I been oh so good.

Yet, honey l won’t wear a crown.

Cause I was hurt and tired walking through a Field of Fire.

Now I’m not going to add no fuel not on to the funeral pyre.

And …

I’m keeping it. The album is a grower – no one song hits you in the face but the album as a whole works. It’s a powerpop goes grunge rock n roll agit mood piece. Well above average, but admittedly of limited appeal.

Chart Action

As if

Sounds

Watch Yourself

attached

Richard Lloyd – Watch Yourself

Backtrack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAzoFoQmyIQ

Pleading

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikf0FSkn5nA

Lovin’ Man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikf0FSkn5nA

Black to White

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqnQ_VJQDNI

Field of Fire  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkGc9sOvcM4

live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLny6n-PZbY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PNLnAu06tc

Others

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZKvmFOOkmA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sCQ0hEYhZE&feature=related

Review

http://www.allmusic.com/album/field-of-fire-mw0000621450

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_of_Fire_(album)

http://floweringtoilet.blogspot.com.au/2007/05/richard-lloyd-field-of-fire-revisited.html

background to the album:

http://www.richardlloyd.com/field.htm

Bio

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/richard-lloyd-mn0000351053

Website

http://www.richardlloyd.com/

Trivia

• The album was re-issued in 2007 as a Deluxe with an extra disc of music that presents the original album (plus another 2 tracks) stripped of its 80s production with more guitars, fewer synths, and newly recorded vocals.