Various Artists – Kerouac: Kicks Joy Darkness
Maybe it was my age. Maybe it was my way of life. Of course, maybe it was just wishful thinking. I always looked to the writings of Jack Kerouac, not necessarily for answers, but for inspiration, for verve. If you were susceptible to such things, it was hard not to read On The Road or Visions Of Cody for the first time and not be enraptured and changed by its content. And even through his apparent weaknesses and his overall sad demise, at that moment you wanted to BE Jack Kerouac. Obviously, many people have been similarly affected.
An array of those people are gathered on this disc to pay tribute to Kerouac through reading various selections of his writings. As most tributes of this nature go, it is hit-and-miss. The selection of artists is a diverse one, ranging from the usual suspects such as Jim Carroll, Patti Smith and the late Allen Ginsberg to less expected artists such as Steven Tyler, Richard Lewis and Johnny Depp & Come.
Certain things made the original Kerouac readings so moving and pleasurable. His voice would lead the listener through those passages, always exhibiting great feeling and nuance for the specific word. His personality would drive those words home, while his ways of humor and tragedy made it all seem just a little more real. The best cuts on this disc exhibit some of those qualities, while the worst seem to be unaware of that magic.
Surprisingly, the artist who seems most influenced by Kerouac’s reading style is the comedian Richard Lewis. His reading of “America’s New Trinity Of Love: Dean, Brando, Presley” is an attempt to capture that spirit. Even though you get the feeling Lewis is really trying to sound Beat, it is nevertheless an enjoyable listen. The same can’t be said for the contributions of Lydia Lunch, Maggie Estep & The Splitters, or Eddie Vedder and his musical cohorts. Vedder, Campbell 2000 & Sadie 7 perform “Hymn” and effectively rip its soul to shreds. Experimental? Yes. Meaningful or listenable? Not to these ears.
Julianna Hatfield turns in a version of “Silly Goofball Pomes” that’s actually delightful. Hatfield, accompanied only by an acoustic guitar, shows the humor and irreverence that Kerouac seemingly intended. But the most interesting thing here is Hunter S. Thompson’s reading of Kerouac’s “Letter To William S. Burroughs”, paired with Thompson’s own “Ode To Jack”. Their off-the-cuff nature lends a sincerity to the passages.
Rhino’s The Jack Kerouac Collection is a must-buy for the uninitiated, but this collection is for the most part a worthy addition. Rykodisc has put together a nice package for the release; the accompanying booklet is well done and worthy of its subject.