The Buzzards
“You Got Me Down” b/w “Ain’t Gonna” & "TAQN”
Jett Plastic Recordings
Scum stats: four different covers, each with different colored vinyl, all limited to 125 copies (this shit is ridiculous)
I’m guessing I first heard the a-side roundabout the time the video for it was filmed on June 9th, 2001. If memory serves it was before the White Stripes third in-town record release show in support of “White Blood Cells” back when something like that was considered CRAZY. But now we know...
The scene of the video features Jack, Meg, myself, Ko Shih, Chris Schulist of the Mistreaters and who I believe is Bobby Harlow from the Go. Filmed backstage at the Magic Stick. We could not have spent more than 5 minutes being filmed. It was that quick. But so is everything when you’re 18 years old.
I have to admit that I’ve heard this song so much since then I was surprised that it wasn’t already released. Solid sloppy rock and roll with breathy “ooh ooh aah aah” female backing vocals that are like the perfect spice to a delicious meal. Nothing wrong here.
B-side is more punk-tinged and strong as hell, the original “Ain’t Gonna” propulsively pushed with four chords of early Ramones-inspired joie de vivre. “TAQN” is a cover of the classic by LA punks the Eyes and in these ears the ‘zards version feels like it predicts the existence of Detroit’s desperate Tyvek a solid five years before they appear. The odd title is an abbreviation for the line-ending lyric “Take a quaalude now” that’s said in a tongue-in-cheek anti-drug manner. For years I sang this to myself as “Sink or swim right now” and I just have to reiterate I am the absolute worst at discerning lyrics and my misunderstandings have lead me to inspired original lyrics of my own on numerous occasions.
Buzzards definitely did not get their due when they were originally around, but I guess when a band doesn’t put out a record it becomes quite difficult to demand said due. I realize now that bands of this nature and caliber are something that I took for granted back when I still lived in Detroit. I would kill for a band of this profile and stature to be on my radar at this point in life. Oh well, oh well, oh well.
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