Mecca Normal - The Observer

I have absolutely no idea how I came upon this group but shame on me for not even being aware of Mecca Normal.

Based in Vancouver, B.C., Jean Smith and David Lester have performed under the name Mecca Normal for over 20 years.

Simply put, they were indie before there was indie as we know it today.

Unlike a lot of poseurs in the musical industry, when it comes to social commentary and activism, Mecca Normal actually walk the talk. Not being content as musicians only, Jean and David have a long and distinguished history as writers, photographers and artists.

Check out the critical acclaim:

"Arguably the greatest rock band without a rhythm section ever, the duo of acid-voiced singer Jean Smith and guitar hero David Lester must be seen to be believed." - Douglas Wolk

"Jean Smith is a major writer of our generation." - Ronnie Pontiac, senior editor at Newtopia Magazine

"An unbending advocate of thoughtful indie culture for two decades now, the Vancouver guitar-and-voice twosome doesn't just make demanding music, they also make books, paintings, photos, cartoons, among other things." - San Francisco Chronicle

The band lists a multitude of influences for their sound: Au Pairs, Stiff Little Fingers, Phil Ochs, Poison Girls, Gang of Four, X-Ray Spex, The Clash, The Jam, PiL, UT, Buzzcocks, Joy Division, Scrawl, beat happening, Chris Knox, Can, The Slits, The Kinks, Bob Dylan, Sun Ra, Pere Ubu, Young Marble Giants, feedtime, Fugazi, Minor Threat, Tall Dwarfs, The Velvet Underground, The Clean, Raincoats, The Stooges, Shoplifting, Wax Mannequin, Swearing at Motorists, Al Green, Rolling Stones, Lester Young, Meredith Monk, Jimmy Cliff, Ry Cooder, Pretenders, Neil Young, CCR, Yo La Tengo, Xiu Xiu, Robert Johnson, Van Morrison, Eno, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Joni Mitchell, Nina Hagen, friends and colleagues.

That just about covers it all, eh?

Download and listen. Your ears will be challenged by Jean's lyrics but the experience will ennrich and enlighten you for the better.

I'll Call You MP3 (The Observer - 2006)

You can stream more songs from the new album here.

You buy The Observer at Emusic.

Enough is enough already. These two deserve their due and respect!


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