Infinitely Losing My Edge
Yeah, I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge.
The kids are coming up from behind.
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge to the kids from Nigeria and from Columbus.
But I was there.
I was there in 1970.
I was there at the first Onyeabor show in Enugu.
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge to the kids whose footsteps I hear when they get on the decks.
I'm losing my edge to the internet seekers who can tell me every member of every good group from 1964 to 1974.
I'm losing my edge.
To all the kids in Johannesburg and Jakarta.
I'm losing my edge to the art-school Manila kids in little jackets and borrowed nostalgia for the unremembered nineties.
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge.
I can hear the footsteps every night on the decks.
But I was there.
I was there in 1975 at the first Ubu practice in a loft in Cleveland.
I was working on the harpsichord sounds with much patience.
I was there when Nile Rodgers started up his first band.
I told him, "Don't do it that way. You'll never make a dime."
I was there.
I was the first guy playing Swell Maps to the jazz kids.
I played it at CBGB's.
Everybody thought I was crazy.
We all know.
I was there.
I was there.
I've never been wrong.
But I'm losing my edge to better-looking people with better ideas and more talent.
And they're actually really, really nice.
I'm losing my edge.
I heard you have a compilation of every good song ever done by anybody.
Every great song by Hoover. All the underground hits.
All John Coltrane tracks. I heard you have a vinyl of every The Busters record on German import.
I heard that you have a white label of every seminal grime hit - 1985, '86, '87.
I heard that you have a CD compilation of every good '70s cut and another box set from the '90s.
I hear you're buying a harpsichord and a rhodes and are throwing your macbook out the window because you want to make something real. You want to make a Bang on a Can All-Stars record.
I hear that you and your band have sold your marimba and bought a guitar.
I hear that you and your band have sold your guitar and bought a marimba.
I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know.
But have you seen my records?
Kenny Larkin,
the Swans,
Deakin,
Franke,
Sandy B,
Brothers Johnson,
The Dead C,
Arcadia,
Robert Görl,
Notorious Big And Bone Thugs,
Chris Corsano,
Scion,
Lower 48,
L. Decosne,
Ultramagnetic MC's,
The Modern Lovers,
Avey Tare & Kría Brekkan,
Danielle Patucci,
The Fortunes,
Sam Rivers,
Gian Franco Pienzio,
Cheater Slicks,
Coldchain, Rosco P., Featuring Pusha T from Clipse & Boo-Bonic,
Tears for Fears,
the Association,
Thinking Fellers Union Local 282,
Procol Harum,
Lou Reed & John Cale,
Camron Feat. Jay Z And Juelz,
Derrick May,
Deadbeat,
Althea and Donna,
Fear,
Jerry Gold Smith,
Suicide,
Kas Product,
Faust,
Excepter,
Dave Gahan,
Section 25,
Nick Fraelich,
Cymande,
Brand Nubian,
Moby Grape,
Crispian St. Peters,
The Slits,
Radio Birdman,
Alison Limerick,
Godley & Creme,
Oneida,
The Flesh Eaters,
Camouflage,
Swell Maps,
The Star Department,
Rufus Thomas,
Terror Squad Feat. Camron,
Hoover,
Heavy D & The Boyz,
the Human League,
The Chocolate Watch Band, The Chocolate Watch Band, The Chocolate Watch Band, The Chocolate Watch Band.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.