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 Nicaragua and from Taipei.
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 1960 to 1973.
I'm losing my edge.
To all the kids in Portland and Johannesburg.
I'm losing my edge to the art-school Columbus 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 1976 at the first Buzzcocks practice in a loft in Bolton.
I was working on the organ sounds with much patience.
I was there when Captain Beefheart 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 Mandrill to the jazz kids.
I played it at Trash.
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 Harmonia. All the underground hits.
All The J.B.'s tracks. I heard you have a vinyl of every The Doors record on German import.
I heard that you have a white label of every seminal rap hit - 1985, '86, '87.
I heard that you have a CD compilation of every good '60s cut and another box set from the '80s.
I hear you're buying a linndrum and a mellotron and are throwing your macbook out the window because you want to make something real. You want to make a Lafayette Afro Rock Band record.
I hear that you and your band have sold your rhodes and bought a theremin.
I hear that you and your band have sold your theremin and bought a rhodes.
I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know.
But have you seen my records?
James Chance & The Contortions,
Masters at Work,
Urselle,
Howard Jones,
Kauko Röyhkä ja Narttu,
Siglo XX,
Chris Corsano,
Lebanon Hanover,
Pantaleimon,
OOIOO,
Rahsaan Roland Kirk,
Grauzone,
The Human League,
Eyeless In Gaza,
Excepter,
Lalo Schifrin,
the Fania All-Stars,
Ronan,
The Pop Group,
Avey Tare,
Procol Harum,
Deadbeat,
Young Marble Giants,
the Sonics,
Jacob Miller,
Television Personalities,
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds,
Thee Headcoats,
Interpol,
Monks,
Country Teasers,
Derrick Morgan,
The Wake,
Throbbing Gristle,
Marshall Jefferson,
Brothers Johnson,
Wolf Eyes,
Kerrie Biddell,
Sex Pistols,
Sunsets and Hearts,
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry,
Vaughan Mason & Crew,
Strawberry Alarm Clock,
The Vogues,
Intrusion,
Soul II Soul,
Marc Almond,
The Names,
Boogie Down Productions,
Toni Rubio,
Visionaries,LMNO, T- Love & Iriscience,
Animal Collective,
T.S.O.L.,
Ossler,
John Cale,
Fatback Band,
Subhumans,
Josef K,
Minny Pops,
Sonic Youth,
Drexciya, Drexciya, Drexciya, Drexciya.
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.