I started Smarten UP! -- A How to Change the World Publication -- as a free fanzine in 1984 and left it at record stores, book stores and used clothing stores. The Globe & Mail, Canada's national newspaper, reviewed the zine, calling it "as school marmish as its name" -- thank you, now back to class kids. Smarten UP! is now published here, as a blog.
David Lester and I started Mecca Normal in 1984. In 1986, I turned the zine into a record label to release Mecca Normal's first LP (1986).
Mecca Normal has released 13 CDs on Kill Rock Stars, Matador, K Records, Smarten UP! Records
Mecca Normal Website Index:
History, Film, Paintings, Posters, Publishing, Lecture, Tours, Lyrics, Blogs, Record Label, t-shirts, Books, MySpace pages
The Eagle & the Poodle CD (Matador, 1996)
iTunes (re-release on Smarten UP! Records, 2009)
Who Shot Elvis? CD (Matador, 1997)
iTunes (re-release on Smarten UP! Records, 2009)
Medieval Man
Who Shot Elvis?
Excalibur
The Orbit
Step into My Sphere
The Way of Love
All About the Same Thing
OK Here We Go
Don't Heal Me Like a Dog Just to Break Me Like a Horse
In Canada
Sitting on Snaps CD (Matador, 1995)
iTunes (re-release on Smarten UP! Records, 2009)
1. Vacant Night Sky
2. Something To Be Said
3. Crimson Dragnet
4. Frozen Rain
5. Only Heat
6. Trapped Inside Your Heart
7. Alibi
8. Pamela Makes Waves
9. Beppo’s Room
10. Cyclone
11. Gravity Believes
25th Anniversary Tour in the US in April, 2009 -- photo John Scharpen at the Hemlock in SF
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Attraction is Ephemeral (Kill Rock Stars, 2006). A self-portrait film by Jean Smith.
The songs in the player are:
Black Cat 2000 -- Jean Smith guitar and sax, Shannon Morrow on drums and Bob Massey on guitar -- live in DC on a tour to support my solo CD on Kill Rock Stars.
Little Black Dress -- Jean Smith solo CD -- live at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle on tour with godspeed you black emperor -- 2000
The Story of History -- Jean Smith solo CD -- Kill Rock Stars, 2000
Immobilized by Loneliness -- Jean Smith solo CD -- Kill Rock Stars, 2000
2 Foot Flame -- Jean Smith voice and guitar, Peter Jefferies piano and drums
Peacock Coal -- 2 Foot Flame -- live on WFMU, New York 1997
Gone Gone Gone -- 2 Foot Flame -- recorded in New Zealand 1998 -- unreleased
JEAN SMITH SOLO CD -- guitars, percussion, vocals, synth, keys, sax. The CD was written, performed, recorded and mixed over three days at Yo Yo Studios in the Capitol Theater in Olympia, Washington. Jean mixed some of the songs, Pat mixed others.
Engineer: Pat Maley
Jean Smith is the singer in the underground rock duo Mecca Normal. New songs from The Observer CD are up at: http://www.myspace.com/meccanormal
Artist: Jean Smith
Label: Kill Rock Stars
Hearing Jean Smith do an album without David Lester anywhere on it is a bit strange in ways, but this is a solo effort straight up and then some -- all instruments are played by her, from saxophone to guitars to cymbals, and then there's her instantly recognizable voice, though often used in much different ways here. From the start, with the instrumental "Ghost of Understanding" -- one of several songs where Smith doesn't sing a word -- the tone of the album is much more Xpressway than K Records. Rather than simply trying to do Mecca Normal without Lester, Smith takes the opportunity to create a series of mysterious, ambient/lo-fi experiments, calling to mind similarities with the work of 2 Foot Flame bandmate Peter Jefferies. There's the same sense of shadowy but compelling playing, and the use of prominent piano on "Root Smooth Sapling Whips," at nearly ten minutes the longest song presented, and the Laurie Anderson-reminiscent "A Little Black Dress" further suggests the comparison while not specifically cloning his style. "Root Smooth," for instance, is more hushed and steady than frenetic or sweeping, the interplay of Smith's piano and sax often just plain heartbreaking. What's also remarkable about the album is its sense of careful beauty -- consider the way that acoustic guitar is gently played almost like an autoharp amid the queasy electric sound on "Siamese Hips," or the spindly electric guitar on "The Story of History." When Smith's voice comes to the fore on songs like "Snippet From Hell" or the concluding "Halfway," the more common pointed tone of her Mecca Normal work is set aside for more contemplative singing, though the lyrical bite remains strong. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide
"I first heard your music in about 1990, and found your work on the Web again last year. I pick up the same sense of immense awareness in your lyrics and in your writing--a well-grounded self-awareness, & a crystal-clear, moment-to-moment awareness of the people you describe interacting with. Plus authenticity, a kind of unbreakable anchor line of personal character as you navigate through those encounters, and an openness to creating and participating in fun, when it can happen." -- CD
"Referring to her extraordinary 20 year history in music Jean Smith talks about the reality of being a cultural activist and the singer in the underground rock duo Mecca Normal. Jean reveals the work methods and philosophies behind her activities -- touring, writing and publishing, making art and music."
Artist talk, art and performance event for art galleries, high schools, youth centres, music venues and university classrooms -- intending to inspire audiences toward creative self-expression, I talk about political content and artistic longevity. Very flexible time and tech requirements.
Jean has played guitar with the following people and bands.
Mecca Normal (live and recorded)
Rick Brown & Sue Garner
Tae Won Yu
Marnie Stern
Derek Champion
Victoria Singh
Wendy Atkinson
Book of Common Gestures (live and recorded) w/ David First
2 Foot Flame (live and recorded)
Jean and Duane (live and recorded)
Dave Doughman -- of Swearing at Motorists (recorded as Transmarquee)
Bob Massey -- of The Gena Rowlands Band (live and recorded)
Shannon Morrow -- of Scissor Girls
Michael Morley -- of Gate, Dead C (live and recorded)
Bruce Russell -- of Dead C (live)
Peter Jefferies (live and recorded)
Justin Trosper & Brandt Sandeno -- of Unwound (recorded)
Celebrity Cigarette Butts - Dan Bunny, Bunnybrains
Zip On Teddy Heads -- Keith Jafrate
Amy and Emily -- of Indigo Girls (live)
Jane Siberry (live)
Lourdes Perez & Javier Chaparro (live)
Thalia Zedek -- of Come (live)
Josephine Wiggs -- of The Breeders (live)
Kate Schellenbach -- of Beastie Boys (live)
Bill Horist (live)
Wax Mannequin (recorded)
Superconductor (live)
Ronnie Pontiac, Tamra Spivey, LaFrae Olivia Sci - Lucid Nation/Mecca Normal = Mung Jung Bushi (recorded)
Eric Damianos - Reptiles (recorded)
Distorted Pony/Mecca Normal - (recorded)
Happy Birthday Jean! Hope you have a great day doing the things you like to do! Summertime is the best time for a Birthday. Glad to see you writing, and posting/researching. Hugs alt/Doug
thanks jean...i love the posters!...really wonderful..and can't wait for our show together...! your incredible music flows through my studio daily...* best ~ i
Thanks for stopping by, Jean. Been a long time since Nanaimo when I last heard you live. Loved the story about the gig in Victoria with all the broken glass on the floor.
Wishing you a Very Happy New Year, Jean! Wishing you dry footwear as 2009 storms over us! Wishing you all the opportunities for creative outlets that your heart desires. Thanks for giving to us who read, enjoy music, live life. All the best in 2009 alt/Doug
