As if I’d face-planted on unexploded ordinance from a sonic revolution long lost, my mind has been blown by the surprise absorption of supercool and ultrasubversive music from a personal hero who had been silent for way too long.
Rawb Middleton’s new work, What Is It?…And Why Is It Here? arrived in the mail today and couldn’t have been more welcome: hard copy, snail mail, just like all music arrived before 9/11.
For those unfamiliar with his work, Middleton was a regular Seattle kid who came of age during the grunge, computer and real estate gold rush of Seattle in the 90s and has never been the same since. A gifted drummer, Middleton made his name first as the teenaged timekeeper for Paisley Sin, a feted Jet City band in its’ time. In the mid-90s he moved out from behind the kit and started singing and writing songs for Flake, a power melodic combo beyond compare.
That’s where I caught up with Middleton’s work. I was an early and fervid adopter of Flake’s powerful songs and tough as nails post-grunge sound. In the past I’ve written that I feel as if my mind was hard-wired to respond positively to Rawb’s songwriting, singing and playing styles, as I always enjoy his work.
This new EP is no exception.
Rawb is on to something here. As I said above this new music is SUPERCOOL and ULTRASUBVERSIVE.
It takes balls to be Rawb Middleton in 2019. As the years have ticked by most of us 90s amplifier casualties have tried to hide our singularity and make a quiet living amongst the strong women and weak bros who do business, buy houses, and workout nowadays, oblivious to the potential beauty in agonal screams from a Marshall amp. But not Rawb.
Instead Middleton continues to write, record and live as his badass composer self amidst an increasingly trite, self-obsessed and pre-packaged world. Like Pete Seeger and other activist musicians before him, he fearlessly communicates his contrarian ideas through songs that attract listeners and confront them at the same time.
One such tune on the new work is “Discontinued Information,” his indictment of digital culture that works on many levels. I love the syncopated, forefronted, drumming on this tune. It keeps us from forgetting Rawb’s early percussion calling.
“In Your Honor” is a fantastic straightahead rocker.
But the wildest, awesomest and most subversive tune is a red hot and perfect send up of southern call and response gospel called “Throw the Cap Away.” The singing is stellar and the lyrics are spot on. Each rhyme is more colorful and strident than the last. I include it below and commend it to you for inclusion on all of your most explosive playlists.
The entire work is on Youtube. Listen if you dare. You may never be the same again after.
