Posted on

My Gen X Playlist: A Town Called Malice – The Jam

Scroll down to see more content

I’m not sure what inspired me, but I made oatmeal cookies the other day. For the typical person, this is not a notable thing to mention, but me? I don’t really bake. I was craving something sweet and I convinced myself oatmeal cookies are on the healthier side. Yeah, I know. I was rationalizing to myself. Even though I half believed it, it still made me feel better.

The recipe called for sea salt. I checked our pantry and found that we had some. I thought it strange to add salt and was leery about it. It didn’t help that the sea salt granules seemed too large. But first time with a recipe, I follow it to a tee. It turns out, the granules were too big. Every once in a while there was a big salty bite. The salt flavor wasn’t bad, just too much of a punch at one time. Next time I’ll adjust.

Not sure where this sudden desire to make stuff is coming from. I’m assuming it’s sweet tooth motivated. This weekend the persimmons will be ripe enough to pick from our tree. I stopped by my mom’s house the other day and we’ll probably have our usual crop of about 300 fruit to harvest. I’ve already looked up persimmon jam recipes. I was surprised how simple the recipe appears. Even a Neanderthal such as myself can navigate through it. Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have said that out loud. I don’t want to jinx myself. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

So here’s a strange transition. Persimmon jam and music from The Jam. Both couldn’t be any more different. I only know a few songs from them – the best known to me is A Town Called Malice.

Weller came to fame fronting The Jam, whose 1982 song “A Town Called Malice” became the band’s best-known song in the US in the early MTV days. This song about Weller’s discontent with his hometown and maybe the entire UK, “A Town Called Malice” is still relevant today both musically and lyrically. The song has been featured prominently in movies and television series, including Billy Elliot and The Walking Dead.

AmericanSongwriter

I somewhat doubt there were any jars of persimmon jam floating around Weller’s world of discontent. The contrast of dreary dark days of his hometown and happy orange jars of persimmon jam just doesn’t quite jive together. Maybe if they only had a little taste on their toast every morning it could have slowly lifted the veil of dread, even if only for a moment. Never underestimate the power of sugar. Especially if accompanied by a hot delicious cup of coffee to start the day. You never know.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Better stop dreaming of the quiet life
'Cos it's the one we'll never know
And quit running for that runaway bus
'Cos those rosey days are few
And...stop apologising for the things you've never done
'Cos time is short and life is cruel
But it's up to us to change
This town called Malice

Rows and rows of disused milk floats
Stand dying in the dairy yard
And a hundred lonely housewives
Clutch empty milk bottles to their hearts
Hanging out their old love letters on the line to dry
It's enough to make you stop believing
When tears come fast and furious
In a town called Malice

Struggle after struggle, year after year
The atmosphere's a fine blend of ice
I'm almost stone cold dead
In a town called Malice

A whole street's belief in Sunday's roast beef
Gets dashed against the co-op
To either cut down on beer or the kids' new gear
It's a big decision in a town called Malice

The ghost of a steam train echoes down my track
It's at the moment bound for nowhere
Just going 'round and 'round
Playground kids and creaking swings
Lost laughter in the breeze
I could go on for hours and I probably will
But I'd sooner put some joy back
In this town called Malice

21 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: A Town Called Malice – The Jam”

  1. What does a persimmon taste like? I’ve never had or seen one…
    I made the mistake of baking chocolate chip cookies without salt one time and blah….no good!! You need that salt!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. They are sweet with a hint of cinnamon. I like them when they are crisp. My wife prefers them when they are more ripened because they are sweeter. My parents have had the tree for over 40 years. I didn’t like it as a kid and never ate them. I rediscovered them as an adult and kick myself for wasting all those years of not eating them.

      Yes… salt in cookies. Funny how it sounds, but they need it!

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

  2. We sprinkle the sea salt on the chocolate chip cookies while they’re still warm from the oven. Mmmm. As for The Jam, check out their (sort-of_ concept album ‘Setting Sons.’ It’s a good ‘un.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. Persimmons! Haven’t had one in years,loved them when I was a kid and they were plentiful in stores on the East Coast. Nowadays the ones in the stores are rock hard and are the small round-like-a-tomato ones. We always had the big ones that come to a point on top. Anyway, a persimmon can run $3 for just one around here. Be thankful you have a tree full. I envy you so much.

    (Saw the title of the post and thought ‘Town Without Pity’ by Gene Pitney .I just played it and boy is that a hokey song but a good tune to dance The Madison to. Can you tell I am super old LOL And I have no idea who The Jam are.)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. The Jam. A teen fave! Going Underground was pretty much my theme song.

    Persimmons were also a bit nothing to me as a kid, but like you, rediscovered as an adult. I also prefer them on the crispier side, they can get a mushy feel in the mouth otherwise. Those ones I make muffins out of.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. I’ve never had a persimmon, but just the very thought of your delightful persimmon tree in sunny SoCal is making me jealous. We just watched an episode of “Shrinking” on Apple+ — set in LA—and every single character has a wondrous indoor/outdoor living room patio area with fruit trees. The weather is perfect in every scene.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. The Jam were a great band. Paul Weller is still putting out new music. If you’re not already into them, check out Wire, Television Personalities, Gang of Four, Gun Club, and The Undertones. Personally, I dug a bit deeper back in those days, with acts like A Certain Ratio, Ike Yard, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, SPK, Cabaret Voltaire, Psychic TV, The Virgin Prunes, on and on and on. I could go on forever. Take care and nice blog!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Wow… thank you for the recommendations! It’s amazing he’s still creating music. I was introduced to him by The Style Council and then later learned about the Jam afterwards. It will be great to explore more. Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. Feargal Sharkey and “Teenage Kicks”! Jeffrey Lee Pierce and “Run Through the Jungle”! Sure it’s a cover, but it’s a good one, and it should also be the soundtrack to “Under the Volcano”, my favorite book and a great/sobering read for this time of year (Dia de Los Muertos)😜

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. what?! … no Pearl Jam song? (maybe that was before your time?).

    p.s. my oatmeal cookie recipe has salt in it– but just normal salt. which is hard to find these days. that sea salt is all the rage, and when i use it on anything, it feels like i’m crunching on rock salt. lol.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment