So Jay Reatard, baffled king of the Memphis scene, sterling link in the decades-long chain of true rock-n-roll, and purveyor of some of the finest balls-to-ya-daddy! kind of fun music you'll ever hear, died this past week at age 29. Too sad. I remember when I first heard his music in the earlier part of the last decade and kind of dismissed it. Just seemed like another kid with another guitar playing another batch of the same chords vying for our attention. A few years went by and he kept piling on singles, albums, and comps in his discography and it became impossible to ignore the fact that this guy was really on to something and clearly getting better with every release.

I figured his August 2009 album "Watch Me Fall" to be a real milestone and the album that would push him over the top, so packed full as it was with dynamite and some of the catchiest hooks this side of early Ramones. If the White Stripes could smear their mugs across MTV, and Jackass could pack theaters, why couldn't Jay Reatard finally get a piece of the pie?

But it wasn't to be, and the world for that. He was pronounced dead early in the morning on Wednesday, January 13th 2010, at his home in Memphis. 29 years old, and that's some bullshit. The Memphis PD is apparently investigating the case now as a homicide, but who cares. Jay's gone, and that's really about it.

I can't type out words like "condolences to friends and family blah blah blah" when I don't know any of those people or what they're feeling or what their dynamics were with Jay. Life's too complicated for greeting card sympathies, but I am sorry to see him go. Sorry because this guy couldn't carry on for even a few more years having the kind of insane fun that he appeared to be able to have at times, that he couldn't have a few more laughs with his friends, even though there was obviously a darker side to the guy. Sorry that he couldn't stick around to find something that would make him consistently happy.

Just try to reconcile the hilarity of the video for "It Ain't Gonna Save Me" with the lyrics:

My negativity it takes a toll it uses me just like a bone it scares away the things i love it keeps its fight and push at shows, Ever since that night I've never been the same tired and lonely with no one to blame and in this bedroom is where I sit cause I don't really don't give a shit

It Ain't gonna save me
It Ain't gonna save me, no

All is lost there is no hope, All is lost you can go home,
All is lost there is no hope for me.



So that's how 2010 starts off. in' hell.