(Captain Hook)

...by hook
or by crook...

john cale's
big career move ca. mid-80's:

a majestic parade-float of
procol harum-ized

punk, but recorded live
real brittle-like--

a metallic board mix
chunky metal cassette mix

irritating
irritating

the "loudness" button
remember that

it was for this
not the cushion

of even that heimlich distortion
re: chris thomas' pistols

even motorhead--
if your ear accepts it

as other than assault
at any volume

irritation is just
ideological,

dont tell me
you can fit

the stray gators
into your helmet

and keep on riding!--
so in the midst of this

12 minutes of mock-epic opening
side 3 of the imax thunderdome w/

bowery ambience
subbing for the edmonton symphony

and cale has come in character
dick burton in iguana

with a miner's lamp
and a fistful of arthur janov

overmatched it proved
against the punks in their red brigade pyjamas

for who remembers bobby sands
and frederick forsyth paperbacks

with walken
in the snow:

the mercenary chic
is what stuck.