Re: White City

[msecero@attmail.com (Martin J Secero)]

RE: White City:

That album had a real significant effect on my life when it was released in 
November 1985. At that time I was just 20 years old, in the hospital, and 
was just diagnosed with large-cell lymphoma, a cancerous tumor in my chest the
size of a small football. I made sure my girlfriend at the time (later my 
wife, then my ex-wife) went to the local record store to buy White City in 
both LP and cassette formats. I remember listening to "Give Blood" through my 
Walkman headphones and reeling in a flood of emotions, as I had to give blood 
samples every day so the doctor could analyze my illness. At one point during 
my 7-month chemotherapy treatment which followed the November 1985 hospital 
stay, my older brother gave a pint of blood for me when, over spring break 
1986, I caught pneumonia and legionnaire's disease simultaneously. This 
brought to my mind new meaning to the line "Give love and keep blood between 
brothers". I also remember being driven to my oncologist's office for 
treatments, and needing to listen to "Give Blood" so I could garner the 
strength to take the chemo shots. 
To this day, if I hear the instrumental passages in the song (after each verse
and the main chorus), I can smell the leather upholstery of the doctor's 
office. I get the metallic taste in my mouth from the chemo treatments. I 
relive some of the anguish I was feeling at the time. However, I also gather 
strength from the song as well. When the minor-chord verses resolve to the 
release of the major-chord chorus, I feel vindicated, grateful to be alive. 

Having confessed my soul here, I DO feel that White City is not as good an 
album overall than PsychoDerelict. Pete DID write a story for both projects; 
the difference is that, in Pete's opinion, PsychoDerelict needs the dialogue 
in order for the songs to have a context, in order for them to stand up as 
compositions. I totally disagree. I think that Pete's main writing weakness   
since the WHO's breakup has been his overriding need for context for 
everything he does. The great thing about Empty Glass and CHinese Eyes is that
the context for these two albums (Pete's personal breakdown and subsequent 
triumph over his demons) is not overt or forced. For the past 10+ years, Pete 
has felt the need to create fictional scenarios (sometimes part 
autobiographical) in which to present his songs, whether it be Jimmy (the 
White City main character), Hogarth (his Iron Man character), Ray Highsmith 
(PsychoDerelict), or even Tommy for that matter. 

I do wish Pete would writing from the hip again. I feel that he's still got 
another Empty Glass in him. Take away the context, and y'know what? You still 
have some fucking brilliant songs, Pete. 

A few last minute White City comments: IMHO, there are two main problems with 
White City as an album:

1) There is almost no guitar from Pete on the album. And the PT solos that are
there are really unorthodox and unusual (Secondhand Love, Crashing By Design).
Dave Gilmour is a fine guitarist, but let's face it folks: take away the 
delay, chorus and reverb, and you come up with one very average guitarist. 
Watch the Deep End Live video or listen to the CD: he's not doing anything 
very spectacular. Granted, he's a whiz in the studio, but live, he's quite 
surprisingly average (This judgement was made after seeing the Fake Floyd 
twice in 1987).               

2) White City, as an album of songs, is way too short. These days it qualifies
as an EP more than a full album. What about Nightschool, Pete? How about the 
other White City outtakes? You blink once, and the whole thing's over. A 
three-year wait between It's Hard and White City, all for 38 minutes of music?
Come on now!!!

Marty Secero

"Parade your pallor in iniquity"