ALLMUSIC REVIEW OF THE LIFE OF ERMIE SCUB BY LAURIE MERCER

 

ALLMUSIC REVIEW BY LAURIE MERCER

“Canadian John Paul Young (not to be confused with the Brit-pop star of the same era) released The Life of Ermie Scub after leaving his band the Cardboard Brains, a popular Toronto art-punk club band who put out a few records and toured with such bands as Bauhaus and The Stranglers.

A concept solo album (truly solo, Young wrote, co-produced, and played most of the instruments), ERMIE SCUB is a rather bleak tale of an introverted child struggling with confusion and loneliness, trying to figure out his place in a hostile world: “Have You Seen the Boy In the Gutter With the Broken Mind?”.

Musically its a minor synth-pop gem. A postcard from a time when synthesizers offered unlimited possibilities and an electronic rhythm section eliminated the need for drummers and bass players And layered composition was all the rage.

Like much music of this time, Ermie Scub can seem overbearing and pretentious at times, yet riveting and creative at others. fans may hear echoes of Depeche Mode or the British New Romantic groups but when Ermie Scub was released these bands were inn the future. Young’s work here is cutting edge upon its release: innovative and current synth-pop. The club hit “Our Time Escapes” survives well and sounds like a minor Wall of Voodoo hit. Other songs didn’t survive as well, but that doesn’t distract from the overall warped and upbeat pleasure of the album It was a local success for Young, winning a CASBY “people’s choice" award for Most Promising artist in 1982.

John young went on to become a successful television actor and re-united the Cardboard Brains on several occasions. A “best of “ compilation which included several solo compositions went quickly in and out of print. So for fans of minimal synth-pop or the Toronto Art-Punk scenes, the only way to hear THE LIFE OF ERMIE SCUB is on the original vinyl. Good luck finding it. “

Actually you can find it on DISCOGS.

This blog provides me with a forum to share my music, films, writing, photographs and musings. Currently in absence of any product or project to promote it’s a great platform to connect with fans and friends after a too long twenty year hiatus. Flow of consciousness postings, seemingly disconnected sometimes, eventually make sense when viewed as a whole.

Comments

Anonymous said…


I started a joke
Which started the whole world crying
Oh but I didn't see
That the joke was on me... Oh no..
And I started to cry
Which started the whole world laughing
Oh if I'd only seen
That the joke was on me

And I looked at the skies
Running my hands
Over my eyes
And I fell out of bed
Cursing my head
For things that I've said

Till I finally died
Which started the whole world living
Oh if I'd only seen
That the joke was on me

~ Faith No More - I Started a Joke (cover)

https://youtu.be/o703ItRgOGw

Tuesday, 7 February 2023 at 17:42:00 GMT-4
John Paul Young said…
I have to check out the Faith No More version. I really dig the Bee Gees original.
Saturday, 11 February 2023 at 02:20:00 GMT-4
Anonymous said…


It's good...look for the full dialogue version...


:-)



Monday, 13 February 2023 at 18:15:00 GMT-4
Post a Comment

Popular Posts

KIDNAPPED!

Image
  I’m just saying    The original intent of this post is to address my kidnapping, robbery, and attempted murder on Yorkville Avenue in Toronto, which occurred on July 2, 2002, at 6:55 PM in broad daylight. I intend to delve into this event in great detail shortly. Regarding my book, whether it's memoirs or an autobiography, there's a lot to discuss in an overview before I delve into specifics. On Wikipedia's "CARDBOARD BRAINS" page, it once stated that "John Paul Young is currently in seclusion," or in other words, hermitage. Although it has been edited out, it was essentially accurate.   I have been in seclusion since September 2002. My whereabouts and contact information were unknown, which was my preference. Consequently, when Cardboard Brains performed at the Horseshoe Tavern for THE LAST POGO JUMPS AGAIN in 2007, Cardboard Brains guitarist had his friend and former Cardboard Brains member John "Sandy" McFadyen step in as the front man-voc...
Read more

I WANT TO BE A YANK WITH LYRICS

Image
  I Want To Be A Yank This of course is the 1977 iconic CARDBOARD BRAINS White EP with I Want To Be A Yank, Living Inside My Head, Can Stress Kill, and of course our pre-pistols cover of the Monkees (I’m not your) Stepping Stone. The Canadian punk outfit FUCKED UP did a successful cover of I Want To Be A Yank, however the lyrics aren’t correct. So I would like to take this opportunity to present them in their full glory. “WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT MAGGIE T.? I’M REALLY SICK OF THE CBC. THE KIDS ARE ROTTING AT U. Of T. JUST TO WORK FOR THE U.I.C. RENE LEVESQUE’S THE MISSING LINK CBC TV PROGRAMS REALLY STINK YOUR MONEYS ALL DOWN THE DRINK I WISH I DIDN’T HAVE TO THINK. U.S. THEY GOT TAINTED HAM U.S. THEY GOT SON OF SAM U.S. THEY GOT SIRHAN SIRHAN U.S. THEY GOT VIETNAM I WANT TO BE A YANK! WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT MAGGIE T.? I’M REALLY SICK OF THE CBC THE KIDS ARE ROTTING AT U.of T. JUST TO WORK FOR THE U.I.C. U.S. THEY GOT JIMMY CARTER U.S. YOU CAN BE A MARTYR U.S. THEY GOT WORLD SERIES U...
Read more

CINOFRENIC (1978)

Image
 This is in response to a comment by unknown. I “star” in CINOFRENIC, as “Paul”. To the best of my knowledge Cardboard Brains does not perform in the film but Mike Nightmare and The Ugly does. I think The B-Girls also perform, and I can’t remember who else does. I probably wasn’t there that day. IMDB probably has more info on CINOFRENIC. Vince Carlucci would remember if Cardboard Brains performed in the film. I’m occasionally asked about it and if a copy is available. Again I don’t know. Eventually one will surface. Apparently it’s got some good footage of bands like The Ugly. I will always remember seeing Mike Nightmare spinning his mic around and singing: “Your not living in the real world!”. RIP Mike Nightmare. Thanks for the comment. JPY . And no, I don’t perform any music in the film. However we did in The Gate (1986). More about that shortly.
Read more

GET UP STAND UP STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS!

Image
I wrote the last blog early in the morning, feeling terribly ill, which explains all the typos and such. One day, I intend to edit all of it, but for now, I'm just glad to have some material published. It's material that's difficult for me to discuss, yet it's something I constantly think about. However, I find it cathartic to share it on a public online forum. I touched upon my brother's death to some extent, though not completely. Honestly, I'd prefer not to delve into it, but I find it necessary. I felt compelled to mention discovering my brother's body to provide context to the series of events that impacted my nuclear family: the subsequent passing of my mother, my abduction, my seven baseless arrests, and four unjust incarcerations. Not to mention, enduring ten years on the harsh streets of Toronto while being swindled out of approximately fifteen million dollars in cash and assets. The "sick as a dog" episode began with a tickle in my throat...
Read more

The Sun Still Shines

Image
  The Boulevards of Hope. You know, Dear Friends, what I really would like to do is release new music. But financing a project is the problem. If I were to use Ermie Scub as a guideline, it would cost about $CDN50,000.00 to release a comparable LP. Plus promotion and distribution. And I need things such as a practice space and gear. Maybe I will win the lottery or get a Canada Council for the Arts grant. Many sources including the CBC and Nardwaur and Canadian Composer (which was in the days of CAPAC) have commented on how depressing and down it is. But I submit that the above track is optimistic. And it’s one of my fave tracks on The Life of Ermie Scub.
Read more

KIDNAPPED! (Continued)…Yorkville, Toronto

Image
I come from a family of four: my mother, Margaret Isabel Young (née Peace), my father, Dr. Robert Goddard Young, my brother, William Robert Stuart Young, who was six years my junior, and myself, John Paul Young. My brother's untimely death in July 1996 occurred just as I was about to turn forty. For the next six years, I took on the role of primary caregiver for my parents. The grim discovery of my younger brother's body in his apartment shocked me profoundly. The officer on duty, "Bart," suggested at the scene that by identifying my brother's body for the Coroner, I could shield our elderly parents from the anguish of seeing their son in such a condition. In clinical shock, I waited for the Coroner, a compassionate woman who arrived with the others. She understood the emotional impact of identifying a deceased relative, particularly given the condition of his body after two days. I wasn't allowed to see my brother's body until the Coroner deemed it approp...
Read more