"Oh little fool - you won't be learning nothing in school"

Image from "Tommy Walls the Wonder Boy" by Frank Hampson, originally published in Dan Dare's Eagle Magazine, 1950

I don't know why it's important to me to think that my favorite musicians are smart. Current trends in music criticism are unconcerned with such things - the whole "poptimism" movement requires you to be able to talk about the new Paris Hilton album with a straight face. But I can't do it. This is why songwriting is an important issue for me when instrumental virtuosity isn't - I think that I interpret writing ability as evidence of intellect. I know that this is not necessarily a healthy attitude to have - it certainly causes a certain level of cognitive dissonance when I'm really enjoying a group like the Shangri-las or the Supremes.

One product of this way of thinking is that I really admire people like power-pop legend Tommy Keene. I've seen him perform live twice and have read a lot of interviews with him - he comes across as a thoughtful and cool guy. And, as it turns out, he's a total nerd! Look at this little essay he wrote about being a contestant (and winner!) on syndicated game show Merv Griffin's Crosswords. This is as great as when American Idol David Cook said, "I guess you could say I'm a little bit of a 'word nerd.'"

Tommy Keene's got a new record out called In the Late Bright that is getting some good reviews. I'll probably get around to checking it out at some point, but I have to admit that I'm really more familiar with his early stuff. His cover of Alex Chilton's "Hey! Little Child" from his breakthrough 1984 EP Places That Are Gone is one of my favorites.

"Hey! Little Child" by Tommy Keene