Music of the Day, 19 May 2025

whether you like it or whether you don't

Twice a week, a landscaping crew descends on our complex fairly early in the morning by most people’s standards.¹ Without fail, their presence is announced by the startup of multiple leaf blowers. I recognize their efficiency—especially in drier climes like ours, where the landscaping is mostly gravel to cover areas where grass² just won’t grow. Even so, I dislike removing material that in a healthy ecosystem would compost and nourish the soil, and creating a lot of noise pollution in the process.

My usual response when I hear the blower brigade start is to put in my earbuds, whether I’m listening to something or not; I have tinnitus and don’t need additional, loud droning encouraging it. Today, the radio station in my mind was triggered.

Who else remembers the short-lived fad of adding power tools as an instrument in hard rock songs? Jackyl’s “The Lumberjack,” from its eponymous debut album, fittingly features a chainsaw; and Mr. Big’s Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan used Makita power drills in a song that will end up here someday. I think there were others too, but my memory isn’t cooperating. If you know of any, please leave a comment with other examples.

Yeah, the song’s about sex, but give lead singer/chainsaw player/songwriter Jesse James Dupree his due: it’s much more subtle than most songs of that time. Even the music video chose to focus elsewhere, playing up the band’s southern roots. On the back of this track and the higher-charting “Down on Me,” plus other solid songs, the 1992 album went platinum. It’s understandable that “Lumberjack” got so much attention, but also lamentable—it became easy to dismiss Jackyl even though their musical chops are solid.

My brother and I saw Jackyl on tour with Damn Yankees. We were maybe 10 rows back from the stage, and the entire show was crazy loud, but loads of fun. Well, it was fun until Ted Nugent mocked fellow bandmate Tommy Shaw for a couple of Styx ballads … I started losing respect for him then and haven’t regretted it.

I was surprised to learn that Jackyl is still going; good for them. I’m pretty sure I never bought Jackyl nor any subsequent albums, so I’m curious about how their sound has changed over the years. As always, song and/or album recommendations are welcome.

1. not mine, as I’m almost always awake by then

2. and most other green ground-covering plants