How do you feel about being stabbed in the guts? Doesn’t appeal to you, eh? Well, I sort of figured. I think Mr. Kevin Coyne figured too, way back in 1971 when he came out with his very first LP: this bad boy right here, Case History. Your teachers, guidance counselors, parents and all wisened/hardened old foggies have probably all said the same to you at various points in your life. Some, like myself, grasp and embrace this ugliness. Others shy away from it, choosing to live in denial. Luckily, Kevin Coyne opted for the former and birthed this monstrously honest masterpiece, which ventures down bleak and forlorn paths that many others have only seen from a distance.

What do you think of the term “outsider art”? I bet you think of Irwin Chusid’s godawful compilations of racket made by exploited mental patients and rightly forgotten talentless bums who remain in obscurity for a damn good reason. That is who (besides you cynical voyeurs) wants to seriously listen to the homeless and schizophrenics poorly belt out nonsense? Huh? For me, the term outsider refers to an overly intelligent (and sane) individual who sees the world from detached angles, providing frighteninlgy honest truths in blatantly simple ways. Charles Bukowski with his 4th grade vocabulary and all too true observations was an outsider who captured the ennui, helplessness and dissatisfaction of a young generation. Like Bukowski Coyne is also an outsider who with just an acoustic guitar and savagely emotional voice speaks for the outcasts, the damaged, the ill. His askance Weltanschauung challenges the listener to think from another’s wounded perspective and ponder out loud, “Hey, things really aren’t all that great.”

It’s only recently that I started listening to Coyne. I was told about his work by one of my friends who was always extolling the man with such phrases as, “He represents all that I love about music.” Damn, friend, you were so very right. This is music in its purest, most human form. Raw expression. You’d think that would come come around more often. Honestly, I can only think of two others who got as deep as Coyne: Blind Willie Johnson and Skip Spence. All three of these men passed that border seperating art from personality. Case History infact might actually surpass Oar and such Bline’ Willie tracks as “Lord, I Just Can’t Keep From Cryin’ Sometimes.” On record here, we have a man bearing his soul and bleeding, just bleeding. While listening to a track like “Evil Island Home” I can’t help but bleed with him.

The album starts on a relatively light, yet reserved and scorned, note with “God Bless the Bride”. It’s a bouncy, little number that upon first listen seems rather fancyfree, but further introspection reveals otherwise. It’s reserved and deliciously malicious. Rather then dwelling and sulking, Coyne spits a carefully masked venom at a former love. Think of all the times you’ve thought to yourself, “You know, I hope they’re happy together.” Yeah right. You hate their guts. Admit it. On we go to “White Horse”, a beautiful sad poem with the requisite music. I’m not going into full analysis, but after one listen it’s easy to realize that what you’re hearing is brilliant. Follow that with “Uggy’s Song”, a ballad about a homeless man. Those lyrics strangle me each and every time — “Why should you care? Why would you want a man looking like me hanging around?”- those are some of the truest lyrics ever written, all the more important because Coyne improvised them right on spot. 

The albums biggest highlight is “Evil Island Home”. Never ever ever ever have I heard a song so full of hopelessness. It’s all in Coyne’s voice as he screams the chorus, “Here is my home. My evil island home.” I just die with him as I hear that. Combine that with a reverb soaked, schizo blues guitar and you have pure gold. It’s beyond me as to why this song never garnered any sort of notoriety in the least, even among hardcore music lovers. I think Coyne would have wanted it that way anyway.

Each and every one of these songs are full of emotion and character. “Araby”, “Sand All Yellow” and “Mad Boy” all perfect songs deadling with insanity and fear, desire to escape from such a mundane reality. I could keep on gushing about every note on here, but I fear that the hype would ruin it for anyone who should be curious. 

It’s really a shame that the recently departed Coyne never got so much as a footnote in rock history. I guess that makes his appeal all the more great, an enigma who made timeless music which spoke for itself. Case History happens to be my favorite Coyne album, as well as one of my favorites bar none. Everyone I’ve introduced this album too has been throughly changed. You should join their tiny ranks.

*The reissue features two more songs, “I’m All Aching” and “A Leopard Never Changes Its Spots” which, while good songs, tend alter the bleak mood a tad too much in my opinion. Search out the original LP. These songs lend themselves very well to the scratchy vinyl. Remember, the key word is “raw”.