Pushkin

In the 1970s, Jackson Brown was known as one of the originators of the Carefree California classic rock sound.

With hits like Dr. My Eyes and running on empty.

As his career progressed, Jackson Brown's knack for writing soul-searching lyrics turned more political.

He began to write protest songs that addressed weighty issues like environmental degradation and US foreign policy.

Brown continues to use his music as a vehicle for change today.

His latest album, Downhill From Everywhere, was inspired by a documentary about the Pacific garbage patch and our impact on the planet.

On today's episode, Bruce Hedland talks to Jackson Brown about how he is able to turn catastrophic headlines into palatable songs.

Brown also talks about moving to New York City when he was 18 and writing songs for the Velvet Underground's Nico.

Brown also remembers the time his former label boss, David Geffen, shut down his attempt to quote the Black Panther's Bobby Seal in a song.

This is Broken Record, liner notes for the digital age. I'm Justin Richmond.

Here's Bruce Hedland in Jackson Brown.

I want to talk about your new album, of course. First of all, where did the title come from?

It comes from an oceanographer named Captain Charles Moore, the guy that discovered the North Pacific gyre, all the plastic swirling in the gyres,

become known as the Pacific garbage patch, but he's the guy that sort of discovered it and sort of brought up to attention of the rest of the world.

In talking about the ocean and our impact on the earth chase says that the ocean is downhill from everywhere and that's where the title comes from.

And it's really at the heart of what the song is talking about.

Humans impact on the planet.

You know, this album, it has political songs like that one, the Dreamer, it's got other songs that deal with current issues.

And this surprised me. It seemed like a very optimistic album to me.

The personal song seemed very optimistic, which is not always something I associate with your music.

It wasn't wistful or valid victory. Were you in a good mood when you wrote this album? Were you in a good place?

...