Scott Dolan

Agreed. The Mothers wore dresses, performed crazy skits, brought audience members up on stage to participate in the madness, etc. Does that mean they were showmen, masterful artists, or both? The thing that has struck me is how much artists get it, while fans seem to create alliances while sneering at those they feel unworthy. They rival sports fans in many ways, when you think about it. Those guys in the blue and white uniforms? Great, infallible heroes. Those guys in the green and white uniforms? Hated loser enemies. It's all quite silly, IMO. But, I suppose there is a lot of human nature wrapped up in that. robertoart, I have to disagree with your assessment of Madonna. She completely rewrote the book on who and what a female Pop artist could be. Like a Virgin, and Like a Prayer were just as groundbreaking and timeless as albums like Purple Rain and Thriller. She was one of the first artists of any gender to become a multimedia phenomenon, especially considering Erotica and the movie that came of that tour. Not to mention her turn as Eva Peron in a major motion picture. Then she reinvented herself with the outstanding Ray Of Light album (the only album of hers that I own, and thoroughly enjoy). I don't see any possibility of her becoming a cultural footnote.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/04/22/defying-description-zz-tops-billy-gibbons-on-prince-the-sensational-guitarist/ Billy Gibbons? Huge Prince fan. It's been great to see such respected artists come out and say the things their fans won't. One can only wonder where Brotzmann stands on Prince.

Do you actually have anything to add to the conversation, or are you just here to show off what a fucking dick you are? If you're too stupid to figure out where popularity worked its way into the conversation, then pardon me for suggesting you take the time to find out. Folks like Jim and I didn't start talking about the comparisons between popular and obscure just out of the blue.

Nah, it's pretty much just one person. And if you don't know how being popular comes into play, then you need to go back and do some reading. I know fasstrack deleted his, but all of Steve's are still there.

Because they have to make a case why the artists they like are superior to more popular artists.

Just stop it with the straw man arguments, Steve. Do not attempt to insult my intelligence with such amateur bullshit. Nobody, and I repeat for your benefit, NOBODY is saying if something isn't popular it isn't good. No, the only person here making such a specious claim is you, in that if it's popular it's most likely shit, or at least far inferior to the obscurities you deem sacrosanct. And you won't even OWN that fact, which really throws you into trolling territory. See, I can easily listen to Brotzmann, Michael Jackson, The Grateful Dead, and Prince and appreciate all of them equally. I might prefer one more than the others, but consider none of them shit. So what makes you special, again?

I doubt Duane Allman would make the top 25 best guitarists list of 99% of the people. I appreciate how you consider yourself an outsider, on the bleeding edge of obscure hipness. And while I certainly have no problem with that, it still doesn't mean your claims trump popular opinion. It actually makes SURE that they don't. And it's actually kind of funny/sad: you actively look down your nose sneering at artists you feel are inferior, yet the other side doesn't look down their nose and sneer at your precious artists. They're simply not aware of them because they are painfully niche, and meant for very few. I don't know, it's almost like feeling you're one up on everyone else because you have this secret that nobody else knows. But at the end of the day, does it really even matter? Enjoy the artists who speak to you and leave the rest out of the picture. And realize that, ultimately, you "know" nothing. And The Allman Brothers played for more people than any other music act in history? Where did this fairy tale originate?

Shark jump...

Quoted for truth. You knew what you signed up for, it's disingenuous to whine about it later. That goes for both artists and fans alike.

If only he'd donned earrings and danced around in high heel boots!

Absolutely. All art should be approached that way because of how insanely subjective it is. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it's complete and utter shit. Because someone does, and probably more someones on top of that. Using the Pop artists being mentioned here, Michael Jackson, Prince, and David Bowie's music didn't really float my boat. But I could easily pick out a handful of songs by each that I could listen to over and over. So did I "get" them? Probably not, but I also didn't just dismiss them out of hand. And yes, the dichotomy of if it's Pop than it's shit, but why isn't Jazz more popular has been a source of amusement to me for years. You reject being in the club, yet sit around and whimper wondering why nobody invites you to the club.

This actually made me laugh out loud. I should make this my new signature quote!

The whole world, save for 20-30,000, don't shell out tens of thousands of dollar to be part of L. Ron Hubbard's cult, either. So ultimately, what does that mean? I'd be willing to bet there are 50-60 people who thought Tiny Tim was the greatest singer/songwriter of all time. What does that mean? There are millions of people that would listen to Duke and tell you how stupid and boring it is. What does that mean? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Didn't Miles say something similar? It's been many moons since I read his "autobiography", but I seem to remember him saying something along the same lines. I mean, fuck the uptown/downtown shit. And he wasn't big on funerals, but attended Jimi's...

I actually disagree with that summation. And I think we've seen ample evidence in this thread to prove that it really isn't all or nothing. Many have claimed not to be a fan, but appreciate the supreme talent that he was (this is basically where I stand). I own one Prince song, 7, and never had the desire to own any of his albums, even though there are other songs of his that I really dig, like Raspberry Beret. I may get Sign O The Times, just because it's such a hot mess of an album, in a Exile On Main Street kind of way. And that Undertaker album that l p posted earlier is truly outstanding. As Jim said above, if all fasstrack got from Prince was someone with earrings dancing around on stage, then he'll definitely fall into the "nothing" camp. Or jazzbo's likely unintentional (or at least semi-poorly worded) hagiography, which would put him in the "everything" camp. But by and large, it seems most of us simply recognized the force of nature that he was, even if we didn't really "get" most of his music. Michael Jackson immediately comes to mind, although I actually LOVE several of his tunes, I would never consider myself a fan. But good god, there is no way you could deny the talent! So I don't think your opinion really fits the overall narrative, although I respect it and appreciate you sharing it. Yes, we lived in an on/off, open/closed digital world, but we are all still very analog in our thought processes. Right! This^^^

Jazzbo didn't say he WAS Duke. He basically just outlined the parallels between the two. And I can definitely see them, even though I have never considered myself a fan.

Can you expand on exactly what it is you don't hear? While I may not agree with every point, I do think there is some truth to the overall statement.

Aw, hell. I was probably the last person on Earth to buy a CD player. My first one was in 1990. My wife and I were dead broke back in the day.

It's cool, brother. I was thinking you were being sarcastic, but one can never be sure. And like you, I can also see the appeal of vinyl. Just like the appeal of American Muscle cars from the 60's and 70's. There's a real "coolness" factor there that modern technology simply cannot achieve. But if I'm going on a long trip, give me a modern Camry with the V6 (which will outrun quite a few of those old muscle cars), with all the quiet, smooth-riding, creature comforts modern technology can give me.

Please... They are for the nostalgic and/or hobbyist. Wanting to return to a less than ideal format is discriminating, it's silly.

They don't really specify whether it's the Music app, or an iXpand app, but... "You can even store music on the iXpand drive and use the app as a player if you want to." So you'll be able to play your music one way or the other.

True, though both outrageously talented.

Sheana Easton's delivery on U Got The Look was really phenomenal, though. Would you not agree?

This has to be one of the most insightful and thoughtful things I've read in a long time, Jim. I don't know that anyone could sum it up any more succinctly. Nor could anyone add anything to that that would be beneficial in understanding those two greats. That, my friend, is a grand slam walk-off in the bottom of the 9th in game 7 of the World Series.