Shawn

When it comes to discussions of music why does it always seem to devolve into a "this era was better than that era", "this dude could play circles around that dude", "this style of music is superior to that style"...all variations of "my Dad could kick your Dad's ass"? As I've said before, if you feel it and it moves you then listen to it...if it doesn't then don't waste your time thinking about it. Pretty simple idea actually. It's beginning to feel like every topic on this board is turning into an argument these days, it's making me tired.

I'm one of those weird ducks that can listen to some Coltrane, then some Albert Ayler...and then follow it up with Black Sabbath...then maybe King's X...and then end the night by playing Debussy. Fuck it, that's me. Right now I'm listening to David Crosby and it sounds like the most magical thing on this earth. But I might put on Motorhead's Another Perfect Day next.....

I've only seen him once, but it was a magical show. It was at the Ballard Firehouse in Seattle back in the late 90's. Al Hendrix came to the gig and introduced Trower before he came on. He said something to the effect of: "here's one of the only guitarists that took my son's work and made it his own". I don't remember the exact words but that's pretty close. They hugged before Robin took the stage. That concert was recorded and is available on this release (in combination with a 70's era date). Available on emusic I believe.

Gotta give a shout out to one of my all-time favorite guitarists. Much more than just the "Hendrix-clone" that he gets lumped into. One of the most beautiful tones in rock, a master of "space age blues" and one of the REAL ones. Robin Trower - one of the underrated MASTERS of the guitar.

On the metal frontier... Venom - helped form the speed metal genre when they debuted in 1981 (but they were a terrible band)...later "perfected" by Metallica & Slayer in 1983.

That's a big affirmative.

The Complete Blue Note Elvin Jones Sessions - Disc 1. Killer!

So you're basically saying that nobody since 1978 has been worth listening to? Nah, I can't agree with that, it's just too narrow of a view. Also, what is your definition of "superior"? Has there been another Hendrix in the last 30 years? No. Has there been another Coltrane in the last 30 years? No. But if you hold your breath waiting for something as "once in a lifetime" as those cats...you're going to miss out on a lot of good music.

Nice post MG!

This quote from "the artist formerly known as Pacman Jones"... "I'm truly upset about the comments," Jones said. "Obviously Mr. Imus has problems with African-Americans. I'm upset, and I hope the station he works for handles it accordingly. I will pray for him." This coming from a guy who keeps getting arrested for "making it rain" at strip clubs. Pray on. They are both morons in my opinion.

There are rock sub-cultures. It's a fragmented art form (jazz is the same way), too many different types of music being lumped together by a single word to try and describe it all. But adding sub-genre tags just makes the water muddier. My view is listen to whatever you like and ignore what you don't.

I don't live in New York and don't read newspapers as a rule, so the re-postings of articles are welcome. I'm not going to get caught up in copyright arguments...I suffered through copyright law in college and learned just enough to know that it basically makes no sense whatsoever. But, since re-posting a jazz article from the Times might convince someone they need to purchase a subscription to the paper...then in my opinion it falls under fair use.

I just started working my way through the 2nd disc version, it is interesting to watch it a section at a time. But now it's got me craving to go back and watch the original theatrical version. I must say I'm enjoying this film alot more the second time around than when I originally saw it. It's a beautifully realized film.

The first time I saw Carlin I was 8 years old. My Mother couldn't get a babysitter for the show...so she took me along. I must say I didn't "get" much of what he was talking about, but I remember laughing just because everyone else in the audience was laughing. Inspired by that I later begged and pleaded her to buy me his Class Clown album, which I played non-stop for an entire summer...at least when my stepfather wasn't around, because he would have killed me if he had known I was listening to it.

Okay Chauncey, Clem, whatever you're calling yourself this week...got a great idea, why don't you go outside and play hide and go fuck yourself?

In other words, same as always....

I'm tired of guys WITHOUT guitars (or instruments at all) singing to me.

Agreed! Another interesting "doing new things with older sounds" band in a similar vein is Witchcraft.

There's still good stuff out there, but you have to dig beneath the surface to find it. Mostly hanging out on smaller independent labels or self-produced. Very few "mainstream" bands appeal to me anymore (unless it's a band that's been around for a long time already still releasing new music). One of the few groups that gives me hope: Queens Of The Stone Age. Josh Homme is one of the more interesting songwriters/guitarists out there today. Riding an interesting wave through pop, punk, rock, metal and other categories that defy description.

Taste in comedy is similar to taste in music, it's all personal and what one person finds funny isn't going to make the next guy laugh. Look at Monty Python, to some of us it's the most brilliant shit on the planet...to MANY people I've met in my life it's completely unfunny and they just don't get it. The main thing that appealed to me about Carlin was his intelligence. Yeah, he was pissed off (aren't we all to some degree?) but he didn't hate his audience...in fact I think underneath all of his outward bravado he was probably a pretty nice guy. He could hit you over the head from time to time, but there were always little "warm" moments amidst even his most caustic routines. His biggest strengths (IMHO) were his continuing fascination with the use & misuse of the English language...and his observations on how we all share little things in common, no matter how different we may appear on the surface. He was a genius as far as I'm concerned. "Put the turkey in a pre-heated oven. There are only 2 states an oven can possibly exist in, heated or not heated...pre-heated is a meaningless fucking term".

One of my true heroes. The first comedian that I REALLY identified with. Words completely fail...what an enormous loss.

Not like MG's avatar...and not an album cover...but one of my faves....

Tone controls are mostly needed for one of two things....either compensating for a "not so great" system, or fixing a bad mix/mastering job (lots of those running around unfortunately). Lon's Decware system has the most amazing depth I've ever heard in a stereo and it only has a volume knob. Every added circuit on an amplifier adds noise and "dilutes" the signal slightly (like adding a coaxial splitter for multiple TV's reduces the picture quality). In audiophile land simplicity is key.

I've got 21 of them. Any list that contains both "Tiny in Swingsville" and "Ballads, Blues & Bey" is alright with me.