Spoek Mathambo/Big K.R.I.T.

Sorry if I blow a gasket when somebody hollers that Bob is needlessly hard to read. It's a complaint I've encountered for decades and it always fries my eggs.

Comprehending and relating to a critic isn't just discovering "hey, we like a lot of the same records." For me, they key is "does the critic make me hear what she or he hears, even if I don't feel the same way about it?" If that's the case, then you have a reading relationship and have a pretty good idea if you're going to like the book/album/film/what​ever even if you haven't experienced it. And Bob is one of the very few people who showed me how this works with music.

Once long ago I fretted to a wise old editor that our sometimes marathon sessions working on a piece indicated they were bad work. He said something like, "Baloney. I usually don't have to change a word in an essay by Mr. X, every sentence is clear, but the whole thing is slick and empty as hell."

And working as an editor, I found that making "get them to hear what you hear" into a prime goal was an excellent way to help a writer stop worrying about whether I agreed with them or not. And make them better critics. (I think there's all sorts of different ways to accomplish this goal, btw.)

And what about Jelly Roll Morton's Doctor Jazz?

I'm gonna put two and two together and maybe get four, so please stay with me for a minute . I was listening to our local NPR affiliate and happened to hear our host interviewed about the Beastie's induction into the Rock Hall this week. So, I'm going to venture Xgau is in my neck of the woods for the proceedings and I do hope he enjoys the big shoe. I wish I could be there for it. The last time it was here I got to see the induction of Little Anthony and the Imperials, Wanda Jackson, Jeff Beck, Run DMC,  Bobby Womack, Spooner Oldham, and Metallica. Guess who were the best performers ...( Little Anthony and Bobby Womack)?
Once they post the podcast for today's radio show on 90.3 WCPN I'll add a link here to it.

P.S. I hope Bob has a second to drop us some thoughts after he gets back home, because I'm sure he's going to be plenty busy over the next few days. Party on!

Right on, Nate.  I never liked the last track or "Incredible," but Hi Fi Sci Fi has plenty of great songs on it.  "Work For Food" was my favorite.

Dear Justin aka Big K.R.I.T.:

 

I wish I knew world philosophy better so that I could be more confident that "One second on the clock and the shot's all yours/Hit or miss, we take the risk" is the updating of Goethe's boldness quote it sounds to be. Or at least, the updating of Springsteen's "Ain't no sin to be glad you're alive."

 

Either way, with your permission which I'll presume is granted since the download is free, I plan on running that sample through my brain and out my mouth on a frequent basis in the immediate future. I know that a lot of people already know what you say is true but I also personally know a lot of people who don't, or more accurately don't apply what you say in the durable way that improves their lives. So I plan to keep running that one for a while now.

[NEXT PARAGRAPH BEING BLOCKED -- FARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​!!!]

[NEXT TWO PARAGRAPHS BEING BLOCKED -- DOUBLE FARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​!!!]

Point of order: Cam is a doctor and a teacher.

 

Second point of order: Dr. Dre does not teach, nor is he a licensed gynocologist.

Yeah, but if we're really going to be Catholic, we can't call him doctor as that, too, is a specific title, reserved for those the church deems great theological teachers.

 

P.S. And theology aside, the title doctor does really belong to us teachers.  Bloody physicians stole it from us.

 

P.P.S. Congrats future physician Irene.

Trying to catch up here after a few days away--and only far enough in to say, with repsect to Jason G's boys-with-guitars mini-thread: has anybody else listened to that Tribes record? 

Can't say I've given it my full attention yet, but can say that it sometimes reminds me of Dramarama.  Loved them, especially the one that rhymed "paranoid" and "Uncle Floyd."

Greg you suffer from rockism. There's hope and a cure available. I'd have to perform a bone marrow transplant on you as well as you'd have to watch a ton of classic rock videos under experimental behaviour modification as seen in A Clockwork Orange. Are you game?

Rockism is essentially a prejudiced attitude to any form of popular music that doesn't conform to the values of rock music (in the most narrow and conventional sense of the term.) The most obvious example of this is the tendency of middle-aged fans of 'classic rock' to describe any music that involves the overt use of electronic instruments as not 'real music'.

Dude, there's a cure!

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present the recipient of the inaugural Istvan Laszlo Memorial Award for Contrary Impertinence........​... Alan Baker!!!! At least our original persona non grata stuck around long enough to display a discernible sense of humor and an appreciation of good jazz. Whether or not the latest incarnation will return at a later date in a more sociable frame of mind remains to be seen.

 

Tell us big fella, does your churlishness just exist in cyberspace or do you play a schmuck in real life, too? If you're amenable, we have an honest-to-goodness physician on board who'd be more than happy to prescribe you some new meds.

 

Thanks for sharing Irene's good news Nick. I'm guessing you're out celebrating but sign in and toot your horn girl!

 

Here I am at 1:40 AM dutifully typing away. Hmm, maybe it's me who's the schmuck.........

 

Carry on night owls, West Coasters and early-rising Europeans; I'm outta here.