PopTodd

truer words have never been posted.

So then, check out some of the excellent stuff posted here and correct that.

Dig that Thomas Mapfumo video. I'll look more into that, for sure. And, I forgot another catalyst for me: Dur-Dur Band I heard this album on Spotify and it kicked my ass. SPOTIFY LINK: http://play.spotify.com/user/126535916/playlist/4TPLGseg9j2q0sWdwKZ4Qh Check it out and see what you think. Not sure exactly where they're from, but I have yet to pick it up -- just been listening on Spotify. I really should buy it, though.

Going to see Lyle Lovett at Ravinia.

Checking out the samples on Amazon right now and adding it to my wish list. Tons of energy! I'm digging it! And, I love Damon Albarn and will certainly pick up Everyday Robots, but will tread cautiously with Mali Music. It's probably just a psychological thing, but when I get something with Damon's name on it, I want a Damon album. Of course, I have loved just about everything that he has ever done. So, I'll probably wind up picking it up eventually. Damnit!

I've been loving the whole Brazilian/Tropicalia thing for a long, long time now But it's only been in the last year or 2 that I've started listening to much music that has come out of Africa. Guess that it started with Cesaria Evora -- a Cape Verde singer who sounded enough like the Brazilian artists that I love, and who sang in Portuguese, to boot. But then, last year, when that Bombino record came out, my interest was genuinely piqued and I started keeping my ears open to that Tuareg stuff. Another North African group, Etran Finatawa, grabbed my ear next, and then I picked up something total

I've had pretty good luck with my Snark clip-on tuner, no matter what the light conditions. I just adjust the angle of the thing and I'm able to get a good read.

No idea, Louie. All I know is that it's not available anywhere now, except for used copies for exorbitant amounts of cash. Glad that he was willing to share. I do hope that this comes to fruition. So now, all I have are the 2 collections that I mentioned in this thread. I would love some more. Although I have heard, on YouTube some songs that he recorded with Lester Bangs that were, unfortunately, not so good.Hopefully the rest of it is not like that.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnXMBzjxiAA&list=PL539D9F057EE4AEA8

Just got this thing delivered to me from a wonderful friend: A 7-song EP that contains 3 songs that are NOT in that Take the Guitar Player for a Ride collection in any form, and a studio version of "Sylvia Plath" that, while not markedly different from the version that I already have, is still different enough to make it well worthwhile to have. He also tacked on an early Pere Ubu track to the end of this thing. So glad to find more stuff out there to listen to. Track listing: 1. Sylvia Plath 2. Rag Mama 3. Dear Richard 4. Hideaway 5. Beaudelaire 6. Dinosaur Lullaby 7. Lullaby 8. Heat of Dark

Yeah, but I don't think that, as a group, they're Hall-worthy.

I think that I just dislike the genre. But there is no denying that there is something about these guys, specifically, that bugs me.

Another one: XTC Although, I suppose their influence isn't up to that of some of these other bands. Still, for quality over time, and the sheer number of great releases, they should be in.

I don't know if that it doesn't hold up, artistically, or that I just listened to it so damn much that I burned out on it. I'm leaning toward the latter.

I'd say that Caetano is probably more-deserving and more-likely. But, point taken. Ain't gonna be too many non-English-language bands in there at all.

Some folks just dig musicianship. And there is no denying that these guys can play. That said, I fukkin' hate them, too.

Too bad my kids are too old for books like this anymore, or that would be a great little stocking stuffer or something. Thanks!

Great call. And, as to Gram Parsons: I think that he'll make it some day.

The thing with Joni Mitchell is that, I felt the same way about The Roches before I really listened to them, but now they've become one of my favorites. But then, The Roches have a sense of humor; I don't get anything like a sense of humor from Joni.

Joni Mitchell I think it's her voice. But I am still trying. I have Court and Spark and will continue to give it a chance. Too many people whom I respect love this record and love her that it compels me to keep trying.