jff

An excellent guitarist might not be able to play worth a crap on pedal steel. They're very, very different instruments.

But I'd like to hear that, too. It'd be interesting.

I always liked his band 5style.

Me too Excellent band.

for Smells Like Teen Spirit? then why did it say 'here we are now' when I looked up the lyrics? hmm? so, no it isn't.

My post was in reference to the Monkees, not Nirvana.

It's not "are", it's "come".

"I don't know anybody who's made a record that sounds decent in the past twenty years, really," the 65-year-old rocker said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine.

Noting the music industry's complaints that illegal downloading means people are getting their music for free, (Dylan) said, "Well, why not? It ain't worth nothing anyway."

Again, I was commenting on how weird it was, in general, to say that you wouldn't take the time away from things you know you'll enjoy to make time for something you don't know.

But I do know. Just as I know that I don't like smooth jazz based on what Kenny G and Dave Koz were doing several years ago. I've heard enough to not have any interest in making attempts to force it. It's simply not aesthetically pleasing to me. Am I missing out on great stuff sometimes? Yes. Is there great music being made by people in Malaysia that I'll might never hear? Yes.

For me, genre doesn't matter as much as the instrument being played. Sometimes I want to hear guitars. Recently I was into violins. Before that I couldn't get enough of Wurlitzers and Rhodes pianos. As a youngster I was mostly into drums. What I listened to was determinbed by what had great drumming, whether it was Tony Williams, John Bonham or Zakir Hussein. (same holds true for guitar, violin, etc.) To me that seems to result in broader musical taste than sticking with rap and rock.

That comment had nothing to do w/ you ever hearing rap or not...you said off the bat you hear it as background noise. Thanks for weighing in though. Awesome.

Hearing music blasting from the cars that drive by when I walk down the street IS noise. It just happens to be rap 95% of the time that is blasting out of cars in Atlanta. That doesn't mean I've never actively listened to rap.

What did calling me "Maynard" have to do with?

that's pretty silly, maynard. how the hell you ever gonna' like something if you've never heard it for the first time? i mean, I get the whole time-crunch thing...i don't get around to checking out 75% of what gets posted on here because I just don't have time. but, i try to make some time whenver possible and the internets have made that a lot easier.

I've heard (and actively listened to) a bunch of rap over the years. I like Public Enemy, Beasties, and some others, mostly early stuff. I don't make time for it in my life, though. It comes into my life on it's own through background noise or whatever might be playing at a friend's house, and that's enough for me.

The only thing silly is that you think I've never heard rap. Moron.

I pretty much ignore rap for two reasons:

I can't escape it as background music in my everyday existence.

I would have to neglect the music I love in order to delve into rap. As it is, I don't have enough time to enjoy what i already like. Denying myself one thing in favor of something else that I might not even like is not a worthwhile tradeoff in my opinion.

I was considering buying one of those, but for $25 (plus a $3 1/8" to 1/8" stereo cable) you can do the same thing with this:

http://www.digitope.com/digitalizer/index.aspx

I'm currently using their free trial period to transfer some important cassette tapes with good results.

Actually, I take this back. I was using this program this weekend and it leaves a LOT to be desired. Having said that you DO NOT need to buy equipment to put albums/casettes, etc. on cd. You only need software.

if you're a computer guy, check out http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/top/usb-tur...ness-141195.php

I was considering buying one of those, but for $25 (plus a $3 1/8" to 1/8" stereo cable) you can do the same thing with this:

http://www.digitope.com/digitalizer/index.aspx

I'm currently using their free trial period to transfer some important cassette tapes with good results.

Interesting, I always had good luck with Sony stereo equipment. My Sony cd player lasted almost 20 years.

I think the Sony turntable would be fine for your purposes.

it's no different than the tens of thousands of young bands who just want top lay music for a living

I think it's a lot different.

The vast majority of people in bands DO have jobs. When they lose a job, they get another one. Thax has been out of work for 9 years, according to the article.

Thax does not want anyone to have any authority over any aspect of his life. He shows up at gigs and does a 30 second reading and then watches bands for free. That's easy.

Bands have MANY responsibilities. They have to maintain respectful relationships with a LOT of people in order to play gigs. They have to follow orders set by club owners, soundmen, bartenders, etc. They have to maintain their equipment and vehicles with which they transport their equipment. They have to buy strings, sticks, heads, cables, and other things that regularly wear out. They have to take precautions to make sure their instruments are not stolen or damaged. That stuff is not easy, and it requires a lot of money...certainly more money than the vast majority of bands make from playing music. Pads of paper and writing utensils cost peanuts.

Thax says he is unappreciated. I wonder how much appreciation he has shown to all the bands whose coattails he has ridden.

Reading about Thax's background and some of the details reminded me of Neil. So I asked if anyone had ever seen the "Up" series of documentaries by Michael Apted. They are good.

Agreed, brilliant series. Best documentary series ever made. (If not, someone please let me know what is, because I love documentaries.)

If the series is going to continue on schedule, I think this year is the year they're due for another installlment.

Anyone ever seen the "Up" series of documentaries by Michael Apted?

Yes, the mentally ill guy in the Up series goes into local politics. How does that relate to Thax's story?

He might be poor now, but in NYC he'll be poor AND homeless.

Sucks, yeah, but you have to have some income, or someone who will support you. Based on that article he is unwilling to even attempt to make either of those things happen.

Thax has a job - he's a poet.

Do they pay bums to write poems in Canada?

"Todd" is a pretty good one, too. The Nazz albums are all still available on vinyl, so I'd imagine they're on cd, too. Good stuff on those, but you have to suffer through some dull ballads to find the gems. Their song "Loosen Up" is a hilarious parody of "Tighten Up" by Archie Bell and the Drells.

I'm not that into Utopia generally, but their first album, "Todd Rundgren's Utopia" is probably my favorite Rundgren related album.

I like Todd, but none of his albums have ever held my attention all the way through.

A couple years ago I got a low end Stanton DJ turntable (I think it's called Straight 30, or something). It's light years better than the Akai turntable I got as a kid in the '80s, and is perfectly suitable for listening to albums at home. The only problem is the needle does not automatically return at the end of each album side. Not a problem for me, but worth considering. I think it cost $150 new. They don't make that model anymore, but I'm sure they have a comparable turntable in their current line.

A lot of people are going to tell you to get $400+ turntables. Forget that. $150 will get you a good setup.

In my collection, probably 10 out of 2500 recordings are rap. I like some rap, but never care to listen to it at home. Plus, I live in Atlanta, so I can't EVER walk down ANY street without hearing rap.

Rahsaan Roland Kirk is a guy that I rarely hear mentioned, but he is unbelievable.

Agreed, a great artist. Generally, I prefer his work before he added "Rahsaan". "I Talk With he Spirits" is one of my favorite albums. He only plays flute on that one.

Also, a couple people mentioned the Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane album...that is easily one of my all time favorite albums in any genre.

Jackie McLean deserves to be mentioned, as well. He recorded tons of excellent albums. I'd proabbly start with his any of his Blue Note releases.

i've wondered the same. i've heard quite a bit through a friend (fucked if i know what the music was) but i prefered the upbeat stuff a lot more... any ideas?

Charles Mingus: Mingus Ah Um

Nels Cline: Angelica, which is the earliest album of his I can find

Nels Cline Trio: 4 albums I've been digging, Silencer, Chest, Ground, and Sad

and w/ Mike Watt: Contemplating the Engine Room

these all give a good a example/range of what the guy can do. he totally rocks on the Watt album, Angelica is straight ahead jazz, and the trio albums are jazzy with some experimenting going on (but not enough to make you say, "WTF is this noise?")

These are all really good suggestions. I'd throw in both of the Nels Cline Singers cds. Angelica is his first album released under his name. It's out of print, but probably easily downloaded. Another early release he played on that's worth hearing is Tim Berne's 7X, which is also out of print. I was lucky to find those on vinyl after a good bit of searching. The Nels Cline Trio releases are all pretty easy to find (except for Ground, which I had trouble finding) even though some of them are out of print.

The Inkling is a great one if you want to hear some mellower tunes.

Awesome mix. Nice work.

And all this talk about it not being easy to get into and not for casual listening is code for it "this album will sounds like shit."

Lots of people said the same thing about YHF.

If "easy to get into" is your goal just save your money and play the CCR albums you already own.