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I just read one in Uncut this morning and he seemed defensive even before the interview began and it was obvious, to me anyway, that the interviewer was a fan. I suppose the drag of doing so many interviews wears thin after a while.

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If anyone knows where I'm coming from it's Calexico .. seriously .. the dude has been around.. there is also a hint of pretentiousness in most of what I have read which is always a turnoff

 

I don't think I've ever read any pretentiousness into what he's said, but he does seem kind of unsure of himself sometimes. But hey, I do too... I'm unsure of myself 85% of the time really and I despise pretentiousness.

 

I can imagine constantly being asked questions by people who don't know (and therefore probably don't understand) you can be kind of exhausting and depleting.

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A lot of interviews with Tweedy I have read seem to portray him as world weary and a bit put upon. Talking about how fans hate this direction or that direction and how you piss somebody off every time. If it makes him that uncomfortable then just quit the media merry go round and just put the record out and tour.

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Huh. In every recent interview I've read, I'd describe Jeff as coming across as calm, reflective, and patient--he seems full of fortitude, and completely at ease with the fact that some people will like his music, and others will not.

 

Interesting how different readers find ways to confirm their different preconceptions.

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Huh. In every recent interview I've read, I'd describe Jeff as coming across as calm, reflective, and patient--he seems full of fortitude, and completely at ease with the fact that some people will like his music, and others will not.

 

Interesting how different readers find ways to confirm their different preconceptions.

 

 

Eh, opinions and assholes huh?

 

 

Still, it's better than buying a Mika album. :thumbup

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If anyone knows where I'm coming from it's Calexico .. seriously .. the dude has been around.. there is also a hint of pretentiousness in most of what I have read which is always a turnoff

 

 

Pretentiousness is it on the nose. Not from Jeff, per say, but in the way music journalists write. Often it seems like the questions they ask aren't because they want to know the answer, but because they want to show off their own knowledge to the person they are interviewing and the reader.

 

The Rock Snob's Dictionary is not only a funny read, but a pretty good reference manual for fitting in with popular music writing. Use the word seminal a lot. Make refences to obscure bands people will have to Google to know what you're writing about.

 

I'm a journalist - not of the music variety - and back in the day took some "reviewing the arts" courses. I didn't get it then and I don't get it now. When I pick up a review I want it simple. Something like "I caught myself singing along with Either Way by the second listen" not "a seminal return to the roots of a band that started off as .. blah blah blah blah." Did it rock? Do you like the lyrics? Is it polished or loose? If you're reviewing a live show, tell me how the people around you reacted.

 

Despite all I just said, the Playboy interview was one of the better ones I've read this year and I love those Charles Harris photos. And I, honestly, don't know what I'd ask Jeff if I were interviewing him.

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When I pick up a review I want it simple. Something like "I caught myself singing along with Either Way by the second listen" not "a seminal return to the roots of a band that started off as .. blah blah blah blah." Did it rock? Do you like the lyrics? Is it polished or loose?

If I want those kind of basic, primitive reactions, I'll just ask my neighbor what he thinks about the record while we hang out in the garage. I guess I read critics because they attempt to offer some kind of deeper perceptions--when I pick up a review, I'm hoping to receive some insight that goes beyond a cursory listen. I suppose "pretension" is a relative term.

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If I want those kind of basic, primitive reactions, I'll just ask my neighbor what he thinks about the record while we hang out in the garage. I guess I read critics because they attempt to offer some kind of deeper perceptions--when I pick up a review, I'm hoping to receive some insight that goes beyond a cursory listen. I suppose "pretension" is a relative term.

 

 

Fair enough.

 

And I subscribe to Paste and Harp - so I'm supporting what I'm complaining about. How's that for wishy-washy?

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  • 1 month later...

I just read the Playboy interview yesterday and then came upon this thread by chance (viewing someone's profile).

 

I agree it is one of the better SBS interviews. And Playboy is hardly pornographic. I'm not an academic, but I dated a woman for a while who was doing her thesis in American History on influential magazines of the 20th century, and Playboy is widely accepted as a significant publication that helped shape our culture. It ranks up there with (for example) Rolling Stone, Interview, LIFE, Vogue, etc. I think they've always maintained pretty high journalistic standards...this is reflected in Tweedy launching into a discussion about Joyce and literature, something he wouldn't yak about with the kid they sent from SPIN.

 

As for how Tweedy comes off, the sense I get both from recent print and video interviews is that he's comfortable "up to a point", but somewhat weary of the whole process. My guess is that it's because: a) artists like Tweedy generally feel that the more they say about their songs, the more it "cheapens" them, b ) that leaves the door open for extremely personal questions, most of which are really none of anyone's damn business, and c) a lot of the rock journal interviewers are just flat out pretentious tools. I think Jeff can probably spot the ones that haven't even listened to the CD, and that would have to be annoying as hell.

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