Random Theories and Rantings

Well we bought a new iMac and I think I'm converted. I don't want to see a Dell or Compaq ever again in my life. My dad's got the sasser worm and the piece of crap was nearly impossible to fix.

Before I go back to playing with the new machine, kudos to Lauren. The kid can write!

Lately I've noticed that our slide into the 1980s all over again is hitting music. First of all, nearly everything that comes out today sucks. I mean its bad, it had NO value and in ten years you will wonder why the hell you ever liked Beyonce or B2K or any of that crap. Acts are turning themselves into crappy imitations of Van Halen by doing silly videos to spoof themselves (Eminem or D12 or whatever the hell that one is) and influences include artists I would have been embarassed to listen to in 1988 when they were new. Now, part of it is that people are getting dumber everyday. They will buy, however, whatever is placed in front of them. So part of the blame is at the feet of the record companies. But I blame critics and artists as well. Why you ask?

There is an attitude that artists must make every album a classic that will last through eternity (when I say artists I mean the good ones that play their own instruments, not the idiots on Mtv). Every album must be crafted to perfection otherwise every yahoo on the net will rail against them. I say stop it. Start making good albums that rock or have soul. To you out there who write on Amazon.com and complain that Jack White has lost his edge or that the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are missing a certain element that would make them Gods. STOP IT NOW! If you're going to attack music, attack the music that should never be made. I don't care if the album Elephant didn't change your life. It was a good album, it should have won the grammy. If a few notes or the production were too refined, shut up. Everyone should go and listen to Bob Dylan's mid 80s crap-o-rama Knocked Out Loaded. Why? Because it will remind you what good artists can do when they go bad. IT made Oh Mercy (which face it was a good, not great, album) look like gold! The greats have made good albums for years. The Who did it, Led Zeppelin did it, Clapton did it.

Let's focus our energy on those who suck and are accepting the praise of the masses. I had someone I used to work with tell me Boyz2Men were classic artists. This same person was barely familiar with good soul/R&B like Marvin Gaye. What does this tell me? We need to go preach to the masses. Use your energy for good, show them the light. Stop trashing good music while shit goes around unscathed.