I'm not sure how anthologies fell so far out of favor with Americans. And it has hurt the quality of writing too because new writers don't cut their teeth on 4-8 page stories and learn economic storytelling.
Freelance writer and editor in Maine. Music. Film. Non-profits. Heads. Visual arts sometimes. https://linktr.ee/bobbker
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I'm not sure how anthologies fell so far out of favor with Americans. And it has hurt the quality of writing too because new writers don't cut their teeth on 4-8 page stories and learn economic storytelling.
I'm in the process of getting rid of all my comics as it's clear my kids will never be into them, although the youngest is extremely into manga. I read as much manga as Western at this point too, as manga is more exciting and has better art. Too much faffing about in Western books.
Not your point but it's a bit jarring that "yesteryear" is 15 years more recent than the white rappers I'd have thought of.
Quebec City frickin rules, in my opinion.
The second film...honestly, making me dislike a Laura Dern character is just rude.
Within ten seconds of seeing him in the first film it was like “oh he understands the assignment.” Nobody behind the camera did though.
If anyone wants to pay me to write a listicle about the most anxiety-inducing songs about divorce to listen to while getting a divorce, hit me up. (I'm having A Year btw)
Ugh had tickets to see her last year (with Massive Attack) and they canceled the tour. Still pretty sore about that.
Did you ever share your ballot Tom?
This reads like Tom Petty in that one Simpsons episode.
I love Bram Stoker's Dracula but calling it FFC's best movie is wild.
You know what's become cultural wallpaper but is actually a very good song? Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All."
Finally getting around to the Billy Joel doc. Was not expecting Nas to pop up to rave about Piano Man.
I was thinking about this too and there were also so much fewer new albums too. Exponentially more music writing jobs covering a vastly smaller amount of music. Seems like more of a math problem than he's willing to acknowledge.
Oh ffs, I didn't see you hyperlinked the interview- yeah it's the same one.
Was that the same RS interview where he said "Kids today don't listen to Bob Dylan. They listen to Jakob Dylan--and he IS photogenic." Such a dickhead thing to say on several levels but I remember it 30 years later haha.
Satellite Heart is way, way more than just “She Don’t Use Jelly” imo and Embryonic also has jams.
When people say they miss negative music reviews what they're really saying is that they miss alt weeklies, in my opinion.
I have never wondered why people like L Roo despise people like you.
I thought poptimism was in part applying serious merit and critical consideration to artists who were popularized by teenage girls?
Pavement, Radiohead, and Neutral Milk Hotel seem like an odd fit with everything else there but I’m sure the book reveals the full context.
The type of person who demands with entitlement that GRRM finish the books is also the type of person who is going to hate the ending no matter what it is.
Recently read: Richard Blake's "Hexagon Bridge" (2023). A somewhat thin story elevated by exquisite art, Jonathan Hickman-like in concept if not quite execution, I still enjoyed the inter-dimensional eye candy.
I read the first two volumes, pretty good! The plot doesn't ever go the way you expect and it's an engaging meditation.
My 10-year-old informed me that my 3 favorite musical genres are "rap, disco, and 20-minute instrumental jams." Kids have you pegged at an early age.
Can you tell them to speak up too? I'm ready for the "whispering means we're serious" phase of drama to be over.
There are many but all I've been listening to in the car for the past two months is the two-disc "Ultimate Bee Gees" collection so I'll go with that.
I just brought this one up to my bedroom turntable today so I’ll go with this, why not.
To my therapist today: I'm pretty concerned AI is taking my job. Her: Me too.
Ariana wouldn't do well? That's the only song I could think of that would be a favorite but I don't recall the Monae song at all. Weird year.
2019 is the easy choice here I think. Last pre-Covid year in pop culture, the year before the polls started, 6-7 years is enough space for a look back, I already know what everyone thinks of the 70s and 80s.
Neil busting out “This Note’s For You” on the Budweiser Stage in Toronto is objectively incredible.
Nowadays I don’t think the big American companies pay enough to attract talent on that level anymore, sadly. They can make more money in other industries.
What an unexpected and fun winner! Good poll all around!
I thought this was a terrible take but maybe it’s just me. They’re great if you’re tall and other chairs don’t fit you right.
Complimentary!
Neil Gaiman was my “I never liked him” guy but the stories about him still bummed me out.
Pro tip: the Reese's Peanut Butter Halloween Pumpkins that they're selling in stores right now in mid-August are kind of ridiculously good. Because of freshness? New recipe? I don't know!
I was bowled over by the Close Encounters 4k. (I am old enough that I saw the Special Edition in theaters as a tyke a million years ago).
The store I’m in is playing “Paranoid Android” and for the first time ever I’m thinking….”do I actually frickin hate this song?”
Do I vote for what would be the coolest winner (Joni), vote for my actual favorite remaining song (Neil), or vote strategically to stop Abba (Bowie)?
Prediction or bathroom humor? (I like both songs considerably but couldn't resist).
Jeez, when are we going to see the effects of the Bowie vote-split?
Somebody to Love is my favorite Queen song ha. (Thanks in part to George Michael). btw "it's the greatest song of all time, just not this year" is a heck of a comment.
Yeah, it's funny, it's objectively a studio masterpiece but I'm perfectly happy with the Live Aid version. Guess such divergent opinions cement its greatness.
LOL I think the song is incredible right up until the opera. It's an all-timer ballad which a bunch of nonsense tacked on the end. (Though the nonsense does admittedly hit pretty hard if you're in the right mood).
There are lots of negative 10cc comments but the production really is otherworldly, artists have been chasing the effect of it for 50 years.
Your country still isn’t hung up on Ordinary? Check your privilege.
I think some of the tracks (Ananda Shankar, Tabou Combo) might fit that description but they came in through the side door which is also very cool.
I meant Magnu, of course. Magnu is Michael Moorcock coded while Mangu is George Lucas coded.
Didn’t do a bad job in the $0.50 bin today
That's honestly fair too.
If you want to make the playlist public for 10 minutes I can add it to the US version, if you think it matters and is not too late.
Ah, gotcha. Looking now it actually does appear to be on the US version, too...ah well!
The last great B&S album or do we think "Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance" has enough going for it?
And I assume the UK too, but not the US. Fortunately for me I've got no shortage of Jorge Ben Jor on 💿 but it's probably worth noting for the poll.
I only just now realized that Jorge Ben was one of the long-list finalists! I wouldn't change my vote but blame Spotify.
Recently read: Elisa Gabbert's "The Unreality of Memory" (2020). Essays on the how we cope with the end of the world, how we process truth and reality, the nature of empathy, and more. My first Gabbert book and I found it met me right where my mind has been at.
#cdfriday
Mandatory for the cooler if you live near the beach.
To be fair he wants no part of Mayor Wu.
This happened to me last week, I filled it up, and BEES drank the entire thing! (Fortunately I am a friend to bees as well as hummingbirds)
Jeez the Brazilian songs and reggae took a beating huh?
I temped at investment firms in the 90s using photocopying machines and binders that in my memory were as large as a car.
Have to admit I didn’t get the Shane Gillis joke and now I’m glad I didn’t. I remember Myles Turner getting crap for liking Legos until the prevailing mood rightly told those people to buzz off.
Rewatched “Inherent Vice” tonight- that movie is great the first time you see it but gets 20% better with each return visit.
That video started off pretty predictably and then made a hard left turn when he pulled that one down.
Today I took Belle and Sebastian's "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" down from the shelf to listen to in the car and literally thought "Other Music."
As is often the case the song isn’t capable of sustaining the weight of that much discourse. A simple “it’s nice” or “it’s not for me” is fine.
Me leaving the theater: I appreciate a big swing but that sucked. Me two weeks later: Or did it?
I was sort of hoping Tangerine Dream would go the distance, but alas. The Spinners were done dirty here too.
Was not expecting that Nazareth beatdown.
I would figure all of the growth on other platforms has been driven by bots and AI for years now so I don’t see the problem.
This reads like a Stefon bit.
It’s one of those songs I think was bigger in smaller cities and rural areas than in major cities.
I have more a comment than a question: congratulations!
Excessive cameos by Dave Grohl and Questlove etc were always my fear for a sequel and the trailer was worse than I feared.
So cool! And I forgot that Questlove was classmates with Joey Difransesco too.
I don’t know if that’s common knowledge but it was news to me.
I wrote about Portland’s inaugural Back Cove Festival and took a bunch of photos.
Based on the reactions from friends and the GD online community he's never been fully embraced by Deadheads either, which makes it extra weird.
This winter I went to a Division III college hockey game that was about 20% capacity and they were still doing this at deafening volumes. You couldn’t even talk during stoppages. We left in the first period.
At the Jack White concert.
At a Lucy Dacus concert and the wedding part is actually unbelievably sweet.
At the Madi Diaz afternoon show
Recently read: Sigrid Nunez's The Vulnerables (2023). Making my way through some recently celebrated books and very much enjoyed this. A thoughtful look at Covid-era lockdown life, full of small, clever asides that enhance the experience.
Even in the flatscreen era, whenever there's a thunderstorm I still think for a second, "I need to unplug the TV so it doesn't explode."
They’re a lot of fun but that feels steep.
At the Roots show. The first time seeing them since…2001?
He should have worn heels like Prince.
Because of that album cover (and a couple of others) I always thought Garfunkel was like 6'3" or something, but he's 5'9"! Simon really is that short. It was surreal like visiting your childhoood house and being perplexed at how small the kitchen is.
The GD subreddit is all either people complaining about Bobby or people complaining about complaining about Bobby. A fitting tribute to the band's legacy on their 60th!
In the case of both of those artists, particularly Florist, I think they have very strong ears for melody. Sometimes it comes out more in live performance where they have to hold a crowd as opposed to being background music while cooking or whatever.
The left is completely silent on the subject of men getting Laid, the fifth studio album by British rock band James.
I love Noah and hate virtually every other thing he’s done.
I want to hear this.
I mean there's no mystery who will win this bracket so you may as well. I gave Eno my main and Lonnie my bonus in the hopes that an upset here opens up the field a bit more, but I'm only one man.
