BRIEF MUSICAL INTERLUDE:
Also, for what it's worth, I've been almost exclusively listening to four albums for the last month or two:
1. Daydream Nation, Sonic Youth. Finally broke through on this one at the end of last summer. It's challenging in the way that art rock and noise can be challenging, but the real surprise is how deeply it's an album of songs and melodies--it's surprisingly delicate. It's clear to me now that the Smashing Pumpkins stole most of their best moves from Sonic Youth; it's also clear that the Pumpkins are inferior in almost every way (neither "Thirty-Three" nor "1979" have the power of "Teen Age Riot").
2. Entertainment!, Gang of Four. I enjoyed the irony of listening to this while writing my presentation for the Institute for Humane Studies seminar. I'm not sure which of them would hate the combination more. Still the best fusion of punk and funk ever.
3. Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, Pavement. Given how loud, noisy and obnoxious Slanted and Enchanted is, it's surprising this one is so quiet and mellow.
4. Ritual de lo Habitual, Jane's Addiction. I've been thinking about this for awhile: it's the only album I can name where the second side is clearly superior to the first side. But it's really something.
"Thou shalt not extinguish thine anger, but shall master it,
that thy conscience may not be blunted by adjustment
to wrong causes."
-The Dutch Ten Commandments to Foil the Nazis
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