Comments on: Who Even Designs this Stuff!?

By: Kent Johnson

Kent Johnson — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:38:09 +0000

My god, where did you get the Los Shakers album?? I grew up in Montevideo, Uruguay, and they were the big group in the 60s… I still have two of their albums. They were awful, and it is incredible that there is someone in the U.S. besides me who knows about them.

Kent

By: Tim Hulsey

Tim Hulsey — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:43:17 +0000

I never liked Shaker Loops until I heard the original version for string septet. Somehow a string septet better befits the scale of the piece, and the eccentricities of individual performers lead to greater tonal heterogeneity.

In live performance the septet can also makes for one heck of a sadistic show: Strings snap, music slides off stands, bows become shaggy like unbrushed ponies, and for a grand finale, the performers — exhausted by the endless semiquavers — collapse in a dead faint.

By: Mandy

Mandy — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:13:19 +0000

Glad to hear I’m not the only one slightly obsessed with Shaker Loops. I put it in my alarm clock for weeks at a time, especially in the winter. It’s a fantastic way to wake up when you don’t want to.

By: Maia

Maia — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:57:05 +0000

“but somebody â€” at least one human being â€” must have seen that.”

That’s what always astounds me about terrible movies. It takes so many people to make a movie! Bad scripts are comprehensible, if unfortunate, but — who acts in these? Who does the editing? Who does the directing? WHO DOES THE PRODUCING? WHY WOULD ANYONE FINANCIALLY BACK SUCH A VENTURE?

Apologies for the capslock. It is a sensitive subject.

By: Edith

Edith — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:29:45 +0000

And then there was Isaac Hayes. And Georgia. Not a good week. My husband sings Georgian songs with Em. here in Portland, city of roses. When you arrive you might enjoy food at Navarre, Beast or le Pigeon. The Aladdin Theater where we and many others will see you with 802, was once a porn theater, and it is in a neighborhood called Brooklyn.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 07:59:33 +0000

“Google Earthy”: good metaphor for that.

By: marcus

marcus — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:52:35 +0000

A little while ago you wrote about iTunes censorship of c*m. Well, add to your list Britten’s “King Herod and the Cock”.

Doing a search in iTunes for that song brings up seven versions of “King Herod and the C**k” which of course makes it seem so much dirtier than the original.

Silly, silly, silly.

Nico responds: Oh, I know. Do you know the Walton “King Herod and the C**k?” It’s amazing. Check out this recording I have. These boys say “thrusted” with such a rolled R, it is completely perverse in a way only English people can achieve.

[audio:16 9. King Herod and the Cock.mp3]
William Walton King Herod and the Cock
I think this shit is New College Oxford but I have no way of finding out.

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:46:06 +0000

“Why are you talking black?”

By: Valerie

Valerie — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:47:44 +0000

Or the LG Dare… sorry, just not cool.

By: Ross

Ross — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 01:03:42 +0000

I love the internet. I was intrigued by the short article in the NYT which noted your success and then bought some of your music on Itunes which I’m enjoying very much. When I googled your name I was amazed to know your connection to Tunbridge, a town not far from me. Then there was a link regarding your association with Sam Amidon of whom I was also unaware. I downloaded and can’t stop listening to “All is Well”. I hope to see you at the 802 Tour stop in Montreal on the 26th. Looks like the 25th is free. What about a stop in Vermont somewhere…not that I mind driving to Montreal.

By: charles sullivan

charles sullivan — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:11:18 +0000

bernie mac’s skit was terrific. thank you for including it in your blog. he curses with such style and humor and warmth.