Pretty brilliant…
That Kanye West guy. He is a fairly good rapper, a shitty singer, and a genius for creating publicity about himself. That said, the need to create publicity for oneself is, I’m pretty sure, a sickness. At what point does self-expression become narcissism? Sure, attracting attention to oneself is an art, but just because it is an art doesn’t make it moral. So, Kanye is an artist working in a particulary pathetic milieu, if you compare him to other 21st century media whores. Historically speaking, he’s a child.
196) Aimee Mann: The Forgotten Arm
In a better world, Kanye West would be grabbing Aimee Mann’s award from her hand, because Taylor Swift is a terrible husk full of pap. But then Aimee would kick Kanye off the stage, and maybe in the best possible world, we can learn to love Aimee Mann’s songcraft exactly because she is unlikely to appear on a pap-fest like the MTV video music awards.
197) Michelle Shocked: Because good things come in threes
Wow, everything just written about Aimee Mann, and then some. Michelle cranks out great songs, makes them affordable, always puts on a spiritually uplifing show, and one of these CDs is all DIsney covers. I saw a photo of a Sumerian urn from 3000 bc or so recently, and the scene was a crowd of people drinking and watching a band. Some people do get it–repeat phrase as necessary.
198) Kate and Anna McGarrigle:Matapeidia
Ok, add comments about Aimee Mann and Michele Shocked together, put in a blender made of folk art and songbird’s beaks, pulse at high for 300 years and turn out into a serving dish. “Goin’ Back to Harlan,” “Jacques et Gilles,” “Hang Out Your Heart”… wow, such wonderful artists, the McGarrigles. In a better world…