Monday, February 02, 2004

Michael Heumann's review of William Basinski's - The Disintegration Loops I-IV makes this four disc recording sound both important and essential. After describing the history of the recordings, their transfer onto hard disc, and then their first performance for Basinski and friends on a roof top on September 11, 2001, in Brooklyn soon after the WTC fell. Heumann writes the following:
"The music, however, is beautiful, subtle, sad, frightening, confusing, and ultimately uplifting. What's he created here is a living document: a field recording of orchestrated decay. It sounds like nothing else I've heard, yet, at its core, it's the simplest and most familiar music I can imagine."
The review is definitely worth reading. I can't wait to hear these recordings.

posted by Jonathan

Sunday, February 01, 2004

Gonna have you nekkid, by the end of this song . . .
A couple of days ago, I read that there was supposed to be a surprise at the half-time show for the superbowl. What I hadn't read was that the surprise guest was none other than Janet Jackson's right breast. Can't wait for next year's half-time show.

posted by Jonathan

Innocent unless you're Michael Jackson
Seems Judge Vincent Gaughan is going to allow R. Kelly to attend the Grammy Awards (where he's been nominated for two awards), but was told to stay away from one time collaborator Michael Jackson. The article I've linked states that neither the prosecution or defence even raised the issue, meaning that Judge Gaughan came up with this himeself. But this leads to a few questions. What is the judge suggesting by disallowing Kelly from interacting with Jackson? Isn't this making a suggestion about Jackson's case that a judge should steer clear from doing? I could see Judge Gaughan telling Kelly to steer clear of the Olsen twins (as joked about at the MTV awards), but this comment just strikes me as being really odd and rather unprofessional on Judge Gaughan's part. And even if both were found guilty, and currently awaiting sentence, what would two men guilty of this crime talk about that would be so bad? Maybe the judge is worried about them scoping the room together.

posted by Jonathan

The whole bootleg craze takes a new level thanks to Howard Dean's speech. My personal favourites are Dean Goes Nuts Mix, Hey YEAAAAHHHHH!! and Welcome to Dean's Jungle. Of course, after one play, they're more annoying than anything else.

posted by Jonathan