…a shyness that is criminally vulgar
Like Nerdly’s Comet, Thomas Pynchon is coming back with a new novel after 10 years. Against the Day is being released with little to no advance marketing, an Amazon Book Description written by the reclusive author himself (supposedly), and a (nearly) complete black out on reviews before the official release date. The Guardian has the skinny.
In other, more serious news: it’s pitted brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend. It’s the Slate article, R.E.M. vs. U2: Who was the best rock band of the ’80s? There has been, almost literally, no end to the angst ridden missives, notes of recrimination, charges and accusations, and verbal hand wringing/gnashing of teeth appearing in my in-box over this one. Oh, the humanity!
Speaking of 80s music, it’s been a while since we’ve had a Friday video. I think that I have one that fits the mood (and the title of this post)…
Books, To Checkout | Tim | 
November 17, 2006 7:07 am
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By Beth, November 17, 2006 @ 11:33 am
You knew I’d show up in the comment box for this one, didn’t you? Both Slate and Salon are debating this hot topic … which is a non-debate to me. Isn’t it obvious to the brilliant and culturally oriented?
By Beth, November 17, 2006 @ 11:34 am
That’s the R.E.M. vs. U2 hot topic.
By DJ Cayenne, November 17, 2006 @ 11:42 am
You would think so. Here’s a snippet from an e-mail from a misguided friend (one of about 50 that came in yesterday):
Its very much like comparing James Joyce to William Faulkner (geographical parallels intended, natch)– “Ulysses” is inarguably the greatest English novel of the 20th Century because it redefined the sheer possibility of what the form could be/accomplish. U2 did the same in the 80s (and has cemented that a thousandfold since– musically, culturally, and philanthropically).
Poor bastard.
By Herman Glimscher, November 17, 2006 @ 12:31 pm
I prefer RUEM2, the post-neo-retro-art-glam-heavy-metal-easy-listening-stream-of-conscious-alterna-grundge-house-ska-doo-wop band. At least, I think I do.
By DJ Cayenne, November 17, 2006 @ 1:37 pm
I don’t know, Herm. I loved their first album, and I saw them live in ’97 at the 40 Watt. But I thought that they totally sold out when the signed to a major label to release their second album. By the time they were played on 99X, it was over for me.
By DJ Cayenne, November 17, 2006 @ 3:56 pm
Beth: After getting caught up in an e-mail frenzy here, I was surprised not to see the definitive response to the controversy on your site.
By Dr J, November 17, 2006 @ 4:09 pm
Nothing like video of a pretty girl in a huge, bulky, shapeless sweater to bring back memories of college in the late 80s. Now you can’t get a co-ed NOT to show off her belly button. (Not that I’d notice.)
At this rate, I shudder to think what the good DJ’s 2-year old daughter will be wearing as a college student. Good luck with that.
By DJ Cayenne, November 17, 2006 @ 4:54 pm
Dr J, I have nothing to fear. Lil Cayenne is going to that school with Madeline – the one in France with the nuns. They wear blue dresses and yellow hats. And its in France.
I’ve been to a college campus recently, and I couldn’t believe the get ups on these kids today. Besides feeling very old, one other thought came to mind: we wuz robbed!
By Beth, November 18, 2006 @ 9:27 am
I’m writing that post now, DJ. Corporate bastards actually made me work hard this week, which is why you read lame posts such as Christmas Griping …
By Herman Glimscher, November 19, 2006 @ 8:02 am
DJ–
You’re right. They sold out. And that’s what I really meant to write, that I liked the before they were popular. That way, I can show off how much taste I have while not admitting to being just another sheep in the herd.
Also, for the record, I prefer the boys from Athens to the ones from Dublin.
But that’s just me.
By DJ Cayenne, November 19, 2006 @ 11:14 pm
Herm: All right thinking people agree with your preferences. I’m not sure how this is a “controversy.” It’s a non-starter for me.
By flavawheel, November 21, 2006 @ 7:10 pm
Crap, how did I miss this? Easiest quesytion I’ve had to answer all year. REM. Is this REALLY being debated?
I suppose the fact that I despise U2 with a white hot passion may have something to do with it, but I can’t imagine how anyone could confuse U2′s boring faux-weighty pop and Bono’s flagwaving, bellowing, Jesus-complex bathos as anything approaching important, or even interesting.
U2 is mentioned in the same sentence as REM only because Bono’s ego is so boundless that he could present his ham-fisted big-issue sermons with a straight face; gee, I’m glad you think Martin Luther King Jr., did a good job — he needed your validation.
And the Edge? Look, no one’s going to confuse Pete Buck with Jimi Hendrix, but the Edge has been at it for 20 years and, as far as I can tell, still can’t play the guitar.
U2 is quite simply straight-ahead guitar pop crap masquerading as Important Music. It’s music that allows people who know nothing about music to believe that that they do.
REM? The Beatles of our generation. They let us know that you don’t have to be a Manhattan model-junkie or psychotic gutter skinhead to make Music That Matters. You can be a normal kid from a normal suburb with an average life, pick up a guitar and be brilliant and stirring and magical in spite of it.
So, yeah, REM for me.
By DJ Cayenne, November 22, 2006 @ 12:08 am
Did you ever know that you’re my hero…
Wow. That just about covered all the bases. I’d also add that at least Peter Buck has the stones to play under his own name.
I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who is amazed that this is a controversy.
By flavawheel, November 22, 2006 @ 3:12 am
Yeah, no doubt. I mean, can you imagine being 52 years old and still go around calling yourself The Edge? Is he The Edge to his kids? You’re not the boss of me, The Edge! I guess maybe it’s easier on his psyche to read that his alter ego, rather than, say, Eamon McCallahan, is the single least-talented rock-and-roll guitarist of our time.
But people who should know better DO buy U2. Normally discerning music folk will call out all poseurs, but bring U2 into the mix and it’s all, “Oh, ‘Angel of Harlem’ was an AMAZING song.” But… sigh.
Hopefully, as time passes, people will look at U2 the way way we can look at the once-sacred Doors today; some great songs early on, but most of their work is now some seriously weak-ass, dated pop crap.
By DJ Cayenne, November 22, 2006 @ 10:52 am
I’ve been listening to the new R.E.M. compilation of the I.R.S. years (1983-1987), and it kicks ass. It begins with Begin the Begin, which to my mind, holds up much better than, say, Sunday Bloody Sunday. It’s in constant rotation right now on the iPod.
By DJ Cayenne, November 22, 2006 @ 10:01 pm
Hey, Flava, check this out:
http://www.avclub.com/content/node/55450