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| From | "Holmes Online" <bholmes_fm@msn.com> |
| Subject | Re: Receiver - an apology |
| Date | Wed, 9 Jan 2008 18:14:19 -0500 |
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From: "David Bash" <bashpop@earthlink.net>
> While I'd like to thank Gabe for mentioning me, I'd like to point out
> that, while I obviously love making lists (you'll see my long list of 2007
> faves early next week), I am very uncomfortable making any sort of "Best
> Of" list because I don't feel any more qualified to say what's "the best"
> than anyone else, and that's where the thin line between "the best" and
> "my favorites" come into play.
I don't think anyone's "best of" list is ever interpreted by any sane person
as anything other than "my favorites". What else could it possibly be? If I
were writing about the records that made the biggest impact of 2007, I'd
have to include mostly stuff I don't like at all, because "impact" is
something more tangible (sales, media frenzy, airplay, number of singles,
etc.) that can be at least partially documented with criteria that would
have to be accepted as universal for an "impact". But I could give a rat's
ass about "impact" to the masses - what impacted *me*? Like Shrievie's wife
in Diner, I just want to hear the music...so I deal with my favorites, as
I'm sure we all do - look how many different albums show up on the Audities
poll, for one.
So David, I think you are eminently qualified, as is anyone on this list who
is truthful about what they really like.
If John said that "Splooge" by The Circus Monkeys was the best power pop
album ever made, I'd (1) believe it was...for him, and (2) try to find a
copy to listen to, because I respect John's opinion, especially if the
description he gave was something that would pique my interest. There's not
a person alive or dead whose every recommendation I take as gospel...except
my own. But there are many whose orbit crosses mine, and they don't rave
about everything...so when they do get excited, I pay more attention.
I mean, really, how many "best of ____" albums have you seen where you say
"wow - they nailed it perfectly!"...most times you agree with some but then
can't believe they included "A" in place of "B". That, I think, is the
beauty of the book - discover some albums/artists that you didn't know
about, pull out some old chestnuts you forgot, and to Stewart's earlier
point, start some conversations about them. In typical Audities fashion we
seem to have started the arguments before the discussion, but that's why
we're non-mainstream weirdoes, I guess. But at the end of the day, if I'm
the only person on this list who thinks Ian Hunter made the best record of
2007, that won't change my opinion, my list, or my enjoyment of the music.
Life's too short.
b
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