In a message dated 4/28/03 1:59:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
AssociationWorks@aol.com writes:

> I posted this a few weeks ago; and here it
> is again for my 2 cents on the whole issue...
> 
> As far as I can tell the White Stripes are edging closer to
> that Radiohead "hype camp"...where it's almost to the point
> where either band could fart into a bag and critics call
> it genius. Yeah...'Elephant' is an OK rock record and they're
> all bad ass for using pre-1963 equipment yadda...yadda, but
> come on! Meg White plays drums like Bobby Brady...and does
> Jack White really have *THAT* much interesting to say musically?

Well, yes, I think so, but I respect where you're coming from. From my 
familiarity with the Spinning Jennies and with that letter to the editor that 
you had in Spin awhile ago, I can tell that you're the kind of guy who really 
needs good production values, and musicians who can *really* play. Those are 
plenty worthwhile attributes, and while Jack can play, Meg sorta can't, and 
in production terms the White Stripes are pretty raw... which is a thing in 
and of itself, but again... if you like crisp, clean production, it won't be 
for you. I can tell you're more of a Queens of the Stone Age guy, and that's 
cool too.. I think there are many who feel the same way. To each their own. 
But I think the White Stripes are pretty damn brilliant, and I think 
"Elephant" is one of the best truly mainstream albums to come along in 
awhile.

> And Rolling Stone's 5-star review is just pandering for "hip" factor as
> far as I'm concerned.

SOOO agreed. I've tried my damnedest to defend Rolling Stone, but when it 
comes to their 5 star reviews, I can't. They clearly dole them out to 
whatever they feel they need to dole them out to. Last year it was 
Springsteen (and reception of his album was chilly from some quarters!) and 
Beck (whose album many, many fans didn't even like). It's hard, because at 
this point there's a cache that comes with having a 5 star review, and I 
think RS just gets too wrapped up in making a "statement" with them. But 
frankly, their "hip" factor is long, long gone. No one who is "hip" takes 
them seriously anymore.

And to respond to an older post, by MB:

<<Who the hell in 
their right mind would want to appeal/compete with a "kids" market anyway.  
That's kinda retarded to me especially considering the CRAP that you would 
have to compete against.>>

Yeah, don't you just hate ageism? Those damn young people ruin everything.

I hope my point is taken. --Jason