The good new music. It must be out there. The music I want to hear. Someone must be making it. Iíve got to have faith. I have just gotten apathetic and lazy. I must try harder. And so I did. In an end-of-the-year panic I jumped in my car, drove to the nearest music store and hastily purchased some of the critical darlings I chose to ignore plus a copy of Downtown: The Greatest Hits of Petula Clark. The critical darlings have long been tossed aside and I nod sadly as Pet Clark reminds me itís "A Sign of the Times." Sigh. Go ahead and tell me Iím old. Call me a fuddy dud. Poke me in the butt with a stick and laugh at my discontent. I donít care. Because you canít sit there with a straight face and tell me that The Backstreet Boys hold a candle to likes of The Beatles. You canít convince me that Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears or Mariah Carey deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as Patti Smith, even though I just did. Limp Bizkit or Led Zeppelin? Donít make me laugh. Ricky Martin or Ricky Nelson? Donít make me cry. And Iíd much rather listen to Badfinger than watch Kid Rock give someone the finger any day of the week. Yes, the good new music is out there. I just had to find it. Of course, most of it was made by good old artists. Fuddy duds like me. Those that would rather dance "The Last Waltz" with The Band than buy a ticket for Marilyn Mansonís "Last Tour On Earth." Now I must lie down, ponder the fate of rock and roll in the new millennium and try to memorize the title of Fiona Appleís latest album. Another sigh. I still havenít made a Top Ten list. It seems thereís more good new music than I thought.
1. Van Morrison - Back On Top It should be noted that the above list was made without getting a chance to check out Kari Wuhrerís debut CD.
(Reissues, Compilations & Other
Things) "Sad Sack" by Bruce Lash can be purchased on his website http://home.att.net/~bblash "The Very Best of Robbie Fulks" can be purchased at: www.robbiefulks.com It's the end of the century |