links for 2007-10-17

3 Responses

1. That article is taking a lot of lumps from other music writers.

   I pretty much agree with most of it, other than the fact that he defines “blackness” in music as American rhythm & blues. What about the pan-globalism (and particularly pro-Africanism) that permeated the krautrock of the ’70s, and subsequently influenced Robert Fripp, Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon and the grandpa of adenoidal indie-rock, David Byrne?

   And let’s not forget the fact that the Young Lions of the ’70s jazz world were anxious to inccorporate the techniques of the 20th Ccentury avant-classical composers into their improvised “beat” music.

   Sasha is an excellent writer, but his reductionism was a little suspect. Why no mention of the indie-disco-electro craze of a few years back? That shit was all about rhythm (and little else besides Supercuts hairstyles).

   Indie-rock (whatever the heck that even means anymore) is a lot broader than Arcade Fire, thank heavens.

   casey — October 18, 2007 @ 12:31 pm —

2. Totally true — I was also wondering why he didn’t mention the rise and fall of the dance-indie movement (and the merits of “saviors” like the Ratpure).

   It could be problematic to point fingers and say white artists aren’t being “black” enough, but I think Frere-Jones covers his ass well enough.

   Josh — October 18, 2007 @ 12:50 pm —

3. Idolator recently made delightful hay out of this article.

   casey — October 19, 2007 @ 3:26 pm —

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