Dispatches 27 October 2000
Last week some members of my blocking group commented that my musical listening habits have become so esoteric over the last three years that I end up talking endlessly about artists no one else has heard of (Monday Michiru! Full Intention!). At the same time Soman commented that In the Mix sounds very British in tone (indeed, it would be British in spelling if not for the valiant efforts of the proofers on the Crimson staff–thanks Alan et al). And as George Michael pointed out, British stars made up 0.2% of total American sales last year, compared to about 32% in 1986. So really I have no idea if my column is speaking to anyone.
So in the final moment of clarity before I retreat into a cave and forever obsess about obscure bootleg remixes and import versions of singles by the Jam, I shall try to name songs that I like that were fairly well-known: "Jumpin' Jumpin'" by Destiny's Child,"Shackles (Praise You)" by Mary Mary, "Thank You" by Dido, "Baby Did a Bad Thing" by Chris Isaak, "Porcelain" by Moby (I confess) and "Got Your Money" by Ol' Dirty Bastard. ODB IS ON THE LOOSE. ODB IS ON THE LOOSE. We interrupt this program to bring you the news. Wow. I always thought these things happened only in the movies. But as I'm sure you know by now, ODB fled from Impact House, site of a treatment program and where he was living since June. Sadly, I doubt this is important enough to end up with ODB in a Ford Escort being chased live on TV. Maybe you can follow any chase on AM Radio.
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You know you've fallen victim to fashion trends when… you want a cellphone with programmable ringtones. (Okay, I'll admit I own one that works overseas, but I want one here!) You can get Blur's new single "Music is my Radar" from iobox.com, but only if you live in, oh, most of Europe, Asia, and Egypt or South Africa. When the Egyptians have better cellphones than America…
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I swear I don't get Limp Bizkit. "Chocolate Starfish" was the kind of phrase that's only funny when you're 14.
Of course, this comes from a guy who used "Fartypants" as a source of cheap laughs in last week's column.
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Was speaking to a friend the other day and discussing the oddness of concert schedules this year. Elliott Smith comes into town tomorrow at Avalon, while Lockgroove, headliners at last year's Crimson-Advocate band showcase Blast!, performs at the Wheeler-Lynch Gallery. Alt-metal band Slipknot comes to Avalon on Monday, while sensation Jill Scott sings at the Paradise on the same day. Jill Scott is, of course, part of that same amazing revival of Philly R&B and soul that in recent years produced the Roots. (Indeed, she wrote the Roots' slinky hit "You Got Me.") Next Friday, Badly Drawn Boy (nee Damon Gough) comes to the Paradise to promote his Mercury Prize-winning album The Hour of Bewilderbeast. Or, to use movie-trailer speak, if you liked the Beta Band you'll love this!
And finally, tickets for the Dave Matthews Band concert at the Fleet Center on December 11 go on sale at 11a.m. tomorrow… All you fans get in line. I'm going back into my cave.
