Some of the tennis players I once coached call me from college, either for life advice or just to shoot the shit. With this one, we somehow got on the subject of fights with girls, subject with which I am familiar, and he dropped this gem on me:
Kid: "I don't argue with girls, man."
Me: "Never?"
Kid: "Dude, I'm nineteen. I'm just happy to getting laid. I just sit there and agree with whatever they say."
Is it just me or is that genius?
Friday, February 5
Priceless wisdom from a 19-year-old
Posted by
Baker
at
1:06 PM
0
comments
Monday, January 18
"Federer Gay"

I've been internally composing an authoritative, "Roger Federer is gay" argument for going on three years, but nothing I was going to write beats this:
Number of Google search results for "JFK Conspiracy":
134,000
Number of Google search results for "Federer gay":
757,000
Posted by
Baker
at
11:54 PM
0
comments
Sunday, January 17
Tiger: Billion Dollar N****r
I should have posted this three weeks ago when it first hit me, because now, with promos for The Masters running during NFL playoff coverage, it’s bordering on obvious, but it’s the same thought either way.
We, as a culture, are going to let Tiger off the hook. It will have nothing to do with forgiveness, or some revisionist revelation that he is something other than a bad husband with a taste for skanky cocktail waitresses. Like with the scandal itself, it will be our own boredom that cranks the wheel.
A few weeks ago, I caught an ad for one of the first golf tournaments of the year--something in Dubai. The ad featured shots of Phil Mickelson and nobody else I recognized. “Not only will I not watch that tournament,” I thought, “I might never watch golf again.” Golf is and always was boring. It was what my dad watched. It didn’t become interesting until a cocky, 21-year-old black kid strolled through the gates of a bunch of white-only country clubs with his 40-million-dollar Nike contract and started dunking on their little croquet game. He did everything but grab 18th pin at Augusta and hump it like Elvis on Ed Sullivan. Fact is, by the time he got there, he didn’t even need to. The look on the old white faces was enough, and it was there every week. I could not have been more entertained.
So, if you haven’t already, ask yourself: are you going to watch golf if Tiger doesn’t play? And if he does play now, how much MORE riveting will it be?
Of course, it’s not THAT simple. Wouldn’t Tiger have to go through hell? Wouldn’t the tour, the sponsors, the tournaments and everyone else have to go through P.R. Hell too? Aren’t there too many forces working against it? Well, all but one.
Winter 20
04: I had my ad agency’s 10th row, center court
seats for Pistons-Lakers, just in time to publicly ridicule newly accused rapist, Kobe Bryant. I came armed with a giant, tri-fold sign that read “Hey Kobe, time to come from behind.” At the gate, the security guys demanded to read my sign. They thought for a second, laughed, and then took it from me with a sincere “that’s good, but we’re going to get fired if we let you through with it,” tone. I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me before that moment (in which case I would have covered the sign with something more benign and snuck it in), but obviously, the league had way too much to lose, financially and otherwise, with one of its most important players in trouble, and the orders came down from on high to control the negative reaction to whatever extent possible. Kobe is now beloved again and about to win another ring, and none of us are even surprised that he got away so clean. It’s too obvious to discuss.
With that in mind, consider the following: since Tiger hit the tour in ‘97, the players’ prize money has more than QAUDRUPLED. If that is the case, think about what that means in terms of ticket prices, advertising dollars, and the corporate legions who have gotten rich and put their kids through private school and paid for boats and mistresses solely on the dominance of this guy’s golf swing. Marge Schott long ago proved that the old white folks running sports love one thing more than racial hegemony, and that’s money. Well, Tiger is worth more commercially than any ten guys in any sport combined. If Marge were still alive, she’d have to call Tiger the “Billion-dollar n****r.”
I want to watch Tiger hit a golf ball; you want to watch Tiger hit a golf ball; and until he does, some rich and powerful people are going to lose a shitload of money. If a rapist is allowed to come back and win NBA championships and smile for the cameras ,Tiger will play golf again. All he really has to do is shut up for a while and let them come begging. The tour and its sponsors will write the script for him. I’m already getting bored waiting for his comeback.
Posted by
Baker
at
11:43 PM
1 comments
Saturday, January 16
Things Men Need to Know
How do women talk about us after the fact? What qualities are they looking for in a penis? Only one way to find out...
With any luck, I will make this a recurring feature.
Girl: did i tell you about the 22 yo?
Baker: 22 yo?
Girl:i slept with a 22 yo pro beach volleyball player
hahahahaha
Baker: when?
Girl: total one night stand
he gave me his last name (which i forgot) and when parting ways he told me to facebook friend him and i just gave him a peace sign and walked away
hahahaha
so unlike me
Baker: you badass
so proud
Girl: it was pretty awesome
:)
and he was hot
and young and stupid
just like i like my one night stands
Baker: tell me about what he was like in bed
Girl: hahahaha
baker!
Baker: i just shared tons of personal shit with you
Girl: i know
ok
he had a great body
Baker: best part?
Girl: ummmm, his cock
hahahahhahaha
lol
but for real
and his abs
he was hot
Baker: big cock?
Girl: yes
Baker: pretty cock?
Girl: really pretty
lights on
super nice
he was good
Baker: what was so nice about the cock besides size?
Girl: hahaha
baker!
Baker: i would tell you this shit
Girl: okay
so
he had a really nice olive skin tone
hehehe
this is making me giggle
Baker: shape?
Girl: it was pretty much perfect
Baker: what's perfect? men need to know this
Girl: not veiny- not curved
straight- strong- solid- long- thick- hard
what every girl could hope for
Baker: wow
i need a picture
i need something to work towards
Girl: hahahahahaha
unfortunatly i didnt take a picture
Baker: tell me about his moves
Girl: he liked to be behind
done and done
Baker: that's your favorite?
Girl: thats about all i am going to say
and now you know more than my girlfriends
Baker: that was his only move?
what a pussy
he doesn't deserve the perfect cock
Girl: well, you didnt see it!
hahahaha
it was a perfect one night stand
strings free and nothing wrong
Baker: that was his only move tho? in a ONS?
Girl: omg!
Baker: that's a free pass to get creative
Girl: baker!
Baker: you never have to see her again
Girl: i know!
he was very direct
is that enough?
Baker: obviously
was he a pounder?
Girl: no
i am not getting into more detail with you!
Baker: he changed speeds, rythyms?
Girl: hehahahaehhehe
baker!
Baker: this stuff matters
Girl: i am NOT discussing this with you!
i know it does!
trust me
Baker: i would discuss it with you
Girl: You’re ridiculous, baker.
Posted by
Baker
at
5:36 PM
1 comments
Saturday, January 2
The Rocking of Evan, Year Three
I’ve just returned from my third holiday with my now two-and-half-year-old nephew, Evan. For those not familiar, one of my primary responsibilities as the World’s Greatest Uncle is making sure that my nephew is exposed to and educated in the ways of rock.
In previous holiday seasons, Little E discovered the awesomeness Axl Rose (link) and the displeasure of Kurt Cobain (link). He has proven to be an advanced student of pop culture, but there is still much work to do. I only see him about twice a year, and he is already developing human motor skills like running and throwing and can use words to repeatedly ask for what he wants. He’s like a really adorable autistic person.
WHAT EVAN IS CURRENTLY LISTENING TO
Evan has become fixated on the Black Eyed Peas. In August, my last visit, he would walk up the computer and repeatedly beg for “Boom-Boom.” Well, he has graduated from the “Boom Boom Pow” video to “I got a feeling,” yelling out “FEEEEL-ING” any time he looks at computer screen. Obviously, things could be far worse. His parents may not provide him an authoritative rock education, but he’s not begging for Barney or Teletubbies either. Just to be sure my nephew isn’t being turned into a Top 40 sucker, I played him some pre-sellout Peas (Behind the Front album), and he was all about it. Really, as long as it has some energy, he’s into it. He still digs G n’ R, and got pretty fired up at The White Stripes. You pass, Little E.
AIR GUITAR AND “ROCKING” LESSONS
You won’t find this in most child development books, but at this age, the important thing is not for kids to learn good taste, but internalize the IDEA of rock n’ roll (which will later lead to good, or least philosophically informed, taste). They need to understand that “rock” is a verb. So whenever Evan approached me on my laptop, I made sure to ask him if he “wanted to rock.” When he said yes, we cranked the volume and got crazy. “This is AIR GUI-TAR,” I said, placing his hands in the holy position and modeling the Power Stance. He looked good, but then when we started the music, he mostly just rubbed his belly with his playing hand. Hm. Then I remembered that his dad has an acoustic guitar, so I pulled that out, played a few notes, and hoped he would make the connection. No luck, he just kept rubbing the belly.
A few days later Little E at least had the overall concept down. When I said “wanna rock?” he said “ya!” and jumped on the nearest chair and started banging his head with me. One day, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Mysteries” came up in my shuffle, and Evan became mesmerized by my air drum breakdown. He immediately imitated me, and kept doing it through each song. I should have figured hitting things would make an impression. When I went back to air guitar, though, he kept air drumming. He had found his instrument.
We hit all kinds of music—AC/DC, Wolfmother, Andrew Bird, even Queen—but Evan dug it all, because he could jump up and down and bang his air drums to all of it. If that is not the rock spirit, nothing is.
LICK IT UP
In the car with his mom, KISS came on the radio. I’d been trying for days to get Evan to do and say many things for my own entertainment, even yelling out “brick” every time someone missed a shot on the basketball court at his local park (it’s never to early to talk trash), but it’s still hard to predict what is actually going to stick with the kid, and I hadn’t really gotten him to do anything awesome on command yet. So I made the Gene Simmons face, turned around and gave him the tongue, the eyes, and the devil horns. “LICK IT UP, Evan.”
The results:

Evan will now absolutely “Lick it up” on command. He even did it when I told him over the phone last night. I think he’s getting the idea.
Posted by
Baker
at
11:31 PM
0
comments
Wednesday, December 23
Baker's Music of the Decade: Part 2 - The Mix CD
The Aughts Mix CD
Contrary to those who think the art of the mix was lost was lost along with the cassette tape, I still believe in song order. Herein lies an artful mix of kick-ass singles, memorable tracks from bands/records that didn’t quite make the album cut but deserve to be saved from the rapture, and a few gems that, for various reasons, simply should not be forgotten. I actually made and played this mix to see if it sounded like the way I want to remember the decade. All I can say is, I am a mix-making savant. I’ll send you a copy if you promise to not skip tracks on the first listen.
1. “Wolf Like Me” – TV on the Radio
My favorite single of the last several years and unanimous selection as the lead track on the Aughts Mix CD. Big sound, uber-cool production, infectious bass line, and the werewolf as metaphor for predatory sexual desires…I think.
2. “Such Great Heights” – Postal Service
Always go mellow/melodic for track two on a mix, and this would have to be the defining emo track of the 00’s. Plus, having this song around should cure any and all need to listen to Death Cab.
3. “I Turn My Camera On” – Spoon
Somehow it was universally decided that this song was scorchingly sexy. But which part? The lyrics are intentionally vague and the video consists of shadow-heavy lighting and disconnected shots of women’s legs. The beat does make me horny though, and it alludes to videotaping something, so, yeah, great song.
4. “Seven Nation Army” – the White Stripes
Coolest bass line/guitar riff of the decade, and clear runner-up for lead track duty, so it takes second-banger position.
5. “Ball and Biscuit” – The White Stripes
Two of my favorite songs, and Elephant is still my least favorite Stripes album. That’s how irritating Meg’s voice is.
6. “Time to Pretend” – MGMT
A comically familiar fantasy sentiment juxtaposed over a ridiculously catchy electro-emo beat. Brain candy of the best kind.
7. “North American Scum” – LCD Soundsystem
A close call on the album list, but they fit nicely in semi-electronic phase of the mix
8. “Clint Eastwood” – The Gorillaz
Bridging genres at its time and on my mix. Gimmicks tend to not sound so cool after almost ten years, but this manages to. Credit probably goes to Del.
9. “Kilo” – Ghostface
Only Ghostface could give us a Sesame Street sing-along for drug dealers.
10. “Cocaine” – Robin Thicke
The son of the Alan Thicke croons over Timbaland beats about clubbing on blow. Nothing painful about growing up Hollywood rich.
11. “If I Ever Feel Better” - Phoenix
Close your eyes and pretend they aren’t so French.
12. “Young Folks” – Peter Bjorn and John
Overplayed or not, you can’t really have an aughts mix without it. And no matter how many times you play it, it’s still a good song.
13. “Highly Suspicious” – My Morning Jacket
The most out-of-nowhere but awesomely funky Prince homage by a once-conventional rock band ever. Also the only such song. And for the record, this is how you back-end a good mix.
Disc 2
1. “Do You Want To” – Franz Ferdinand
A perfect side two opener. Still makes me want to…binge drink.
2. “All These Things That I’ve Done” – The Killers
It’s still debatable whether they have soul and are not soldiers of some sort, but there haven’t been many better pop songs in the last decade.
3. “The Kelly Affair” – Be Your Own Pet
Good punk band with an above average sense of pop humor that should have crossed over...but they broke up. How authentic.
4. “Girl” – Beck
Did we ever decide if this song was about a girl committing suicide?
5. “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” – The Darkness
Turns out these guys weren’t joking with the Spinal Tap routine. Even better.
6. “List of Demands” – Saul Williams
Winner of the “Coolest Song Featured in a Nike Campaign” category.
7. “Needy Girl” – Chromeo
Unabashed, sexified 80’s synth funk. The concept alone deserves a little credit. Plus this song reminds me precisely of a girl I dated.
8. “Save Me Dear” - Ghostface
Another brilliant Ghost joint the world should not be without. A love ballad about tattooing names and selling guns to pay for romantic Vegas trips built on a timeless Marvin Gaye sample. The enduring thing about Ghost remains his goofy humanity.
9. “Tarantula” - Smashing Pumpkins
Solid comeback album that didn’t quite make the list, but I’ll take a single with me.
10. “Wake up” – Arcade Fire
The perfect song for the recent “Where the Wild Things Are” trailers. A fitting usage for their forced, but nonetheless uplifting epic-ness.
11. “Bitch, I Love You” – Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
Every feeling I’ve ever had a about a woman in a single, perfect lyric. Also the best band name of any decade.
12. “There Was a Time” – Axl Rose
I refuse to recognize Chinese Democracy as an official Guns album, but I will recognize the undeniable Axl-ness of its one shining ballad.
13. “Fuck her Gently” – Tenacious D
It’s easy to forget, but once upon a time Jack Black was seriously funny, and this song was a show-stopper at college parties.
Posted by
Baker
at
7:15 PM
0
comments
Baker's Music of the Decade: The Apocolypse Thought Experiment
I don’t believe in objectivity in regards to music, so I will never willingly make a best-of-anything list. My criteria for ranking the albums of aughts is much more rigorous, and, you will instantly realize, the only tangible way to comparatively rank music. Observe:
It’s Dec 31st, 2009, and the planet is about to explode, but you have means of escape. For whatever unforeseen technological reason, your only means of saving music is to take hard copies of CDs with you. Space is limited, so you may only get to save as few as twenty albums. All other musical releases will be destroyed and you will never get to listen to them again. You must rank them carefully, because you don’t know what the cutoff will be. This has multiple implications:
1. To repeat, anything that does not make the cut, YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO AGAIN. What music are you willing to part with forever, and what can you not live without?
2. Rankings need to reflect a real comparative value. If an album is ranked 11th for instance, that means you would not sacrifice any of the ten preceding albums in order to keep it.
3. Live albums, soundtracks, and compilations are in play (provided they were released in the proper time period), especially if they offer a unique and valued experience and help you save more of a band’s catalog on a single release. There is high cost of allocating multiple spots to a single band.
4. Redundancy in any form—even different bands that offer similar experiences—has an increased cost. So quality is not the only consideration. What music MATTERS to you, and for what reasons? These are the REAL questions about music.
Finally, there is one loophole of sorts. In your stack of CDs, you are allowed one two-hour, two-disc mix, with which you can presumably preserve in the neighborhood of 25 individual songs. No era time capsule would be complete without such a thing.
After a full 72-hours of internal strife, my final selections are below, but first:
Difficult Omissions and/or bands/albums of Acclaim I find myself able to live without:
Radiohead – They’ve won. I’ve internalized them to the point that I don’t even need to listen. I’m just going to Paypal them ten dollars every year.
The Killers (Hot Fuss) – They should have killed themselves after Hot Fuss, but that was never the point with them—they preferred ubiquity. Well, they’ve got it.
Franz Ferdinand (first two albums) – Unlike Hot Fuss, the first two Franz albums are still a fun ride, but I’m not sure they ever took me anywhere.
Arcade Fire – Stop trying so damn hard to matter, guys. It’s music, not student council.
Animal Collective (That new album everyone is raving about) – I tried. I really did. I don’t get it.
The Walkmen - Good, but…whatever.
Girl Talk – I’m confident he will keep playing with his laptop and fulfill whatever future need I have for mash-up.
TV on the Radio – I was one of the original superfans, but they’re starting to feel disposable.
LCD Soundsystem (Sound of Silver) - Ditto
Postal Service/Death Cab – Can you honestly picture yourself caring in ten years? I can’t.
Jay-Z/Eminem – Rapping might be the one musical talent that can be debated objectively, and these guys are the best. I concede. I’m impressed. But that’s all.
Now, with that out of the way:
THE 21 ALBUMS I CAN LEAST STOMACH LIVING WITHOUT:
21. The Strokes – Is This it? (’01)
All of the
critics are putting this somewhere in their tops of the decade on the basis that it was the definitive indie rock statement (or something like that). I’m not sure what that statement was—I think they all just need an excuse to like it so much. And why not? It’s utterly likeable. If it were gone, I would miss it, just not more than the next twenty albums.
20. Wolfmother – Wolfmother (’06)
Blatant,
unabashed worship of Sabbath power riffs and youthful enthusiasm will get you a spot on my roster every time. A name like “Wolfmother” doesn’t hurt either. Can we get a band to do this every five to seven years for the next half-century?
19. Andrew Bird – The Mysterious Production of Eggs (’01)
Creativ
e savant-ism does not always lead to memorable music, but in this case it gave us something oddly hypnotic. As hard to categorize as it is to stop listening to.
18. The Scissor Sisters – The Scissor Sisters (’04)
They we
re first explained to me as the bastard child of Elton John and the Begees. I would add something electronic and a healthy dose of acid. The phrase “dance like nobody’s watching” should be replaced with “dance like you’re a drunk, half-naked chick in a gay bar and the Scissor Sisters are playing.” I never want to live in a Scissor Sister-less world.
17. Eagles of Death Metal – Peace, Love, Death Metal (’04)
Rem
ember what was great about rock music that didn’t take itself seriously? If you answered “no,” I’m keeping the EofDM around to cleanse your soul.
16. Yo La Tengo – Summer Sun (’03)
Befo
re I discovered this album, I had trouble sleeping on airplanes. That kind of serenity is usually only available in a pill.
15. Titus Andronicus – The Airing of Grievances (’08)
The most
difficult ranking on the board, because I can’t tell what I’ll think of it in five years, but here’s what I think right now: it MIGHT be the best indie rock record I’ve ever heard. Every disaffected thought, sound and sensibility that indie/emo/post-punk/Dave Eggers ever aspired to is concentrated in this music like nuclear-grade uranium. It’s an epic wall of jam-packed dive-bar angst, draped in noise, with a lead singer screaming over it all like he won’t forgive you for dragging him out of bed. It makes The Strokes seem like uncommitted pussies and Arcade Fire seem like pretentious shit-heads. An entire decade of whiny music, movies, and literature crowned in a single lyric, courtesy of lead singer Patrick Stickles:
If I could say one thing
With the whole world listening
It would be
“LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!”
14. Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere (’06)
It suffe
red critical overexposure because of the “Crazy” single, but I’ve heard nothing like it before or since. Has a hip-hop personality ever crooned about depression and suicide like this? There’s only one Cee-lo, and I’m taking him with me.
13. Wilco – A Ghost is Born (‘04)
Which
00’s Wilco album to grab was one of the most difficult decisions on the board, but was made slightly easier by the fact that, in any global apocalyptic scenario, somebody else I know will definitely save a copy of Yankee Hotel.
12. Cat Power – The Greatest (‘06)
Chan M
arshall (a.k.a. Cat Power) is the modern female Stevie Ray Vaughn—she reeks so much of Johnnie Walker-saturated soul it doesn’t seem possible that she’s white. She makes Amy Winewhore sound like a karaoke lounge singer. And when Chan goes to rehab, she comes right back and drops the most chilling album of the year, possibly the decade.
11. Andre 3000 – The Love Below (‘03)
Probably
the most self-indulgent album ever released by a top 40 hip-hop artist, and that’s saying something. It’s got a bit of everything: moments of pop genius, ultra-slick production, cartoonish weirdness, a Nora Jones duet, and a song called “Spread” that remains the most texted sex joke of my adult life. Say whatever you want about the guy. He’s memorable.
10. Tom Waits – Alice (‘02)
Surrea
l, heartbreaking, and hilarious, often all at once. The songs were for a play about the guy who wrote Alice in Wonderland, and his tragic unrequited love for the real-life Alice. It plays like Tim Burton in musical form, only richer and weirder.
9. Andrew W.K. – I Get Wet (‘01)
Just k
nowing that Andrew WK is in the world doing whatever the hell he does is awesome, and I Get Wet is a singular sonic extension that awesomeness. It makes me want to live HARDER.
8. Ghostface – Supreme Clientele (’00)
Who coul
d have predicted that after the dust and the lawsuits settled, the sentimental favorite, Ghostface, would emerge as the one truly successful Wu soloist? Very difficult to part with The Pretty Toney Album, but Supreme seems to be shaking out as his post-Clan opus.
7. The White Stripes – The White Stripes (’99)
The first,
and nearly best rock record of the era, regardless of its technical release date and the fact the Stripes didn’t really hit big until Blood Cells in ‘03. Riffs, drums, and a little yelling is all rock was ever supposed to be, and that first Stripes album kicked sweet, elemental ass. Whether he likes it or not, Jack White laid down the template, and made the world once again safe for lo-fi rocking, and for the soul to return to the music. I thank him. The irony is, soul is the one thing his music has always lacked. His post-everything awareness also created the new acceptable range for “cool,” but I guess that was where it had to go in the aughts. Jack on his writing:
“I tend to write about other people's problems more than my own. My problems are the least interesting to me. I'd rather get interested in other people's situations, you know, and attack it like a psychologist.”
Like The Dude, he was the man for his time. He fit right in there. But for me, the personal edge was always missing, even if I still dig the shit out of the music.
6. Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta! (’07)
One of t
he great disappointments of my life: showing up casually late for their show in Chicago, only to miss all but the last fifteen minutes. As result, I have yet to really experience what all witnesses claim to be one of the great performance spectacles on Planet Earth. This is the rare album that makes you understand such claims. Like the band itself, it defies description. It also makes you crave vodka.
5. THE STREETS - ORIGINAL PIRATE MATERIAL ('03)
No sound came more out of nowhere than whatever we decided to call The Streets. It’s everything Guy Ritchie ever wanted his movies be--The Brit equivalent of hip-hop cool. And unlike his movies, OPM holds up.
4. Gossip – Live in Liverpool (‘08)
ck with the gays, especially since they gave us Beth Ditto, so I’m going to blame Europeans for the fact that Gossip has started recording dance music. This live album comes closest to capturing the heart of their basement rock and the jaw-dropping experience of Madame Ditto stalking the stage. See them live before you die. My favorite accidental discovery of the decade.
3. My Morning Jacket – Okonokos (’08)
Yes, a
live double album is cheating, but I simply cannot part with it, and that’s the whole point of the list. This one catches the best classic/conventional rock outfit walking the terra firma at their atmospheric, reverb-ilicious apex, drawing from the their three defining albums (At Dawn, It Still Moves, Z). It sounds epic because it is. If you listen closely, you can hear Neil Young’s head exploding at the end of “Magheetah.”
2. Beck – Sea Change (’02)
Noth
ing like listening to a guy who has built a career out of critic-pleasing irony and a tri-level mansion out in left field cry for an hour about his broken heart—and then realize you haven’t so much as twitched the entire time. If Sea Change doesn’t make you feel something, you probably have an autism spectrum disorder. I like it more than Blood on the Tracks, and I don’t care what aging hipster pulls a gun on me. I’m not a Beck superfan. It’s just that good.
1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever to Tell (’04)
In a we
ird way, Jack White made the YYYs possible. By embracing all the conceits of cynicism, he made it okay for rock bands to openly create characters again, and without the return of that art-rock concept, the world would not have been ready for Karen O, the most beautifully troubled rock front woman since Debbie Harry. With an outlet for Karen’s venom and vulnerability, and the timely vogue of the garage sound, the YYYs had rage, rawness, whimsy, irony, and a giant, gaping heart. Where Jack gave you nothing, Karen O bled all over the stage and eventually the music landscape. The fact that she’s mellowing (and making dance music) as she gets older only proves that the volatility on Fever was real. For a brief window, the YYYs were everything that rock music can and should be.
Posted by
Baker
at
4:02 PM
0
comments