I think Bad would be a lot better if the production wasn’t so dated. There are quite a few mid- to late-80s album that suffered that fate.

And yes the Quincy Jones thing is pretty overrated – the Jackson demos for the Jackson-penned Thriller songs are all pretty much fully formed.

(If you’re wondering, I’ve listened to – and as a result read about – Michael Jackson a lot the last year or so thanks to a certain three-year old’s fascination with him.)

yeah man, that world of hip-hop/r&b, etc. is like MANY universes away from me! that cat did NOT produce any hits on the new Cornell, that’s for sure! then again, to my ears, he’s probably NEVER produced a true “hit”. ; )

[47] thanking you, ms. october!

[49] i’m still sad about Khansahib. he died 8 days ago, at 87. i don’t remember if it was Khan’s mom or dad or it was Allah Rakkah, but at least one of them lived to 105. i wish that would’ve been the same for Khansahib. : (

Speaking of the Jackson brood. This is how big a star Michael Jackson was in 1984: Did you know he had a sister named Rebbie? Not only did he, but he wrote her a song in ’84 and it went top-40.

I think when Alex referred to MJ’s life as a public suicide, it hit the nail on the head. How much more could he possibly mutilate himself? In the end, he was repulsive, a symbol of a soul too damaged for this world.

Having grown up with the J5, I was a devotee, Tiger Beat and all. His decline was heartbreaking.

BTW, as much as I liked MJ in the 70 and 80s, SW has it all over him, musically.

Whoa… Damn.

I saw a clip of him doing the robot to “Dancing Machine” on the Mike Douglas show, that was pretty sick as well.

When I was going through my “Motown” phase, I picked up some Jackson 5 cd’s, and I think I have both Thriller and Off the Wall around the apartment somewhere. I seem to remember “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” as a staple @ the roller rink.

[45] hi thelarmis. i read your posting at the end of the game thread. i am so glad you were able to snag a foul ball for aydin. that was very touching and shows what a wonderful and generous spirit you have. the strawberry glove’s magic continues!

“his new solo cd with some famous hip-hop/r&b producer. i never heard of the guy, but that’s not saying anything…”

Heh. No kidding. That guy is Timbaland, who is one of the top hit-makers of the last decade.

he’s not that amazing live, however. yeah, i panned his first solo record when it came out, too! i thought it was overproduced and boring, musically. i knew it had to have more depth to it, so i carried the libretto around with me and studied the lyrics VERY hard. i figured if i didn’t like the music, i didn’t have to listen, but i could still get something out of his brilliance. i ended up loving the words so much, i gave the music another chance and came around full circle.

most of the 2nd solo record is excellent too, but not all of it. by now, the record companies have been trying to sell him any way possible. trying to cross him over from ROCK star to POP star, has been brutal. look no further than his new solo cd with some famous hip-hop/r&b producer. i never heard of the guy, but that’s not saying anything…

i loved the first 2 Rage Against The Machine records, but felt those guys were waaaaay inadequate to back up Chris. took me awhile to come around to the debut, but i ended up loving it and looked very much forward to the follow up. Chris’s voice sounds like he was bored and sleeping thru the sessions for A’slaves 2nd & 3rd releases, but the lyrics were great and i think there’s some really good stuff there. again, the band is not good enough to back him up, imho.

i don’t really consider S’garden grunge. they were a lot of things, inlcuding metal, punk, hardcore, rock, etc. they were also pretty progressive and have some AMAZING odd meter stuff, esp on their swan song, Down On The Upside.

i don’t think i’ve ever heard Nickelback, unless a student brought in a song for me to teach. ya know, i think that happened once. i hated it! : )

: )

Ali Akbar Khan and Chris Cornell are both well represented in my collection, however! : )

: )

I don’t know where to find that online…

As for what you hear most often, it depends how you do your listening. I listen mostly to my iPod, and it never doesn’t have some Michael Jackson on it (though it typically also has Beatles, Elvis, and Sinatra as well, and in that order).

oh, and Neil Peart showed up at my buddy’s gig last weekend in LA! : O

Audioslave has 3 good records, for certain. took me awhile to come around, but i’m glad i did!

Superunknown is excellent, but i think it’s 3rd in the “trilogy” with Badmotorfinger and Down On The Upside blowing away the sandwiched album (which is still great!).

Temple of the Dog and CC’s first solo record are also pretty incredible! there’s some great stuff on his 2nd solo cd, but the new one is simply god awful. he’d be smart to go back to the “classic” S’garden lineup!!!