Scott Walker, "Sleepwalkers Woman"

King Crimson. In 1994, in the early days of buying things on the internet, King Crimson had just reformed as a six-piece (or "double trio") band. They released a EP called VROOOM that you could order via email. So I believe I sent I my request, complete with my credit card info, entirely unencrypted, over email to the…

Both Heathen and Reality have some really great songs. I've always loved Bring Me the Disco King from Reality.

One could make the point that the '65-'68 quintet was extremely influential, since that's the cut-off point for the Stanley Crouches and Wynton Marsalisisisis of the world.

To give the band a break - they were pretty much the cream of the crop - most of the Davis/Evans collaborations suffers from a lack of rehearsal. One could blame Columbia, who didn't pay for proper rehearsals outside of the recording studio.

It appears to be pretty much true. Right Off was spliced from several takes, so it's not clear if the opening blast you hear on the final product really was Herbie's first shot, but the basic story about dropping by and getting recruited seems to hold water. Hancock was a guest on many of Miles' studio sessions…

@Barefoot Jim - Totally agree on the final product. I just find it all the more amazing considering what they left out. He composed a complicated bass line, melody and chords. Then Miles and/or Teo had the balls to drop all that stuff and keep only the improv. Amazing!

If you ever get a chance to hear the original takes of this material from the In A Silent Way box set, go for it. The whole thing sounds even more amazing when you hear how brave they were to leave out all the composed sections.

Really? Black Beauty?
Black Beauty? I love almost every phase of Miles' output, but I can't take the performance or dreadful sound quality of that album. A tighter gig, and better sound, can be found on It's About That Time.

Like it or not,
And I'm not sure that I ever liked it, but 7 years later I read through this list and "Why Can't I" is the only song I can actually remember. I believe the term is "Ear Worm".

The mirror
" The center role isn't the chance to be a hero; it's a mirror that exposes all of your flaws."

I think that's a fair question, Teflon. Maybe it works better on DVD, when we're not waiting week after week for a payoff. Maybe not.

Why the Sideways Timeline Matters, Part 2
What Jack yearned for throughout the series was a resolution with his Father. For me, Christian was noticeably, agonizingly conspicuous in his absence throughout this last season. His reappearance at the end of The End was the one thing Jack truly needed to be at peace.

Why the Sideways Timeline Matters, Part 1
They had a choice. They always had a choice. Eloise chose to stay in the limbo-verse, Ben chose to stay there, most of the Losties chose to move on. But they couldn't have moved on if they hadn't been given the choice. And they couldn't have been given the choice if they…

Around 1990-1991, there were approximately 9 bazillion hip-hop hits using the same sort of ringing triangle/cymbal that pervades the rhythm of Seen and Not Seen. (Who remembers Snap! and "The Power"?) I took at as a sign of superiority that TH had that rhythm and sound first.

Peter Gabriel's Third Album
Is still amazing. Sure, the drum sound was emulated and imitated for the better part of a decade, but this music is about so much more than the drum sound. "No Self Control" is but one of many highlights.

Will you remain . . .
. . . cautiously optimistic?

Cosmic Motherfuckery
"How could I have gone my entire life without hearing this music? What kind of cosmic motherfuckery could lead to such a grievous oversight?"

Shredder - I've got some digital books and songs I'd like to sell you.

Culture Belongs to Everybody, but . . .
. . . don't people deserve to be paid? If Amazon was selling a book without permission, I'll bet you a dollar that they weren't paying royalties, either.