There’s something about discovering vast amounts of Laurie Anderson on someone’s computer that garners them points of my instant approval. It’s the silliest thing, I know, especially as I’m not even a particular fan, but it kicks in my admiration without fail. Anyone with a sensitivity for Laurie Anderson much be an intelligent and sophisticated person. Somehow.
I blame the same place in my brain that was flattered when a new friend mistook me for thirty-three while we at Oliver’s on Sunday. (I’d hijacked his after-Illuminaires party into an impromptu front-yard slumber party, tying sheets to microphone stands to fake a pavilion). Over the years, I have skimmed off an almost misappropriated appreciation of culture from my much older partners that’s given me enduring soft spots for people like Captain Beefheart or Rickie Lee Jones, groups like King Crimson, and abiding, almost naughty, things for Frank Zappa and Kate Bush. (Though I may never really like Joe Jackson, it’s true, no matter how many of his albums I track down for people). Rarely do they surface, spending time with people my own age, but oh, when I find these respected troves of taste, I instantly smile.
Not that my music taste has ever been particularly disliked. Even when I’ve got mainstream stuff playing, it’s usually of significant quality. Today Graham wanted to know what my music was, “That’s catchy,” and was shocked at my answers of OutKast and Nelly Furtado. “Do you have the one magical good song Kid Rock did too?”
Which reminds me, I used to use an incredible program/website all the time that I really miss. It intricately mapped bands based on genre with lines between them, showing how complex the ties can be between musicians. Does anyone have any idea what I’m talking about? It’s not music-maps.com, it was much shiner, smoother too, and simply a treat to use. Had a name with the word Audio in it maybe. Anyone? Help?
EDIT: Ed has been heaven-sent. The fabulous site is http://www.liveplasma.com/ (previously musicplasma). Now they do movies too. I am impressed. You are impressed. Go tell everyone you know already.
An apartment in my building is coming up for rent. It’s a one bedroom on the ground floor, which means it has a garden space, for $700/month.