More accessible

I was going through some of the other blogs I've linked to, admiring some of the writing and the experiences shared. I had an interesting experience coming across an album review by Barry Taylor, postmodern prophet whatever, pseudo-pastor of a pseudo-church called New Ground in West LA, very intelligent, philosophical mind, well connected in "the biz," fashion connoisseur, art connoisseur, teaches at both Fuller Seminary and the Art Institute. Knows his Lacan from his Derrida, I can tell you that. Anyway, he taught a Theology and Popular Music class at Fuller in my first year, which was very good (Simon Frith, anyone?). During the course of the class, it became very clear we have quite divergent tastes in music, or so I thought. I could definitely go without Morrissey, or even Toots and the Maytalls (sp?) for that matter. On his blog is a review of perhaps one of my favorite new musicians of the past few years, Ray LaMontagne. I loved his first album Trouble. Might be in my top ten all time. His second album, however, was a little disappointing. I had pretty much one song from the album in rotation for a few months, that's it. But here was Barry's review discussing how deep and soulful the second album was, how much he liked it, etc. and I was moved to give it another listen. Now, I have to admit, I was of two minds on the issue (when am I not?). He described LaMontagne's second effort as "being perhaps less accessible" than the first album. I read that a lot in music reviews, "such and such album is perhaps less accessible than so and so's first album, but is ultimately more rewarding." What the hell does that mean? If I parse the base line and listen closely to the drum fills, magically on the 15th listen I will suddenly really like it? Hm. Oh well, maybe so. Mostly, however, when I read the words "less accessible" my mind now inserts the word "sucks" or, on occasion "boring," or perhaps even "musically uninteresting" (take that Joel Hartse, you sycophant). On the other hand, I was willing to give this album another shot due to this review of someone whose opinion I value, well, sometimes. And I suddenly realized the extent to which I am severed from community. Things like this used to happen all the time. Someone recommends something, you check it out. My primary community these days, however, is inner-city High School kids, whose imaginative horizon often extends as far as the next Taco Bell, it seems. They often accept whatever popular culture crams down their throats, whether its packaged as rebellious teen fare or not. Everyone wants to see Spider Man 3. Everyone wants to see Pirates of the Carribean. "That moobie's tight, Mister, joo should check it ou." My roommates are not exactly counter-cultural in this area either. I crave insightful, thoughtful recommendations from an actual human being, not mindless automatons nor TV and internet marketing masquerading as "reviews." Interesting to get some sort of nudge and input and a sense of expanded thinking from a blog on a toothache filled Saturday morning on three hours sleep. That's all for now.