dero on canons

Dero's take on the rockism debate, as viewed through the moment's obsession with not just listmaking, but complaining about listmaking and the maker's rights. all well-deserved, but i think this piece misses the point: it's not about NOT having a canon, it's about having more inclusive qualifications for the canon (see below). Kraftwerk, NWA and the Beatles have all made great albums, but they are not great in the same ways and that's better than okay, that's the way it should be. maybe the problem is how they are grouped together and written about as if they were all just 10 out of 10 and therefore equal. anyway, my vote is for more incomparable goodness and unquantifable original weirdness, please.

Speaking of which, I am the last person in the world to listen to the Hasidic pop-reggae star Matisyahu, which is what I'm doing right now. You know, they warn you when you move to NYC not to talk to strangers in Washington Square Park, and maybe that's why this is good advice.