lollard

Everyone should make an effort to catch the Laos episode. Bourdain turns off all his rant and rave and bluster and is genuinely sombre and sad. You can see it actually made an impact on him.

The Australian episode on the other hand was an utter waste of time.

If we've been thinking it, talking and musing about for so long then surely we should thank him for getting so much attention about the issue - which is as shaun rightly says - the state of music criticism in Australia.

I still fail to understand how ET's piece was at all newsworthy or why it required such vigorous defence response by so many. It was opinion - wrapped in snappy, digestible sound bites. His forte. Even the Andrew's piece that started all this again acknowledges as much.

Fez - I'd hardly suggest my position is that absolutist. I'm saying it's all too easy to ignore opinion with threads of truth running through it under the guise of - What would he know? He doesn't even live here. And that's what happened. And continues to happen.

Such a formal, limiting approach to criticism and op-ed writing.

I'd suggest she also shits people cos she's got a tremendous chip on her shoulder, has a gobby mouth and refuses to back down from a point .. amongst other things.

And - this also being the point of ET's rant and his further defence piece - Australian's struggle with being criticised.

Especially by 'others'.

Agree. And it's up to the reader the make the decision to pay attention or dismiss. And in that brief comment - I hold that Greer has everything you mentioned, as well as a platform. Same for ET. His opinion of bands and/or music press holds weight, regardless of whether I agree or not.

That's why it's hard to gather the energy to bemoan RS's reviews. They are what they are. Their position in music criticism is incredibly weak - no one takes them seriously anymore and the nominal rating system is an empty lark. So I - as well as plenty here it seems - pay no attention.

The system works!

What a load of old toss. Why does a critic have to live in a country to criticise its artists or music press?

Greer can be thoughtful, outrageous and sometimes completely wrong - but her opinion is just as valid as anyone else’s.

Same with ET. He made some glaringly obvious points about the street press in OZ and got shouted out of town as a result because he had the temerity to slag off a few rubbish bands during his spray. Don't know how anyone can get riled up with what he writes - his style is well known, he's good at what he does - better than most in this country.

As for the article, Mast’s defence of the street press was flaccid. Name checking Jet for fucks sake – like some rock’n’roll fantasy camp. Give over. Talk about cultural cringe.

there's no impetus to increase the quality of the content. There is, however, a good reason to please the people who do pay the bills.

That’s the bloody problem ET’s directly referring to. Regardless of whether there’s an impetus or not, if you were really passionate about music – then find a way. The ad revenue-dictating content argument is a cop out. It’s very real, I acknowledge, but quality criticism rises to the surface. And who cares which country the band and/or critic lives in?

Sydney show hilarious and great. One of the most entertaining musicians during and in-between song. His explanation of our awareness of the economic collapse was sublime and brilliant.

Buck's in rude health.

Seriously make an effort to see them.

I had the pleasure of enjoying lunch today with Michael. Introduced meself to him pre-show last night, requested an interview and he obliged. Met him at his hotel, had a lazy hour harbourside chat about pretty much everything except his music then escorted him to Martin Place for a spot of currency exchange. Amazingly humble and personable guy, armed with a firm grip.

I just interviewed him as well. Nice guy, interesting chat. But I interrupted him during dinner with Kristin Hersh and her husband! I felt guilty and let him get back to his taco's.

seeing them in Montreal in a few weeks. shall be rad