From: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org (alloy-digest) To: alloy-digest@smoe.org Subject: alloy-digest V3 #108 Reply-To: alloy@smoe.org Sender: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk X-To-Unsubscribe: Send mail to "alloy-digest-request@smoe.org" X-To-Unsubscribe: with "unsubscribe" as the body. alloy-digest Thursday, April 23 1998 Volume 03 : Number 108 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Alloy: Defending "Saint" Joan ["Stephen M. Tilson" Subject: Alloy: Defending "Saint" Joan **************/\/\iles the Dragon defends St. Joan******************* Recent commentary here has inspired me to emerge from my lair . . . I have had the privilege of attending two Joan Osborne shows and feel she is being inappropriately maligned in this forum. I believe it is unfair to compare Joan Osborne to certain talentless whelps as earlier put forth by the much respected and admired Elaine Linstruth. I do understand not liking a particular style of singing, however, and would fain argue such a point. In a related anecdote I heard an MTV media type put forth something about Jewel's "stunning acoustic guitar performance" on _You Were Meant for Me_. I was quite offended by that as I can play rings around that girl, and yet I totally suck. Maybe I'm just not sucking in the right places. "One of Us", is a frivolity written by Eric Bazilian (Joan's guitar player at the time) to demonstrate multi-tracking to his lady-friend, and is not representative of Joan's work. I heartily recommend a close listen to songs such as "Dracula Moon" and "St. Teresa" if you wish to know what gets my attention and admiration. Ms. Osborne's writing bespeaks an experienced soul with a mature and developed psyche. In performance she is verbally, visually, and musically engaging. Her honesty is undeniable. I liken her to an edgy Bonnie Raitt with a taste of Janis Joplin: soulful, deep, thoughtful, and moving. I find these qualities are generally not evident in younger performers, although I suppose there are some exceptions. I wish not to disparage youth; we of the Alloyed have some very exceptional youths in our midst. However, if one wishes to play music, perform, or entertain professionally, then one should have the ability to do so. , /\/\ ********************************************************************* To humiliate oneself is human. To humiliate oneself internationally requires an email account. ********************************************************************* ------------------------------ End of alloy-digest V3 #108 ***************************