Re: (idm) Ken's glass house

From Che
Sent Mon, May 18th 1998, 23:17

At 09:42 AM 5/18/98 -0500, Mr. Gil wrote:

>Here's what I meant:  Ken was in a group which made some really good
>records, then his bandmates left and he kept the name, reaping the benefit
>of the good name earned by the work of three (or 2 1/2) musicians.  

It's pretty clear that Ken was and is the Master of Dogma (and I mean that
in a good way).  Taking Black Dog away from him would have been like ripping
his heart out.  Ken's a very impassioned kinda guy.  If you've listened to
Ed & Andy's output, you can tell they don't get very excited about anything.
Besides, Ed & Andy have been working to make Plaid an independent entity since

>After
>that, his bandmates made a really good record and he didn't, showing in
>stunning relief who was responsible for BDP's genius. 

You got that totally wrong - after that, his bandmates made a really
mediocre record and he didn't, he made a GREAT record, and further
demonstrated who had the talent by putting out an even GREATER live tape.

>He (supposedly) accuses Bjork of using the talent of others.  He might as
>well have accused her of using Ed & Andy the same way he did, hence the
>glass house remark (which was shorthand for "People in glass houses
>shouldn't throw stones").  Using someone's talent then accusing someone
>else of doing the same thing would be similar in a way to throwing stones
>while living in a glass house.  This is a clearer way to express my idea,
>which is an opinion, obviously. 

If you liked that tedious Not For Threes record, I can see how you might
make that mistake.

>If Ken ever makes a record anywhere near as good as "Not for Threes" I'll
>be very surprised.  He has the compositional skills of a tree based on
>available evidence. 

Why should he settle for making a record as good as Not For Threes when he's
already made one ten times better?

>Ken used to be on the list and he left in a huff when people didn't like
>"Music for Adverts".  

I've been on the list for years, and I somehow either missed that, or failed
to summon forth the imagination to see that, depending on your grasp on reality.

>He said stuff about how he thought Plaid couldn't
>deliver.  

I have to agree with him.  I'm still waiting for post-Dog Plaid to deliver.
Given that I haven't listened to Not For Threes in months, I'm debating
whether I should sell it.

>His remark about Bjork seems to imply that he thinks he has 
>talent.  He should prove it and then everyone can be happy.

It's bloody obvious he's got talent.  Ken has nothing to prove, except maybe
that he can be happy & nice.  But then would he be so endearing? :)

Che


"so, like, you'll remember that the sex pistols
didn't write *one* happy song then? I can claim 
a historical precedent for being a moody english
bastard, who is 'difficult to work with'. I'm 
not going to "smile for the fucking camera" or 
play stupid corporate games for the sake of a 
few extra sales. Some people percieve that as
my "personal bittery twistedness", and not the 
justified "rage against the establishment" that
makes me get up in the morning. 

Fuck em."  - The Black Dog