Kashmir Reborn

I know that I said that I didn't want to be a music critic, but I want to talk about music today. First of all I have to confess that I like the new song by Alanis Morrissette. I'm pretty sure its from the soundtrack of the new Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan film. The name of the film escapes me at the moment.

Alanis falls into the category of singers who I hear enough on the radio that I don't need to buy the album. At first when the media was all over her, I loathed her and every thing that she did. As time went by I learned to tolerate her and even appreciate a song or two.

In my opinion, she has more of a presence than the Spice Girls. Although I do still see both of them as vehicles pushed by someone else. Madonna is the force behind Alanis and a group of marketing wizards are behind the Spice Girls. Everyone needs a push to be someone.

Its the strings in the song by Alanis that really get me. They must have been done by John Paul Jones, the bass player for Led Zeppelin. The string arrangement sounds very reminiscent of Kashmir by Plant and the boys. Its all so arch to me. I can just see Alanis writhing onstage as she sings or maybe in a video similar to the one with Madonna morphing into birds and so on.

As for the string arrangements, I might just be right. John Paul Jones has done arrangements on other albums in the past for other people. That seems to be what he does now. Although I did hear a rumor that Plant and Page were touring this year.

Speaking of videos that I like, I love the video for Bittersweet Symphony by the Verve. Its simple yet so enjoyable. The lead singer walks down the street and ignores all of the other people going in the other direction. He just keeps bumping into them as he goes along and we get to see the various reactions of the people that he bumps. I see it as a nice combination of arrogance and aggression.

True, its nothing new in terms of a message, but it still works for me. At least its a far cry from Twisted Sister singing We're Not Going Take It or the Beastie Boys barking You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party. The Verve have that subtle arrogance that is hard to achieve. Or maybe they are just poser pretty boys that are merely the song of the month. Time will tell. Then there were the people who mistakenly wrote off Radiohead after hearing the song Creep.

One album that I am waiting for is From the Choirgirl Hotel by Tori Amos. I want to see if she has mellowed out now that she is married. Maybe Pele won't receive as many sacrifices this time around. What Tori does talk about though is giving God a blowjob. Okay now I really have to hear the rest of the album. The first single Spark sounds promising.

I actually had two good days in a row at work. Cal had the misfortune of asking me to do something for him today and he knew that I was the only person that could help him. Tony and Nick both agree that our department would be stronger if it was run by a different manager. We all know that isn't going to happen though.

Yes, I am starting to be myself again. Tomorrow I'll talk about my plants and how Pepper and I share our computer time together.