Sandinista came out when I was in my last college semester. I was taking a senior level class in writing about film and literature from the same professor I had taken an introductory class in four years before. I convinced her that I was bored writing about the same stuff I'd been doing for four years - though, actually, these were the only two film related classes I had taken - and she let me write about Sandinista. I sure do wish I had kept that paper. I definitely remember trying to shoehorn the auteur theory into my discussion of the record, which means that I was clearly then completely on the side of "they made the thing to be three records long and that's the way it is." I still don't like listening to only parts of albums. One or two songs, sure, but otherwise, give me the whole thing. And the Clash music still speaks to me on the rare occasions that I actually hear it. I should revisit Sandinista one of these days. But who has the time?
Thanks for sharing this, Steve. I must say I've always listened to parts of albums and these days do that more than ever. At the same time, I am committed to the idea that a critic's job is to listen to the thing the artist made, trying to listen to it on its own terms, not my version. (Then again... Your last line here made me LOL!) --David
Sandinista came out when I was in my last college semester. I was taking a senior level class in writing about film and literature from the same professor I had taken an introductory class in four years before. I convinced her that I was bored writing about the same stuff I'd been doing for four years - though, actually, these were the only two film related classes I had taken - and she let me write about Sandinista. I sure do wish I had kept that paper. I definitely remember trying to shoehorn the auteur theory into my discussion of the record, which means that I was clearly then completely on the side of "they made the thing to be three records long and that's the way it is." I still don't like listening to only parts of albums. One or two songs, sure, but otherwise, give me the whole thing. And the Clash music still speaks to me on the rare occasions that I actually hear it. I should revisit Sandinista one of these days. But who has the time?
Thanks for sharing this, Steve. I must say I've always listened to parts of albums and these days do that more than ever. At the same time, I am committed to the idea that a critic's job is to listen to the thing the artist made, trying to listen to it on its own terms, not my version. (Then again... Your last line here made me LOL!) --David
I love this series. The Celine Dion by Carl Wilson is one of the greatest music books ever.
Yes! We hope to have some more of these Q&As w/ 33 1/3 authors in the coming months. And I second your thoughts on Carl's book! --David