Comments on: Jandek, April 12, German Society

By: Ryan Wynns

Ryan Wynns — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:56:54 +0000

P. (above) pretty much said it for me … the criteria used for this review wasn’t really fair. No “interesting melodies”? Doesn’t it need to be taken into consideration that Jandek’s music has always been amelodic? And it’s always had an improvisational bent to it, but he sees the accompanying musicians as “bullshiters”, which opens a whole can of worms – does the reviewer also have a problem with free jazz, which this show approached? A valid opinion, but not carefully considered in this review, which is a sheer attack. (It DOES almost seem that the reviewer would prefer palpable, accessible popular music and nothing challenging.) The standing ovation wasn’t honest? Didn’t know this reviewer could read minds. I really don’t see Jandek being a “pretentious douchebag”. He creates the most heartbreakingly personal, uninfluenced music I’ve ever heard – it’s in fact completely DEVOID of bullshit. During the standing ovation, he looked physically UNABLE to turn his head to the audience, staring at his feet, looking very, very shy, but grateful. Such sincerity is lost on this reviewer, who assumes everyone is as much of a jerk aiming to show everyone else up as he is. The reviewer, for a few seconds, came close to offering a potentially interesting perspective on what “outsider music” is and how its fans respond to it and why they like it, but instead, he just choose to be a hate-spewing dick about it.

By: P.

P. — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:21:58 +0000

Hmmm, nowhere in this review do you mention whether or not you’ve enjoyed Jandek’s other work. If you have enjoyed it, then I’d be interested to hear how you felt this concert fell short relative to his records. If you haven’t, then why on earth did you attend a performance that was practically guaranteed to disappoint you? Jandek’s certainly an acquired taste to say the least, but at his best there’s no one who can quite capture his mix of crushing depression, black humor, awkward vulnerability and sly wit.

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:43:56 +0000

I was there – completely accurate representation. I stayed for the full two hours just so I could see how he reacted to the audience… he didn’t. I think he either has a serious social disorder or he’s trying hard to maintain a persona…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:51:41 +0000

Mixed metaphors like “dirt under the fingernail of the cultural landscape” are the lid on the pot of my dissatisfaction with current trends in English usage.

By: jeremiah

jeremiah — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:22:08 +0000

well, it’s a really sad day when the criteria for whether or not a concert is good is based on how much the ticket cost. but then again, a critic for a philadelphia blog is hardly the arbiter of good taste. more like dirt under the fingernail of the cultural landscape.

By: Patrick Rapa

Patrick Rapa — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:44:45 +0000

Uh, for $25 a pop I think the dude could’ve covered “Float On.”

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:12:38 +0000

uh…
it’s jandek- were you expecting modest mouse? maybe 311?

By: Brian Howard

Brian Howard — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:12:50 +0000

Ah, the classic “quote stravinsky then call the critic a cunt” gambit. Well played, anonymous, brave commenter of the Internets.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:50:29 +0000

The listener reacts and becomes a partner in the game, initiated by the creator. Nothing less, nothing more. The fact that the partner is free to accept or refuse participation in the game does not automatically invest him with the authority of a judge. —Igor Stravinsky

you stupid cunt.