Bitchery vs. Fair Comment

["Peter Thompson" <pt205@hermes.cam.ac.uk>]

As the co-accused in the Goodman Bitch Trials I would merely like to say 
the
following:

I don't see how my comment can be considered as bitching.  I simple wished
to amplify Andre's point about Fripps use of patches.  I neither commented
on nor do I agree with any of the points that he made about Fripp being
exciting.  Nor do I agree with the previous comments about Fripp being the
'bottom line'.

I have no doubt Fripp adores what he is doing - I have a lot of time for 
his
music.  I have no desire at all for him to be 'exciting' if the definition
of that word includes sounding like Satriani.  Restraint is a highly
underrated virtue, one that some posters to LD might like to consider.

If we are going to have Mr Goodman jump down our throats every time we
express an opinion, however anodyne, then perhaps we better all just stick
to talking about SIMMs and mixers and stuff.

Pete


-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen P. Goodman <sgoodman@earthlight.net>
To: Loopers-Delight@annihilist.com <Loopers-Delight@annihilist.com>
Date: 03 February 1998 14:45
Subject: Frippery vs. Bitchery


>You know, at no point in this strangely looping discussion has anyone
talked
>about the idea that - wonder of wonders! - perhaps RF LIKES what he's 
>doing
>right now...!
>
>I believe we've all been there, hm?  But if you're looking for blazingly
>fast technique guitar, go listen to one of the fellows from the G3 tour.
>Amongst the things I get out of listening to music (and yes!  Fripp's work
>too), "being impressed" is not high on my list of expectations before the
>performance.
>
>Just listen to it, and if you don't like it, listen to something else.  I
>just think this bitching about his work is pointless unless someone can
come
>up with an alternative guitarist/style/etc that one likes Better.  Or
>perhaps it's your own work you like better, just say so.
>
>Who ever said it was supposed to be exciting ALL the time anyway?  Or did
>yez think it was a marketing ploy when Fripp said (back in the early 80s,
>pre-KC2) that at times he made an effort to be as boring as humanly
>possible?
>
>I'd have kept my keyboard untouched on this one, if it had not denigrated
>into this whiningly annoying bit.  It smacks a bit of the Satriani-heads
who
>were also disappointed in Soundscape works.  Oh brother, whatta buncha
>consumers THEY are. :)
>
>Stephen Goodman  * It's... The Loop Of The Week!
>EarthLight Studios    * http://www.earthlight.net/Studios
>
>>>..whatever... i agree - it's some of fripp's most..... non exciting
stuff.
>>>but , yes, i respect the fact - that was what he was going for.. but on
>the
>>>2 soundsscape CDs i have , plus the G3 show, it never seemed to take 
>off,
>>>beyond simplistic, basic synth patches thru cool stereo FX. not as
>>>adventurous as he usually is, by far!
>>>
>>>andre'
>>>
>>>
>>
>>This is a good point.  Fripp does rely too much on synth patches.  Now
that
>>can sometimes work very effectively such as on A Blessing of Tears, but
>more
>>often than not it just gets cloying.  I would like to see him use the
>>natural sound of the guitar more - essentially i would like him to sound
>>like a guitarist, rather than a keyboard player.
>>
>>Pete
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>