Ack, another great weirdo gone. RIP Paul Katner. Definitely preferred the Airplane to the Starship, but at least he knew when to get off (and prevent them from using Jefferson in the product that produced "We build this city"). "After Bathing at Baxter's" is a long time favorite of mine of whacked-out psychedilica that's less than well known. Doesn't hurt as much as Bowie for sure as the vital years were long gone, but still a bit of a kick in the teeth.

Google Play price for the Hamilton OC recording is $0.99

I've been working my way through the Bowie catalog (in my car) in reverse (mainly so I can pick up some earlier stuff I only have on vinyl). Interesting to pick stuff up like that he took the chorus of a song on HEATHEN to use as the main part on the song Lazarus from his last album/musical title track. Not the words but the music. I'm curious how conscious that was, but it's wonderful. Those later albums (and I don't mean just Outside or Earthling) have a lot going on I missed before.

Here's a question that has been bothering me. I've read reviews of, for example, Justin Bieber's new album, that talk about the messages he's sending with his songs - redeeming his public image, relationship commentary and stuff. But obviously Justin Bieber does not write his own songs - he's not a singer-songwriter. And I read about how these star pop song producers - mostly from like Norway for some reason - write songs and shop them around to various pop stars. So, why do music reviewers talk about a new album by one of these pop stars as if it's revealing personal truths about the artist's life? Am I missing something?

All the top-tier pop stars will get a co-writing credit for all their songs (and a cut of the royalties), regardless of how much they contribute.

Honestly, I think the bigger question is why we care about a mega-twerp like Bieber in the first place.

So, why do music reviewers talk about a new album by one of these pop stars as if it's revealing personal truths about the artist's life? Am I missing something?

Maybe because it's assumed that he's choosing songs that speak for him?

I think at that level it's a highly curated process, where songs are selected by fiat in service of the artist's image and narrative. But I also think it's reasonable to assume that at that level the artist has enough pull to be in on the process of selecting music that says something they want to say.

And cowriting is the thing dujour, so there are basically no tracks getting written solo these days, and many of the artists do participate in the writing process. You're always going to get a Robin Thicke who takes the cut, but wasn't in the room. But you're also going to get a Taylor Swift, who is genuinely involved in the crafting of her material.

Speaking from the other side of the process, as a songwriter who is pitching to artists, I try to come at it as someone writing from a point of empathy. If I were pitching to a Bieber, I would strive for a commonality of experience that I could write authentically from, that might resonate with the artist in a way that they want to express. It may seem a little bit of a stretch, but if you look at a song like "Sorry," it's a pretty universal theme.

I do think Love Yourself is an on point Selena Gomez diss track, and one of the better pop ones I've heard. "My mama don't like you and she likes everyone" is just a good read, no matter who it's coming from. I don't know how much of it he wrote, but he does get co-writing credits with Ed Sheeran and Benjamin Levin on the album. And it's just a damn good song. Thus ends my defense of the Biebs. Even artists I generally don't enjoy make good music every once in a blue moon.

I don't disagree, but as a general rule I'm tired of the pop music trend of diss songs aimed at a specific ex with little or no veiling. It's okay to let off a little steam when you first break up with someone. But as long as songs hang around these days, it feels like they're holding grudges long beyond their shelf date.