A sampling of profiles and authors from RS current "50 Greatest Artists" issue:

Ray Charles by Van Morrison
Bo Diddley by Iggy Pop
Bruce Springsteen by Jackson Browne
The Ramones by Lenny Kaye
Led Zeppelin by Dave Grohl (who wonders "Who knows if we'd all be watching Lord of the Rings movies right now if it wasn't for Zeppelin?") and Grohl also admits to having John Bonham tattoos on his wrists, arms and shoulders
Madonna by Britney Spears (Britney notes that "you can see her influence in some of the younger generation like Kelley Clarkson and Shakira...")
David Bowie by Lou Reed

and my personal favorite:

Little Richard by Little Richard

Listening to Our Endless Numbered Days for the first time right now.

Madonna by Britney Spears (Britney notes that "you can see her influence in some of the younger generation like Kelley Clarkson and Shakira...")

heeeeeeeeee.

Question mostly for Jilli, but open to anyone:

I bought a CD this weekend called "Projekt: The New Face of Goth," mostly because I wanted the "Brains!" song on it. My questions are: is it, in fact, goth, and if so, are these artists the *new* face of goth?

Here's the track listing:

1. Android Lust: Stained (video edit)
2. Audra: Cabaret Fortune Teller
3. Lycia: Pray (radio edit)
4. Black tape for a blue girl: the lie which refuses to die
5. Voltaire: BRAINS! (from the Cartoon Network’s Grim and Evil)
6. Unto Ashes: Witches’ Rune
7. Attrition: Two gods... are better than one (previously unreleased)
8. BLEAK: In Vain
9. Lowsunday: Wallpaper Room (radio edit)
10. Mira: Divine
11. Mors Syphilitica: The Hues of Longing
12. Love Spirals Downwards: Stir About the Stars
13. Voltaire: Goodnight, Demon Slayer (previously unreleased)

That Projekt sampler is a good array of current goth bands (as opposed to the synthpop, oontz, tweedly-tweedly beepstompstomp bands that get played at goth clubs).

Most of those bands aren't really *new*; Black Tape for a Blue Girl has been around since the early 90s, so has Attrition. Audra, Unto Ashes, and Mira have been around for a couple of years, as has Voltaire. But since that sampler is one of the better goth-comps in recent years, so I'm fine with letting them get away with the "New" tag.

Did you like "Goodnight, Demon Slayer"?

Did you like "Goodnight, Demon Slayer"?

I didn't get that far -- the CD is in my car, and I'm listening to the whole thing in order. I'll listen to it when I go to the gym in a bit.

Love love LOVE the Voltaire "Brains!" song. It ought to be the Buffista Fight Song.

But I get kind of a rockabilly flavor from it -- not a flavor; more like a fudge swirl through vanilla bean ice cream -- is that crazy? Are goth and rockabilly incompatible? Or, is that crazy because I'm hearing something that isn't there?

I think you'd really like all of Voltaire's cds. I'll try and remember to copy 'em for you in the next few days.

Hey, Jilli -- read my edit, por favor....

But I get kind of a rockabilly flavor from it -- not a flavor; more like a fudge swirl through vanilla bean ice cream -- is that crazy? Are goth and rockabilly incompatible? Or, is that crazy because I'm hearing something that isn't there?

Goth and rockabilly aren't incompatible at all; there's a lot of cross-over, and I've been looking for some good gothabilly comps. I think there is a bit of a rockabilly sound to "Brains", but that isn't a defining characteristic of Voltaire's music.

Oh! for the Star Trek fans here, you should know that Voltaire did an ep called Banned On Vulcan. He's a huge Star Trek geek, and cheerfully wrote an entire cd of filk. My friends who are ST fans assure me it's very, very funny; since I don't really like ST, I listen to the songs with a politely confused expression on my face.

My sister got Ray Pruitt (of 90120) into the Encyclopedia Fakebandica!

Sniff! I'm so proud.

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