I can answer this: Skip was pointing out that through a slight carelessness in my wording, I seemed to be implying that "singer-songwriter" and "more challenging fare" were somehow mutually exclusive. When I re-read my own words, I could easily see how that might be the interpretation, when all I was trying to say was that Holcomb has a unique and adventurous compositional style underlying her otherwise seemingly conventional songs (which for the most part would have no problem sidling up against the standard fare, both creative works and pablum) that one might hear on the standard "adult alternative" radio format. There have, of course, always been many very creative singer-songwriters who employ compositional devices more advanced than the I-IV-V progression - Skip himself is one of them, so he should know - and I certainly didn't mean to slight them. And lest I be called on the carpet again, I should add that there are plenty of songwriters who, to paraphrase Schoenberg, still write good and important songs in the key of C. Patrice, I don't think you're being "clueless" at all. It's a reasonably subtle mis-statement to which Skip was drawing my attention, but it was worth pointing out. We're not writing for publication here, but the only way we can actually perform a service to one another (not to mention avoiding pointless brushfires) is to use language as precisely as possible. Had a writer handed the same sentence to me in a review, as an editor I would have flagged it as well. After Saturday night's Zorn concert at Merkin - a wonderful performance of his demanding new chamber music piece 'Chimeras,' heroically performed and followed by a fairly uproarious panel discussion with the composer and musicians - I went straight to Tower and bought four Bob Dylan CDs to attone for my error! Steve Smith ssmith36@sprynet.com NP - Tobias Picker, 'Therese Raquin' - Dallas Opera (Chandos) -----Original Message----- From: Patrice L. Roussel [mailto:proussel@ichips.intel.com] Sent: Monday, June 03, 2002 12:47 PM To: ssmith36@sprynet.com Cc: 'skip Heller'; 'Zorn-List (E-mail)'; proussel@ichips.intel.com Subject: Re: Robin Holcomb, at last On Sat, 1 Jun 2002 16:18:44 -0400 "Steve Smith" wrote:
I guess I was typing too quickly once this thing fell out of its envelope! My public apologies especially to Skip, who's written more than a few genuinely great songs himself.
I keep on reading and reading again what Steve wrote and I can't find any reason for him to apologize. He finds words to describe Robin's very personal style of songwriting, words that exhibit a genuine interest in her art and understanding of her sensibility. I would have said something similar in spirit, although without Steve's ease with words. Can Skip explain what Steve said that is so outrageous (unless of course if it so obvious and I am just totally clueless)? Patrice.