Hi Skip, I can understand that you, as a musician, feel like my thoughts on Douglas' album are offensive but I've always thought that music consumers should have the opportunity to express their opinions freely. I've always refused to write public reviews on albums I don't like, because in some way I don't feel entitled to talk shit about someone else's work and my previous message was some sort of visceral reaction that I normally tend to hold. In that regard, I don't feel specially proud of what I wrote. On the other hand, I've always supported Dave Douglas' work, in a thorough way and trying to be as objective as possible. I still think "Witness" is an unparalleled achievement and for me, it was the BEST release the year it came out. It still is and it's always nearby ready to spin when I have no new material. I still think the Tiny Bell Trio is one of the most original workin groups and I love every single note they play. I still think Dave Douglas is one of the most original and creative composers in the contemporary jazz realm. I still think DD is a wonderful musician with an absolutely personal, unconventional and original approach. But my personal and EXTREMELY SUBJECTIVE opinion on "Freak In" is that the album is not up to its signatory, by any means. I've listened to it repeatedly since I got it yesterday, and you will agree the music there is not so complex to require one hundred listenings. It's not Merzbow, if you know what I mean. And sorry, but I pain (despite being color-blind, which is not that bad), write and translate, but I still haven't made any albums. What I think is pretty clear is that Dave Douglas himself can make much better albums than this one. Most of its predecessors are an evidence. Best, Efrén del Valle Dear Efren -- Before you dismiss anything made by an artist as thorough and scrupulous as Dave, you'd better listen a bunch more. I didn't hear as much in the music as I needed until about the fourth listen, and now I'm hearing all these wonderful surprises everytime I put it on. It's a pretty compelling record if you know how to listen to it. On the other hand, if you know how to make a better record than FREAK IN, I'm dying to hear it. -- skip h http://www.skipheller.com ___________________________________________________ Yahoo! Messenger - Nueva versión GRATIS Super Webcam, voz, caritas animadas, y más... http://messenger.yahoo.es