Inagural Ruminations.

It occurred to me as I was driving back from the airport today, that I want rap artists to use black metal (Viking metal, specifically) subject matter. It seems like a great idea to me, imagine Jay-Z taking his 2001-era shots at Nas, threatening to "mount his head on bloody spears outside his palace gate". $. The possibilities are endless, imagine what truly clever emcees like the GZA or MF DOOM could do with such a template, given that one already raps as a genius ninja assassin, and the other as a comic book-styled supervillain (among other aliases).

Listened to Daniel Johnston for the first time today (save for the time I watched his documentary; The Devil and Daniel Johnston, which is brilliant), and although I can see what people see in his music, I also identify with the people who immediately turn to something new. When Johnston is on, he is on. Few singer-songwriters can laconically communicate pain and suffering to the degree that he can, and even fewer can make you identify with a fellow with bipolar disorder. It's interesting stuff to be sure. I've only listened to the collection The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered, but I'm sure I'll eventually get into more of his stuff. If it's good enough for Tom Waits and Jeff Tweedy, it's probably way over my head.

Every time my stack of books I set aside for summer reading beckons to me, the comic books underneath shout. I will finish them, I will! Ah damn. Started Brave New World last night, thanks to whoever left it in my French 472 room. If you're reading this and you want it back, let me know.