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Last night my son Jett and two of his roommates were discussing wall-poster decorations in their just-moved-into flophouse -- a seedy second-floor apartment with five bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom that's only a couple of blocks from the Syracuse University campus. Jett wanted to put up a poster featuring James Dean and Bob Dylan, and one of the roommates -- a very bright 20 year-old who's (a) gay, (b) African-American and (c) a Republican -- said no way. The point is that the guy had never heard of Dean or Dylan. I'm putting it as plainly as I can. The guy had never heard of either one. That's dedication.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 11, 2009 at 3:36 PM

comment #1

George Prager says ...

When your whole world is going to church on Sunday there is little room for a cultural education ( I'm assuming the gay black republican thing is a result of being raised in the church). But they guy is 20 years old and in college. This is hard to believe. Jett should play him Slow Train Coming.

Posted by George Prager at January 11, 2009 3:59 PM

comment #2

hunterd says ...

Six best records ever:

Bat out of Hell (Meatloaf)
Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (,,,)
On an Aeroplane Over the Sea (Neutral Milk Hotel)
Downward Spiral (Nine Inch Nails)
Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd)
Nebraska (Bruce Springsteen)

Fact.

Posted by hunterd at January 11, 2009 4:10 PM

comment #3

George Prager says ...

Bat out of Hell (Meatloaf) No way...not even in the top 1000
Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (,,,) Good but not his best
On an Aeroplane Over the Sea (Neutral Milk Hotel) Never heard it, but I'm supposed to I guess. Probably overrated.
Downward Spiral (Nine Inch Nails) Boring.
Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd) Boring, overplayed.
Nebraska (Bruce Springsteen) Great.

Posted by George Prager at January 11, 2009 4:13 PM

comment #4

Renfield says ...

Hunterd,

Nice call on Neitral Milk Hotel.

Guided By Voices - Isolation Drills = Best Pop/Rock album ever

Posted by Renfield at January 11, 2009 4:18 PM

comment #5

Renfield says ...

George,

Here's some Neutral Milk Hotel for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2jkyuT8unw

Beautiful song.

Posted by Renfield at January 11, 2009 4:31 PM

comment #6

George Prager says ...

NHM sound good.

This is my shit::
"Cattle and Cane"
The Go-Betweens
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCbyByY-A6w

I like Guided by Voices (saw them a bunch of times, saw them open for Pavement), but I'm so over them.

Posted by George Prager at January 11, 2009 4:36 PM

comment #7

Howlingman says ...

A Gay African-American Republican? I thought they were a myth.

Posted by Howlingman at January 11, 2009 4:36 PM

comment #8

Sabina E says ...

That's bullshit! I am 26, and I know so many young people who are obsessed with James Dean, Bob Dylan, and other icons from the early to mid 20th century.

That guy is an idiot and doesn't represent the majority of gays, Blacks, and/or Republicans!!!

Posted by Sabina E at January 11, 2009 4:36 PM

comment #9

Sabina E says ...

Howlingman,

yeah I've NEVER met one either and I know a few white gay republicans!!!!

Posted by Sabina E at January 11, 2009 4:42 PM

comment #10

George Prager says ...

"A Gay African-American Republican? I thought they were a myth."

You don't watch CNN, I guess. Every time they have a "Republican Consultant" on it's a black guy or gal.

Posted by George Prager at January 11, 2009 4:42 PM

comment #11

Howlingman says ...

I'll take your word for it, Prager, but I'll have to see it for myself to believe it, like Sasquatch or the Loch Ness Monster.

Posted by Howlingman at January 11, 2009 4:50 PM

comment #12

Jay T. says ...

A young, black gay republican? Well, clearly the kid is confused on more than a few levels...

Posted by Jay T. at January 11, 2009 4:51 PM

comment #13

George Prager says ...

"I'll take your word for it, Prager, but I'll have to see it for myself to believe it, like Sasquatch or the Loch Ness Monster."

I give you Ron Christie (on MSNBC)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTZAdcqJsfk

A gay black cross-eyed Republican.

Posted by George Prager at January 11, 2009 5:04 PM

comment #14

AH says ...

That kid has enough things to deal with, not knowing about Dylan and Dean is the least of it.

Posted by AH at January 11, 2009 5:17 PM

comment #15

Movie fan09 says ...

Is that his roommate by choice?

Posted by Movie fan09 at January 11, 2009 5:39 PM

comment #16

hunterd says ...

Your son is just giving you payback for naming him "Jett" . And I can say this with confidence, as I do resent the idiocy of my parents naming me "Hunter" even if it is in tribute to Thompson.

Also, screw you Prager. Meatloaf OWNS...when Steinman writes the music.

And sure DS is a bit diminished with years because it's been ripped off so much, but put that record on and turn up the headphones and listen. It's one of the best produced records I have ever heard. Meticulous, Kubrickian even. Reznor's lyrics barely even make me cringe on that record.

You would like Neutral Milk Hotel though. Everyone does. They're probably the best band of the 90s, or 80s for that matter. You're better off ignoring that the record is some sort of weird concept album about time travel and the holocaust and just focus on the brilliant melodies and innovative use of fuzz.

Posted by hunterd at January 11, 2009 5:51 PM

comment #17

/3rtfu11 says ...

My heart is broken. A Republican black or gay or Jew always hurts my feelings.

Posted by /3rtfu11 at January 11, 2009 6:01 PM

comment #18

hunterd says ...

Also, to fill out the top 10

XO by Elliott Smith

Madman Across the Water by Elton John

Either

Never Mind the Bollocks...Here are the Sex Pistols
or
London's Calling by The Clash
or
Bedtime for Democracy by The Dead Kennedys

and I donno what the last one would be.

Posted by hunterd at January 11, 2009 6:05 PM

comment #19

MAGGA says ...

In An Aeroplane Over The Sea is probable my favourite all-time record too, challenged only by Daydream Nation.

Posted by MAGGA at January 11, 2009 7:17 PM

comment #20

EricGilde says ...

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is one of the greatest albums ever made. Period.

Ys by Joanna Newsom is pretty stellar, too, to throw another one in the mix.

Posted by EricGilde at January 11, 2009 7:44 PM

comment #21

Chapman Carruthers says ...

A few that should be added to the list.

Songs of Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen

The Stone Roses by the Stone Roses

Doolittle by the Pixies

Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth

Goat by the Jesus Lizard

The Cowardly Traveller Pays His Toll by Simon Joyner

Grace by Jeff Buckley

Chore of Enchantment by Giant Sand

Posted by Chapman Carruthers at January 11, 2009 8:24 PM

comment #22

hunterd says ...

yeah, Grace is a great record. Tragic what happened to him. If you like that, you should check out Elvis (son of Anthony) Perkins.

Posted by hunterd at January 11, 2009 8:39 PM

comment #23

Chapman Carruthers says ...

Elvis is cool, and he gives a great performance at the site below, which might be my all time favorite music site; nothing but great musicians giving impromptu performances on the streets of European cities -- the last Man Man and Beirut clips are two of my faves.

Apologies if this place is common knowledge but I rarely discuss music because most people I know have terrible taste.

http://www.blogotheque.net/spip.php?page=cae_all

Posted by Chapman Carruthers at January 11, 2009 9:02 PM

comment #24

hunterd says ...

Check out Gaslight Anthem, they are best thing I have heard in ages. Just truly transcendent stuff.

Posted by hunterd at January 11, 2009 9:11 PM

comment #25

Ray says ...

Bob Dylan sucks. End of story.

But you say the guy is gay and have never heard of James Dean? Now there's a closet case if I've ever heard of one.

Posted by Ray at January 11, 2009 9:23 PM

comment #26

hunterd says ...

Ray...would you care to elaborate on how Dylan sucks?

Posted by hunterd at January 11, 2009 9:33 PM

comment #27

Luke Y. Thompson says ...

A gay black Republican? If he's any good at all at off-the-cuff speaking, a talk radio gig in his future is practically guaranteed.

Posted by Luke Y. Thompson at January 11, 2009 10:15 PM

comment #28

plastiqueelephant says ...

Man, I'd be pissed if I told my dad about a house conflict and he blew it up by publicly ridiculing the guy on his widely read blog. In big houses especially, there's usually some jackass you need to endure by keeping the waters as calm as possible.

Now that it's out there but, what a fucking idiot.

Posted by plastiqueelephant at January 11, 2009 10:16 PM

comment #29

Josh Massey says ...

Maybe the guy just didn't want such cliched college guy posters up. What, do they also have one of John Belushi chugging liquor? Maybe Bob Marley?

Posted by Josh Massey at January 11, 2009 10:33 PM

comment #30

Rev. Slappy says ...

I must say that the song stylings of Jim Steinam are a guilty pleasure for me. I really wanted to see that Batman musical he was scoring.

Posted by Rev. Slappy at January 11, 2009 11:35 PM

comment #31

frankbooth says ...

Thanks for mentioning Pixies and Sonic Youth, Chapman. *

But no Wire? No Replacements? No RAMONES?!!! What's with you guys?

It's also interesting that not one person has mentioned a Beatles album. This crowd's somehow too cool, and yet not cool enough.

*If you like AmRep noise stuff like Jesus Lizard, have you ever heard Cows? They'll melt your brain and make your hair stand on end. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfhCpUqqjCQ
Start with Cunning Stunts, their undisputed classic. Sexy Pee Story is pretty good, too. I actually saw both bands on a double-bill once, with Yow and Selberg trying to out-crazy each other. Wild show. Wish I could remember it.
I've gone off on a tangent. But if I make just one new Cows fan, my work is done and I can sleep the sleep of the just...

...oh, Jett's roommate is a dumbfuck, in more ways than one. I pity the fool.

Posted by frankbooth at January 12, 2009 1:12 AM

comment #32

PCP_Patriots says ...

Okay, never hearing of either one is pretty much like saying you never heard of Elvis Presley. Or if not that drastic, then at least as crazy as never having heard of Willie Nelson, James Brown, or someone comparable.

I wonder what his answer would be if you asked him to point to Sweden on a map or who was president of the US after JFK ... ah, youth in their teens/twenties.

Posted by PCP_Patriots at January 12, 2009 8:41 AM

comment #33