Under the Scalpel 12.24.09: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly Part 4
Posted by Mark Ingoldsby on 12.24.2009
The sometimes humorous, always heartless guitarist of A Simple Complex responds to comments made by jsmusicbox, thatdamngood, Jeremy, panicBoy, Fiftysix, DHX, Peter, Patrick Robinson, R-Dub, Blackout!, Miller, lee, Duush and others about his reviews of U2, Rammstein, Jason Mraz, Madonna, Kesha, Three 6 Mafia, Creed, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and more.
"Under the Scalpel: Dissecting Pop Culture One Song at a Time" is a weekly column written by Mark Ingoldsby, songwriter and guitarist for the hard rock band A Simple Complex. Follow the band on Twitter during our hibernation for new recordings, wild photos, and entertaining quotes from our many wild interviews.
Here are my responses to several comments and emails in regards to my latest articles.
Kanye West – Paranoid
Egomaniac Tries To Convince The World That He's Not A Huge Douche
haha I like the Kanye review, and I agree
14:24 on Monday, June 22, 2009 by jsmusicbox
The best part about re-reading this article is knowing that I wrote it almost three months before West's crowning achievement - the Taylor Swift/VMA incident. In re-reading it now, I really enjoyed the lines: "Kanye West is perhaps known more for his massive ego than his music," and "It's hard to believe West has been 'working' on his ego 'for a while' if you look at how narcissistic he's been in public even as recently as a few months ago." Little did we know, the best was yet to come. Or did we...
I'm-a let you finish your column, but Ben Czajkowski had one of the best columns of all time.
Photo credit: latenightwithjimmyfallon.com
you know i love to disagree with you, but i gotta say, good call on the tech n9ne album, that's some badassness right there.
Posted By: thatdamngood (Guest) on July 30, 2009 at 09:22 AM
You haven't disagreed with me in months. Either I'm getting better, or you're getting worse. But yes, Sickology 101 is one of the best albums of 2009 IMHO.
On Sickology, every punch line hits like Chris Brown's fist in the face of Rihanna.
Photo credit: strangemusicinc.com
How can you compare ICP with Eminem? ICP is nor ever will be shit with their weak ass rhymes
Posted By: Jeremy (Guest) on August 13, 2009 at 01:23 AM
You do know dre got dissed so many times about dressing in drags. First by Eazy, then pac then Cj Mac, Twist, the realest, c-style, and swoop g. I'm not sayin all were great but they did send a message about Dre which, was dressin in drags no matter how the style was, didn't make you an OG. Dre needs to thank Suge Knight for signing Tupac, Eminem and all those other rappers who saved his career from being what it should have been. It irritates me how everyone says he won the fued with Eazy when the only reason he walked out that fued was because Eazy died, shit Eazy was getting money off the Chronic and then he goes and leaves Deathrow a label he started.
Posted By: Guest#3281 (Guest) on August 13, 2009 at 06:33 AM
Jeremy, the comparison is shock value, not skills.
Guest#3281, your rambling response has nothing to do with my article. Dre "walked out" of a feud with Eazy-E because the man died? Interesting. Suge Knight signed Eminem? I don't think so.
I can only assume that Weird Al is directing Macca's video. He's been doing quite a bit of directing.
Posted By: panicBoy (Guest) on August 13, 2009 at 09:33 AM
You're probably right. But four months later, I still can't find anything that resulted from the scene depicted in this picture: http://twitpic.com/al9lw. And to anyone who has a twitter account and doesn't follow Weird Al, you are missing out. You should also be following Justin and his 73 year old dad.
The whole Green Day-hating thing actually makes me laugh because of the ridiculousness of the so-called "evidences". Seriously, Kerplunk came before the Nirvana album. I agree completely to Case.
Oh, and just because you listen to Korean music, doesn't mean Green Day do.
Posted By: Fiftysix (Guest) on August 14, 2009 at 11:40 PM
Kerplunk was released in 1992. Nevermind was released in 1991. Plus, keep in mind that "Green Day" is the name of a "special day" celebrated on August 14th in... Korea.
Green Day presumable celebrating the fruits of plagiarsm.
Photo credit: last.fm
I don't particularly care for Slayer that much, but I don't listen to them that much. I think the two go hand in hand.
I don't like them = I don't listen to them.
I think, even though you make fun of him, Kerry King would tell you not to listen if you are so offended by their music. Some people actually like their stuff, not me.
..But I believe they have a pretty huge following that DOESN'T murder people and have sex with their corpse.
Posted By: DHX (Registered) on August 20, 2009 at 01:46 AM
If all you saw in 'Night of the Living Dead' (if you mean Romero's classic) was a bloodbath then you missed the point. Every Romero 'Dead' movie had it's own commentary on issues of the time. With racism being 'Nights'.
That being said never listened to Slayer and never will.
Posted By: Peter (Guest) on August 21, 2009 at 06:42 PM
DHX, my concern is not King's reaction to my being offended. I aimed to explore Araya's hypocrisy and the proven influence his words have had over the young and stupid. And yes, I've known a number of Slayer fans who haven't murdered people and had sex with their corpse too - as far I know, anyway.
Peter, I was referring to the 1990 remake. If there was a point, it was very well-concealed behind the exploding heads, eviscerated entrails, and flesh eating. Chances are, I was too nauseated at the time to notice.
Tom Araya wins a Grammy in "Best Cash-In Using Hypocrisy"
Photo credit: metalremains.com
am I the only person who found that U a jerk thing funny that SKEE TV aparently produced a couple teenagers doing a video where they have chains and looking like bafoons?
Can anyone say COONERY
Posted By: Guest#1026 (Guest) on September 11, 2009 at 12:58 AM
You spelled 'buffoons' wrong.
They know they're jerks.
Photo credit: gossiponthis.com
do you want to date my avatar is suppose to be shit
it is actually a fun song if you just take it for what it is
Posted By: Guest#9678 (Guest) on September 13, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Even stupid novelty songs require wit, a quality missing from this song. I'll say it again: "Even as a novelty song, 'Do You Want To Date My Avatar' bites the big one."
They meant for it to be bad. It worked too well.
Photo credit: roleplayingjew.blogspot.com
Ah I also made the assumption that it sampled "Fly Away" based on Wikipedia but as I look through the liner notes of the album (which I didn't have at the time of writing the review unfortunately) Khalil is right. There's no mention of it containing a sample and no mention of any "L. Kravitz" in the credits.
I'll say that it's similar enough to warrant a potential lawsuit if Khalil isn't careful though
Posted By: Patrick Robinson (Registered) on September 17, 2009 at 07:09 AM
Very close. But with the amount of plagiarism (aka: "retro") going on lately in the music world, they'll definitely get away with this one. I've heard much closer matches (I'm looking at YOU Green Day!) that have resulted in no justice for the victims.
Khalil defends his innocence.
Photo credit: shcollective.com
"You've got a pussy, I have a dick, So what's the problem? Let's do it quick."
Sadly these lyrics are about a decade old. I read an interview with JD of Korn back when they toured on the first Family Values tour. He said that Till was learning more English on the road, and he would walk around backstage singing those lyrics.
Posted By: R-Dub (Guest) on October 01, 2009 at 08:27 AM
Sadly?
Rammstein's Till Lindemann asks, "So what's the problem?"
Photo credit: ixphone.net
With regards to Madonna, what age is it appropriate to stop living? What age should you just give up on age, fun and sex? I hope when I am 51, I am still going strong.
The author of this screed admittedly hasn't like a Madonna song in 8 years, so I guess 43 would be that age.
Hear that, everyone? When you hit 43, put on yer mom jeans and garden. Life is over.
Posted By: Duush (Guest) on November 04, 2009 at 05:16 PM
Best comment ever. I struck a nerve so hard, you completely rewrote my article in your head as an entirely different story. I will simply say that I hope when you're 51, you have the sense to not dance around on stages across the globe in your underwear. And I am not alone when it comes to asking the old gray Madge to put it away.
Two artist renditions of Madonna in the near future
Photo credit: galleryoftheabsurd.com
"Some fans are comparing the band's new experimental pop song to the redefining, breakthrough album Acthung Baby (think "Zoo Station" and "The Fly") while others are quick to liken it to their more embarrassing, gay bathhouse era albums, Zooropa and Pop (think "Lemon" and "Discotheque")."
Still makes me laugh every time!!!
Posted By: Nancy Pelosi (Guest) on November 05, 2009 at 08:41 AM
Rolling Stones' choice of No Line On The Horizon as best album of 2009 makes me laugh. Please take note that U2's album didn't even make the top 50 here at 411mania. Because we know when an album sucks.
Nothing good on the horizon from U2
Photo credit: 30daysout.wordpress.com
Here is how I envision the Mafia's meeting with Sony about their upcoming album:
Juicy J: "I've come with my idea. We'll write 20 more gangsta songs about beating up women."
Sony [to Three 6 Mafia]: "We've come with our idea. Go buy a pre-packaged song from a big name beatmaker, make it a huge club hit, and sell two million records. Or we'll drop your woman-beater-wannabe asses."
OMG!
You like?
Hell ya!
Messages received November 5, 2009 from Cynthia
In retrospect, Sony's probably not as witty as I've made them out to be.
Three 6 Mafia getting ready to "take their fists and beat a bitch badly"
Photo credit: emisthebomb.blogspot.com
Lately, I can't seem to escape this song. The more I hear it, the more everything I said rings true. It's "just another flash-in-the-pan, pre-manufactured pop song that will be forgotten by next summer." Until then, Sirius Hits 1 will continue to play it every friggin' three hours.
Kesha doesn't need money. She is money.
Photo credit: musicvideolife.com
Two final comments. The first from someone who was in a band that my previous band played shows with:
I am generally no big fan of music critics (or any "professional" critics of any sort, really). I even have a joke about them.. "What's the difference between lawyers and critics? Lawyers actually serve a purpose." But you are okay in my book. You write very well and very intelligently, and appear to refrain from lopsidedly biased opinion (or, at the very least, support such opinions with logic and/or humor, and have even called yourself on your own bias, on occasion.) You, sir, are a scholar and a gentleman. :)
Message received August 21, 2009 from Phil
The second made by someone I don't know. It was posted months ago but I just discovered it recently.
Your music reviews are awesome.
Posted By: Stephanie (Guest) on May 03, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Thanks to all commenters for your advice, encouragement, and entertaining points of view.
On a side note, I've learned this year that I have to be careful. I listened to Thriller, Bad, and Dangerous in their entirety for the first time in several years. Less than a week after doing this, MJ dropped dead. Then, in August I wrote, "Hmm... perhaps (Ryan) Tedder (of OneRepublic), a graduate of Oral Roberts University, is actually referring to God finally calling Roberts home? Boy, we can only hope!" Roberts dropped dead earlier this month.
Next week, my annual four-week series of Best and Worst songs of 2009. Until then, let's get in the holiday spirit with the song that was honored as Britain's 2009 "Christmas Number One" song.
And in case your wondering, I did spit in your egg nog. Happy holidays.
