Duh Duh Duh Durrhh!

Seriously, does anybody really need to see that you have several Mozart CDs, right next to your Beethoven CDs and a couple of Pavarotti/Three Tenors CDs? Did you buy them from a number on the television? Did you buy them because you felt that you ought to have them in the house, much like a copy of The Complete Works of Shakespeare? Well, you don't.

Seriously, if you're going to bother having classical music in your collection, I think a similar policy with jazz has to take hold. It is fine to have Beethoven and Mozart in one's collection but not just those. Why not try Telemann, Schubert, Debussy, Gorecki, Grieg, or Purcell?

Opera operates on a similar level, but should be full operas not greatest hits. I think Bizet and Puccini are nice things to have but are by no means essential.

Which Classic Albums Leave You Cold?

There's a post on the Guardian music blog today about which classic albums leave you cold. Mine are personally anything by Can or Joy Division. Public Enemy are up there too with albums. Their singles are good but I can't listen to a full album because it sounds monotonous.

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy is wonderful.

His album The letting go is to be encouraged in any potential life partner's CD collection. It just makes sense. The songwriting is interesting, varied and engaging, and Dawn McCarthy's harmonies are glorious.

Yes it may be an introspective musing on death and loss, but life ain't all disco and rock festivals, you know.

The usual obsession rule would be enforced, obviously. Will Oldham's excursions into acting, lauded or otherwise, have no bearing on Bonnie 'Prince' Billy.

I wonder if there should be a depression equation though?

Most of the Drag City record label is fine by me as far as all that goes too. It is not merely the preserve of bearded bohemians who drink only elm tea, and if elm tea is your major vice you could make a worse partner anyway.

There's an interesting Jim O'Rourke connection to many of the artists too, which I don't think is a bad thing.