I wrote <<people who are merely competent are hailed as the new Dylan (sorry, but David Gray? I just don't get it!) >>
And Bob replied << I think David Gray is really just Ryan Adams recording under a different name! :~) >> I first saw David Gray about 10 years ago, supporting Tori Amos, and thought he was OK then, nothing to write home about - and he could easily have been a one-man Waterboys tribute band, so completely did he ape Mike Scott's vocal mannerisms. He's an honest journeyman who got lucky after years of slogging around the circuit - and I really rejoice in that, despite the fact that I'm not a fan and don't think he's actually a particularly gifted songwriter. His seems to have been a genuinely organic rise to prominence, which is pretty bloody rare nowadays, so more power to his elbow. As to Ryan Adams, I'm not sure about him either - my Sacred Cow alert is triggered when I read some of the stuff written about him. Some of his stuff sounds like sub-Springsteen bar-room fare - like Hootie and the Blowfish with cooler PA and an unfeasibly "arranged" looking dishevelled hairstyle. HOWEVER, I love a couple of his slower songs (can't remember the titles, was one of them Mission Bell?), so I probably need to give him a fairer/fuller hearing. As for Polly Jean, I can well understand your antipathy to Rid Of Me - it sounds horrible, for which a large part of the blame can be laid at the door of anti-producer Steve Albini, who seems a rather hateful figure to me (calling a band Rapeman, as he did, is neither big nor clever). The songs aren't bad, and can be heard to better effect on the 4-track demos album. As you say, it's all a matter of personal opinion. It's just that I'm right and you're wrong... ;~) Azeem in London NP: Polly again - This Mess We're In
