I got a BOYFRIEND. We like to FIGHT A LOT. We got a lot in common: he thinks I FUCKING ROCK.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Have we talked about the new Ashlee Simpson on poptimists yet? I've only just got round to it and I think it's BLOODY BRILLIANT. Haven't worked out where it stands w/r/t her first two albums but it's a logical next step - she's basically grown up and lightened up, she sounds very much in control of herself (whereas on Autobiography and I Am Me she was more likely to be found flailing angstily around her emotions, which was great, but this is just different).

She's got Timbaland, Chad Hugo, Kenna and Santogold on the album but it's really telling that nothing on Bittersweet World really sounds like any of them at all - the points of comparison are far more indicative of Ashlee's own taste (ie Debbie Harry and Pat Benatar time travelling to meet Gwen Stefani in her own 80s mode, or something).

( track by track vague notes )

The Passion Pop Curve

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

This comes from the blog of marketing guru Seth Godin - the full post is here and here's the curve:



"The reason you need to care is that gap in the middle. Every day, millions of businesses get stuck in that gap. They either move to the right in search of the masses or move to the left in search of authenticity, but they compromise. And they get stuck with neither.

A delta blues guy who plays for tiny audiences in Memphis is in the sweet spot of the passionate. John Mayer is in the sweet spot of pop. Both are great guitarists, neither is too edgy or too trite. Both made a choice. But there are a thousand guitarists who are neither. They're afraid to embrace one curve or the other and end up with neither."

Presented (for now) without comment. Over to you!