[kj] amy shithouse

[S. Man]

I'm under the impression that as a personality she is reaching the 
annoying media saturation level in some parts of the world.  However, 
judging only by what she recorded on Back to Black I would say she is 
pretty great.  In terms of technical ability as a vocalist she is ok and 
at times it seems like there are a few too many Billie Holiday 
affectations but the sum total was a great record. The arrangements are 
gorgeous...the best Motown nostalgia in recent memory so I have to at 
least give credit to the people who played on that record.

I've met a lot of terrific musicians that I've known previously only 
through their records and a not-insignificant percentage of them have 
been utter morons and/or assholes in person.  Few things suck more than 
meeting a musical idol and discovering that they are an idiot.  Somebody 
  previously referred to Steely Dan and even though I think they were 
brilliant you would be hard pressed to find a more incoherent and 
seemingly brain-dead character than Donald Fagen.   Eventually I decided 
I was better off avoiding meeting my musical heroes, ignoring whatever 
media presence they occupied and stick to listening to the records.  If 
I was a musician that is how I would want to be judged.