Comments on: L’esprit de l’escalier, Part III http://philalawyer.net/2009/09/lesprit-de-lescalier-part-iii/ Wed, 09 May 2012 18:14:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Alex http://philalawyer.net/2009/09/lesprit-de-lescalier-part-iii/comment-page-1/#comment-2990 Alex Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:10:27 +0000 http://philalawyer.net/?p=392#comment-2990 Great stuff on Neil Young here, I've never heard him described so correctly. And I agree with you--Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere is definitely his finest record. If you want to read a good piece about Neil Young, circa 1980, Cameron Crowe wrote an excellent article called "The Last American Hero" for Rolling Stone, back when they didn't give the Jonas Brothers four out of five stars. From what I remember about it, it speaks to a lot of the points you mentioned: http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/neilyoung/articles/story/9102787/cover_story_neil_young_the_last_american_hero And that one album you mentioned, Trans, from the early 1980s is pretty hilarious. It's not terrible, just very strange. PL: Thanks. That's a great link. Great stuff on Neil Young here, I’ve never heard him described so correctly. And I agree with you–Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere is definitely his finest record. If you want to read a good piece about Neil Young, circa 1980, Cameron Crowe wrote an excellent article called “The Last American Hero” for Rolling Stone, back when they didn’t give the Jonas Brothers four out of five stars. From what I remember about it, it speaks to a lot of the points you mentioned:

http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/neilyoung/articles/story/9102787/cover_story_neil_young_the_last_american_hero

And that one album you mentioned, Trans, from the early 1980s is pretty hilarious. It’s not terrible, just very strange.

PL: Thanks. That’s a great link.

]]> By: Wevoz http://philalawyer.net/2009/09/lesprit-de-lescalier-part-iii/comment-page-1/#comment-2614 Wevoz Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:38:49 +0000 http://philalawyer.net/?p=392#comment-2614 U2 and credibility in the same sentence? That sanctimonious rubbish? Once you have your own Ipod commercial I think you can be fairly shuffled into rank alongside the Nickelbacks and Beyonces. PL: Lighten up, Francis. Yeah, Bono's a cheesy ham. But "Red Hill" is a good song. U2 and credibility in the same sentence? That sanctimonious rubbish? Once you have your own Ipod commercial I think you can be fairly shuffled into rank alongside the Nickelbacks and Beyonces.
PL: Lighten up, Francis. Yeah, Bono’s a cheesy ham. But “Red Hill” is a good song.

]]> By: Konstantine/santashats http://philalawyer.net/2009/09/lesprit-de-lescalier-part-iii/comment-page-1/#comment-2613 Konstantine/santashats Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:49:22 +0000 http://philalawyer.net/?p=392#comment-2613 I personally thought the Neil bit was fantastic. His musical appeal spans generations, your endorsement was fun, thought engaging, and entertaining. There's not a single thing wrong with this piece of writing in my view.. Well, except the "to be continued." I'm now eagerly awaiting your next installment. PL: Agreed. I liked it myself, and it's inexcusable for me to have taken so long to acknowledge the man. I personally thought the Neil bit was
fantastic. His musical appeal spans generations, your endorsement was fun, thought engaging, and entertaining. There’s not a single thing wrong with this piece of writing in my view.. Well, except the “to be continued.”
I’m now eagerly awaiting your next installment.
PL: Agreed. I liked it myself, and it’s inexcusable for me to have taken so long to acknowledge the man.

]]> By: avatar http://philalawyer.net/2009/09/lesprit-de-lescalier-part-iii/comment-page-1/#comment-2612 avatar Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:06:28 +0000 http://philalawyer.net/?p=392#comment-2612 um, did you just admit your wife isn't "absurdly hot" way up top there? Does she read your website??? That lady must have some pretty thick skin. PL: No. Respectfully, I think you might be transferring the way you read it to my wife. Perception's reality, etc... I do that a lot myself. And I'm always amazed to hear what people take away from things I write. I have a stack of emails about the book that utterly confound me. People get so many personal messages from stuff I could never have imagined. She reads a lot of the stuff. We're absolutely open with each other about everything in our past. We're each friends with a few of each other's exes. But yes, she's thick skinned. So am I. We've had the discussion about which boyfriend had the biggest penis and she's been very candid about me being #3. I have no comeback because she's still got the best ass of any chick I've been with. um, did you just admit your wife isn’t “absurdly hot” way up top there?
Does she read your website???
That lady must have some pretty thick skin.
PL: No. Respectfully, I think you might be transferring the way you read it to my wife. Perception’s reality, etc… I do that a lot myself. And I’m always amazed to hear what people take away from things I write. I have a stack of emails about the book that utterly confound me. People get so many personal messages from stuff I could never have imagined.
She reads a lot of the stuff. We’re absolutely open with each other about everything in our past. We’re each friends with a few of each other’s exes. But yes, she’s thick skinned. So am I. We’ve had the discussion about which boyfriend had the biggest penis and she’s been very candid about me being #3. I have no comeback because she’s still got the best ass of any chick I’ve been with.

]]> By: Tyler Kosnik http://philalawyer.net/2009/09/lesprit-de-lescalier-part-iii/comment-page-1/#comment-2611 Tyler Kosnik Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:14:11 +0000 http://philalawyer.net/?p=392#comment-2611 Nice to have you back. The Dr. Dre inclusion is pure left field. PL: Chronic 2000 is brilliant. Nice to have you back. The Dr. Dre inclusion is pure left field.
PL: Chronic 2000 is brilliant.

]]> By: Vladimir Zhirinovsky http://philalawyer.net/2009/09/lesprit-de-lescalier-part-iii/comment-page-1/#comment-2610 Vladimir Zhirinovsky Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:55:50 +0000 http://philalawyer.net/?p=392#comment-2610 Think you're on to something good here, PL. Culture's a shared experience; anyone who wasn't around to see the man play probably won't care that much. I'm a decade removed (not to mention leaving the USA permanently as a teenager) from the pop culture you're discussing, so I rarely find myself compelled to comment on those parts of your articles. For me, though, what keeps me coming back is that there are very few people who are able to paint such a clear picture of a culture in the way you do - you've an eye for all the little details that matter. Whether or not I personally feel connected in any way to your cultural references isn't really the point. In any case, the destination could never be the focus of any good contemporary American writing. After all, who in the States, these days, has a story to tell that is genuinely fascinating by itself AND true? You do a great job of presenting the meaningless, ridiculous corporate existence in a way that might even get people to do more of what they should have done all along to cope - laughing not only at what's around them, but also at themselves. PL: And this is why your comments are always a welcome addition. It's all in the picture, and as to Americans having nothing to say, Eureka. We're lazy, overfed, overindulged, overmedicated and mixture of mis- and under-educated. No shit we've little to talk about. What binds us? Twitter? American Idol? The unbearable lightness of a Michelob Ultra buzz? The take-away is all in the picture. The punchline, the linear progression? Fine and dandy things, but always secondary. Think you’re on to something good here, PL. Culture’s a shared experience; anyone who wasn’t around to see the man play probably won’t care that much. I’m a decade removed (not to mention leaving the USA permanently as a teenager) from the pop culture you’re discussing, so I rarely find myself compelled to comment on those parts of your articles. For me, though, what keeps me coming back is that there are very few people who are able to paint such a clear picture of a culture in the way you do – you’ve an eye for all the little details that matter. Whether or not I personally feel connected in any way to your cultural references isn’t really the point. In any case, the destination could never be the focus of any good contemporary American writing. After all, who in the States, these days, has a story to tell that is genuinely fascinating by itself AND true? You do a great job of presenting the meaningless, ridiculous corporate existence in a way that might even get people to do more of what they should have done all along to cope – laughing not only at what’s around them, but also at themselves.
PL: And this is why your comments are always a welcome addition. It’s all in the picture, and as to Americans having nothing to say, Eureka. We’re lazy, overfed, overindulged, overmedicated and mixture of mis- and under-educated. No shit we’ve little to talk about. What binds us? Twitter? American Idol? The unbearable lightness of a Michelob Ultra buzz?
The take-away is all in the picture. The punchline, the linear progression? Fine and dandy things, but always secondary.

]]> By: jason http://philalawyer.net/2009/09/lesprit-de-lescalier-part-iii/comment-page-1/#comment-2609 jason Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:23:08 +0000 http://philalawyer.net/?p=392#comment-2609 I agree with Jack. Too meandering. The part about the hearing loss should be one sentence, and the problem with yapping about Young for half of the essay is that you don't have any more musical authority than your audience. In past essays your tangents were seamless/interesting enough that I was willing to tolerate your slamming the brakes on the narrative. This one didn't make it. Keep it moving or give us confidence that the divergence is worth it. PL: I'm missing credibility of a music critic? From what vending machine should I have procured the necessary certification? The divergence is worth it if you get it. If you don't get it... If the Young paragraphs don't resonate for you, selah... That installment wasn't your thing. But your confidence, or lack thereof, is not my issue. Hence, my recommendation to Sherry (Jack's the comment above) that the better critique is to just say, "The Young thing bored me." That's reasonable. Confidence, on the other hand, is a personal matter. Not the stuff of criticism. As to "moving it along," when I go linear, I'd only hope to lose the ability to manipulate a keyboard as well. The concept that it's the story or punchline rather than the writing, or delivery, is a major part of what's driven the quality of entertainment to its present location. I agree with Jack. Too meandering. The part about the hearing loss should be one sentence, and the problem with yapping about Young for half of the essay is that you don’t have any more musical authority than your audience. In past essays your tangents were seamless/interesting enough that I was willing to tolerate your slamming the brakes on the narrative. This one didn’t make it. Keep it moving or give us confidence that the divergence is worth it.
PL: I’m missing credibility of a music critic? From what vending machine should I have procured the necessary certification?
The divergence is worth it if you get it. If you don’t get it… If the Young paragraphs don’t resonate for you, selah… That installment wasn’t your thing. But your confidence, or lack thereof, is not my issue. Hence, my recommendation to Sherry (Jack’s the comment above) that the better critique is to just say, “The Young thing bored me.” That’s reasonable. Confidence, on the other hand, is a personal matter. Not the stuff of criticism.
As to “moving it along,” when I go linear, I’d only hope to lose the ability to manipulate a keyboard as well. The concept that it’s the story or punchline rather than the writing, or delivery, is a major part of what’s driven the quality of entertainment to its present location.

]]> By: Sherry http://philalawyer.net/2009/09/lesprit-de-lescalier-part-iii/comment-page-1/#comment-2608 Sherry Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:36:23 +0000 http://philalawyer.net/?p=392#comment-2608 I like the central action of the story, it's quite intriguing, but the main character is annoying. He rambles too much, is judgmental to the point of cynicism, and places inappropriate significance on sex. I found myself wishing he would hurry up and tell the story, instead of stopping every few sentences to give us his disparaging and unsympathetic judgement of the materialistic world that he is a part of (I mean, if you hate your work and everyone in it that much, do something about it, don't just complain about it). The past memories concerning Neil Young were sweet, but boring. I skimmed through that bit (in the same way I would skim through a page of Tolkein describing the entire history of some river. Obviously the writer is passionate, but that alone is not enough to make me care). But all in all, it's an entertaining read. It feels like there is a soul beneath all the dense loathing. PL: The story's not the thrust. Never was. You do get that, right? And you also realize that one can never, under any circumstances, overemphasize sex. It's the elephant in the corner in 90% of the decisions we make in this world. As to the rest, thank you. But keep this in mind with criticism. Never use this line: "...enough to make me care." It's akin to saying, "I teach creative writing to ninth graders." It also brands you a narcissist, ripping the legs out from under the rest of your comments. The better way to make that criticism is to say, "It bored me." That's a universally understandable reaction. As to "caring," no one knows what causes any anonymous commenter to care or not care about something. Using that phrase, personalizing the critique in that regard, suggests a less than admirable level of self-importance. Always keep in mind when offering views on art to the public, the audience's eye matters, not yours. When considering whether to go with a general or personal observation, always take the former. I like the central action of the story, it’s quite intriguing, but the main character is annoying. He rambles too much, is judgmental to the point of cynicism, and places inappropriate significance on sex. I found myself wishing he would hurry up and tell the story, instead of stopping every few sentences to give us his disparaging and unsympathetic judgement of the materialistic world that he is a part of (I mean, if you hate your work and everyone in it that much, do something about it, don’t just complain about it). The past memories concerning Neil Young were sweet, but boring. I skimmed through that bit (in the same way I would skim through a page of Tolkein describing the entire history of some river. Obviously the writer is passionate, but that alone is not enough to make me care). But all in all, it’s an entertaining read. It feels like there is a soul beneath all the dense loathing.
PL: The story’s not the thrust. Never was. You do get that, right? And you also realize that one can never, under any circumstances, overemphasize sex. It’s the elephant in the corner in 90% of the decisions we make in this world.
As to the rest, thank you. But keep this in mind with criticism. Never use this line: “…enough to make me care.” It’s akin to saying, “I teach creative writing to ninth graders.” It also brands you a narcissist, ripping the legs out from under the rest of your comments. The better way to make that criticism is to say, “It bored me.” That’s a universally understandable reaction. As to “caring,” no one knows what causes any anonymous commenter to care or not care about something. Using that phrase, personalizing the critique in that regard, suggests a less than admirable level of self-importance.
Always keep in mind when offering views on art to the public, the audience’s eye matters, not yours. When considering whether to go with a general or personal observation, always take the former.

]]> By: Jack http://philalawyer.net/2009/09/lesprit-de-lescalier-part-iii/comment-page-1/#comment-2607 Jack Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:59:17 +0000 http://philalawyer.net/?p=392#comment-2607 A piece on vodka? As a vodka fan, I'm looking forward to that one. I'm in the process of writing a piece on absinthe myself. PL: I have half of that written, but it's in the backlog cue, with about four other things. Sorry on the delay. I never let anything out until I like the way it reads and it makes the points I want it to. That can hold shit up sometimes. A piece on vodka? As a vodka fan, I’m looking forward to that one. I’m in the process of writing a piece on absinthe myself.
PL: I have half of that written, but it’s in the backlog cue, with about four other things. Sorry on the delay. I never let anything out until I like the way it reads and it makes the points I want it to. That can hold shit up sometimes.

]]> By: Derek http://philalawyer.net/2009/09/lesprit-de-lescalier-part-iii/comment-page-1/#comment-2606 Derek Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:23:17 +0000 http://philalawyer.net/?p=392#comment-2606 Another great story. You are on a roll. Can't wait to read Part IV. I've turned on several friends to your site through your recent political essays. Any chance we'll see more political/social commentary from you in the near future? You've definitely tapped into something there. Thanks for putting me on a Neil Young kick over the last week. It's been a while since I've listened to him, and I had forgot how many great songs he's given us. I found this clip online, and given this stupid Mtv Kanye West/Taylor Swift "controversy," I thought I'd share it with you. I don't think Neil and PJ ever sounded better together, and if there has been a cooler, more relevant moment on Mtv since this, I missed it. From the 1993 music awards: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTTsyk-pyd8 PL: Try this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wCvUynhYRY Not as good, but definitely something you don't see every day. I'll do more commentary. I mix it up. Another great story. You are on a roll. Can’t wait to read Part IV. I’ve turned on several friends to your site through your recent political essays. Any chance we’ll see more political/social commentary from you in the near future? You’ve definitely tapped into something there.
Thanks for putting me on a Neil Young kick over the last week. It’s been a while since I’ve listened to him, and I had forgot how many great songs he’s given us. I found this clip online, and given this stupid Mtv Kanye West/Taylor Swift “controversy,” I thought I’d share it with you. I don’t think Neil and PJ ever sounded better together, and if there has been a cooler, more relevant moment on Mtv since this, I missed it. From the 1993 music awards:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTTsyk-pyd8
PL: Try this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wCvUynhYRY Not as good, but definitely something you don’t see every day.
I’ll do more commentary. I mix it up.

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