Premier Rock Forum

Steve's review of John Zorn / Naked City came up in a Zorn FB group https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1698KaGNKm/

Here's a screenshot of the review: https://i.ibb.co/9knm6Ng3/Albini-reviews-Naked-City.jpg

While the discussion was mostly about Steve's taste in music, one weirdo tried to find what I can only assume he thinks is antisemitism in Steve's word choice. It was in reference to Zorn's methods of assembling artists from a variety of backgrounds and drawing from these diverse genres, which Steve called "parasitic." While I don't agree with Steve's assessment, I can't believe he was trying to say anything subversive or "playing with hate" as the commenter says. Am I missing something?

ChudFusk wrote: I can't believe he was trying to say anything subversive or "playing with hate" as the commenter says.

If 'jazz' ever becomes a protected characteristic Steve's comments are going to look very bad.

(I think he said similar things about Laswell, didn't he?)

jfv wrote: Wed May 07, 2025 2:29 pm Shit. It's been a year.

*sad*

For a couple of weeks leading up to his untimely and upsetting passing I was considering starting a Thunderdome with "Kerosene" and "Percolator" battling it out. In my head I think the pairing is sublime: both songs are by Chicago underground heroes of sorts with higher learning degrees - journalism and engineering respectively - while both songs are also easily identifiable to their creators. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that both songs are murder on a dancefloor.

I think of this thunderdome often.

ChudFusk wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 2:02 am While the discussion was mostly about Steve's taste in music, one weirdo tried to find what I can only assume he thinks is antisemitism in Steve's word choice. It was in reference to Zorn's methods of assembling artists from a variety of backgrounds and drawing from these diverse genres, which Steve called "parasitic." While I don't agree with Steve's assessment, I can't believe he was trying to say anything subversive or "playing with hate" as the commenter says. Am I missing something?

That was a kinder review than I would have expected! At worse it seems like Steve was calling him a bit of a dabbler. I like some Zorn music alright but the dude seems a bit up his own ass.

Anyway.. I didn’t think to make some big tribute/memorial posts yesterday because these kind of ‘anniversaries’ are weird, and SA comes up in my life all the time. It is still weird to acknowledge that he’s physically gone, because his impact hasn’t diminished at all.

Facebook assholes are the worst. RIP, Steve.

ChudFusk wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 2:02 am While I don't agree with Steve's assessment, I can't believe he was trying to say anything subversive or "playing with hate" as the commenter says. Am I missing something?

I agree with you. Someone's really trying to read something that isn't there, I think.

I couldn't help but read the other reviews in that clip and was amused by the following statement:

"Unplugged to me is such a sodomizing of rock music. I really can't stomach it."

(I don't know the full context since it's only one paragraph of the review, so I'm unsure if Steve was talking about a specific Unplugged album or Unplugged albums in general.)

ChudFusk wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 2:02 am Steve's review of John Zorn / Naked City came up in a Zorn FB group https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1698KaGNKm/

Here's a screenshot of the review: https://i.ibb.co/9knm6Ng3/Albini-reviews-Naked-City.jpg

While the discussion was mostly about Steve's taste in music, one weirdo tried to find what I can only assume he thinks is antisemitism in Steve's word choice. It was in reference to Zorn's methods of assembling artists from a variety of backgrounds and drawing from these diverse genres, which Steve called "parasitic." While I don't agree with Steve's assessment, I can't believe he was trying to say anything subversive or "playing with hate" as the commenter says. Am I missing something?

No.

This is insane.

It's very funny to me that rock critics can be such babies about criticism...using regular old language...when it's too incisive, particularly in challenging obvious critic-bait like John Zorn's "projects."

"Jesus, that didn't even occur to me"--take ten seconds, Joe, and ask yourself why it didn't occur to you.

It's also funny to me that no one will say exactly what they mean. Perhaps because they know it's nonsense. Maybe they trotted it out later.

If 'jazz' ever becomes a protected characteristic Steve's comments are going to look very bad.

ha--at least he wasn't talking about the blues, which he also claimed to hate reflexively

(I think he said similar things about Laswell, didn't he?)

yes of course, same degree of milking other people's work for your own jagoff bouillabaisse.

anyway, mediocre day, as noted it's an ongoing process. time is sort of meaningless for me. it feels it's been two months but somehow the last time i saw him alive feels like five years ago.

friends,

could you please open another thread on this john zorn thing? it's a very sad, sad time one year after steve has left the many buildings.

thank you.

^ It's easy enough to just change the subject. I don't think that other thing is worth discussing.

I barely knew Steve, but I have listened to and love many albums he recorded or played on, and spent two days in the studio with him. It seems maybe out of proportion, but his death is the second- or third-hardest one I've had to cope with.

I can only imagine what it's been like for many of you who were close to him.

Hugs and best wishes to all of you.

Changed my (our) life. RIP