New video at Noisy Artifacts

Being a longtime critic, I can't help looking back at the past year and listing some of my favorite records or musical moments. I think most of us become critics not because we just want to criticize things, or spout off, but because we want to SHARE our joys in music. Then we get jobs doing it and end up having to review stuff we'd never go see, and you know how THAT can turn out (though sometimes it can turn out fine - I've discovered some great stuff I never thought I'd like).

I enjoyed Chris Macias' Top 10 list in last Sunday's Ticket - we agreed on several, and I was struck by how many old-school acts he chose, including Springsteen and Fogerty (which I didn't like much) - but I can't bring myself to do a Top 10. You do that so much working for Big Media, you hanker for a nice Top 7, or 11...

But I had my faves, and now I've got a blog, so rather than telling you what I liked, I can show you. I need to figure out how to post audio clips - I'm open to suggestions, I'm a technopeasant - but in the meantime, I've posted some videos from YouTube that I particularly liked. I'm trying to stick with actual live performances, because only that really tells me what I need to know about an act, and musical moments are what it's all about, not great art direction. And really, in this day and age, it's gotta all be about the live act, since no one's making any money selling records anymore.

The videos are at bloggingthegrid's brother blog, www.noisyartifacts.blogspot.com, and they're a good time at the click of a mouse. The live Radiohead ("15 Steps") is phenomenal when you listen to it and realize that, aside from a few clicks, they're making all that sounds LIVE. And the Amy Winehouse...wow. In fact, here's a teaser from Winehouse, just to urge you over to NoisyArtifacts...