DISQUS

Let me just say that I am so delighted that we're having such a good discussion and debate about Rand and The Fountainhead. I had a feeling this would happen, and I am most pleased. :)

I've refrained from commenting because often you can learn a hell of a lot more from "listening" rather than speaking.

In response to Dan's last comment: "I can’t help but laugh at the lady who said she skimmed over the last 40 pages of John Galt’s speech because she “got the gist of it all” in the first 30 pages. I have a BA in philosophy and have been studying religion and philosophy seriously for over 15 years, and I *still* learn things from closely reading Galt’s speech."

That was ME, Dan! haha.

I'm sure you're absolutely right; I was so anxious to get on with the rest of the story and watch the world fall through the "looters" fingers like sand - I couldn't read Galt's broadcast in its entirety for that reason as well! I am finishing the book up right now, and I promise to go back and read every page of his speech, because no doubt it is thought-provoking, to say the least.

Thanks again everyone for another great thread!

I was thinking about this in the bathroom just now (don't we all do our best thinking whilst taking a pee?) and I concluded that Rand definitely didn't write these books to be enjoyed, for their dialogue, plot, or otherwise. She wrote them as a doctrine, as a literary example of her "perfect, ideal world." You could almost call The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged "propaganda." Think about those fifty or more pages at the end of Atlas when John Galt does the radio broadcast. (I am just finishing up Atlas.. Full disclosure: After about thirty pages of Galt's diatribe, I skipped to the next chapter.. I think I got the gist of it all..)

Jerry,

Re: Rand's lack of ability to write believable dialogue; I couldn't agree more. But again, her books are based firmly in the idealistic world, not reality per se. Although I found the dialogue to be unrealistic and contrived, I think she makes up for it when she describes at length the thoughts her characters are having, the emotions they are feeling, and the motivations they have behind their actions. The way she does this, in my opinion, is unparalleled - she puts thoughts that we all have in writing in a way I have never seen before in a book.

I heard Susan Tedeschi sing "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" in Raleigh, NC with the Allman Brothers and have also heard her cover "Lord Protect My Child" with the Derek Trucks Band at the Nokia Theatre in NYC. If you can get ahold of these two live gems, you'll be better for it. Her voice singing Dylan's lyrics is simply gorgeous.

Along with Cash's "Hurt" and it's emotional kick in the gut, Nirvana's MTV Unplugged rendition of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night/In the Pines" has always hit me hard. Cobain's death-rattle sigh at the end gives me chills. This song has been covered by, um, everyone, and apparently it's an old Appalachian folk song with an unknown author.

Tony,

Get Your Wings is a FABULOUS record. Speaking of remastered - wish granted! That opening lick is the last two strings on the 12th and 13th fret, if my memory of the tabs serves me correctly!

Another Aerosmith song I painstakingly mastered on my Fender Squier Strat in 1997 was "Dream On." I was so stoked when I could play along with all those cool, clean solos. I think I still remember how to play it, and I sadly haven't picked up a guitar once in the last year or so. :(

I love listening to their early records and noting how Steven Tyler's voice evolved over the years. He always said "Fake it 'till you make it," and he was definitely doing that on their debut album and others. He's admitted to trying as hard as he can to sound like an old black bluesman. Then and now, that son of a bitch has one of the best voices in rock and roll.

"I'm in heat, I'm in love, but I just couldn't tell her so, NAW NAW NAW!!!"

Speaking of Hendrix and vocals coming out of guitar solos, how about his "Star-Spangled Banner" and the airplane/bomb sounds he makes? Again, heard it in middle school for the first time, realized later in life the connection to the Vietnam War, and I swear to God, it made me f'in cry.

Whoa, Tony! Great minds think alike. I posted Aerosmith's "Train" a minute after you did. We'll let it count though due to the divulgence of my somewhat embarrassing anecdote.

When I was 12 years old (in 1997!), I discovered Aerosmith's albums from the 1970s, and it was the single incident in my life that opened my eyes to the raging libido of rock and roll.

From their 1974 album Get Your Wings: "Train Kept a Rollin'", originally done by The Yardbirds, if I'm not mistaken. I begged my parents for an electric guitar, bought the tablature to that album, and would play along with the solos on this track. Joe Perry's guitar sounds like the scream of wheels against the metal of a train track (and so did my guitar efforts, and not necessarily in a good way...)

I got teased relentlessly at middle school for talking about all the Aerosmith concerts I was dragging my parents to (and for wearing black leather pants in an 'effort' to be as cool as Joe Perry - ok, maybe I deserved the harrassment...)

But I did grab the attention of my first "official" boyfriend that year, who thought it was super cool that I could play guitar. His name was Russell, and last I heard, he was in jail in Kentucky for drug-related charges.

Thanks, Aerosmith! ROCK ON.

Tom,

Thank you for the warm welcome! I'm very excited about contributing to newcritics. This is a fabulous idea for a site, and it already seems to have such a great community of writers and readers.

You will not be disappointed when you hear his music. A smattering of songs can be found on his well done, albeit difficult to navigate website: http://www.jorgedrexler.com. His last two efforts, "Eco" and "12 segundos de oscuridad", are worth purchasing in their entirety.

JjJ

"One, Johnny Cash (U2): I don’t think I ever actually realized how haunting this song is until I heard Cash sing it"

What does everyone think about Johnny Cash's version of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt"? The first time I heard it, tears ran down my cheeks the entire length of the song, and I felt downright meloncholy for a good hour afterward. The shakiness in Cash's voice as he sings such desperate lyrics is just heart-wrenching.

Trucks and Haynes never cease to blow my mind. If you haven't heard them play, either with the ABB, or with their respective bands, you're in for it; their guitar solos will run you over like a pack of wild horses.

Haynes really kills it with DMB during the Central Park concert - DMB gets a bad rep I think because of their overzealous frat-boy fans, but they are insanely talented.

As for Phish, I'll say this: When they're off, they're way off, but when they're on, magic happens. Their cover of "Jesus" really is worth a listen, I think.

Great post. I agree that Jimi's version of "Watchtower" is one of the greatest covers of all time. Talk about making a song your own. I bet more people mistakenly think Jimi played it first than those who know Dylan was the one who penned it.

My favorite covers I've listened to today:

"I Wish I Knew" - Derek Trucks Band (Trucks' solos are incredibly melodic and distinguishable from anyone else's guitar sound, and Mike Mattison's vocals fill me with such a deep and genuine joy.)

"High and Dry" - Jorge Drexler (His voice is as smooth and sweet as honey, and just as thick with emotion, too.)

"Jesus Just Left Chicago" - Phish (On the live album Slip, Stitch and Pass; piano/guitar solos that build and build so, so slow, then release with a bang, kinda like a... Well, you know.)

"Cortez the Killer" - Warren Haynes and Dave Matthews Band (Version from the Central Park show; I watch/listen to this song on the DVD, and my hair stands on end throughout the whole thing.)