Comments on: Review: Daniel Lanois’ Black Dub @ Bowery Ballroom

By: al

al — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:54:10 +0000

I get the feeling you don’t know what your talking about. Check out the Little Desk concert on PBS. Just Trixie and Lanois. That’s all they needed. The others aren’t even necessary.

By: Carsten

Carsten — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:47:57 +0000

For Steve to have written in a “sexist” manner, he would have had to judge the singing based upon a previously held notion of (a) female singer/s.
On the contrary, he made quite clear his objections to her “sound”/capabilities, and then went looking for a reason as to why she is there.

Why is that sexist? If you are convinced that the artistic merit is not the reason, then there is nothing sexist about finding the right reason in “romance”. It’s the direction of the argument that matters.
Not being aware of her family background gave no reason to think of the third possibility:
DL is doing her a favor because of who her father was.

There is nothing wrong with not being aware of that fact, and so there was no “sexism”.

Doing Webster Hall show, see for myself — and ONLY because Jerry covered “The Maker”, if he thought highly of it, I’m interested — sort of the Blade argument above.
BTW, all that drummer talk above: Kreutzman and Hart?

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:31:14 +0000

Thank you B. I was in fact drafting a post in defense, making some of the very same points. No one gets a pass because of who they’re related to, I don’t care what race/sex/species you are, as long as it sounds like you mean it. I just don’t get that feeling from Trixie. Lanois is capable of so much more. I didn’t know he recycled Belladonna drums, perhaps he really is getting lazy these days.

Joe, I am quite offended at the sexism comment, that’s total BS, and I will give you my official reply in an upcoming post.

By: B

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 05:55:33 +0000

No no Steve, you’re quite right with this review. The milquetoasts can defend this crap all they want, but its clear there’s a mismatch in talent, originality, and skill with this lineup. I would say that quite to the contrary of some of the most annoying comments above, the fact that you *didn’t* know whose daughter she was makes you in fact objective -which many here clearly aren’t (giving someone a talent pass because you like their daddy is exactly the kind of shit that provides a platform for mediocre music, i.e. this girl’s adolescent singing). She reminds me of the other disingenuous soulless white girl ‘neo soul’ hack, Sia. I’ve noticed KCRW can’t stop sniffing her panties for some reason. Apparently there’s a market in ‘white girls with a sonic faux finish who’d have you believe that they’re not from the ‘burbs (or Belgium for that matter), or most importantly, that they’re white’. I suspect this demographic is the Crate and Barrel 40/50 something crowd who haven’t heard anything with edge since the 80’s when they may have had an Eno record or something. There are amazing female singers out there -who don’t have semi famous musician dads. Dan Lanois could’ve easily found one or several. Instead he’s wasting my time with this junk. Also Dan, thanks for recycling drum tracks from Belladonna on this record. Also bullshit in my handbook.
And the ‘boys club’ comment above is laughable and cheap. Pick on me instead Joe. Dare ya.

By: Joe

Joe — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 20:42:15 +0000

Hi, this is the most embarrassing piece of writing I’ve seen in quite some time… you really need to change the title of your blog to “I blog my prejudice”.
Now, when someone asks why there are still more male musicians than female, I’ll just point them to this and say: “cause you have to put up with shit like this”.
See, I’m not into Whitleys music my self – but to disregard the possibility that Lanois et al got a kick out of this girls’s music anf just wanted to bang her is…. embarrassing.
“Really, Steve?”
PS: Only discovered that you are a sound engineer after I wrote this, now it all makes perfect sense, you guys perfected the art of keeping the boys’ club well locked up

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:17:23 +0000

Hi there, I really enjoyed your review. I am much like those drummers you referred to stationed in the first row: I’ll pay attention to any project Brian Blade is involved in. After listening through Black Dub’s first album, I have to agree that Whitley is not quite meeting the bar these other musicians set. I often find myself wishing she would stop singing and just let the other 3 go at it.

By the way, Blade is even more used to playing with another drummer than you might imagine: Josh Redman’s latest record, “Compass,” featured Brian Blade and Gregory Hutchinson playing across from each other on 5 of the 13 tracks.

By: EZ

EZ — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 15:46:47 +0000

I listened to Black Dub as a music lover not knowing much about the band until later. I think the album is very good. Trixie’s voice is fantastic regardless of her Dad or anything else.

By: Chad

Chad — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:57:25 +0000

I had the luxury of hearing her before looking at her. People here seem to be very superficial. There is no way to judge a person’s octive by looking at them.. ha ha. Pedigree too good, not good enough.. ha ha.

By: e$

e$ — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 07:02:39 +0000

We have had disagreements about female vocalists in the past (i.e. Norah, Regina…ew), so I can see how her style is not something you would enjoy, however, I agree that there is something disingenuous about her voice. I think she’s trying to sound older than she is and its making her sound forced. I tried listening to various songs and her gratuitous use of “yeah”’s and “uh”’s made me consider Googling to see if she has turrets. I think she has potential and I respect Lanois doing her a solid, but not yet. And honestly, who cares who her father is…I mean seriously, where the hell is Julian or Sean Lennon right now? Bitch, please.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:40:57 +0000

I think you miss the point.

Trixie Whitley is legit. Her Dad, who was produced by Lanois is an icon that a generation simply missed. She has a soulful voice, can sing live out of the gate and is pretty good looking,; is that why you bash he singing. The CD has Lanois signature trappings all over it and he is again a genius. Period. Discussion over. His legacy is Hall of fame…not bad for a poor Quebecois

You do have it right about Blades. he is just outstanding and is Always, always in pocket with the band.

I would use your blatant lack of knowledge on the band as a “learning Moment”and not post such an obvious attempt to be the “one” who does not get Trixie as your focal point for discussion.
Peace