Freedom Rock

Washington Post music critic J. Freedom du Lac is online every Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET to talk about the latest on the music scene: hip-hop, pop, alternative, country, alt-country, rock, reggae, reggaeton, R and B and whatever it is that the Beatles did.

The transcript follows.

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J. Freedom du Lac: Just back from an advance screening of the new documentary, "American Hardcore" -- and boy, is my nose bloody. Got nailed by Ann Hornaday's elbow while charging through the circle pit.

As you might imagine, many DCers star in the movie, including Ian MacKaye, Brian Baker, Ken Inouye, Hank Rollins and various members of Bad Brains. The film was written and produced by Steven Blush, who wrote that "American Hardcore: A Tribal History" book several years back. It's relatively well done, though it seems to go on and on and on -- and, as you might expect, a lot of the old footage is pretty gnarly looking. Still, worth watching if you're even remotely interested in punk.

In other news, all is right in the universe again: Bob Dylan has his first #1 album in 30 years -- thus bumping Danity Kane's prefab schlock to #2. Beyonce will no doubt grab the top slot next week, even though "B'Day" is kinda ehhhhh. She really should have spent more than two weeks on this album. I mean, it's not like she's the Minor Threat of pop/R&B or whatever.

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Top Five Reggaeton: You asked for it, here you go:

1. "Atrevete-te-te" - Calle 13

2. "Suave" (Remix) - Calle 13

3. "Chulin Culin Chunfly" - Voltio ft. Calle 13

4. "Se Vale To" - Calle 13

5. "Di Di Di" - Calle 13

Can you tell who my favorite new group is? It was so great to recently discover that all my favorite reggaeton songs on the radio were by the same people. How can you not love a group with a hit song that simultaneously shouts out Palestinians and Street Fighter, while making fun of girls who listen to Coldplay?

J. Freedom du Lac: How can I not? I dunno, because the beats all sound the same? (I don't know that for fact, by the way, not having heard Calle 13's album. Just basing this generalization on the fact that pretty much all reggaeton hits seem to use the same few musical templates.)

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Bowie, Md.: Re: your review of the new Dylan album:

"It is not a great place to be, particularly not with the singer "walkin' with a toothache in my heel. What, exactly, he means by that isn't really clear."

"Old Dan Tucker" died of a toothache in his heel. That's an oldie/folkie most recently covered by Springsteen on his "Seeger Sessions" album.

J. Freedom du Lac: Thanks for this. One in a series of posts/calls/end-of-story comments/letters/smoke signals alerting me to the fact that this is, indeed, a reference to "Old Dan Tucker." Which I should've known, especially since I'd been listening to Springsteen's version of that song the week before writing the Dylan review. One Dylan mystery solved; thousands to go.

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Leesburg, Va.: My wife won't stop making fun of me because I like the new Justin Timberlake CD. Please tell me that I'm still cool.

J. Freedom du Lac: Repeat after me: JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE IS COOL.

(And no, I haven't turned my keyboard over to a 14-year-old girl.)

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RDU, NC: Free,

Is it ironic or just sad that Coldplay so openly worships in the Church of Radiohead, but Thom dismisses them as "lifestyle music?"

J. Freedom du Lac: I think it's fantastic. Though I did read a very funny Christgau review of "Kid A" (reprinted in Jody Rosen's

muy interesante piece in Slate) in which Xgau esentially call's Radiohead's music the same. Actually, he calls it "dinner music." But still.

J. Freedom du Lac: http://www.slate.com/id/2148997/

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Woodbridge, Va.: So Sufjan Stevens in preping a BOX SET of Christmas music. Is what the hell the proper response or what?

J. Freedom du Lac: No. I believe the proper response is:

"Dear Santa ... " etc.

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RE: "whatever it is that the Beatles did.": The Beatles were a Rock and Roll band that played Rock and Roll music like true Rock and Rollers.

Get over it, Baldie!

J. Freedom du Lac: Seriously? I thought they were a figment of your boomer imagination.

As with the "Old Dan Tucker" reference that I missed, the Beatles line in the intro here is in reference to a FRock reference that you missed. (And I'm hurt that you don't remember everything that's transpired in This Very Space since we opened for business.)

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Forestville, Md.: I hear George Clinton is coming to the 9:30 Club this week. Do you plan to drop in and say hello to him?

J. Freedom du Lac: Nah. He might ask me to smell his finger or something.

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Alabama: I see from the Beyonce review today that it took two weeks for her to record the new album. So what's a typical recording time, assuming we're factoring out unusually short (like The Velvet Underground's debut album) and never-get-it-done (cough cough "Chinese Democracy" cough cough).

J. Freedom du Lac: Your mileage and recording times may vary. But most major pop/hip-hop releases seem to take months. Much of that is spent on writing and pre-production -- plus, sitting around on leather couches, playing the latest Madden game on the wide-screen HDTV. But two weeks is awfully fast. And I'm afraid it shows in the final product. This is not the sophomore solo album Beyonce was meant to make.

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B'Day: That's a really stupid album title. The album sounds boring. Guess I'll just watch those videos on mute.

J. Freedom du Lac: The "Deja Vu" video is fantastically absurd, with or without sound. Beyonce's intepretive dancing sure is something else. As are the 165 outfits she wears in the video. I wish I, too, had signed the petition demanding that she remake the video.

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Washington, D.C.: Can you explain the rationale for pre-ordering an album off of I-Tunes. It's not like the album is going anywhere?

J. Freedom du Lac: I can't. Absolutely not. Anybody have a good explanation for this? Or even a bad one?

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Anonymous: So I went to the 9:30 club to see the Doors, and they didn't show. It said the Doors open at 10. What gives?

J. Freedom du Lac: (Crickets.)

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The Village: Where's Christgau gonna land ? The Washington Times ??

J. Freedom du Lac: Entertainment Weeekly would make a fine home for his Consumer Guide reviews. Short and sweet -- and featuring letter grades, to boot?! Course, only one out of every 75 EW readers might understand what he's trying to say.

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Buycycle: JF: So, isn't the day day after Labor Day the start of Christmas/et al/Holiday Shopping? What'll be the best Freedom Rock suggestions for Holiday presents?

J. Freedom du Lac: Huh. I thought Dec. 23 was the start of the holiday shopping season. But since you asked, I'd love a new set of Sony MDR-V6 headphones. Plus, a copy of that old Stax/Volt box set. (The first volume, not the second.) I really should own a copy of that.

We'll get to some holiday ideas later. MUCH later.

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Columbia, Md.: Just to get right to the point -

Beyonce=Media Creation

Thanks. Resume chat.

J. Freedom du Lac: Nah, I don't buy it. First of all, you're giving the media way too much credit. I mean, really -- if people listened to what the entertainment media said, Celine Dion, Creed and Rascal Flatts wouldn't be best-sellers. But even if you mean industry creation, I'm not buying that, either. She's definitely talented. It's just that she's not doing as much as she should with that talent on "Bidet."

Cassie, on the other hand -- DEFINITELY an industry creation.

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iTunes, Music Store: If you pre-order an album off of iTunes, you usually ger a preview track and extra videos/songs when you get your album that you wouldn't get otherwise.

J. Freedom du Lac: Well, then -- there you go.

Sales of the new Dylan album on iTunes have been really brisk, by the way. Doing that commercial was a smart bidness move.

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Sly Stone....: Mr. Freedom, kind sir. Please accept this mea culpa. I wrote in a few months ago, bewildered that you'd put Sly in front of George Clinton in the pantheon of funk Gods. Wondering what I was missing, I listened to several hours of Sly this past weekend. Boy, was I ever wrong. If and when funk's Mt. Rushmore is chiseled, his mug is definitely up there. This from someone who fancies himself an expert on such things. Back to school I go, with my arrogance in check....

J. Freedom du Lac: P-Funk gets a place on Mt. Funkmore, too. But yeah, Sly was amazing. George Clinton has said it himself -- he heard the stuff Sly and the Family Stone was doing, and knew right then and there that he had to go back to the drawing board.

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Christmas gifts......: Well you can always get that special someone a copy of Tool's "¿nima" or even "10000 Days" since it comes with the cool stereoscopic lenses. Maybe a bottle of wine or 2 from Maynards vineyard. Or go out and buy Terminator 2 or Jurrasic park on DVD and give Adam Jones some royalties or maybe spend some money at the shop Lobal Orning and give Justin Chancellor some money or go out and get a Volto or Pigmy Love Circus CD and give Danny Carrey some of your money.

J. Freedom du Lac: I know it's the thought that counts -- but if this is what's under my Festivus tree this year, I might have to ask for a refund.

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Tampa, Fla.: Is the guy from Creed still in jail?

J. Freedom du Lac: I hope so. He got something like 25 to life for polluting the world with some very lame corporate rock.

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Washington, D.C.: Dude, I just bought the Dirty Pretty Things album last week, and I think it's pretty dope... the first four or five tracks are HOT, and could easily stand up with anything from the Libertines catalogue. What are your thoughts?

J. Freedom du Lac: Were you trying to be funny by using "dope" in a post about one of Pete Doherty's ex-bandmates? (Either way, I snickered.) I think the DPT album is very good. Apples to pears here, but I still prefer the Arctic Monkeys' full-length debut.

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RE: Dylan iTunes Commercial: I saw this and was..oddly captivated, since I don't care for Dylan as a performer 99% of the time(AAA+ in the songwriting dept.) and don't even own an iPod(I'm the one guy still living in the 2002 timewarp). Strange...

J. Freedom du Lac: And it's not even one of the best songs on the album. But the spot really seems to capture the Dylan mystique. Love the lighting and camera angles. Plus, there's something very funny about seeing that dancing iTunes chick doing her thing.

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Arlington, Va.: "Doing that commercial was a smart bidness move."

Dylan was always a pretty shrewd businessman. Except maybe that Victoria's Secret ad. That was just creepy.

J. Freedom du Lac: Agreed. Almost as creepy as the back-to-school Target commercial last year that featured a Sir Mix-a-Lot/"Baby Got BackPACK" remake and a bunch of kids. Huh.

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Bar None: J. Freedom: Top five best drinks to imbibe with which kind of music?

J. Freedom du Lac: One bourbon, one scotch, one beer. Rinse, repeat.

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Macon, Ga.: Why aren't rok bands more upfront about worshipping Our Dark Overlord Satan like they used to be when I was a kid. I liked it better when all your top rok artists were Satanists. Nowadays everything's all hugs n lollypops.

J. Freedom du Lac: Well, Slayer's back. They're definitely here to help you get in touch with your inner-Lucifer. Plus, there's all that Scandinavian death metal that I don't get.

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Re: Baby Got Backpack: It's been a year.

Let it go.

J. Freedom du Lac: The emotional scars run deep, my friend.

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Rye Whiskey: Rye Whiskey, Rye Whiskey I cried

If I don't have Rye Whiskey

I surely will die

J. Freedom du Lac: Brass Monkey, that funky monkey? (And what a lame lyric THAT was.)

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Washington, D.C.: Do MDR-V6's confer legitimacy? On anyone? Can they be work on the Metro? What about with brown shoes?

J. Freedom du Lac: Yes, but they're not to be worn after Labor Day. (You must go with black earbuds at that point.)

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E-Meter Factory: Have you heard anything re: el nuevo Beck album? I have to say that I haven't looked at the man in the same way after reading Wayne Coyne's remarks about the rapping, beat-boxing, heavy metal, folky scientologist in his interview in Rolling Stone earlier this summer.

J. Freedom du Lac: I've heard the album cover will be some sort of a blank slate that you can design yourself. Might be a stress test in disguise. Other than that, I don't know much about the album. Looking forward to it, though. We At The Washington Post like us some Beck.

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Burbank, Calif.: Why on earth would the guy from Washington, D.C. BUY the Dirty Pretty Things record when he can get it for free on the internets?

Some people....

J. Freedom du Lac: Because his father works for the RIAA?

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Time Signatures in Dayton: Well, I took up your challenge. Dug DJ Shadow. Loved Sufjan Stevens so much that I immediately went out and bought Seven Swans. Frank Zappa? He and his Mothers seem to be an acquired taste in general for me; but his later instrumental work, e.g. Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar, is excellent, very listenable. What does that say about me? Am I doomed? And, more importantly, doomed to what?

J. Freedom du Lac: It's says that you're doomed to live life in 7/8 time. But it's a good way to be. (You really need to get Sufjan's "Illinois" album. It's fantastic.)

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Anonymous: 5 Drinks with Music,

Country Blues: Sterno sifted through stale french bread

Heavy Metal: Budweiser, and don't forget to stiff the waitress

Rap: Gin and Juice

Soft Rock: 3.2 beer

Motown: any cheap brandy

J. Freedom du Lac: Good list, but I prefer Egly-Ouriet with my rap. Following Jay-Z's lead, of course.

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What to Drink: Country - beer

Rap - Hennessy

Gospel - Wine

Reagge - rum

Barry Manilow - drain cleaner

J. Freedom du Lac: Brilliant.

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Scandinavian Death Metal: My academic theory for its popularity: there's a small but fervent anti-Christian movement amongst the youth of Sweden, Denmark, etc. They want to embrace their pagan, Viking past, and death metal is one way to do so.

My real-life theory: prosperous, homogeneous welfare states are boring, so let's pretend to be evil. Plus, the winters suck.

J. Freedom du Lac: I'll buy that. Especially since it's free. Winters suck in Minnesota, too, but instead of death metal, we got Prince, Husker Du and the Replacements.

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Arlington, Va.: I thought Tom Cruise's baby was supposed to be deformed. I'm so disappointed.

J. Freedom du Lac: I loved The Reliable Source take on Suri looking like Bjork. So, so true.

What's up with Timbaland producing stuff for Bjork's next album? That just might be insanely great.

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21st & M, D.C.: J. Freedom,

I'm digging the new Phoenix CD, kind of lukewarm towards the new one by The Stills, and am feeling pretty good towards Band of Horses. What's next for me?

Signed,

Your friend.

J. Freedom du Lac: Justin Timberlake's "FutureSex/LoveSounds." It's the obvious next step. I'm on a major pop jag right now, and there's not a damn thing you can do about it.

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Madison, Wis.: Great review of Shakira last weekend. She won't be coming to Madison any time soon, alas. Her early album Pies Descalzos is an all time favorite.

J. Freedom du Lac: Funny you'd mention that album: I took L. Freedom's copy to work, and I'm thinking I may never bring it back. Great stuff -- especially for a teenager. Take THAT, Britney.

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Itunes PreOrders: Another reason to pre-order an album is so you only have to pay once for a single. For example, I want the SexyBack single and know that I will prob also buy JT's album so rather than waiting until the album is released I pre-order the album and can instantly download Sexyback. Otherwise I would download the single and pay $.99 and then essentially pay for the song again when I download the entire album. It's hard out here for a consumer.

J. Freedom du Lac: What's up with all the rational responses today? I'm worried about You People.

Never thought about this angle, either -- though I also don't buy albums on iTunes. Just singles.

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L'Enfant Plaza, SW: back-to-school Target commercial last year that featured a Sir Mix-a-Lot/"Baby Got BackPACK"

Okay, now you guys are just making crap up.

J. Freedom du Lac: Are not.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8813578/

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What about...: ... Thug Passions w/ your hip-hop? I went through a phase in college (disclaimer: I'm a white, upper-middle class white boy who usually listens to Uncle Tupelo and Radiohead) where I drank an unhealthy amount of 'Pac's drink of choice (only substituting Andre for the Crystal), and that crap will give you a wicked hangover. Jedi Mind Tricks never sounded so sweet. Speaking of Jedi Mind... they strike me as the sorts of cats who turn their backs to the whole Hos and Bling attitude that dominates rap, so they'd probably be horrified to know that there was some White Frat Dude drinking Thug Passions and listening to their Violent By Design album.

J. Freedom du Lac: This feels like some sort of Hip-Hop Wannabes Annonymous post. Should we clap for you?

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washingtonpost.com: In Any Language, a Whole Lotta Shakira Goin' On

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Georgetown, Washington, D.C.: Omg, Timbaland and Bjork? Awesome. Sign me up. Timbaland is my new favorite person in the world.

J. Freedom du Lac: The new Timbaland-Timbalake single, "My Love," is cap-G GREAT. Top 3 for the year. Timbaland never seems to run out of mind-blowing ideas, does he?

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That Just Tears It: Why would people accuse you of making thinig up? That's just rude! Will you be ok, J.?

J. Freedom du Lac: Nah, I'm OK. It's just the medium-dull-level man trying to keep me down.

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Anonymous: Country: Billy Beer

Rap: Samples of other alcohol products

Gospel: Mad Dog 20/20

Swing: evian

Glam: Non-alcoholic champagne

J. Freedom du Lac: Straight edge: Tap water.

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Anonymous: Brown Shoes don't make it,

Quit school, why fake it?,

Be a jerk, go to work,

Do yer job,

Do it right,

She's a dirty young mind,

Corrupted, corroded,

She's only thirteen,

And I hear she gets loaded.

Brown shoes don't make it!

J. Freedom du Lac: This is more inspired than the Beyonce album.

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Columbus, Ohio: "A Whole Lot of Shakira Going On"?

And they pay you for this?

J. Freedom du Lac: It's like stealing candy from babies. (Though not as much candy as those Sports guys steal, apparently.)

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Timbaland/lake: Is "My Love" the one that goes "if I could write a symphony" blah blah blah? That one rocks.

J. Freedom du Lac: Does he sing on that song? I didn't notice. My brain was too busy being melted by the music itself.

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Arizona Bay, Ariz.: Maynard would beat the tar out of Timberlake.

J. Freedom du Lac: Sure, but Timberlake's offensive-line-sized security detail would then lay the smack down on Maynard. And you'd be left with some worthless tickets to that Sept. 30 show. So why even go there?

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Georgetown, Washington, D.C.: "My Love" - Yeah, those are the only lyrics I can remember because my brain was too busy being melted by Justin's dancing during that song. Yow.

J. Freedom du Lac: You're talking about the MTV VMAs, when Timberlake came in off-key on that song? (He recovered pretty quickly.) Yeah, the kid can definitely dance.

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Itunes Albums: J - Do you not buy albums from Itunes because you don't buy albums or because you buy the actual CD? I still buy albums, am I in the minority?

J. Freedom du Lac: I really just don't buy albums. I mean, I do for personal consumption, but they're almost always catalogue releases or limited-edition thangs like that huge Johnny Cash box that Columbia put out last year.

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Anonymous: Most of the Scandinavian Death metal murders and church burnings have been done by bikers. Let's not give satanic rock a bad name, when we can just as easily blame it on motorcycle enthusiasts gone bad!!!!

J. Freedom du Lac: Like I always say: It's the Mongols' fault. Thanks for this. And thanks, too, to the chatter who has informed me that it's called "black metal," not death metal. This is not an area of music that I've spent much time listening to or thinking about.

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Arizona Bay, Ariz.: I dunno, Maynard was in the army for a bit. Plus all of the band members are in the NRA.

J. Freedom du Lac: Well, that big weenie James Blunt was in the army for a bit, too. What does that have to do with the price of a can of whoop-ass in China?

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brain-meltin moves: Actually I was referring to the 9:30 club show. Whew, yep, he's a hottie.

J. Freedom du Lac: It's been funny watching Timbaland dance with Timberlake. Makes me feel good about my own dancing abilities.

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Washington, D.C.: What's up with so much of today's music being so producer driven? Are folks too afraid to step out on their own without Timbaland, Scott Storch, or Dr. Dre contributing beats?

J. Freedom du Lac: Dylan did just fine without any of them. But hip-hop is, by its very nature, as much about the producer as it is about the vocalist(s), since hip-hop producers are largely responsible for the music itself. Whereas that's not really the case in rock. Long, long history of hip-hop producers being stars, from Rick Rubin, Larry Smith and Marley Marl to the new breed.

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Maynard: I believe it's his purple belt in Gracie jiu jitsu that will guarantee he wins this battle. And he looks like a quick little scrapper. JT takes the dance-off.

J. Freedom du Lac: JT's fans are better looking, too. Arizona Bay wouldn't have been admitted to the 9:30 show because he would have failed to meet the minimum standards of lookability.

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Ref: Hip-Hop Wannabes : Maybe that was Eminem. But then again, I don't think he went near a college.

J. Freedom du Lac: I'm sure he did go near a college -- if only to chase skirt. Wonder if he's really retired from recording, by the way. If so, I'm actually going to miss him.

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James Blunt in the Army?: Did he suck there too?

J. Freedom du Lac: No, he was a one-man force. He'd sing, and the enemy would drop by the hundreds.

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B-Day: Do you agree with the Beyonce review? I think the album is better than Chris Richards gave it credit for. It is not as good as DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE, but it is not a failure either. There are some outstanding songs on B-DAY, including SUGA MAMA, GREEN LIGHT and RING THE ALARM. What do you think?

J. Freedom du Lac: I absolutely agree with Chris Richards' take. The album is a disappointment overall. And this is coming from somebody who, like Chris, very much likes Beyonce.

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Anonymous: Any idea why "Time has come today" by the Chambers Brothers has fallen thru the cracks? It was major when it came out, a truly breakthru tune for mainstream radio, and it's now forgotten. Your thoughts?

J. Freedom du Lac: Producer David should answer this question. This is one of his secret all-time favorite songs. Though I guess it's not a secret anymore.

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Atlanta, Ga.: There are these flyers posted all over ATL advertising "beats for hire." They read, in part, "I could have your next hit...or your first!" That just cracks me up everytime.

J. Freedom du Lac: What's the number? We should call and see if they actually deliver.

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So...: ... you've got that joker from Arizona Bay trying to get you to go to Tool shows with him. If I can scrounge together two tickets for my girl Bonnie Raitt, will you be my date?

J. Freedom du Lac: No. I don't date FRockers.

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Rational Request: J. Freedom, pull my finger.

J. Freedom du Lac: Or, better yet, how about I pull the plug on this week's chat? This is going nowhere quickly.

Thanks for stopping by -- and for the occasionally interesting posts. See you all at the Mariah Carey show tomorrow night. I'll be the one in the ODB T-shirt.

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