Freedom Rock

Washington Post music critic J. Freedom du Lac is online every Tuesday 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 Starland Vocal Band did.

The transcript follows.

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J. Freedom du Lac: This just in! Hot off the presses -- or, at least, the J/Arista press release:

MANILOW BREAKS THE RECORD FOR THE HIGHEST SINGLE-HOUR MUSIC SALES EVENT IN QVC'S 20-YEAR HISTORY

He writes the songs that make the whole world buy now/operators standing by! Actually, that's not really true: He was on QVC to flog his new album, "The Greatest Songs of the Sixties," none of which are his own. So it's more like he pays the publishing for the songs that the whole world etc.

Meanwhile, I posed the whose-voice-would-you-like-to-have question to Smokey Robinson last week, and he sort of danced around it. Though at one point, he did say wouldn't mind singing like Yolanda Adams -- even if he didn't necessarily want her voice. (Something about gender.)

Let's get to it.

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Fort Meade, Md.: Just wondering about your thoughts on the new Robert Randolph album? I've been looking for reviews and have only found one (on allmusic.)

J. Freedom du Lac: Could be that you were distracted by the fire at Fort Meade, but We At The Washington Post published a pretty positive review of "Colorblind" earlier this month. If you ask nicely, Producer Julia (sitting in for Producer David, who is no doubt doing some serious lung and liver damage while on tour with his band) just might post a link.

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Burbank, Calif.: A STICK? Snoop Dogg gets caught with a collapsible STICK? I'm so embarrassed.

J. Freedom du Lac: Not as embarrassed as the D-O double-G is. So much for sticking it to the man. Love the excuse, though. "Snoop Dogg, 35, told sheriff's deputies that the baton was a prop for a movie he was filming in New York."

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Arlington, Va.: So, I'm about to go into a very long meeting and wanted to get this out in response to what has happened the last couple weeks in the chat.

I don't get why people get so upset and angry at you for disliking their favorite band. So what? I don't like every band you like or necessarily 'get' every band/artist you like. I come to the chat to hear about new music or music that may interest me. And that is exactly what you provided when you recommended the Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins. Thank you.

J. Freedom du Lac: Some people just want their opinions to be validated. Others just like to argue. I've no problem with it; keeps things lively here in chatland.

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washingtonpost.com: Review of Robert Randolph's "Colorblind"

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washingtonpost.com: Snoop Dogg Caught With Weapon at Airport

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Annapolis, Md.: Name one simply-cannot-be-missed live band (actively touring/coming to the D.C. area, please) of any genre. Thanks!

J. Freedom du Lac: You mean, besides Guns N Roses? (1st Mariner Arena in B'More on Nov. 13.) Well, since you said any genre, I'm gonna say Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mt. Boys at the Birchmere in December. Because everybody should see Ralph Stanley at least once. He'll probably spend way too much time pimping CDs, his museum and various/sundry other things. But the music will be great. If you have a pulse, you'll surely get chills when he does "Oh, Death." Just try not to sit behind a rank stranger like I did when I saw Dr. Ralph in California a while back.

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Annapolis, Md.: Why even waste the space mentioning Diddy's new album when great mainstream releases like Dilla's 'The Shining' and The Roots new joint are out? Methinks rock critics far too often know squat about the hip-hop; even modest props to Diddy's artistic ability cash in one's credibility.

J. Freedom du Lac: Because we're not an specialty music publication. TWP is a general-interest newspaper, not Ego Trip. We try to cover as much as we can, but there are certain artists that we simply can't ignore. Diddy's one of them. His album is going to debut at No. 1 when the new chart is released tomorrow morning. Its arrival was a minor cultural event. We had to review it. I make no apologies for that.

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Glen Ellyn, Ill.: Mr. Free,

Any idea whose QVC record Barry Manilow broke?

My guess is "Slim Whitman Sings the Tool Songbook."

J. Freedom du Lac: Probably a Chipmunks collection.

Speaking of Tool, I need our friend in Arizona Bay to email me. I need your mailing address; have something I need to send you. dulacj at washpost dot com.

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Washington, D.C.: Thanks for the bold recommendation of Dr. Ralph Stanley. Nonetheless, I'm a little surprised that someone with such venom for ol' Jerry Garcia has a liking for bluegrass music.

J. Freedom du Lac: I really don't hate Jerry Garcia. I just don't dig that old band of his like the Deadheads do.

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Arlington, Va.: But I don't WANT another record by the Pixies, just like I don't want another record by "The Who".

J. Freedom du Lac: Duly noted. But the great thing is, you don't have to have 'em. Just walk on by when you're at the store or stealing music online or whatever it is that you do. Of course, you're discounting the possibility that they might do something great. Or maybe you're doing that on purpose -- the whole diminished-expectations thing. You're smarter than you look.

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Settle a Bet ?: J Freedom,

My friend and I are arguing over a local musical legend long deceased. I say he was known among the musical cognoscenti; my friend says no -- he was just a local legend. We decided that if you knew who he was, I would win the bet.

So do you know who Stan Szelest was?

J. Freedom du Lac: I really only know who he is because I came across his name in reading about The Band, as he'd once played with their precursor, The Hawks. But I think your friend wins here. Certainly, there are *some* people who know who he is from his tours with Jackson Browne and Neil Young and his recording sessions with Stevie Ray Vaughn and Delbert McClinton. But not many.

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D-O-Double G: Snoop's baton collapsed to 8 inches. What's to be embarrassed about?

J. Freedom du Lac: Thank you.

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Are you....: ...marching in "The Black Parade?"

J. Freedom du Lac: Yes, absolutely. File this one under a sentence I never expected to type, but ... I rather like the new My Chemical Romance album.

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Chicago, Ill.: You are not trying very hard today, J Frodos.

J. Freedom du Lac: You get what you pay for. Plus, I'm distracted by Dave Sheinin's World Series chat. Trying to get a question answered about where Kenny Rogers ranks among the greatest gamblers of all-time.

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Mt. Pleasant, Washington, D.C.: JF-

I am listening to Beck's remix record "Guerolito" and I find the remixes to lack any oomph or special interest. My wife says it's because I'm not Emo -- I'm 38 and I still like punk rock and these kids are dissaffected, bored and boring. Frankly, if I hear another mid-to-low tempo folk weirdy with beats I'm going to puke. My cousin HAD a Vashti record when I was in elementary school, Vashti reminds me of listening to the Grease Soundtrack. What would you think is some inspiring, non-metal and non-hip-hop music that the kids would race their cars to?

J. Freedom du Lac: Inspiring non-metal and non-hip-hop music that the kids would race their cars to? Try Be Your Own Pet. Garage punk at its finest, and just exploding with youthful energy. More tuneful than you might expect, too, if you've ever seen 'em live.

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Charlottesville, Va.: I was a little underwhelmed by the single "Herculean" by the Good, the Bad and the Queen, but the album has to be great, right? I mean, Damon Albarn, Danger Mouse, the bassist from the Clash, Fela Kuti's drummer...it has to be good, right? Right!?!?!?!

I am officially terrified that this album is gonna suck.

J. Freedom du Lac: I agree with your math: Albarn + Danger Mouse + Tony Allen et al should theoretically = awesome.

I'm slightly more excited about "Herculean" than you are, as Danger Mouse has crafted a compelling ambient soundscape. But I'm not in love with Albarn's processed vocal, and the song is for the most part kinda plodding, even if the skittering drum part has its moments. (You can, of course, hear the track for yourself on the band's Myspace page.)

Still, I have very high hopes -- officially and otherwise. I'd be shocked if the album creates a partial vacuum with its mouth.

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Washington, D.C.: Your music recs kept me going through the summer (with LDN and "Your Kisses are Wasted on Me" surviving the test of time). Now it is almost winter and I'm having a hard time finding new music that I want to keep listening to. Beck was good, but not addicting. Regina Spektor, same. The only song that I'm totally addicted to is the Cobra Style song from that Bones commercial on Fox.

So tell me, what should I be listening to now? I listen to literally anything ...

J. Freedom du Lac: The new JC Chasez single! OK, not really.

Seems like your down with the pop side of pop music, so how's about "City of Love"? (Blue Horseshoe loves Persephone's Bees.) I'm also loving Joseph Arthur's new album, "Nuclear Daydream," and the track "Slide Away" might work well on your almost-winter playlist. Also, if you never investigated Psapp (whose album I reviewed earlier this year), you should. Maybe a bit too weird for you, but maybe not.

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Washington, D.C.: I wanted to go on record saying one of the most frustrating feelings in the world is fleetingly hearing a song you really like but not knowing how to find it later. I've heard a great song twice. Once in a promo for Grey's Anatomy (Shut up, I know!) and once sitting waiting for a movie to start. I'm in a bad way here.

J. Freedom du Lac: And the "Grey's Anatomy" song wasn't that "How to Save a Life" tune by The Fray? Piano, tortured-guy vocals, mid-tempo beat, "where did I go wrong/I lost a friend" lyrics, etc?

But yes, I agree -- and it's not just random sources that do it. Radioheads don't mention band names and song titles enough these days. Of course, that's partly because some stations play the same 20 mega-hits over and over, and the expectation is that the audience knows the names. But still.

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J. Freedom du Lac: Confidential thanks to "Thanks" for your Smoky Robinson post. I'm told that the executive producers here in LiveOnlineville don't want me to push it through. Something about the Abu Ghraib reference made them twitchy.

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Arlington, Va.: Any word on the new Travis album? I checked their Web site and it hasn't been updated since the summer. I figured you being you might know.

J. Freedom du Lac: The word: No.

Sorry, I got nothing.

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Severna Park, Md.: Settle a bet for me. I say the best episode of "The Rockford Files" was when he ran afoul of some mobsters, but my friend said it was when he got on the wrong side of some crooked small town sheriff. Who's right?

J. Freedom du Lac: Very funny. Though it would've been funnier if you'd referenced last week's chat and somehow worked Weird Al into your post. You still have 10 minutes. Get to it.

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washingtonpost.com: Psapp ; The Black Parade

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Falls Church, Va.: One-hit wonder: medal of honor or badge of shame??

J. Freedom du Lac: Depends on what that one hit was. If it was a great hit ("Mmmbop"), then definitely a medal of honor. If it was lame and cheesy ("Love Grows [Where My Rosemary Goes]"), then badge of shame.

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Columbia, Md.: Smokey Robinson..Abu Gharib reference...trying to think of connection...

Thanks for tanking my work productivity for the rest of the day, JFDL.

J. Freedom du Lac: As always, I'm here to help.

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Washington, D.C.: I missed last week's chat, but just wanted to chime in on the fact that while everyone was bashing The Killers album and talking about the demise of Jet two weeks ago, an unreviewed, by the Washington Post, Evanescence album topped the album chart. Shame shame. Evanescence may actually have wider appeal than the industry is giving them credit for, and it's showing in the increasing number of rock bands emerging with female leads.

J. Freedom du Lac: Actually, the real shame here is that you missed our Evanescence review. Try the search function on our Web site. It works. Really!

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Falls Church, Va.: Also what's the name of the song in the GEICO caveman airport commercial -- everywhere I go always something there to remind me...and is everyone sick of hearing JET in the Chevrolet ads, and also John MellonCougarCamp...

J. Freedom du Lac: "Remind Me" by Royksopp, or however you spell it. And yes, I'm sick of that John Cougar ad. I'm also kind of offended by the iconic imagery Chevy's using. Rosa Parks? MLK? Really? Wow.

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The Wire: J Freedom,

Do you watch? Do you know who sings the theme song this year?

J. Freedom du Lac: It's only the greatest show on television. Smokey Robinson's a big fan, too, as it turns out. Never misses an episode. The theme this year is performed by the Baltimore City Boys Choir. Probably the only time they've done a Tom Waits song. ("Down in the Hole," for those keeping score at Starbucks.)

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washingtonpost.com: Evanescence Concert Review ; Amy Lee Profile

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Washington, D.C.: What was that John Legend song you like so much? I can't find it in last week's chat.

washingtonpost.com: John Legend, 'Once Again' in His Own Good Time

J. Freedom du Lac: "Show Me." It's the fourth track on the album. And the only one in which Legend sounds like Jeff Buckley. The funny thing is that I just read an interview in the new Rolling Stone where Legend talks about that song and says it was done as an hommage to Buckley. "I think I can sing with just about anybody, but he's one of the few singers who truly intimidates me," Legend says. "He's one of the best I've ever heard."

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Cougar Song: It gets even worse than you think: Sunday night, he and his band got to sing that song on the field during the pre-game show. How much extra do you think Chevy paid for that little debacle?

On the other hand, he didn't sound much worse than Bob Seger and/or Anita Baker, neither of whom sang the National Anthem. What, Kid Rock and Mitch Ryder weren't available to represent Detroit?

J. Freedom du Lac: Glad I missed that. (I was in Baltimore, working as a roadie for Good Charlotte.) Did Eminem make a cameo?

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Washington, D.C.: Ray LaMontagne... best dark fall day music EVER!

That is all.

J. Freedom du Lac: Best beard, maybe. But that album doesn't excite me.

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Somewhere in Middle America... : So when you bust out your 21 best singles file salute for 2006, will you pick only songs that were released as singles or maybe some hidden treasures that actually trumped the artist's own single... "Storm Coming" from Gnarls Barkley's St. Elswhere comes to mind. It's arguably better than "Crazy." (I said ARGUABLY...)

J. Freedom du Lac: The list will be heavy on songs that were actually singles, but I'll have some album tracks on there, as well. No way I pick any Gnarls song over "Crazy," though. In fact, I probably won't pick anything ahead of it, period. I stand by my much, much earlier statement that it's the song of the year. It's one of those rare ubiquitous tunes that I still enjoy hearing. Just listened to it about an hour ago, in fact.

Speaking of hours, our time is up. Thanks for stopping by, as always. Thanks to Producer Julia for keeping me out of trouble. Thanks to my opening act, Metro: The Housing Report, for doing such a fine job. As the great Black Sheep said: See you later ... unless I see you first.

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Edison Lighthouse: "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" lame? Dude, you are so wrong.

J. Freedom du Lac: You know what they say: If hating on Edison Lighthouse is wrong, I don't want to be right.

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