i see that everyone and their sister is talking about beck's blog [ or, more precisely his journal ]. intrigued, i decide to check it out with the appropriate degree of skepticism. and despite my best attempt to view the journal through jaded and cynical lenses, i have to admit that i'm impressed. although it appears to be updated sporadically, entries like press junk and junket might just make me a regular reader:

"interviews range from chit chat about your favorite food to justifications for your actual existence. usually what interviewers do is find something that somebody said somewhere about you that wasn't particularly nice, then ask you "a lot of people think or say blabedy blah about you, what do you think about that?" its the tactic they're taught in school; to find the 'conflict', flesh it out and get their story. which is ok when you're doing a story about a kid who gets stuck in the bottom of a well, but with someone who's writing some silly little songs and prancing around a stage, its kind of overkill (unless you're mainlining drugs of mass destruction or you're locked in heated oasis battle). otherwise its just tedious--"a lot of people say you're unoriginal, a lot of people say you have no soul, a lot of people say your last album ended your career", ad nauseam. here's my view on this kind of thing, though its no justification or intended to change one's aesthetic sense; one could admire the actual physical feat of standing under 110 degree lights, 2 hours sleep, a scrutinizing audience, and trying to sing in tune without actually being able to hear anything, etc. I don't tend to rip on other bands in the press, cos I think its a waste of time and energy and I know what goes into making a record, touring, press, etc. I only have respect for people who go through the mill and down the gauntlet just to play a few tunes for people."

no rss feed, a restrictive legal statement on copying content and use of the word 'Cos' are all definite turn-offs, but hearing the faint sounds of a coherent, strong voice might just stop me from passing over beck the next time i go shopping for tunes.