1001 Albums Summary

Had a hard time finishing this one. When I was in high school I went through a big Johnny Cash phase mostly because of my Photo teacher and concert-going-companion Roger Rigby. He loved classic country and introduced to John Prine and Kris Kristopherson. I was still trying to figure out a male identity that I could make fit and I think there was something about being a rebel and going against the grain that really appealed to me. Breaking out of moulds and such. Its jarring to listen to these types of songs now especially ones like "Cocaine Blues" which ostensibly are cautionary tales about drug use but still seem to trivialize and almost mythologize violence against women as something common and a mere casualty of the "hardships" men must endure. I think I am better now so far into my transition at recognizing the gut feelings of disgust and not diminishing them or ignoring them. I think these stories are indeed important to hear due precicesly to their odious nature. To really feel the disgust. I hate this kind of music that I once forced myself to pretend to love. THere is something to be said however about the context that I do think is important artistically though and that i will always appreciate. I believe in the core mission of good art to comfort the disturbed.