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fbc
-= Modulator =-
United Kingdom
4903 Posts |
 Posted - 09/07/2007 : 01:02:57
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FRANK BLACK BANS FUTURE INTERVIEWS
Cult rocker FRANK BLACK has banned all future press interviews - because the constant questions about the PIXIES or KURT COBAIN are driving him "insane". The former Pixies singer, now performing as a solo artist under the alias Black Francis, hates listening to people refer back to the 1980s band and comment on his influence on the tragic Nirvana frontman - so he's decided to stop giving interviews altogether. He says, "I don't know if I could stand to be asked about the Pixies or about Kurt Cobain or about (Nirvana song) Smells Like Teen Spirit. If I've gotta hear about that f**king thing one more time, I'm gonna go insane. "It's like my whole career is haunted by two dead bands, one of them called Pixies and the other called Nirvana. It's because that's the biggest hook, that's the dumb down, the hook that everyone tries. "With certain exceptions, I've decided not to do any more interviews."
FRANK BLACK RULES OUT PIXIES RETURN
Rocker FRANK BLACK has ruled out of a reunion album with his PIXIES bandmates, because the stars have failed to resolve their differences. The singer reformed the 1980s group in 2004 for an extensive tour, but he admits plans to record a new LP with bassist Kim Deal, drummer Dave Lovering and guitarist Joey Santiago have completely fallen through because the trio do not want to commit to the project. Black has now decided to focus all his efforts on his solo career. He says, "I could get into all kinds of nastiness but this (his solo career) is a way of saying, 'You don't want to make a record, fine.' "The people want a Pixies record but it's been a case of no, no, and still no. That's fine. Black Francis it is. I can't give them the Pixies but at least I can give them Black Francis."
http://www.contactmusic.com/new/artist.nsf/artistnames/frank%20black
Qu'ils aillent se faire foutre |
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jediroller
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1718 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 01:06:23
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Whoa. The Man is pissed off.
Thanks Soren!
(Nice new signature.)
 Awesome! I fuckin' shot this!
"Les Blackolero, y sont forts en sacramant" - Czar | 06/26/2007 | 20:10:34
free music | Blackolero | Frank Black & Pixies Tributes |
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Frog in the Sand
-+ Le premiere frog +-
France
2715 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 01:17:13
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Next step: moving to France!
 an undisclosed number of visitors can't be wrong |
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fbc
-= Modulator =-
United Kingdom
4903 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 01:20:11
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I got the feeling during Le Soir interview Jedi posted the Man was pissed off with some of the questions, hence the venom in his words, and my new cool sig.
Having read some interviews and articles from the past, I call déjà vu.
quote:
"FORGET IT! ALL YOU GUYS WANNA TALK ABOUT IS WHEN I'M GONNA DO IT WITH THE BIG P-WORD AGAIN. F*** YOU! THAT'S WHEN I'M GONNA DO THE NEXT F***ING PIXIES' RECORD. SEE YA! DEAL WITH THIS RECORD, SELL THAT F***ER. "
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Ziggy
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
2463 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 02:40:19
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As frustrated as it sounds, it's probably a little tongue in cheek, too.
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 06:12:54
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I can't say I blame him. He always seems to get asked the same inane questions!
"I hate how the reptile dreams it's a mammal. Scaley monster: be what you are!!" - Erebus. |
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pixiestu
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2564 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 06:15:27
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Even I'm sick of the Kurt Cobain thing, must be really annoying for FB! I don't blame him.
He has said "with certain exceptions", so he does know who he wants to give interviews to.
"The arc of triumph" |
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Ziggy
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
2463 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 07:00:27
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Still, it'll make it even harder to promote work.
Just look at how few reviews 'Bluefinger' has actually recieved. People barely know the record is out. |
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coastline
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
3111 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 07:15:14
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Hate to be cynical, but I do have to wonder whether he's trying to stir controversy for the sake of making headlines. Maybe not in a blatant, whorish manner, but because he knows people won't pay attention to Frank Black but they will pay attention to an "angry" Black Francis.
 Please pardon me, for these my wrongs. |
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Ziggy
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
2463 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 07:36:09
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| I still think it's just playfulness, but yeah, I'd say coastline has a point. |
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kathryn
~ Selkie Bride ~
Belgium
15320 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 08:23:13
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Who can blame him for blowing off a little steam?
the cure make me want to die, but in a good way -- mr.biscuitdoughhead
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fbc
-= Modulator =-
United Kingdom
4903 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 09:07:36
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The quote about interviews seems to come from today's "The Sun" paper.
Click on the image below for a quick but blurry read
Qu'ils aillent se faire foutre |
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Joey Joe Jo Jr. Chabadoo
* Dog in the Sand *
1079 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 09:23:34
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I totally agree with his behaviour.
remake/remodel remake/remodel remake/remodel remake.
++++ |
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coastline
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
3111 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 09:26:10
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Here's a less-blurry read:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2006140003-2007410712,00.html
By SIMON COSYNS
September 07, 2007
THE INTERVIEW HE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE...
WHEN I meet Black Francis, the big man is wearing a broad end-of-tour smile and demonstrating a healthy thirst for champagne.
But something is bugging him.
The reason? For years, while crafting countless solo albums under alter ego Frank Black, the Pixies singer has been dogged by questions about his old band.
Of course, they’d inspired a generation. Kurt Cobain chained himself to the mast of the devoted, claiming Smells Like Teen Spirit was his attempt to “rip off the Pixies”.
With fire in his belly and air in his lungs, Black helped mastermind a thrilling mix of post-punk and surfer-rock. At times, the sound was starkly abrasive. At others, it was sweetly melodic.
But he insists: “I don’t know if I could stand to be asked about the Pixies or about Kurt Cobain or about Smells Like Teen Spirit.
“If I’ve gotta hear about that f***ing thing one more time, I’m gonna go insane. It’s like my whole career is haunted by two dead bands, one of them called Pixies and the other called Nirvana.
“It’s because that’s the biggest hook, that’s the dumb down, the hook that everyone tries.”
While many regard Pixies as possibly the most influential band of the past 20 years, Black suggests they’re not as big as some of us (me included) imagine.
“We have our own kind of obscurity. Despite our records having been in print all these years, we never had hits. But, somehow, I can never escape the Pixies.”
He also tires of interviews of a more trivial nature, which his LA publicist argues are useful “media hits”.
“With certain exceptions, I’ve decided not to do any more interviews,” he affirms.
He hates being told: “This interview, Frank, is about if you were stuck on a desert island. What are your ten favourite records?” Or: “Frank, we’re doing recipes of rock musicians.”
There’s plenty of food for thought, however, in his project, Bluefinger, the first collection of new songs under the name he used in the Pixies since their 1991 studio swansong Trompe Le Monde.
Here, SFTW presents the interview that both we and Black Francis approve of. The “hook” isn’t Pixies or Nirvana but a strange tale of sex, drugs, suicide and rock and roll of a distinctly Eurotrash flavour.
THE INTERVIEW HE DID WANT TO GIVE...
IT’S July 11, 2001. A desperate man stands on the roof of the Amsterdam Hilton. It’s the last moments of his life.
He’s a Dutch icon, Herman Brood, a fast-living, drug-taking musician, painter, womaniser and, to many, a national treasure.
The 54-year-old, terminally ill hellraiser is determined not to wait for death.
As he plummets towards the pavements of his beloved city below and certain oblivion, he’s reclaiming the hotel for Holland.
It had been feted for its presidential suite, Room 902, where John and Yoko staged their legendary honeymoon bed-in for peace in March, 1969 — front page news around the globe.
Now, before he blacks out, Brood’s last thoughts are that the hotel will be remembered as the place where HE had ended it all. For some, his death is just the beginning of a fascination with the man.
His spirit has found its way into the hearts of new admirers, including the singer variously called Black Francis or Frank Black but who was born Charles Thompson IV in Boston 42 years ago.
Brood combined raucous punk energy with a handsome, decadent croon and married sleazy Euro pop (with “big hair, spandex and background girls”) to the sounds of New York’s New Wave scene of the late Seventies. Among his many conquests was the German queen of Euro-punk Nina Hagen.
For Frank Black, here was inspiration aplenty for an extraordinary transformation into his old Pixies persona Black Francis.
But he points out: “Actually, there are probably several reasons, some having to do with the Pixies getting back together (for the 2004 tour) and ultimately not getting back together.
“Then there was my new manager. I’d been with the same guy for almost 20 years so that was a big divorce and a time of change.”
The Black Francis return became “a symbolic gesture,” he says. “Certain people were getting restless with the previous few records, should I say previous ten records (laughs), so one corner of the room was saying please return to your former self.”
Rumours of a full Pixies reunion album were rife but as differences failed to be resolved with band members Kim Deal, Joey Santiago and Dave Lovering, it never materialised. Bluefinger, for now, is the nearest thing we’ll get.
Black explains: “I could get into all kinds of nastiness but this is a way of saying ‘you don’t want to make a record, fine’.
“The people want a Pixies record but it’s been a case of no, no and still no. That’s fine. Black Francis it is. I can’t give them the Pixies but at least I can give them Black Francis.”
He says: “I never thought I would go back to the old Black Francis but I guess I really did like it. Ultimately, that was the name my dad suggested to me. They were family names. Frances is my grandmother’s name.”
The songs on Bluefinger, some obliquely, some directly, are connected to Herman Brood, including a rip-roaring cover of his homeland’s garage rock hit You Can’t Break A Heart And Have It.
The album begins with Black’s demonic cackle before launching into Captain Pasty, a song that confirms the spirit of the Pixies is alive and well.
Other memorable moments include Angels Come To Comfort You, the most biographical about Brood, bearing the line “he was no saint but he was Dutch”.
Lolita references Brood’s daughter and the title track tells of the nickname given to people from his hometown of Zwolle. A rival town paid for a bell in coppers and those counting the coins ended up with blue fingers.
Then there’s fetish fantasy Tight Black Rubber and the high-energy Threshold Apprehension which ponders the tragic artist’s dramatic demise.
“I basically discovered Herman watching his songs on YouTube,” enthuses Black (on to his second glass of champagne at the West London Hotel where I meet him).
He continues: “Obviously his name was there in my mind. I’m thinking he’s on my list of rock trivia I need to find out more about.
“I might have been in Holland when he committed suicide because the big promoter there, Isaac, who I was hanging out with, said this guy had just jumped.”
Black’s investigations gave him a favourable impression of Brood’s abilities. “When you look at him play and you listen to his music, you can tell he really loves rock and roll. He was probably a huge Little Richard fan or something.
“There’s a desperate edge to him, like he’s digging real deep. I don’t know if it’s because he’s in the lurch for a fix.”
He adds: “When you see Bruce Springsteen perform, you sense (and this is not really a criticism) that he’s in control of who he is and he’s got you in the palm of his hand.
“With Herman, it’s just as deep as Springsteen but he doesn’t have that control. You really get the impression he’s living what he’s singing about.”
Despite the sad end to Brood’s life, Black has turned Bluefinger into a celebration.
“It was a very upbeat suicide,” he says. “Everyone loves The Beatles, John and Yoko etc and I’m sure Herman Brood did but he was saying ‘I’m Dutch and this is my town’.”
And though he discovered Brood on his computer in a virtual world, he’s since been invited to his studio in Amsterdam, left exactly as it was on the day he died.
Black found it decidedly uncomfortable. “His manager, the guy who used to cut his drugs, asked me. The whole tour started with his toilet. Apparently that was where he felt most comfortable because that’s where he did drugs and where he screwed women.
“The visit became very odd. ‘Here is the medicine for his crabs. Here’s where he would paint. Here’s where he would shoot speed and listen to the Pixies!!?.’
“And there’s the record sitting right there. It was like, ‘F**k!’, very intense. Then I discovered he wore the same cologne as me!”
Black sensed that his connection with Brood cut even deeper. “The first place I made it with the Pixies was in Holland. Herman’s the same age as my father and they died around the same time.
“I think Herman lived his life the way he wanted to live it. Every day, when I was making the record, I’d be walking into the studio with my fake Dutch accent saying ‘fellow musicians, today we’re gonna play...’ It was like I was morphing into him.”
The sessions took place in Black’s current hometown of Eugene, Oregon, and the record proved something of a family affair with second wife Violet Clark providing lovely backing vocals and nine-year-old son Julian supplying the vivid cover art.
“Violet’s a frustrated musician, a very good singer and a good bass player too. She’s been having babies for the last ten years and she’s been so busy with that. We’ve got four and number five’s on its way,” he says.
“It could have gone horribly wrong but I asked her to come down to the studio. She rose to the occasion every time. She was really fast at picking it up.”
As for Julian, Black says: “He likes to paint. I said he could have fifty bucks a panel so his mother bought him some canvasses.”
He says the resulting album cover, a bold red heart pierced by a black arrow, is “perfect”.
And he adds: “For the song Your Mouth Into Mine, he painted these two mouths but one head. Very trippy! He loves video games and things but give him a blank sheet of paper and a pen and he’s off.
“We’re very pleased he enjoys it. He’s sold a couple of paintings but of course he barely understands the concept of money.”
Finally, we get to the heart of the matter. What is it that makes Black Francis/Frank Black/Charles Thompson tick? The answer, I discover, is spontaneity.
“A year ago, I had no idea about this album. I don’t plan very far in advance. About five years ago, I discovered in the Chinese zodiac that I’m the snake, born in 1965.
“I was going through a divorce or something and I was in a space where I could be more open to these kinds of things, searching for happiness or trying to soothe myself.
“When I discovered I was a snake, a creature that feels his way on his belly, that’s entirely instinctive and not looking down the road, I recognised who I was.
“I was like ‘I’m a snake, don’t fight it’. People may not love everything that you do but the point is you’re a snake. Don’t start acting like a monkey ’cos you’re going to be a very silly snake acting like a monkey.”
I’m sure Black Francis, or whatever he likes to call himself, will be interested to learn that his inspiration Herman Brood died in the Year Of The Snake but relieved to know the Dutchman, born in 1946, was actually a dog.
Wearing the same cologne is quite spooky enough!
Please pardon me, for these my wrongs. |
Edited by - coastline on 09/07/2007 09:26:41 |
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houstonguthrie
- FB Fan -
187 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 10:19:27
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| It's about time!! I've been screaming these same sentiments at every interviewer for God knows how long. Good for you Black - tell it like it is - we're all behind you |
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fbc
-= Modulator =-
United Kingdom
4903 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 11:32:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Ziggy
As frustrated as it sounds, it's probably a little tongue in cheek, too.
For sure. If I didn't know some of you so well, i'd say take any press quote etc with a pinch of salt. The only interviews i'm 100% behind are the ones that come in video form. From the horse's mouth. |
Edited by - fbc on 09/07/2007 11:35:17 |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 12:22:51
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Thanks Soren and Cohen! I should have bought The Sun today...not that I'd feel proud!
"I hate how the reptile dreams it's a mammal. Scaley monster: be what you are!!" - Erebus. |
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6214 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2007 : 09:39:31
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There's a big article in a newspaper here about the visit of Charles to the Herman studio.
You get the idea that he wasn't comfortable there. They let Violet and him smell the cocaine that Herman left there. Not use it, but smell it! Still weird though
---------------------------
BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
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1965
= Cult of Ray =
Australia
799 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2007 : 06:39:51
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Thanks for the scan and transcript guys. A good read.
I have the key to #902 |
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Grotesque
= Cult of Ray =
France
777 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2007 : 07:55:16
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He's so right: people are really obsessive and infantile about those two bands.
It's not about music, it's a regression, a Proust's madeleine.
A shrink would say it's like a child playing with his own shit.
They just need to grow up. But that would also means less money for Frank.
Adult audiences are much smaller (ask David Thomas!). |
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Ziggy
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
2463 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2007 : 15:13:04
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It seems more of a sense of disappointment if anything.
I fear that the NME and al that will seize upon the story and declare that the band have fallen out.
It's clear that the reunion was an enjoyable one, and it's testament to such a thing that Charles wanted to get the band recording again. |
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fbc
-= Modulator =-
United Kingdom
4903 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2007 : 09:02:43
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quote:
Originally posted by billgoodman
There's a big article in a newspaper here about the visit of Charles to the Herman studio.
You get the idea that he wasn't comfortable there. They let Violet and him smell the cocaine that Herman left there. Not use it, but smell it! Still weird though
Yo Garçon, do you mind if I have a smell of the coke?
Erm, o.k, but just a little sniff.
I'm off to The Dam in October, I have to check out some Brood landmarks and lines. |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
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Daisy Girl
~ Abstract Brain ~
Belize
5305 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2007 : 20:17:21
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Thanks everyone for the articles and the links. I loved hearing about the visit to Brood's studio how erie but cool.
bluefinger |
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Jefrey
= Cult of Ray =
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 09/19/2007 : 22:24:50
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Right on Charles!
However, I don't know who the some people are that didn't like his last 10 albums. You're either a FB fan or you don't care about his solo stuff all that much, it seems to me. If you're in the camp that sees his solo career as a failure, why does he feel any need to try to please them?
Magazines are sycophants when it matters. All he has to say is "no questions about Pixies or Nirvana, or I walk - and if the article is about how I won't talk about Pixies or Nirvana then you won't ever get an interview from me again." That'll make the editors think, because the day may come when they are left out in the cold. I don't think it's inappropriate to ask that an album be review on its own merit.
I think a perfect example is the recent Lou Reed interview on Pitchfork of how it should be done. The interview was about Metal Machine Music, and the interviewer kept on that topic, even though you just know they would love to ask a VU question. Eventually Lou Reed brought up VU on his own, but the interviewer let the interview flow naturally and didn't try to switch gears. Great interview:
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/45431-interview-lou-reed
== jeffamerica == |
Edited by - Jefrey on 09/19/2007 22:26:47 |
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johnnyribcage
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1301 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2007 : 18:14:41
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I'm always blown away by people who love the Pixies and Nirvana but could give two shits about Frank/Black's solo output. I just started asking them "Are you a music fan or aren't you?" It's like being a huge fan of one NFL team and knowing all the players stats and team history, and not knowing a single thing about any other team or what's going on in the league or what the difference between a center and a nose tackle is. What is in these people's music collection anyway? Do they go out and buy every album on the Rolling Stone 200 Essential Album List and write off everything else as not-worth-the-effort? The sad fact is that this is the OVERWHELMING majority of the music listening/consuming "demographic".
Makes me want to puke.
wait...
Blarg... urlghp... ahem... sorry, just threw up in my mouth for a second... wait... okay, I'm good.
I love this part... Yeah, we did it! |
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danjersey
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
2792 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2007 : 22:40:07
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I like the sports analogy, I'm a fan so I root. That is part of art appreciation, for me anyway.
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Some Friday Light Reading
