Letters 07-20-2000

Robb Walsh should stick to restaurant reviews and leave his dumb political comments out of his print ["Utopia, Texas," July 6]. If he feels the execution of Gary Graham makes him wonder about his home state, maybe he should move to Illinois. Graham should have been executed two times over.

Eddie de Roulet
Houston

Trackin' Back

I'm a fan of the Old 97's [Rotation, by Giselle Rodriguez, July 6] and have been following the band since their Wreck Your Life release in 1995. And I have been wanting them to release some of their early tracks on CD after hearing them in concert and hearing some bad bootleg recordings.

The tone of your article lectures the band for releasing this album prematurely. They may have committed a rock and roll no-no, but the old fans will love these songs. You really threw me back with your statement that Early Tracks appeals more to the recent fan, if anyone, and not the die-hard fans. This couldn't be more 180 degrees the other way.

Any new fans lured in by the teenage pop sound of their last album, Fight Songs, wouldn't care for the raw, heavy reverb sounds of the old stuff. I have all the Old 97's albums except that one. After purchasing it, I got sick of it and gave it away to our summer intern, who is 19 years old.

Doug Teel
Houston

Advantages of a Free Paper

Cory Morrow is one of the best upcoming artists ["Will the Real Texas Musician Please Stand Up," by Anthony Mariani, July 6]. I'm not buying your paper anymore. You are obviously not from Texas.

Another disappointed reader,

Bart Smith
Houston

I couldn't disagree more. Your article, as I understand it, appears to be a mere character assault on Cory Morrow based upon his appearance, success as a musician and your understanding of his "not so Texas" songs.

In my opinion, musicians are musicians, and they wear what they wear. More often than not, they are far from what mainstream considers "normal." So I see little substance in your remarks about Cory's "tight jeans" and "belt buckles," especially in view of the fact that Chris Whitley often wears the same for his shows. These guys are trying to make a living doing what they love, and in order to do that, they play to the fans.

And why knock a guy for assembling a good band and having a well-known producer? I want to hear good music and not a bunch of half-asses playing out of key. Quality is something that the audience shouldn't expect? Texas country music is a business just like any other, and the musicians are accountable to the consumers.

I think Cory is part of the logical progression in Texas country music that started back with Bob Wills and continued through Waylon, Willie and Jerry Jeff, and is now in the hands of those like Pat Green and Cory. All of these notable artists write three- to four-minute songs in the typical format, but they all tell their own stories.

I just saw Waylon in Iowa last week, and his show was true to form. He wore tight jeans, had a big buckle, his band kicked ass, and no song was over four minutes. Hmm.

Alex Nolte
Washington, D.C.

I guess that if you don't like it, keep it to yourself. There are a lot of artists out there that claim to be under the title of "Texas music." If you don't like the way an Aggie "whoop" sounds, well, go to the rap section of the next music store you walk into; you might find something a little more appealing to your taste.

I am not only writing this because I did not like the article. I am writing this because Cory is a personal friend of mine.

Jason Ward
Houston

I enjoyed your article on real Texas musicians. We're not all cowboys and roughnecks. Check out www.livefromtexas.com to hear a variety of Texas music.

Willie Atkinson
Houston

You obviously don't know shit about Texas music, and have no business doing any piece on music. I have seen some dumb-ass articles, but that takes the cake.

Good luck in your future with the paper; one thing's for sure, you won't be there long.

B.J. Oswalt
Houston

As for Cory Morrow's dislike of the Nashville country music machine, I fully agree with him. If more artists were fightin' the Nashville Blues, then maybe country music could get rid of some of the Shania Twains, Garth Brookses, and Faiths and Tims that are rammed down our throats too many times a day. Give me some Cory, Owen Temple, Kelly Willis and Robert Earl Keen, and I will be happy!

Dean Shupak
Lovelady, Texas