Ned's Bonus Beats!

Here, as a postscript of sorts to my feature with Ned Raggett, is Ned discussing ten tracks which are "markers" or "signposts" of his life as a music fan. Chosen chronologically, his selections begin with a popular seventies soundtrack and end with a modern day -- and somewhat divisive -- r&b sensation, with much else in between of course. I like almost all of Ned's choices (particularly inspiring: Shaun Cassidy and Ethiopian songstress, Hirut Beqele), but more to the point, it's his rationale for each selection that resonates... So much so that I'd like to approach my own personal version of this at some point, and perhaps survey some other folks for theirs as well.

Thanks again to Ned for partaking in all this. Was great fun chatting with him.

Interview with writer Ned Raggett III

In this third segment of my discussion with Ned Raggett, the conversation turns to Ned's My Bloody Valentine essay in Marooned, "Not Just the Ticket" (Ned's blog series regarding his years of concert-going), and writing about cooking ("Carrot greens -- what can you do with them?"). Tomorrow we wrap it all up with an addendum of sorts to the series -- "Ned's Bonus Beats." Proof that it's all really just about the music, man...

Interview with writer Ned Raggett II

And this would be Numero Deux of my sprawling interview with Ned Raggett. As I mentioned yesterday, my own introduction to Ned was through the message board I Love Music, and a fair bit of the discussion in this segment is focused around that (if ever a message board could be said to be dear to my own heart...). As well, Ned delves, quite eloquently I might add, into what I perhaps glibly labelled the "various crises afflicting music criticism." "Glibly" because it's not as though I really knew what I was talking about with that inquiry, frankly -- that's why I asked Ned! It's really good stuff... check it out.

The next segment will appear on Thursday.

Interview with writer Ned Raggett

I'm pleased to present Part One of my three-part podcast/interview with music critic and (self-described) "freelance gadabout" Ned Raggett -- proprietor of Ned Raggett Ponders it All (the "all" implying not just music, but cooking, movies, politics, life, etc.), poster/moderator extraordinaire at the I Love Music and I Love Everything message boards, Twitterer, Tumblrer, Flickrer, All Music Guider... you name it, Ned's there. (Me, I first became familiar with the name "Ned Raggett" through the almighty ILM.) Also of note here, as these both come up in our discussion: Ned's recent participation in a PopMatters roundtable of various music critics; and an excellent case put forth a couple years back regarding the non-imperativeness of making year-end lists -- a case I've heard many times before, but rarely so convincingly.

Ned and I begin our chat by discussing his beginnings as a writer and music fan, before veering off into all sorts of writing and web-based subjects. This portion of the interview took place in person, in Toronto, during Ned's recent jaunt to the east coast (he's currently situated in Costa Mesa, CA). Part two and three of our chat will commence later this week (with a "bonus beat" to follow).

Enjoy!