His most recent column was on Jamie Foxx.

His most recent column was on Jamie Foxx.

Are you freaking kidding me? I always liked Jim, but that's a serious sign the guy is losing it if it's true.

Jamie Foxx plays Allstate Arena this weekend. He also appears in the movie Dreamgirls, in theaters now.

Why shouldn't Derogatis write about him?

Dude won an oscar and had a #1 album.

Jamie Foxx was a singer before he ever became a comedian or serious actor. He had an album out in 1994. Not saying it's any good, but he's hardly a Don Johnson-like actor-turned-wannabe-singer.

You also think the Sound of Lies is the best Jayhawks album.

Jamie Foxx has talent.

Brittney Spears has more talent.

Brittney Spears has more talent.

Thing with Jim is that if it's someone he's reviewed before, you're pretty much guaranteed you know how the review will pan out even before you've read or heard it.

i.e no matter how crap an album could be, he'll never trash the Flaming Lips or Wilco, never praise a Ryan Adams album no matter how good it is, always be cautious about an album by a band or artist that's been around as long as his waist is wide.

I'm pretty sure David Alan Grier could be in the same position Foxx is in had the chips fallen his way.

Jamie Foxx has talent, puh-leeze.

ah. the subtle racism of the somb. feels like (internet) home.

I'm pretty sure David Alan Grier could be in the same position Foxx is in had the chips fallen his way.

Jamie Foxx has talent, puh-leeze.

Exactly. Lots of "stars" these days, very little actual talent. The media has grown a larger "star" market because of a growing media/digital delivery system. These guys are so dellusional they think they are important artists that have to spread their"skills" from films to music or vice versa when the truth is WB or Fox just needed a few extra people to fill in a time slot with a weak sitcom.

Q. I know you have a movie that's making a lot of headlines right now, Jamie, but I'm a music critic -- let's talk about what's really important!

A. Amen! It's really been hectic, because I've had to promote the movie, and in between, I've been rehearsing. Last night, we ran the show a few times, and I tell you, man, it's musically cooking! That was my main thing: I wanted the music to be great.

I had a chance recently to see the Rolling Stones. I go to a lot of urban shows, but I got to see the Stones, and it gave me some inspiration, because of how Mick Jagger puts it down. He is not playing around; for the whole two hours, it's just non-stop.

Q. So are you playing with a live band?

A. Yeah, brother -- no canned music here! I told all the guys, "We are gonna hang out on this tour and have some fun!"


...


Q. I have to be honest here, Jamie: As a music critic, most of the actors I've ever seen who've tried to sing -- Keanu Reeves, Juliette Lewis, Russell Crowe -- have failed miserably.

A. I know what you mean, but I think I cheated: I came from music. I went to college on a music scholarship, and when I got to L.A., I was trying to do that, but the next thing you know, I got onto television and into the movies. Everything kind of took off unexpectedly, which I love, and I never got back to the music. In order for me to get back, I needed the comedy, and I needed a Ray Charles kind of role.

After that, I was able to get into music with some real heavy people, producers like Timbaland and Kanye. If it hadn't worked out the way it did, I would have probably still been out there doing music, but maybe I wouldn't have been successful at it. Hip-hop killed the R&B singer for a while, and I don't know if people would have been listening.

Well, duh.

this is pretty right on, although i still like reading/listening to jim. at least his "left field" picks are more interesting than Kot's.

He didn't think it was shit, actually. He ranked it at #35 in his list of the best albums of 2006 here

it ranked higher than his also loved The Strokes, Slayer & The Roots

I am sick of pitchfork, stylus, tiny mixtapes and all these deadbeat students writing indulgent crap.

I am sick of pitchfork, stylus, tiny mixtapes and all these deadbeat students writing indulgent crap.

he obviously gave it a "buy it" rating, though. it's not at #70 or something? I think he honestly recused himself from reviewing it in the paper simply because it came out at the same time as his book on them. I don't even see what the big deal is ultimately. It's obvious he likes it no matter what.

The Roots album was far from shitty. People throw around dumb comments on here all the time That was one.

I feel like everyone writes and votes polictically these days (when it's no longer needed to prove a point (which you could get away with a few years ago during the boom)). I go to the parties, I run into these kids everywhere. 'I write for...' Shut up, you dress like a douchebag and you live like a slob who thinks he's Jack Kerouac.

Jim's year-end list was nothing like mine but it didn't piss me off because it was a personal list and you can tell the dude tried to have a clear mind. Like Chris Ott, Jim is one of our last true assholes. None of this faux stuff.

My personal opinion is that both the Trib and Sun Times need to get more worldly in their music selections. Come on, you guys woulda loved the Nouvelle Vague show. Bossanova-ed out post-punk covers by hip gypsies using their whole bodies to sing and bang on the drums. Kinda major.