Overheard


between two graduate students discussing their picks for Album of the Year
A: I'm telling you man, it's great.
B: It's fine. At best.
A: What's your big pick then?
B: Easy. Xela, In Bocca Al Lupo.
A: That's the name?
B: Xela is the name of the group, In Bocca Al Lupo is the album.
A: What does it sound like?
B: Well, there's no instruments or vocals, to start.
A: So
B: It's recordings, mostly. Of machines and... static. The first track is a lot of tape clicking
A: Ok...
B: Actually, scratch that, there's drums on the last song. It's 20 minutes long, so. And there's sort of discordant church bells or something on the first track. So, some instruments.
A: Sounds awful.
B: Well, it's definitely esoteric. It's a headphones listen, that's for sure.
A: That can't honestly be your Best Album of 2009.
B: Oh yeah, big time.
A: Nobody thinks you're cool for saying that.
B: I don't need your approval, I've got my cassette tape clicks, and... actually, there's a lot of church bells in there. Do you want to rip it?
A: Nope, not at all. I have zero desire to get into this kind of wagging contest, of whose iTunes records the most time spent listening to the "Staticky churchbells in the distance" genre.
B: Wise man. I'd've crushed you.