Michael Jackson and Anthony Bourdain?
This is how it usually is with Sound Opinions: we start listening for one reason, and we’re captivated by something else, too.
Last weekend (6/26), Sound Opinions welcomed chef, food traveler, TV host, author, (etc) Anthony Bourdain to the microphone. This is why we made an appointment to listen.
But first, Michael Jackson. Jim Derogatis and Greg Kot devote the opening 10 minutes to Jackson’s passing, with one of the best, most succinct critical takes on Jackson’s career that we’ve come across. Kot and Derogatis recognize Jackson’s talent, how Quincy Jones shaped a timeless sound around Jackson, and celebrate Jackson’s peak moment with the release of Off the Wall.
After that, they say, it was downhill. Derogatis: in the years that followed, Jackson “literally melted down in front of the entire world.” The quality of his work fell consistently afterward, and Jackson was plagued by scandals and interest in his odd behavior. The guys note that if you haven’t listened to the last two albums, and most of us haven’t, there’s some really creepy imagery in the lyrics.
We’re probably all getting a little tired of Jackson mania now, but even so, this is a good “final word.”
OK… now Bourdain. Derogatis and Kot talk with him about the connection between food and music; the music he listened to during prep and service; the music he thinks is best for front-of-house. It’s an enjoyable conversation, and we can almost guarantee that no matter how much you already know about Bourdain, you’ll come away with something new.
