It always amazes me that people feel a need to compare musicians and try to justify the like for one by knocking the other. What shallow lives we must lead!

I like pizza and I like chocolate. Do I like one more than the other? It depends on what I'm eating at the moment. I enjoy both. I'm not a fan of peaches. What does that have to do with pizza or chocolate?   Not a damn thing.

It should be noted that Mousethief (Alex) picked a "best of" collection for Bogle and a CD from the repertoire of Christine Lavin. I'll be honest here, it isn't my favorite Christine Lavin album. (Although I LOVE the song Planet X) In Mousethief's improbable scenario - these being the only two CD's in the world and I could only keep one, I too would go with the Bogle CD.

That is a far cry from saying that there is something wrong with Christine Lavin's music. I think the world of her, as a musician and someone I've known for years.   In the last few decades, there hasn't been another artist who has championed folk music and singer-songwriters as Christine Lavin. When she could be out promoting herself, she has been giving pushes for other musicians.    I have a tape of Christine on my radio show in 1985 when we spent almost two hours talking about OTHER musicians, and did not play a single song of her own. She was the first person who introduced me to John Gorka, Julie Gold and so many others.

My point in all this is that we are lucky that we do not have to make such an improbable choice (unless Clearchannel get their way). You can like or dislike whoever you choose, but it really isn't fair to hold two different musicians up to such comparision.   This is the type of claptrap that makes junk shows like "American Idol" possible. Why does art need to be such a competition?   

If you need to compartmentalize and look at music through blinders, you will miss some really wonderful music.

Ron