Music Blog

Thursday, August 30 Night of Wonder

There's a scene in the movie High Fidelity in which Jack Black's character, Barry, serves up the following query: "Top five musical crimes perpetuated by Stevie Wonder in the '80s and '90s. Go." He goes on to wonder whether or not it is unfair "to criticize a formerly great artist for his latter day sins-- is it better to burn out or fade away?" It's a legitimate question, one we can even debate here if you're up for it. But before you consider "I Just Called to Say I Love You," consider that beginning with 1971's Where I'm Coming From, Stevie enjoyed a run of brilliance (six stellar releases in six years) few have matched. The period includes albums like Fulfillingness' First Finale, Songs In the Key of Life, and (my personal favorite) Music of My Mind. These releases announced his arrival as much more than a Motown prodigy, and revolutionized R&B in the process. Hard to argue with that legacy (and besides, he wasn't the only '70s musical visionary to struggle through the '80s-- I'm looking at you Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Joni Mitchell). Stevie Wonder plays a sold out Edgefield tonight. Higher ground? Well, this is Oregon.