actually, I'm right there with you as to a lot of the stuff that's lasted through the ages (trout mask has never done it for me the way certain other beefheart has, and my feelings about ornette coleman are well-documented in these parts).
Hmm yes, but you seem to be side-stepping the point slightly. I wasn't so much talking about those four albums in particular. You said something about 'Revolver', for example, having a certain 'fresh' quality which would or could still be perceived by a new listener today. I wouldn't disagree, but you seemed to be ignoring the large number of people who might not care for it, whether they heard it the day it came out, or today. I'm not saying that I'm necessarily one of those people.
as for complex music as backgound, why not? sometimes the more complex stuff fits the mood.
Well yeah, that was my point. Only your comment in another email implied that there were certain ways to listen to certain musics. I was just saying it didn't necessarily have to be the case... Julian.