He’s not just a great musician, but a great song writer as well. He still dabbles, but he could really eclipse a great deal of the rubbish that’s been produced in the past decade or two.

Paul WAS the walrus, he hasn’t been for some time. paul stopped being the walrus and still but out some great music after the beatles, but it’s been a sad state of affairs in recent years when it comes to his output. the dude’s had a rough time of it since 1980. lennon got killed, paul was pretty upset about that, then the 80s forced a lot of artist to sound like crap (ebony and ivory), his wife died, george died, he’s getting divorced. paul has had a lot going on. he may still be a gifted song writer, but maybe he needs to take my aforementioned break and ride out all this shit. maybe he can throw us a great album in a year or two. of all the folks on this list of opinions, paul has probably fared the best. but like most great bands, the whole is by far, greater than the sum. look at the solo work of any of the beatles vs. revolver or abby road… you get the point.

http://tampa.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/spins/Content?oid=252698

In addition to Almost Full – 2005’s Chaos and Creation was also a good, solid album. His collaborations over the years are also worthy of noting. He may be a huge target, but he’s not worthy of this list.

He’s the fucking Walrus, man. You can’t mess with that.

And to the grumblers: it’s sometimes hard to bear in mind any music writer – any critic for that matter – is just stating a subjective, even if it’s an informed, opinion.

I’ve always felt any kind of criticism in print needs to carry a giant OPINION tag somewhere prominently, but most journalists and editors believe it’s an implied association. However, if it were noted that way, maybe everyone else wouldn’t get into such a lather at a piece like this, or a Top 25 list.

Think of it this way: I have plenty of friends who have opinions on a great number of subjects that I don’t agree with, but I’m never going to get that worked up and go after them about it. I might tease, I might argue, I might disagree, but I’m not going to get my blood pressure up over it. It stays friendly. Harder to do when you’re just reading words on a page.

I’m not sure though you can write about anything critically for any extended period of time and it not start to get haughty at a certain point.

It’s when opinion starts to be stated as fact, and an honest passion for your beat turns into snarky first-rate douchery that things break down. I think any critic has to find the way to always first and foremost remain a fan, a lover and an idealist – and not just turn jaded with time and exposure and sit back with arms crossed and an “impress me” scowl on their face.

Eric genuinely strikes me as a fan, a lover. I see the excited gleam of a teenager in his eyes when it comes to certain bands, I can read it in his words. My jury is still out on Wade, but as long as he’s Eric’s Padawan I’m sure he’ll be steered in the right direction.

This qualifies Snider.

Who made you a critic?

No one did. Stop asking me that question.

Richard Thompson is more deserving than Eric Clapton of the guitar God title.

I’m just amazed that Snider finally wrote a article that didn’t mention Steely Dan. See Google for details.

Memory Almost Full is so melodic and memorable, it’s easy to take for granted his skill as a craftsman, particularly here when it feels so natural and unforced, even when it takes left turns, which it thankfully does more than once. Best of all, this is the rare pop meditation on mortality that doesn’t present itself as a major statement, yet it is thematically and musically coherent, slowly working its way under your skin and lodging its way into your cluttered memory. On the surface, it’s bright and accessible, as easy to enjoy as the best of Paul’s solo albums, but it lingers in the heart and mind in a way uncommon to the rest of his work, and to many other latter-day albums from his peers as well.

And besides, Wayne Garcia, your brother in musical taste, loves it.

HA!i just saw the haters posting comments, so i just guessed it was you that wrote it… but i’ll back up eric to death on this, too. my same comments apply regarding why eric is qualified to write this. i might not agree with everything he writes, but he knows his shit. the fact that i couldn’t tell who wrote it just by reading the post tells me we have some pretty consistent writing going on over here when it comes to pieces like this one.

and wade, i’ll owe you one defending rant as soon as you piss someone off again. so, i guess i’ll probably be writing that today, right?