Re- Blake Babies

[WillL at fieldschool.com]

Date	10/18/96
Subject	Re- Blake Babies
>From	WillL
To	Pynchon List

Re: Blake Babies

I don't know their record "Slow Learner," but I can tell you a bit about Blake
Babies.

Based out of Boston originally, Blake Babies were (broken up now) a tuneful
indie-rock trio featuring the songs and vocals, mostly, of Juliana Hatfield. 
She's since gone solo with a couple-three records in the same vein:  pop rock of
the somewhat smarty-pants variety, with Hatfield's solo stuff being pretty
confessional but not particularly whiny.  She's got one of those "little girl
voices" (like, say, Suzanne Vega) that is set in contrast to a basic rock rhythm
section.

TRP influences?  None have ever jumped out at me from the Blake Babies' albums
or the Hatfield projects.  Hate ever to underestimate rock 'n' roll, but I'd
guess that this TRP connection is coincidence.  Of course, I also think that
Laurie Anderson, whatever her Pynchon influences or connections, is the most
ponderous, over-inflated and grating of artists (musicians. . . ?) -- I would
rather hear Juliana and the Babies melodicize GR than Anderson, but let's not
get THAT discussion started yet again . . . .

- Will Layman