Are you going to buy the Rolling Stones SACDs?

An endorsement by the masses certainly counts for something so from an economic standpoint it matters. In art and politics it's also very persuasive. People of all ages evidently want to see these bands. Your opinion is your own personal benchmark for quality when it comes to art. You can vote for who you want and pay for art and entertainment of your choice. Besides art is subjective, what I like you might despise and vice versa. The Stones put out arguably the 4 best R&R albums back to back in history. Have they churned out that kind of work since? No - but I disagree with your assessment of every piece of music as irrelevant with the exception of Some Girls. I got on the bus in the very early 70's and I didn't jump off - mine has plenty of gas.

Hey Pops. I think you misinterpreted my comment. I said that every Stones album since Some Girls was irrelevant. Catering to the masses is what gave us the current disposable rock era we must suffer through now. (Brittney,Matchbox 20, Pink etc.). Ironic that the music industry has downsized 45% in the last few years and although bootlegging and the internet are mostly to blame the overall product mix being mediocre factors in as well. I'd gladly buy the enhanced versions of any classic Stones albums, but I shudder at having to watch their HBO special or go and see The Dead.I've seen The Eagles, Stones, Grateful Dead and The Who(Townshend on acoustic the entire show!?) in the latter stages of their touring career. Having also seen them at times closer to their peak, I can only say that seeing them later in the game only made me miss the music that used to be theirs all the more.I respect subjectivity in the arts and may live in a musical time warp, but it seems like home to me.

Miles Davis didn't have much to offer the last 20 years of his life either. I wish these artists would consult experts like jsonic and, when told they are past their peaks, go off somewhere and die. They're just ripping us off by continuing to make music, and we're idiots to enjoy it.

Jsonic, sorry if I misinterpreted your take, I don't mean to sound aggressive in my reply - probably sounds that way because I'm becoming a relic myself - I say play and perform as long as you can. Classic music like the Stones work from the 60's and 70's should only be performed by the Stones and I for one enjoy hearing it. I didn't start enjoying John Lee Hooker until he was older than dirt and I thoroughly enjoy his last 3 albums.

Drubin. Going off and dying doesn't ensure that the artist won't still issue an album. Seems like Hendrix came out with way more albums post-humously than he did while breathing. (A good thing.) There are indeed artists who in my opinion retain their magic into their later years. Neil Young and Jorma Kaukonen are two that come to mind. I'm not familiar with Miles Davis'
repertoire, but I catch your sarcasm. There is a certain sense of nobility in dying at your peak. Joplin, Morrison and Hendrix burned brightly albeit too briefly. Eric Clapton and Stevie Winwood have taken the adult contemporary route. Michael Jackson has become a caricature. Where's Stevie Wonder been? I'm constantly looking for new music to listen to. So far The White Stipes is what I've found. Why? Because it sounds old. Expert? Me? Hardly! Thanks Pops for the J. L. Hooker tip. I welcome any suggestions on long in the tooth rockers who still kick ass.