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Posted on 18th August 2009
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca - Domino, 2009 The first time I saw/heard Dave Longstreth was on a Take Away Show a few years ago. He was walking around a Brooklyn park, with a guitar, singing angry words at a cop…a black, female cop. He immediately became my hero. Yes, he’s a crazy-talented musician; and yes, he creates unimaginable melodies that stick in your head like pine tree sap; and yes, Bitte Orca is (hands down) my pick for album of the year. But I think it’s Dave’s distain for the American police force that has grafted a special connection between myself and his art. Dave and I are sick of paying for public servants who on a daily basis overstep their boundaries as law-enforcers and become mini gods we all fear. Yeah, I’m afraid of cops…and I’m white! What ever happened to “Innocent before proven guilty”? The only attitude I’ve ever gotten from a cop is “Guilty until I say so”. These people are supposed to protect us, and instead they hassle us…constantly; when there are REAL criminals raping, murdering and stealing every day. Just last week I was pulled over for making an illegal left turn . Except I did not know it was illegal as I was distracted by hundreds of motorcyclists revving their engines and do burn-outs. Because of the distractions, I didn’t see the sign until after completing the turn. Upon explaining this to the cop, I was interrupted with a “I’ll be right back”; and after waiting 16 minutes, was presented with a $125 ticket. Ass. This highly attentive young man didn’t take the time to explain the motorcycle situation or even attempt to make me aware of the multiple no-left-turns down that strip of road, in order to avoid any future criminal activity. He typed up a ticket and felt he had done his job. Why isn’t there a website where I can rate my experience with this individual? Why are cops above reproach and beyond critique? Public servant is the farthest thing from what a cop really is…really they are all a public nuisance. I’ve known nice guys that are cops. They aren’t people I would generally be great friends with, but they seem like semi-decent humans. But as soon as they put that badge on their nip and that gun on their hip, they become overly masculine problems for the rest of us. “Bitte” has a list of meanings/uses in german; mostly it’s used as an interjection…”excuse me” or “if you please”. And in most languages “orca” means whale. In my professional opinion, the name of the 2009 Album of the Year translates into “Well, excuuuse me! You blubberous mammal!” Way to go, Dave.

Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca - Domino, 2009

The first time I saw/heard Dave Longstreth was on a Take Away Show a few years ago. He was walking around a Brooklyn park, with a guitar, singing angry words at a cop…a black, female cop. He immediately became my hero. Yes, he’s a crazy-talented musician; and yes, he creates unimaginable melodies that stick in your head like pine tree sap; and yes, Bitte Orca is (hands down) my pick for album of the year. But I think it’s Dave’s distain for the American police force that has grafted a special connection between myself and his art. Dave and I are sick of paying for public servants who on a daily basis overstep their boundaries as law-enforcers and become mini gods we all fear. Yeah, I’m afraid of cops…and I’m white! What ever happened to “Innocent before proven guilty”? The only attitude I’ve ever gotten from a cop is “Guilty until I say so”. These people are supposed to protect us, and instead they hassle us…constantly; when there are REAL criminals raping, murdering and stealing every day. Just last week I was pulled over for making an illegal left turn . Except I did not know it was illegal as I was distracted by hundreds of motorcyclists revving their engines and do burn-outs. Because of the distractions, I didn’t see the sign until after completing the turn. Upon explaining this to the cop, I was interrupted with a “I’ll be right back”; and after waiting 16 minutes, was presented with a $125 ticket. Ass. This highly attentive young man didn’t take the time to explain the motorcycle situation or even attempt to make me aware of the multiple no-left-turns down that strip of road, in order to avoid any future criminal activity. He typed up a ticket and felt he had done his job. Why isn’t there a website where I can rate my experience with this individual? Why are cops above reproach and beyond critique? Public servant is the farthest thing from what a cop really is…really they are all a public nuisance. I’ve known nice guys that are cops. They aren’t people I would generally be great friends with, but they seem like semi-decent humans. But as soon as they put that badge on their nip and that gun on their hip, they become overly masculine problems for the rest of us. “Bitte” has a list of meanings/uses in german; mostly it’s used as an interjection…”excuse me” or “if you please”. And in most languages “orca” means whale. In my professional opinion, the name of the 2009 Album of the Year translates into “Well, excuuuse me! You blubberous mammal!” Way to go, Dave.