In last week's issue of Recess, we ran a story questioning the striking similarities between the cover of the Counting Crows' album This Desert Life and Brief Interviews with Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace. We even, well, accused the Crows of plagiarism. Maybe that was a stretch, as some of our readers pointed out, but after hearing from them, we still question the Crows' lack of originality. Here are a couple of letters that we received:
In response to Kevin Pride's Jan. 13 article titled "Can you say... plagiarism?," blaming the Counting Crows of robbing artwork from Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, I ask a different question: WHAT?! In the words of a great philosopher, "You better check yourself before you wreck yourself."
The Counting Crows have in no way committed any form of "blatant plagiarism." The cover illustration of their latest, and quite possibly greatest album, This Desert Life, gives credit where it is due. And geesh Kevin, you didn't even get the friggin' book right, pal!
The picture is from the book The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish by Dave McKean and Neil Gaiman (White Book Press), and the reference to this can be found in the front of the lyric book in the Counting Crows' album.
So before you go bashing any more birds, take your own advice, Kevin: "...[You've] gone too far." And please, give the Counting Crows the honor they deserve. Very respectfully,
Marshall Willis
Regarding the latest issue of Recess, "Can you say... plagiarism?" The above painting (right) is titled "The Great War" by Magritte done in 1964. Thus in the spirit of Kevin Pride, I would like to be the first to officially accuse Recess of not knowing their art.
-Jason Koslofsky
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