Musical Jail Sentences
-
Artist:
-
Album:
-
Track:
Reading many posts here and realizing that we're all in jail of some sort. We were sentenced to musical incarceration it seems.
Three musical jail sentences come to mind. The first was when we decided to not like genre name tags. "Rock" is Ok. But "Progressive Rock" is worse. And "Folk Prog" is starting to get weird. I don't even know what "Hip Hop" is, but since the label exists and I've heard a few songs from stations using that label, I can steer clear of it. Serves a purpose for me in that regard, especially during my current three month trial of Satellite radio in my car. (which I won't be subscribing to) Death Metal is just plain scary. Try and tell me that the music they write doesn't refect belief. Huh? Ever written poetry? Where did it come from? Again, the description helps me steer clear, and the genre helps me gravitate one way or another. It's just communication. Of course there are probably lesser degrees of requiring the genre for such choices. I liked The Strawbs long before I knew how they were classified.
The second sentence comes from disliking covers. I think I could go on for days on this one, so I'll keep it short by just saying "try and write something original sometime." It Ain't a piece of cake even if you're creative enough to play an instrument in the first place, or have a voice that soothes the angels. And so artists often learn on someone else's back. But if they do a good job, I think it's worth listening to the different interpretation. But what of experienced and long in the tooth bands who do covers? They often do it, not to see how close they can sound to the original, but what interpretation they can put on the tune, and that makes it a new song. Hey, what about Christmas? (for all of you who sing carols) Now there are covers that are often worth having ones ears covered.
I think there's a third sentence we tend to allow ourselves to succomb to. That of judging a song or band too quickly on first listen and moving on. There's a number of levels involved in the listening experience, and the first, that initial play, is the most vulerable to scorn and disdain. This frequently happens to a band's attempt to expand their musical horizons. They're thinking creative while we, the listener, are awaiting the next CD as if it's the continuing saga of a TV sitcom.We want the same, and it's not fair to the musicians. We owe it to ourselves to listen critically, technically, and emotionally, but not to dismiss easily. And this argument is not to be confused with my thesis regarding genres.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Comments (15)
Genres are signifiers sure..to me the best bands are the ones that defy or tweak expectations or bands that inhabit their genre rules so strictly that they define their genre.
I agree with covers to an extent, especially exacting ones. Done in the spirit of song catching though, I love a good cover song.
I try mightily not to judge on first listen. I would love to spend more time with each record. Sadly and happily the abundance of music available these days makes that tough for me.
Most excellent post.
You forgot "hipster-folk", ran into that one the other day and I'm still scratchin' the noggin. Yeah, much death metal is just scary. Come now, don't give up on hip-hop so easily, there is stuff out there.
The art of the cover song is no stranger to modern country, which has made it an industry. Still, they pay a lot of songwriters who may have never reached potential fans (if the fans actually dig that deep!) Sometimes, an artist hears something in a song, or brings a particular talent to it that makes it special - like Harry Nillsson did with Badfinger's "Without You". Sometimes, though, the selection or inclusion of such potential "gems" leave me, again, scratchin'. Like Bowie's decision to place a Three Dog Night cover on a classic like Ziggy Stardust...I'm sure such choices ain't easy.
I tend to be an album (or cd, recording) listener and like to hear a number of tracks whilst formulating an opinion for repeat listens.
Great, thought provoking post, with a bonafide classic rock tune! Thanks for taking the time!!
Roger that, Cody. So much music; so little time.
For better or worst, genres are here to stay. They help us find things, but only as a starting point. Sort of where you will cast your net first. I aim to take in whatever is interesting from whatever quarter.
Covers: I find a cover interesting if the artist brings something to it. Moreover, time was performing existing songs was so much the norm, I think there wasn't even a name for it. Great artists could and can make great music.
Genre crossing covers by Brave Combo:
Amen, Scotfree. Why would Camper Van Beethoven, musically inovative band who made genius originals, commit a routine performance of "Pictures of Matchstick Men" and infect Key Lime Pie with it? I concur about listening to the entire album. A body of work, or a defined increment of it, like a symphony or suite, is an art; a well programed album of quality work is a great pleasure.
And a good song is a good song..why have we been talking about this topic so much lately..interesting.
Interesting indeed. Back up to cap's title, "...Jail Scentences", maybe he read this first, but here's Sufjan Stevens recently musing on the relevance of it all:
"I’m wondering what am I doing? What is a song even? I’m questioning, what’s the point of a song? Is a song antiquated? Does it have any power any more?"
http://mog.com/blog_posts/1541612/mogbar
Maybe we're all having the same musical personality crisis. I know I am, there's sooo much lyrical expression that says nothing new. Been listening to a lot of instrumental stuff lately...clearing the soul.
Nice..I often ask a question like that when I'm at a show..Why am I here standing in front of someone playing music? It seems weird..I feel like participating more..dancing makes it better. But just standing there, I dunno, sometimes the communication breaks down.
Yes, instrumental music allows the mind expansion I miss in the words.
Maybe it is just the impending winter..
It's been commented that the enjoyment of international music is enhanced because the lyrics are in another language. We don't have to think about the meaning of the words beyond what the sound of the words and music (vocal and instrumental) convey. We also don't have to be bummed when the lyrics are trite.
Originals are now the norm and songs with vocals are the norm. Remember when instrumentals were more than half of a show or dance? (Well, most of us are not THAT old.) Anyhow, scotfree said it. There are so many song lyrics. It's not easy to write a good song. With more of them, there comes greater likelihood of mediocrity.
Relevance? Antiquity is not fatal to a song. Communicate it now. "Sing to the one you're with."
Go, Cody! Dancing, moving, clapping.
Cody - Maybe we've been talking about it so much because we've latched onto a topic that generates some feeling on one side or the other. Makes for good debate, good discussion, and a way to fill the holes topic holes that come along every now and then.
Cody - "Why am I standing here..."
You could ask the same quetion about anything really,like "why am I sitting on this bus," or "why am I reading this book?" It's a little like those times when you say a common word over and over again until it finally sounds pretty stupid. Say the word "the" a few times and you'll start to wonder what the heck it is.
I tend to thaink that happens because they are mental exercises that take us a little deeper into our subconscious to where the neurons and synapses are firing and we get a close look at base me.
We need language to communicate, so "the" just has to stay, else there will be no connector to make sense of it all. And we need music, live and recorded, to manipulate our pleasure centers and help us bring balance at the emotional level.
I had a six month sub when I started my new lease last year, didn't renew it either. No Progressive station, but they have a Grateful Dead channel and I forget what other lame channels. Ended up that I listened to about 2 or 3 channels only.
Great tune Cap.
Uh, Wiz. I have no idea what you just meant. Lease? Sub?
FYI:
Phil Collins not pounding the skins
(AP) - HAMBURG - Phil Collins is drumming no more, for now.
The former singer and drummer for Genesis told a German newspaper that since he had surgery in April to repair a dislocated vertebra in his neck, he doesn't have feeling in his fingers and isn't able to pick up his sticks.
The 58-year-old musician was quoted by Hamburger Abendblatt on Monday as saying the only way he could drum is if he were to "glue drumsticks to my hands."
But that's not stopped his recording aspirations. He told the newspaper he plans a new CD that will feature covers of 30 songs from the Motown label in 2010.
"I want the songs to sound exactly like the originals," the paper quoted him as saying.
Collins, who lives in Switzerland, was in Hamburg to celebrate the first anniversary of the debut of "Tarzan" the musical. The show features music Collins composed for the 1999 animated Disney film, including the Oscar-winning song "You'll Be in My Heart."
Just what we need:-(
Cap, you talked about "especially during my current three month trial of Satellite radio in my car" well I had Satellite radio in my car for 6 months and only listened to a few of their channels.
Ah ha! Thanks Wiz. Sorry I didn't make the connection.