Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

Man-o-man,

Big-ol-RANT (at work with time to spare, be
forewarned) People are getting way too critical of
this subject. This discussion on real music versus
crap music has got me thinking (scary). Having a
modular does not imply one is automatically a musical
genius. Some of us appreciate the science involved.
Some like to take things apart and put them back
together. Other appreciate the art of the build. Some
like bug sounds. Some like to mess with 120V and be
happy not to get shocked to death. So what? Not
everyone is trying to invent the next type of
synthesis, nor for that matter is everyone trying to
out-create previous works. The past is the past,
present is present, future is future. What emphasis we
put on each decides much of the outcome.

Art, like music, is kind of touchy. People (emotional
wretches) are the factor that lend to this fact. In my
passing years, I often find nothing is ever as good
the second time as the first time. Music will never be
what it was when I was younger. (Not your younger
either... ∗my younger∗ the crappy eighties). There
will never be another Prog-rock explosion or 60's love
fest, or disco for that matter. Clothes will never
make sense like they did when I cared about fashion.
Food never tastes the same as the first time.

Certainly the world changes and perspectives change. I
agree about the comments regarding the "music business
corporate humdrum" stuff. But, thanks to MySpace,
youtube, the Internet as a whole, and other forms of
media pollution, there is a lot of crap out there for
us to wade through. This crap is not new. There have
always been shitty bands with shitty demo tapes and
stupid ideas in the eyes others. We are judgemental
beings after all. The main difference being that those
demo tapes are now public and available for all to
listen to. This does not necessarily mean music has
gotten any worse... just more "exposed". After all,
art is 100% in the eyes of the beholder. Are we the
ones with the jaded opinions due to the increasing
pressures of life? Are we out of touch with what is
relevant musically (artistically)? Or is music
actually worse? Well, I think the answer is yes to all
of these questions depending on where you stand at
this point in time.

With the mass exposure, we forget there are some gems
in the midst of the crap. Those gems are not on major
labels and require digging. It will only get worse.
Music is starting to be made on cell phones and other
crappy media devices. What does that spell for the
long run? Nothing us old farts will appreciate I am
sure.

My Grandfather was none too nice to me for not making
music he appreciated from his own point of view. He
told me I was lazy and not an artist. I never forgot
this, and still disagree to this day. Too many people
are the same old Roland, Korg, blah blah company
people which is very similar to the corporate music
industry. Anyone building and experimenting with
modular, regardless of making mind-blowing
compositions or not, is an artist IMHO. Here's an
example: Is the Yamaha Tenori-On a "toy" or a unique
new way to think about music? Both maybe. Here are
some quotes I try to remember when thinking msuic is
crap, but reminding my self to be thankful there are
creative people trying to do something risky at all...

We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that
makes us realize truth, at least the truth that is
given us to understand. The artist must know the
manner whereby to convince others of the truthfulness
of his lies. ~Pablo Picasso

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art
is knowing which ones to keep. ~Scott Adams

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to
remain an artist once we grow up. ~Pablo Picasso

Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds
you that you have one. ~Stella Adler

Whatever your perspective you will agree or disagree
with statements I have made here today. I make crap
music, or I make beautiful noise. I make a mockery of
myself, or I take a risk. I pay tribute to old
technology, or I try to reinvent the past. I am not
sure what people think, nor do I particularly care.
All artists are typically misunderstood till after
death. Sad right? My voice is my own, and people can
change the channel if they don't like it. Thoughts?

Thomas



Thomas White
Natural Rhythm
www.naturalrhythmmusic.com