This is the first time I've ever re-posted anything here on this blog, but for some reason this rant I wrote several months ago touched a nerve with a couple of readers, so I thought I'd throw it back up with all comments in the post and see what happens...
Cultural elitism and snobbery are taken to new levels at against pop, a website that purports, in an extremely wordy manner, to make a "case against pop & rock" music.
I've always been more amused than appalled by those who think their personal tastes in music are intrinsically superior by virtue of the complexity of the style of music they prefer. Lots of jazz fans are like that, turning their nose up at conventional pop & rock (don't even mention country) because of the relative simplicity involved in the composition and performance of those types of music compared to jazz. Indeed, it does require significantly more technical skill ("chops") to play jazz than your typical pop/rock song (though I would posit that the very best pop/rock musicians in the field can hold their own with any jazz-bo).
Then again, I've met people who are classical music snobs who feel the same way about jazz as jazz snobs feel about pop/rock. For whatever reason, jazz just doesn't rise to their standards...perhaps it's the loose, relatively unstructured nature of the music (as compared to classical), or maybe it's the focus on improvisation that bugs 'em. I dunno (although I'm sure the site administrators for against pop could educate us, since they appear to fall into the "classical snob" camp).
Classical snobs do tend to be a tad more uppity than jazz snobs, at least that has been the impression I've noticed. I'll never forget an incident that occurred when I was working at CD Warehouse a few years ago. I was playing a George Strait CD on the store's stereo, as I liked to mix it up quite a bit and play all different kinds of music. There was a lady who had come in the store and had spent all her time there in the classical section. She eventually came to the counter and purchased a CD, but she had this disgusted look on her face. She said, "How can you stand to listen to that stuff? That's not music!"
"I dunno", I answered, "I guess it's because I like it".
And there, in a nutshell, is why all the high-falutin' arguments purporting ANY style of music's superiority over another (case-in-point: against pop) are futile execises in pompous elitism that not only will never change anyone's mind but come off as laughable.
People listen to whatever kind of music they listen to BECAUSE THEY LIKE IT...because it sounds good to them. Most people could care less about the virtuosity required to produce a piece of music, and that's just fine because virtuosity itself is not necesarilly a requirement for a song to have the ability to touch someone, to move them to whatever extremes of emotion it aims for, and so on.
For instance, a simple Nick Drake song, to my ears, is every bit as moving as Samuel Barber's Adagio, which is, in it's choral version, my favorite classical composition. Why? How should I know? It just is...it just has that power over my emotions, the sound of his voice, the feeling he puts into his singing, maybe even the simplicity of the song itself culminates in a response that is every bit as musically satisfying as that provided by the most complicated, yet beautiful piece of classical music I've ever heard.
At any rate, it seems to me to be a futile gesture and a waste of time and energy to make such a case against any genre of music in the way that against pop does with pop/rock. We're going to listen to what we enjoy listening to, and that is all there is to it, whether it's a lame Britney Spears song on the radio or an old recording of Maria Callas singing a Verdi aria. And why should those of us who enjoy the sound of a good, distortion drenched, guitar heavy rock and roll song every once in a while CARE about what anyone thinks?
The philosophy of the classical snob, the jazz snob, the snob that thinks ANY kind of music is superior to all others is the antithesis of my own philosophy about music, which is summed up in the ancient adage, "Variety is the spice of life". Indeed, I would have been burned out on music years ago if I only listened to one genre. I'll concede that at this point in my life I listen to more classical music than any other kind. But I'll never become one of the snobs who rejects all other forms of musical expression.
Fer cryin' out loud, listening to Autechre has helped me get a firmer grip on classical, ifn' you can believe that.
And now the comments:
Anonymous said...
Well, I suppose you have a point, but I have visited the site "against pop", and it seems to me that you haven't answered any of the detailed arguments on that site. Although I tend to agree with you, you need to do better than this against a site with the sophistication that that site demonstrates - the agruments are amazing, and, sadly, convincing!
To which I replied...
"Answering the detailed arguments" on the "against pop" site would require more time and energy than I am willing to expend (or I should say, than I was willing/able to expend back when I made this post...it's kinda old). I appreciate your comment...at least I made my point, eh? Who knows but maybe someday I will find myself in a position where I am able to invest the necessary effort required to counter such a "sophisticated" site...
In the meantime, I'll just listen to whatever sounds good to my ears...guilt-free.
Sekais said...
I don't think of myself as a snob. I merely lament the fact that Beethoven, Liszt, Bach, et al. worked their hardest to produce great music and now they are being forgotten for musicians with significantly less talent. It is a tragedy that such great art is being plowed under by the likes of Britney Spears and 50 Cent.
I simply find it appalling that whether you are profitable to modern capitalism is more important than how much talent you have. I believe that hard work, skill, and ability should be valued over "cool" electronic effects and trendy nonsense. I refuse to consider Michael Jackson my superior. If that makes me a snob, then so be it.
To which I replied...
I don't think Beethoven, Liszt, Bach etc. are "being forgotten for musicians with significantly less talent"...Classical music has endured and will continue to endure because it is the very essence of music itself. The true music lover will eventually gravitate towards the more sophisticated compositions in the course of time, even if only to "keep it fresh", and once the mind is opened to symphonic/chamber/classical music then the sky is the limit, because you've passed from the realm of "the riff" and "the gimmick" into the undiluted anatomy of the art form itself.
But that assumes that all pop music is chiefly "riff & gimmick"...perhaps I should point out that my rant in this post was not meant to be taken as a defense for acts like Britney Spears or Michael Jackson, or any of a number of disposable "pop sensations" that seem to have no artistic purpose and are, in Sekais words, simply "profitable to modern capitalism". It doesn't make you a snob to dismiss Michael Jackson...it just shows that you recognize the difference between "celebrity" and "artist".
My post was certainly not meant to denigrate classical music and/or the constituency of classical music fans, of which I am definately firmly entrenched. Honestly, classical music is probably my favorite kind of music and Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, Gorecki, Taverner (the list goes on and on) etc. are at the very top of my list of preferences...and yet, I love to listen to a steel guitar saturated honky tonk song from the late 50's. I dig vocal classical music, and I'm of the opinion that the choral arrangement of Samuel Barber's Adagio For Strings (the Agnus Dei) is some of the most heavenly music on earth...but it keeps company in that high esteem with Sigur Ros' Takk, which is also almost painfully beautiful.
The point being that when someone decides that the kind of music they prefer is superior to any other kind of music, they shut themselves off from potentially appreciating music that can be every bit as emotionally stirring, thought-provoking/mentally stimulating and/or just plain enjoyable. And that is what it all comes down to, right? I mean, if you're listening to music for any other reason than because it's an enjoyable pasttime then I don't know that I could understand that mindset well enough to even attempt to communicate with it.
When I visited the "Against Pop" website (and I admit, it's been awhile) I was struck by what looked to me like a blanket definition of ALL non-classical music as "pop" (which would mean not only Justin Timberlake but Peter Gabriel as well), and a wholesale negative criticism of all that fell under that umbrella in relation to an almost fanatical devotion to classical, which they had elevated to the status of being the only kind of music that an intelligent person should listen to. That's what irked me and prompted the "music snob" quip. What looked to be a stubborn refusal to embrace a "Different strokes for different folks" bottom line, and not only that but a dismissal of those of us who happen to have an appreciation for non-classical forms of music which reveals itself in the form of a lot of psychobabble about WHY classical music is inherantly superior to any other style. The anonymous commenter to this post apparently finds all that gobble-dee-gook convincing, but I ain't buying it.
Postscript:
I also feel the need to point this out: when I wrote "We're going to listen to what we enjoy listening to, and that is all there is to it, whether it's a lame Britney Spears song on the radio or an old recording of Maria Callas singing a Verdi aria" I WAS PLAYING DEVIL'S ADVOCATE to an extreme. I hope noone gets the impression that I prefer Spears to Callas (or that I would even waste 30 seconds of my time listening to a Britney Spears song)...the music I really like is proclaimed right there on the right side of your screen, and at the risk of sounding snobbish myself, I shudder at the thought of a Smash Mouth or an NSync within those ranks.
1.27.2006
Sometimes "New" Is Not Better
In the previous post you might have noticed that I mentioned "the OLD Rollingstone.com message board community" that I used to be a part of. The distinction of "OLD" is required now to differentiate it from RS.com's NEW message board community. You see, after shutting down the original message boards well over a year ago, tossing thousands of interesting comments into oblivion and promising to come back soon with a new and improved version, they finally got around to it a couple of months ago.
"New" it may be, but there is certainly nothing "improved" about them. On the contrary, the format is ugly, the loading time is turtle-slow and the complete absence of any sort of moderation has insured that they are possibly the most troll-friendly boards on the internet. In short, they are a JOKE and a huge disappointment.
RollingStone.com really dropped the ball on this one, but I'm sure noone over there really cares. It doesn't bother me at all, though, because the Castaways community that sprang up shortly after it's original demise has not only filled the gap left when the old boards disappeared, it has vastly improved upon the original formula. Jeff Nelson (aka "Strat-0") is to be commended for the excellent job he has done in keeping the "old gang" together and providing for them such a cool forum with which to vent issues trivial and lofty.
The only thing I have to say to RollingStone.com is a simple one word question: WHY???
"New" it may be, but there is certainly nothing "improved" about them. On the contrary, the format is ugly, the loading time is turtle-slow and the complete absence of any sort of moderation has insured that they are possibly the most troll-friendly boards on the internet. In short, they are a JOKE and a huge disappointment.
RollingStone.com really dropped the ball on this one, but I'm sure noone over there really cares. It doesn't bother me at all, though, because the Castaways community that sprang up shortly after it's original demise has not only filled the gap left when the old boards disappeared, it has vastly improved upon the original formula. Jeff Nelson (aka "Strat-0") is to be commended for the excellent job he has done in keeping the "old gang" together and providing for them such a cool forum with which to vent issues trivial and lofty.
The only thing I have to say to RollingStone.com is a simple one word question: WHY???
The Vinegar Stroke
Maarts, a fellow alumni of the OLD RollingStone.com message board community (and currently active in the Castaways community), has finally brought his impeccable taste in music and engaging writing style into the blogosphere with The Vinegar Stroke. Subtitled "Musical Notes from a Serial Poster", his blog is shaping up to be one of the better album review sites I've come across.
A music retailer from Australia, Maarts knows his subject very well. There really aren't that many "music critics" out there whose opinions I trust implicitly, but if Maarts says it's worth checking out I'm going to check it out.
A music retailer from Australia, Maarts knows his subject very well. There really aren't that many "music critics" out there whose opinions I trust implicitly, but if Maarts says it's worth checking out I'm going to check it out.
1.17.2006
Somewhat Lost Weekend Update
I wish I could tell you that my performance last Friday evening at VZDs was an unparalleled success...
Unfortunately, the high standard of honesty I've upheld since day one of this blog prevents me from presenting it in such a positive light.
Not that it was a disaster...I don't think anyone would describe it as such. But what do I know?
From my perspective on the stage, it looked like the vast majority of the audience was paying attention and basically appreciating what I was doing (if such can be judged by facial expressions and applause at the end of each song).
Several people who I had never previously met offered what seemed to be sincere compliments, as did those who knew me.
It was suggested by a friend that I may have played for a bit too long, and this is definately a possibility. I had no perception of time while playing, and was waiting for someone in the band to cue me offstage. But no cueing was forthcoming, and so I played right at an hour when 45 minutes would have been more than enough. VZDs is known more as a "band" venue, not a solo guitarist/vocalist, so perhaps it should not have surprised me when I learned later that the bar and wait staff did not care for my set.
I don't know why I let that bother me, but it did...I mean, it's naive and unrealistic to expect EVERYONE to like my music...different tastes, and all that, I shouldn't WANT everyone to "get it".
Maybe I was hoping that the staff there would like it and it shocked me to find out they really didn't.
But there were several there who did, I assure you of that.
I knew going into it that I ventured rejection in daring to do a one-man set at a club that is known to feature some of the better local acts. For what it's worth, I believe it went over, length issues and all, with the vast majority in the audience.
I won't even try to describe the debacle that Mad Laugh's set turned into, for fear of offending friends. Suffice to say it was not one of their best.
I ended up changing my plans...I got lonely for the company of the wife and son is what it all boiled down to...and I did not stay for the Fellowship Students/Little League Hero show...I'm sure it was a stellar double bill, and I regret missing it, but my head just wasn't into it. Next time.
I still think that my songs would fare well with band arrangements...Probably would have made all the difference in the world at VZDs...I'm sure there are other places that are more suitable for the lone performer...would still love to put a band together around them, but in the meantime I am going to do a little gigging with a friend's band. The drummer's real name is Famous Marshall...and I can only hope that they're calling themselves "The Famous Marshall Band", even if Famous does nothing more than play the drums!
Money!
It's about time...
And a lot more RESPECT, too, I'm sure.
Stay tuned for details...
Unfortunately, the high standard of honesty I've upheld since day one of this blog prevents me from presenting it in such a positive light.
Not that it was a disaster...I don't think anyone would describe it as such. But what do I know?
From my perspective on the stage, it looked like the vast majority of the audience was paying attention and basically appreciating what I was doing (if such can be judged by facial expressions and applause at the end of each song).
Several people who I had never previously met offered what seemed to be sincere compliments, as did those who knew me.
It was suggested by a friend that I may have played for a bit too long, and this is definately a possibility. I had no perception of time while playing, and was waiting for someone in the band to cue me offstage. But no cueing was forthcoming, and so I played right at an hour when 45 minutes would have been more than enough. VZDs is known more as a "band" venue, not a solo guitarist/vocalist, so perhaps it should not have surprised me when I learned later that the bar and wait staff did not care for my set.
I don't know why I let that bother me, but it did...I mean, it's naive and unrealistic to expect EVERYONE to like my music...different tastes, and all that, I shouldn't WANT everyone to "get it".
Maybe I was hoping that the staff there would like it and it shocked me to find out they really didn't.
But there were several there who did, I assure you of that.
I knew going into it that I ventured rejection in daring to do a one-man set at a club that is known to feature some of the better local acts. For what it's worth, I believe it went over, length issues and all, with the vast majority in the audience.
I won't even try to describe the debacle that Mad Laugh's set turned into, for fear of offending friends. Suffice to say it was not one of their best.
I ended up changing my plans...I got lonely for the company of the wife and son is what it all boiled down to...and I did not stay for the Fellowship Students/Little League Hero show...I'm sure it was a stellar double bill, and I regret missing it, but my head just wasn't into it. Next time.
I still think that my songs would fare well with band arrangements...Probably would have made all the difference in the world at VZDs...I'm sure there are other places that are more suitable for the lone performer...would still love to put a band together around them, but in the meantime I am going to do a little gigging with a friend's band. The drummer's real name is Famous Marshall...and I can only hope that they're calling themselves "The Famous Marshall Band", even if Famous does nothing more than play the drums!
Money!
It's about time...
And a lot more RESPECT, too, I'm sure.
Stay tuned for details...
1.13.2006
Lost Weekend Impending
Yours truly, 1998, playing the troubadour.
Egads, it's been a stressful week with Roy and I'm glad the weekend is here.
It's going to be a real good one, too, I'm thinking. I'll be spending Friday and Saturday in OKC. I've been asked to perform a 45-60 minute acoustic solo set to open for the Mad Laugh at VZDs tonight. If everyone who has said they were going to make it actually show up it could be a big crowd. My thumb is already sore from practicing so much...I may wind up using a pick.
Hopefully this will be just the beginning of a string of live dates that I'm self-deprecatingly calling the "SUPPORT THE MENTALLY IMBALANCED WORLD TOUR 2006".
Don't really have a set order yet, but I'm thinking of throwing caution to the wind and busting out an acoustic rendition of an old Head tune called "Canned Hamms".
I'm thinking I may open with "Playboy", which will be familiar to everyone who saw me when I was playing bass with Mad Laugh a little over a year ago. I think I do a fairly effective version of it.
On the other hand, I've been contemplating kicking the set off with an improvised number in which I'll name-check several in the crowd...that's assuming there IS a crowd...if not I suppose it'll have to be "Playboy".
Others I'll be bound by duty to perform will be "The Ladder", "The Wait", "Bike Boy", "Heroin Weed", "Songwriter" (if Warty shows up)...Then I've got a couple of new songs that I want to introduce. I've shown "Maranatha" to a few people, but only my son has heard "Offering" (and he likes it, so I am encouraged).
I'll have to bust out some silly songs, so you can count on hearing "The St. Valentine's Massacre Waltz", "Leather Granny" and maybe even "Jim Beam".
I've got a good friend whose going to try to make it out tonight, and if he shows up I'm thinking of doing a cover of Red House Painters' "Mistress", seeing as how he and I are both huge fans of Mark Kozelek.
Otherwise I will probably avoid doing any covers. The only exception might be a rendition of Merle Haggard's "Carolyn", depending upon the mood of the audience.
I have a lot of confidence tonight, and my expectations are high that not only will the show get a favourable response, but I might even get some interest from musicians who might want to arrange/collaborate on these songs.
You may remember a couple of weeks ago I blogged about the possibility of Amanda Roberts and Jacob Becannen being potential partners in this venture (they certainly inspired me to do it)...I haven't heard back from them, and I knew that they both had very busy schedules and most likely wouldn't be able to find time to do it...I', afraid that's how it appears to be at this moment. That could change after tonight, and if not, I have a good feeling that sooner or later I'm going to be able to assemble some quality players.
Then, tommorow night the plan is to see the Fellowship Students/Little League Hero double-bill at the Belle Isle Brewery. LLH's new CD, Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May, is top notch. If there is any justice in the music business these guys will be a nationally recognized act before too long.
And the Fellowship Students are always awesome. I have no doubt that they will impress.
And when it's all over I hope to be re-charged and more than able to deal with Roy's drama.
1.07.2006
"Shadowplay" Reanimated
Not the best performance of Joy Division's "Shadowplay" I've ever heard, but HERE is a really cool "Topographic translation" of a live version of the song...basically, it's a morphing of a television appearance of the band with the album cover for Unknown Pleasures.
Hard to describe, so check it out yourself.
Hard to describe, so check it out yourself.
New Year's Resolution
You'd think that my New Year's resolution was to avoid blogging, eh?
But no, I just have not been sufficiently motivated to post so far this year. I've been too busy doing other things, but I imagine I'll find the time to regale you with my exploits before too long. In the meantime, the archives are available for your amusement.
Actually my New Year's resolution included chilling out, not being quite so self-critical (lightening up on myself), becoming more interested in other people and getting out of the house more often to see/hear live music, especially supporting the local bands that I have come to enjoy the most:
Fellowship Students
Little League Hero
Basement Dynasty
Twenty Minutes To Vegas
Oida
Ghost of Monkshood
...and I'm always on the lookout for other worthy acts...Oklahoma really has a great music scene going on right now, but I don't know if even a small segment of the population realizes it. I spoke to a guy who owns and operates a music store in Shawnee and asked him if he'd ever heard of the Fellowship Students (probably my favorite of a very high quality lot) and he had no clue who they were. It's a shame, too, cuz they are the kind of band that makes you wonder why they haven't been signed by a major label and sent on a world tour.
Hopefully I'll also find time to write about these shows here, but I 'm already behind in the game, cuz I saw a great Little League Hero/Basement Dynasty double bill last week and even though I wanted to write it up here I put it off. And right now I really should be touting the amazing TMTV/Fellowship Students show I witnessed last night instead of making excuses for not blogging in the new year.
But I'm still here...the wildfires have not blown towards our house yet (though a couple have come too close for comfort) and the ISP bill is paid, so I imagine you'll hear about it all sooner or later.
(Postscript: It's March 2008 as I write and I have probably gone out to see a live band approximately ZERO times since I made this resolution. - JAC)
But no, I just have not been sufficiently motivated to post so far this year. I've been too busy doing other things, but I imagine I'll find the time to regale you with my exploits before too long. In the meantime, the archives are available for your amusement.
Actually my New Year's resolution included chilling out, not being quite so self-critical (lightening up on myself), becoming more interested in other people and getting out of the house more often to see/hear live music, especially supporting the local bands that I have come to enjoy the most:
Fellowship Students
Little League Hero
Basement Dynasty
Twenty Minutes To Vegas
Oida
Ghost of Monkshood
...and I'm always on the lookout for other worthy acts...Oklahoma really has a great music scene going on right now, but I don't know if even a small segment of the population realizes it. I spoke to a guy who owns and operates a music store in Shawnee and asked him if he'd ever heard of the Fellowship Students (probably my favorite of a very high quality lot) and he had no clue who they were. It's a shame, too, cuz they are the kind of band that makes you wonder why they haven't been signed by a major label and sent on a world tour.
Hopefully I'll also find time to write about these shows here, but I 'm already behind in the game, cuz I saw a great Little League Hero/Basement Dynasty double bill last week and even though I wanted to write it up here I put it off. And right now I really should be touting the amazing TMTV/Fellowship Students show I witnessed last night instead of making excuses for not blogging in the new year.
But I'm still here...the wildfires have not blown towards our house yet (though a couple have come too close for comfort) and the ISP bill is paid, so I imagine you'll hear about it all sooner or later.
(Postscript: It's March 2008 as I write and I have probably gone out to see a live band approximately ZERO times since I made this resolution. - JAC)
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