Music Criticism Has Degenerated Into Lifestyle Reporting

[Jud]

I've seen three disses of Beyonce so far in this thread. With satellite radio in the car and two daily hours of commuting I've got more opportunity than I may strictly want to hear a large variety of music (and sports, but that's another story...). After listening to the very innovative rhythms on the satellite radio channels featuring artists like Beyonce, flipping to "alternative" or straight-ahead rock channels and hearing nothing but straight 4/4 can feel pretty boring. For that matter, Western classical hasn't been particularly rhythmically innovative (other way round - Stravinsky borrowed from jazz), though Middle Eastern and Indian can be very interesting from a rhythmic standpoint.

 

There's certainly acres and acres of crap around, and I don't mean to suggest the sort of stuff most folks here (including me) usually listen to isn't innovative in many ways. Just wanted to note there are different ways to innovate, and maybe we can make ourselves open to more of them.

[4est]

Fair enough Jud, I pulled her name out of a hat. It could have easily been Swift or Bieber. I am sure there are some gems to be had amidst the chaff. I haven't the inclination to pursue it. I do have to admit that last summer, while being forced to listen to contemporary country for weeks on end, that I did find a few tunes that "hooked" me -even though I abhor the notion.

[Jud]

Fair enough Jud, I pulled her name out of a hat. It could have easily been Swift or Bieber. I am sure there are some gems to be had amidst the chaff. I haven't the inclination to pursue it. I do have to admit that last summer, while being forced to listen to contemporary country for weeks on end, that I did find a few tunes that "hooked" me -even though I abhor the notion.

 

Yeah, not saying we should like everyone (or Beyonce in particular), just that there are distinctions that can be made between what could be worthwhile and what's pap, even among megastars.

[4est]

Agreed Jud, and with so much good new music in other veins it is hard to justify weeding through it.

[mav52]

I never heard that. Are you kidding me??

 

That is like CA giving tax breaks to Hollywood to get them to stay in CA and tax the crap out of everyone else while Hollywood calls for "income equality for all" of course while still filming out of the country in locations that give them even bigger tax breaks

 

Hey Rriaptor have a read at this as the NFL worms around their tax exempt status: NFL explains that it does indeed pay taxes | ProFootballTalk

[mav52]

Fair enough Jud, I pulled her name out of a hat. It could have easily been Swift or Bieber. I am sure there are some gems to be had amidst the chaff. I haven't the inclination to pursue it. I do have to admit that last summer, while being forced to listen to contemporary country for weeks on end, that I did find a few tunes that "hooked" me -even though I abhor the notion.

 

 

Swift and Bieber both marketing sensations, of course one has an issue with the law

[bluesman]

There's certainly acres and acres of crap around, and I don't mean to suggest the sort of stuff most folks here (including me) usually listen to isn't innovative in many ways. Just wanted to note there are different ways to innovate, and maybe we can make ourselves open to more of them.

 

And to be honest, the schtick sometimes obscures great music. Beyonce & Lady Gaga are excellent musicians and performers, as are Cyndi Lauper, Bette Midler and many others whose dramatic personae attract so much attention. I think I'd have embraced a lot more pop performers if I'd only heard them before I saw them instead of the other way around.

[Audio_ELF]

And to be honest, the schtick sometimes obscures great music. Beyonce & Lady Gaga are excellent musicians and performers, as are Cyndi Lauper, Bette Midler and many others whose dramatic personae attract so much attention. I think I'd have embraced a lot more pop performers if I'd only heard them before I saw them instead of the other way around.

But it's not just about personalities...

 

How often have bands such as Pink Floyd been reviewed as much for the light shows when on tour as the music. U2's 360deg tour had a rigging structure costing £15-20million (and they had at least two).

 

Eloise

[mav52]

But it's not just about personalities...

 

How often have bands such as Pink Floyd been reviewed as much for the light shows when on tour as the music. U2's 360deg tour had a rigging structure costing £15-20million (and they had at least two).

 

Eloise

 

I think the performance as a whole speaks volumes about the character of the "band/performer" and how they conduct themselves in public life or what they give back to the community per say.. Some live up to the hype while others just act like punks.

[InfernoSTi]

I have to take the position that we are talking about entertainment as much as music.

 

A pop artist who has a genuine "show" such as Madonna or Michael Jackson is not that different from a pop rock artist who has a genuine "rock opera" like Green Day or The Who or going to a Broadway show like Cats or Phantom or going to the opera to see a classic (or new) opera. To me they are all in the same genera of "shows." I find there are some crossover talents such as Mariah Carey who "possesses a five-octave vocal range, and has the ability to reach notes beyond the 7th octave." Her mother was an opera singer. I would put her talent in that of opera but her shows in terms of pop. And I am bored to death of her material yet I can't deny her amazing talent.

 

On the other end of the spectrum, I love punk rock. I still go see shows (saw Ted Leo recently, Broncho before that, Pixies on their recent tour as well…whatever category you put them in, perhaps post-punk). The "music" is the same as old country: three chords and the truth. I love the emotion and show but the music is often limited, at least as presented.

 

I simply cannot say that musical talent is more important than emotional connection or showmanship. They are all forms of entertainment and they are all entwined.

 

As to reporting on the the lives of artist, this is old news. "Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects" by Vasari from 1550 this was the title of what many consider the first art history book. I much prefer the writing of Wolfflin which is a formalistic approach to the subject (and some of the best study of renaissance and baroque eras you can find). Others prefer to find iconological meaning in the works, yet I find this as tedious as the biographies.

 

The point is this is the trouble with ART reporting, not to do with music only. Do you study the biography, the meaning, or the structure of music and musicians? The answer is you need all three to fully understand any given work.

 

An age old issue…

 

Best,

John

[jcfergus]

Martin Mull is reported to have said, "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture."

[NOMBEDES]

I once looked into the study of music theory. I was instantly convinced that I did not have the intellectual capacity continue such an undertaking. I do recommend such study - it looked as interesting as it was complex.

 

Now, whats up with Lady Ga Ga's stage costumes?

[bluesman]

Now, whats up with Lady Ga Ga's stage costumes?

 

They're a great argument for radio. But she's a fabulous musician and performer. I'm not a fan and I don't own any of her work, but as a musician I have to admit that she's really extremely good - she plays as well as or better than Elton John and Billy Joel, and I suspect she could hold her own as a sideman in most pro bands today. She's also said by most to be a pretty fine person.

[davidbeinct]

They're a great argument for radio. But she's a fabulous musician and performer. I'm not a fan and I don't own any of her work, but as a musician I have to admit that she's really extremely good - she plays as well as or better than Elton John and Billy Joel, and I suspect she could hold her own as a sideman in most pro bands today. She's also said by most to be a pretty fine person.

 

Yes, and neither hardworking sidemen nor hardworking journeymen rebounding specialists bring in the really big bucks:

 

[Paul R]

Yes, and neither hardworking sidemen nor hardworking journeymen rebounding specialists bring in the really big bucks:

 

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I am afraid to ask, but I just can not help myself - who is that painted, hooked, two legged tropical fish in the picture?

 

-paul

[lfs]

I am afraid to ask, but I just can not help myself - who is that painted, hooked, two legged tropical fish in the picture?

 

-paul

 

The U.S. ambassador to North Korea . . . Dennis Rodman.

[Paul R]

The U.S. ambassador to North Korea . . . Dennis Rodman.

 

Oh... well, it seems like a good fit. Throw the guppy into a pool of piranha...

 

-Paul

[christopher3393]

I am afraid to ask, but I just can not help myself - who is that painted, hooked, two legged tropical fish in the picture?

 

-paul

 

I was going to say it looks like a basketball player, but I thought that might be expectation bias from watching the NCAA tournament. Damn you expectation bias!