Has Music Gone Mad? (accuse, companies, states, million)

[JetJockey]

I think it depends on what you're listening for.

I have a degree in music theory and composition, so I analyze music far differently than the average lay person. I'm looking for different things than a casual listener might be looking for. That said, most music today is nothing but recycled beats and rhythms and while there are quite a few very talented musicians out there, most of what is played on the radio is not good musically, although most people would say it is nice to hear and that's fine. It is kind of sad when I hear a song on the radio (I rarely listen to music on the radio, but every once in a while I'll tune in) and I can immediately think of 15 other songs that have the exact same drum beat, bass riff or even melody in many cases.

For me, I'm a bluegrass fan and player. There is a lot of variety in old country and I like the extremely stripped down sound, it really lets the individual instruments (including vocals) stand out. I do like a few modern top 40 bands, but most are pretty boring, and that's fine because everyone's ears hear differently.

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by BillyBurgBK

Do you feel like you had more choice at an earlier time in what you listened to?

Could you list 10 to 15 musical acts to whom you admire?

When would you say that music was at its best? And how old are you?

The only time there is choice is when a new genre is emerging. Then there is choice for a little while, until the marketing powers settle on what the genre sounds like, and then nobody dares to deviate from the standard sound. This happened to rock in the 60s and country in the 70's and soft soul in the 80's and probably other things. I haven't paid much attention to music since then.

The thing that militated against choice then was the limitation on sources. You got radio, local stations, and that was it.

Personally, I'm more into world music, I like Bollywood and Tangos and Chinese love songs and Norteno. I was blown away by the Kinshasa sound I heard in Africa in the '70s, but I can't find it anywhere. As for pedestrian western acts, I admire the BeeGees, the Commodores, the Fifth Dimension, Willie Nelson. There have been some great voices like Jerry Butler and Ray Price and Karen Carpenter, and a great voice with good phrasing can overcome a lot of other faults. Oh, Paolo Conte and Juan Luis Guerra. Stan Rogers.

As for my age, let's just say I was a Top 40 DJ in the 50's.

[RVlover]

Originally Posted by jtur88

I suppose we could carry the same argument from TV to the music industry, which produces all the fodder for your iPod. The general artistic quality of what is in your iPod has been created through the same evil and money-grubbing forces that has generated our TV lineup. A very small number of interests monopolizing the music distribution industry, dumping a few mass-produced and formulaic genres of music that can be produced at minimum cost and maximum profit, hypnotizing billions of zombies with buds in their ears.

In music, as in TV and film, people do not get what they like, they like what they get. There is no alternative and they're addicted to the wall-to-wall accessibility.

Music is an important medium for the conspiracy of getting people into a God-less eternity ; anything to keep One distanced from God thru the immoral lure of the World thru music, movies, books, illicit sex, our liberal/immoral Mass Media.... will work satisfactorily. We are kind of like Pawns in a Chess Game who get to choose what we surround ourselves with for our lifetime...with the final analysis being eternal defeat or eternal victory. And we are actually formulating the outcome with some very strong influences along the way : "What we do in this life echos in eternity' -- Maximus .

[john_starks]

Originally Posted by JetJockey

I think it depends on what you're listening for.

I have a degree in music theory and composition, so I analyze music far differently than the average lay person. I'm looking for different things than a casual listener might be looking for. That said, most music today is nothing but recycled beats and rhythms and while there are quite a few very talented musicians out there, most of what is played on the radio is not good musically, although most people would say it is nice to hear and that's fine. It is kind of sad when I hear a song on the radio (I rarely listen to music on the radio, but every once in a while I'll tune in) and I can immediately think of 15 other songs that have the exact same drum beat, bass riff or even melody in many cases.

For me, I'm a bluegrass fan and player. There is a lot of variety in old country and I like the extremely stripped down sound, it really lets the individual instruments (including vocals) stand out. I do like a few modern top 40 bands, but most are pretty boring, and that's fine because everyone's ears hear differently.

but we gotta equate music to the movie industry...its easy to be a fair weathered fan and just see what the media critics urge you to see. i still love an old issue of rolling stone top 100 from 65-90 - there was a disclaimer that said, its just their opinion abd there is so much better music out there. but search for yourself.. never let the search die

[ovcatto]

Originally Posted by jtur88

I suppose we could carry the same argument from TV to the music industry, which produces all the fodder for your iPod.

I would suggest that you speak only for your playlists.

Your argument is about as obsolete as the very music business that you decry. There hasn't been a more innovative time for non-conglomerate music in eons. With bands, groups, and artist of all genres being able to distribute their music in a staggeringly diverse number of ways, the ability to produce outside the box is greater today than it has ever been. Where that not the case, the major record labels wouldn't be spending as much time as they do tearing their hair out over the declining sales figures.

The Maverick: The many small superstars of the internet age - Telegraph

[JetJockey]

Originally Posted by RVlover

Music is an important medium for the conspiracy of getting people into a God-less eternity ; anything to keep One distanced from God thru the immoral lure of the World thru music, movies, books, illicit sex, our liberal/immoral Mass Media.... will work satisfactorily. We are kind of like Pawns in a Chess Game who get to choose what we surround ourselves with for our lifetime...with the final analysis being eternal defeat or eternal victory. And we are actually formulating the outcome with some very strong influences along the way : "What we do in this life echos in eternity' -- Maximus .

Wow...you really find a way to incorporate your 'god' into absolutely everything, don't you?

I guess I'm immoral because I play bluegrass mandolin

[JetJockey]

Originally Posted by john_starks

but we gotta equate music to the movie industry...its easy to be a fair weathered fan and just see what the media critics urge you to see. i still love an old issue of rolling stone top 100 from 65-90 - there was a disclaimer that said, its just their opinion abd there is so much better music out there. but search for yourself.. never let the search die

Precisely! You should NEVER stop looking for pleasing sounds My search will never be done, and for that I am a very happy person.

[jertheber]

No body defines music better than those who listen to it, noise is indeed music to the ears of those who deem such noise to be enjoyable listening, whether it be coming from a violin or a chainsaw. Once we begin to leave the definition of music to the already up tight types, we lose something.

[Visvaldis]

Hey, who need dem i-pods?
I got my computer hooked up to my stereo for music. Programs change according to DJs.

WMBR 88.1 FM : WMBR, Cambridge

WNUR :: WNUR 89.3 FM :: WNUR Home (http://www.wnur.org/ - broken link)

College stations are great!

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by jtur88

I suppose we could carry the same argument from TV to the music industry, which produces all the fodder for your iPod. The general artistic quality of what is in your iPod has been created through the same evil and money-grubbing forces that has generated our TV lineup. A very small number of interests monopolizing the music distribution industry, dumping a few mass-produced and formulaic genres of music that can be produced at minimum cost and maximum profit, hypnotizing billions of zombies with buds in their ears.

In music, as in TV and film, people do not get what they like, they like what they get. There is no alternative and they're addicted to the wall-to-wall accessibility.

Does this make you a racist? By some standards it does....welcome to political correctness you curmudgeon you.