My posts to come later today but first, The Onion's Best of 2004 .
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Ja, ja ich kenne that both the albums I picked to review were released in 2003 but I promise the 8 remaining album choices will adhere to the very stringent rules that herr burkhalter (aka kyliep) has laid down. I only slipped initially because I noticed that Exclaim had slipped in both Jim Guthrie and Ulrich Schnauss in their best of 2004 and I purchased both of those last year. I also find it extremely difficult to come up with 10 albums released in any year that could possibly be labelled "best of", case in point being Marc. Don't worry though I will not include Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" in forthcoming installments.
Some notes on your posts...
The Spring Heel Jack sounds intriguing given the band members but I'm not sure if I'm sold on your review of it, Derek. Aimlessness? Abrasion? Anti-tortoise? Sounds terrible, which of course means I'm really interested in hearing it and will in all likihood come to rave about it. Damned if I can locate anything more than a 20 second stream online...you must bring it to the next cd club.
I may have to pick up the American Music Club disc...I've been digging the tracks I've downloaded recently...still hate the name of the band though...reminds me of Dick Clark or Columbia House...
Marc, wouldn't you say that the Hiorthoy disc represents an audacious claim to the vanguard of exceptional neo-minimalist experimentation? No? It's just shit, then? Ah, well. They all can't be good purchases. Which reminds me that soon the Onion website will be posting its yearly 'Least Essential Album List', which is always good for a cathartic giggle or two. Hope it comes out this week.
And did it feel good for those of you who have thus far listed discs which weren't technically released in 2004? Feel you're entitled to choose any goddamn disc that has crossed your path in the last twelve months? I guess there are no real rules here but if raging against these imaginery contraints has inspired you to passionate expression, so much the better.
I went with the idea of choosing five and then choosing my favourite 'singles' to highlight songs that were great on albums that were only just good. If you guys want to include more than 5 discs or any number of noteworthy songs, go for it. Or actually, don't. You're not allowed. Don't even try it! It is verboten. That's German for step off.
Since I'm out of the office Thursday/Friday I will post my picks tomorrow.
The Spring Heel Jack sounds intriguing given the band members but I'm not sure if I'm sold on your review of it, Derek. Aimlessness? Abrasion? Anti-tortoise? Sounds terrible, which of course means I'm really interested in hearing it and will in all likihood come to rave about it. Damned if I can locate anything more than a 20 second stream online...you must bring it to the next cd club.
I may have to pick up the American Music Club disc...I've been digging the tracks I've downloaded recently...still hate the name of the band though...reminds me of Dick Clark or Columbia House...
Marc, wouldn't you say that the Hiorthoy disc represents an audacious claim to the vanguard of exceptional neo-minimalist experimentation? No? It's just shit, then? Ah, well. They all can't be good purchases. Which reminds me that soon the Onion website will be posting its yearly 'Least Essential Album List', which is always good for a cathartic giggle or two. Hope it comes out this week.
And did it feel good for those of you who have thus far listed discs which weren't technically released in 2004? Feel you're entitled to choose any goddamn disc that has crossed your path in the last twelve months? I guess there are no real rules here but if raging against these imaginery contraints has inspired you to passionate expression, so much the better.
I went with the idea of choosing five and then choosing my favourite 'singles' to highlight songs that were great on albums that were only just good. If you guys want to include more than 5 discs or any number of noteworthy songs, go for it. Or actually, don't. You're not allowed. Don't even try it! It is verboten. That's German for step off.
Since I'm out of the office Thursday/Friday I will post my picks tomorrow.
Monday, December 06, 2004
Interesting choices Derek. I've been reading about, and had on my list, the S/Heel Jack one for sometime now. Your review makes it sound pretty intriguing. Raises a discussion topic in my head, which I'll save for a rainy day.
And as for Ted Leo, I had just come across him a couple months back and finally downloaded some last week. I agree it's got a ton of elements I like, still trying to decide if I love the overall package - as much as some of the reviewers do, anyway. I haven't heard "Ballad of the Sin Eaters", so I'll seek it out.
And as for Ted Leo, I had just come across him a couple months back and finally downloaded some last week. I agree it's got a ton of elements I like, still trying to decide if I love the overall package - as much as some of the reviewers do, anyway. I haven't heard "Ballad of the Sin Eaters", so I'll seek it out.
Sunday, December 05, 2004
Admittedly I've played neither of these discs at a CD club but for two pretty good and different reasons. The first disc entitled simply "Live" by Spring Heel Jack came out about mid-2003 but I purchased it late in the year and only now am I succumbing to its charms. With only two tracks on the album, running each close to 40 minutes, the allure of this album is far from being readily apparent. One might be tempted to simply switch off after the first 6 or 7 minutes of track #1 (entitled descriptively Part I) finding little to hold on to other than abrasion. This might be described as the anti-Tortoise. Some might flee at the rather aimless flight of take-off but with Coleman, Shepp, Ayler and others taken head on it would take a bit more than seeming pointlessness to scare me off. Unlike some of the aformentioned Spring Heel Jack and friends give you plenty of room to come up for air and this is where the wonders of the record come to the fore.
With Han Bennink on drums, Evan Parker on sax, William Parker on bass, Matthew Shipp and J Spaceman (ex of Spiritualized) on guitar there's plenty of talent here and they all get their chance to shine. It's still not something you'll want to play first thing on a Sunday morning but the music ebbs and flows and changes directions in a myriad of ways, that allows the listener to discover a bit more with each listen. And this is music that demands that you do listen to it. No dish-washing background noise this.
Also on my year-end list and regretfully an album I have never purchased (thanks to the TPL) is "Hearts of Oak" by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. Ted and the boys always seem to garner the good reviews which obviously I've always skimmed because up until recently I was under the impression, due to the band name, that they were purveyors of electronic music. To my delight nothing could be further from the truth. I have no idea if they receive much in the way of commercial airplay but if I was 17 again and looking to kick out the jams this is what I'd want to hear on my radio. Its hard poppin, briskly played but still erudite music. They've taken some of the best of the Posies, Elvis Costello, and the politically savvy Jam and turned it into something that College stations would find hard to resist. "Ballad of the Sin Eater" might be the best summing up of the mood in America post 9/11 that could be captured outside of a lengthy article in Harpers: "...you didn't think they could hate you now, did ya?". Time to invest some coin in their just released CD.
With Han Bennink on drums, Evan Parker on sax, William Parker on bass, Matthew Shipp and J Spaceman (ex of Spiritualized) on guitar there's plenty of talent here and they all get their chance to shine. It's still not something you'll want to play first thing on a Sunday morning but the music ebbs and flows and changes directions in a myriad of ways, that allows the listener to discover a bit more with each listen. And this is music that demands that you do listen to it. No dish-washing background noise this.
Also on my year-end list and regretfully an album I have never purchased (thanks to the TPL) is "Hearts of Oak" by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. Ted and the boys always seem to garner the good reviews which obviously I've always skimmed because up until recently I was under the impression, due to the band name, that they were purveyors of electronic music. To my delight nothing could be further from the truth. I have no idea if they receive much in the way of commercial airplay but if I was 17 again and looking to kick out the jams this is what I'd want to hear on my radio. Its hard poppin, briskly played but still erudite music. They've taken some of the best of the Posies, Elvis Costello, and the politically savvy Jam and turned it into something that College stations would find hard to resist. "Ballad of the Sin Eater" might be the best summing up of the mood in America post 9/11 that could be captured outside of a lengthy article in Harpers: "...you didn't think they could hate you now, did ya?". Time to invest some coin in their just released CD.
Mark Koselek's sun kil moon project- "Ghosts of the Highway". Ok this was released in November 2003, but I listened to it throughout 2004 as well as picking up another 3 of his cds. This is the one that started it all, and still seems the best of the bunch but they are all pretty great. The quality of the songwritting and the pacing of the album (mixing crazy horse like rockers w acoustic ballads) is pretty much perfect, (unlike his live show at the shoe). The etherial sound of his voice and his wash painted lyrics are a blend made in heaven. IT gets rave reviews from other friends who I haver played it for. If you have any of his other stuff and love it, dont miss out on this one, (on sale now for the low price.......)
The other pick would have to be Arcade Fire . Derek and I have been discussing how maybe this band will usher in a new era of sincerety and heartfelt passion in pop music. I cant handle the ironic tonge in cheek bullshit most bands push out any longer....They managed to capture a sence of the live showin the disc and the show for me had to top the list for concerts last year (but thats another list topic....) These kooky looking freaks are the real deal I think, no poseurs would choose this geeky a look..... The range of material on the album is something I hope they continue rather then honing in on one aspect of their sound...I never new eighties influenced rock could sound this great,( it helps not having that stupid production w the big drum bash). These 2 albums are polar opposites , but both have honesty rarely seen these days.
The other pick would have to be Arcade Fire . Derek and I have been discussing how maybe this band will usher in a new era of sincerety and heartfelt passion in pop music. I cant handle the ironic tonge in cheek bullshit most bands push out any longer....They managed to capture a sence of the live showin the disc and the show for me had to top the list for concerts last year (but thats another list topic....) These kooky looking freaks are the real deal I think, no poseurs would choose this geeky a look..... The range of material on the album is something I hope they continue rather then honing in on one aspect of their sound...I never new eighties influenced rock could sound this great,( it helps not having that stupid production w the big drum bash). These 2 albums are polar opposites , but both have honesty rarely seen these days.
Friday, December 03, 2004
Marc. Sorry man.
Like you, an annual top ten is often a little daunting for me these days, as I rarely buy enough music released in the year in question, but for 2004 I think I can muster up a few options.
For albums, I'll start with......American Music Club's "Love Songs for Patriots". Great to see these guys back at it, and depressing as hell to think that it's been ten years since their last record. Frig, I say. This one is consistently good - their songs are so intelligent and emotionally complex (I hesitate to curse any band by labelling it "mature", but...), and musically rich as well. The sense of the dramatic reminds me that AMC started out in the eighties and worked through the grunge years, but it still sounds contemporary to me, and satisfyingly, uniquely them as well. The album opener "Ladies and Gentlemen" is an absolute stunner - but wait! I'm not choosing songs of the year yet, and will not be so gauche as to double dip (at least until I begin to run out of ideas next Friday).
Second album, released in 2002 but fuck off, is John Cunningham's "Happy-Go Unlucky", a gorgeous update on Beatle-esque songwriting (meets Elliott Smith, but more on him later), without a weak track on the record. At times it can be too reverntial, but mostly it is beautiful beautiful beautiful. Chamber Pop at its absolute best. I particularly love "Invisible Lines", "It Isn't Easy" and "Here it is" . Highly recommended and available only at Soundscapes I believe.
Now for a song. Since we're splitting songs from albums, which is fine, I'm more tempted to choose tunes I like to play in the car, quick hitters as it were. At least that's what my first choice is - it's Ben Kweller's "I Need You Back". I blew my brains out on this one all summer - light as candy floss, and in a way it's very cheesey (hmmm, two food metaphors, OK snack break) with BK's pretensions of naivete, but ultimately it works great because of its energy and angst, and his great singing. I remember driving back from my CFA exam in June, convinced I'd failed, and screaming this one at the top of my lungs (look out ma, I'm turning forty!).
Kyle, thanks for the metacritic site - it rocks.
Like you, an annual top ten is often a little daunting for me these days, as I rarely buy enough music released in the year in question, but for 2004 I think I can muster up a few options.
For albums, I'll start with......American Music Club's "Love Songs for Patriots". Great to see these guys back at it, and depressing as hell to think that it's been ten years since their last record. Frig, I say. This one is consistently good - their songs are so intelligent and emotionally complex (I hesitate to curse any band by labelling it "mature", but...), and musically rich as well. The sense of the dramatic reminds me that AMC started out in the eighties and worked through the grunge years, but it still sounds contemporary to me, and satisfyingly, uniquely them as well. The album opener "Ladies and Gentlemen" is an absolute stunner - but wait! I'm not choosing songs of the year yet, and will not be so gauche as to double dip (at least until I begin to run out of ideas next Friday).
Second album, released in 2002 but fuck off, is John Cunningham's "Happy-Go Unlucky", a gorgeous update on Beatle-esque songwriting (meets Elliott Smith, but more on him later), without a weak track on the record. At times it can be too reverntial, but mostly it is beautiful beautiful beautiful. Chamber Pop at its absolute best. I particularly love "Invisible Lines", "It Isn't Easy" and "Here it is" . Highly recommended and available only at Soundscapes I believe.
Now for a song. Since we're splitting songs from albums, which is fine, I'm more tempted to choose tunes I like to play in the car, quick hitters as it were. At least that's what my first choice is - it's Ben Kweller's "I Need You Back". I blew my brains out on this one all summer - light as candy floss, and in a way it's very cheesey (hmmm, two food metaphors, OK snack break) with BK's pretensions of naivete, but ultimately it works great because of its energy and angst, and his great singing. I remember driving back from my CFA exam in June, convinced I'd failed, and screaming this one at the top of my lungs (look out ma, I'm turning forty!).
Kyle, thanks for the metacritic site - it rocks.
The end of another year and the start of a season of top ten lists (or is it five)…a chance for reflection on where our musical choices have taken us…the same old predictable meaningless drivel or down new and inspiring avenues of discovery.
Starting off my top 10 list of favs. would be Kim Hiorthoy, "For The Ladies". Now the only reason this could make it onto my top ten is that I purchased less than ten albums released in 2004. This album, for lack of a better term is the greatest disappointment I have ever picked up in my life (music, that is)….EVER. I had heard some of Kim’s work on Denise Benson’s show and really dug it. A smooth Scandinavian blend of jazz and electronica, soulful and cool but pushing the limits of what I have heard…just a bit. So I walk into soundscapes not having done my research and pick up his latest release….not a song on the album…barely even a note. 10 tracks of ambient noise, much of it barely audible at normal listening levels, which is ok with me since it’s all shit! Often I might find myself being generous, embracing such an experiment as art, but not this time….sorry Kim. The only reason I am not throwing this one into the Michigan landfill is that I want the ultimate example of how absurd the record industry is. Will I ever pick up the Hiorthoy I was really looking for? I don’t know! Will I ever implicitly trust Soundscapes again? Not bloody likely. Caveat emptor! This sucker was born on a day long, long ago.
No. 9 on the top 10…Jens Lekman “when I said I wanted to be your dog”…I just don’t get It!...highly rated by the critics? Not sickly sweet but rather tastes of sacrine…has no nutritive value and leaves a nasty taste in your mouth. Ixnay on the Lekman eh!
...a dog indeed!
Starting off my top 10 list of favs. would be Kim Hiorthoy, "For The Ladies". Now the only reason this could make it onto my top ten is that I purchased less than ten albums released in 2004. This album, for lack of a better term is the greatest disappointment I have ever picked up in my life (music, that is)….EVER. I had heard some of Kim’s work on Denise Benson’s show and really dug it. A smooth Scandinavian blend of jazz and electronica, soulful and cool but pushing the limits of what I have heard…just a bit. So I walk into soundscapes not having done my research and pick up his latest release….not a song on the album…barely even a note. 10 tracks of ambient noise, much of it barely audible at normal listening levels, which is ok with me since it’s all shit! Often I might find myself being generous, embracing such an experiment as art, but not this time….sorry Kim. The only reason I am not throwing this one into the Michigan landfill is that I want the ultimate example of how absurd the record industry is. Will I ever pick up the Hiorthoy I was really looking for? I don’t know! Will I ever implicitly trust Soundscapes again? Not bloody likely. Caveat emptor! This sucker was born on a day long, long ago.
No. 9 on the top 10…Jens Lekman “when I said I wanted to be your dog”…I just don’t get It!...highly rated by the critics? Not sickly sweet but rather tastes of sacrine…has no nutritive value and leaves a nasty taste in your mouth. Ixnay on the Lekman eh!
...a dog indeed!
good god men! it's friday afternoon and no one has offered at least two of their five discs of the year for others to contemplate/congratulate/annihilate?
fine. then i'll offer up two of my choices:
'Cast of Thousands' by Elbow, an album that doesn't really push any boundaries, channelling, from track to track, everyone from Coldplay to Catherine Wheel to Primal Scream to Spiritualized. But hey, since I dig all those influences and since this is one solid album I can listen to and enjoy all the way through, and since, even after I've played it over 20 times I'm still not tired of it, into the top 5 it goes.
My other choice, 'Funeral' by Arcade Fire, is probably up there at the top of the top five, for the sheer energy and intensity of the music and the vocals and for the fact that it conjures up good feelings about the music I liked in the 80s.
as promised, here is one of my top 5 songs of the year:
'What are you afraid of?' by West Indian Girl. If you don't recall it from the cd club (we were probably 5 or 6 drinks in at that point), you can preview a copy at the new Itunes store, the Canadian version of which opened yesterday (meaning for a mere 99 cents, you can also purchase it, all legally.
Itunes is a free software program that you can download from apple's website and I use it to burn all my cds and organize my music. Recommended if you like to listen to music on your computer and necessary if you wish to purchase music from the itunes music store. Enough promo for apple!! (I've got my own software to sell!)
But one quick other note, in regards to the reviews topic last week, there is a site called Metacritic that compiles, among other things, reviews of cds from various sources. There was a reference to this site in an article I read today at Salon.com that echoed statements made by those of you who own the Brian Wilson disc. The writer can't understand why it's the highest rated disc of the year. (Note: to read articles at Salon, you have to watch a brief commercial).
Okay, back to selling career exploration and planning software...
fine. then i'll offer up two of my choices:
'Cast of Thousands' by Elbow, an album that doesn't really push any boundaries, channelling, from track to track, everyone from Coldplay to Catherine Wheel to Primal Scream to Spiritualized. But hey, since I dig all those influences and since this is one solid album I can listen to and enjoy all the way through, and since, even after I've played it over 20 times I'm still not tired of it, into the top 5 it goes.
My other choice, 'Funeral' by Arcade Fire, is probably up there at the top of the top five, for the sheer energy and intensity of the music and the vocals and for the fact that it conjures up good feelings about the music I liked in the 80s.
as promised, here is one of my top 5 songs of the year:
'What are you afraid of?' by West Indian Girl. If you don't recall it from the cd club (we were probably 5 or 6 drinks in at that point), you can preview a copy at the new Itunes store, the Canadian version of which opened yesterday (meaning for a mere 99 cents, you can also purchase it, all legally.
Itunes is a free software program that you can download from apple's website and I use it to burn all my cds and organize my music. Recommended if you like to listen to music on your computer and necessary if you wish to purchase music from the itunes music store. Enough promo for apple!! (I've got my own software to sell!)
But one quick other note, in regards to the reviews topic last week, there is a site called Metacritic that compiles, among other things, reviews of cds from various sources. There was a reference to this site in an article I read today at Salon.com that echoed statements made by those of you who own the Brian Wilson disc. The writer can't understand why it's the highest rated disc of the year. (Note: to read articles at Salon, you have to watch a brief commercial).
Okay, back to selling career exploration and planning software...
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Admittedly, I've been less excited about BDB since the Fish record. Though I will say the the latest one has become a bit of a grower.
Damon was actually a little annoying the other night. Dare I say, smug? Self-indulgent at least. The show lacked intensity, and while there were certainly great moments (Once Around the Block, The Shining, and three or four from the new record were truly great, for ex), there was a lot of down-time, energy-wise, and a number of BDB's more recent songs showed themselves as banal piano singer-sowngriter efforts. Billy Joel, anyone? OK, that's a bit harsh. He seemed kind of in love with himself and indifferent to the audience at the same time - had to start songs again on three occassions when he forgot words or chords. Which I can deal with if it's honest or from nervousness. When he really lost me was when he took twenty minutes to introduce the band over a cheesy 60's soul bazz and drum groove ("take it down......OK....bring it up again"....I kid you not), and then didn't "have time" to play a number of the goodies from the first two records (I'm including About a Boy) .....well, poor judgment, if nothing else.
All in all, about a six out of ten. Looking forward to Friday's choices....meanwhile, back to reading about chimps tearing each other to bits.
Damon was actually a little annoying the other night. Dare I say, smug? Self-indulgent at least. The show lacked intensity, and while there were certainly great moments (Once Around the Block, The Shining, and three or four from the new record were truly great, for ex), there was a lot of down-time, energy-wise, and a number of BDB's more recent songs showed themselves as banal piano singer-sowngriter efforts. Billy Joel, anyone? OK, that's a bit harsh. He seemed kind of in love with himself and indifferent to the audience at the same time - had to start songs again on three occassions when he forgot words or chords. Which I can deal with if it's honest or from nervousness. When he really lost me was when he took twenty minutes to introduce the band over a cheesy 60's soul bazz and drum groove ("take it down......OK....bring it up again"....I kid you not), and then didn't "have time" to play a number of the goodies from the first two records (I'm including About a Boy) .....well, poor judgment, if nothing else.
All in all, about a six out of ten. Looking forward to Friday's choices....meanwhile, back to reading about chimps tearing each other to bits.
Monday, November 29, 2004
even though i'm not keen on his last two albums i'm still pretty jealous that you got comped tickets for the show, brian. bastard!!!
i'll use the time i'm not watching free concerts to craft a haughtily worded treatise on 2 of my disc selections plus 1 of my top 5 songs of the year. though i can't promise wallowing or anything close to what stuart just came up with (i'm waiting for the abridgement), i will attempt to incorporate words like 'deftly' and 'replete' as often as possible.
i'll use the time i'm not watching free concerts to craft a haughtily worded treatise on 2 of my disc selections plus 1 of my top 5 songs of the year. though i can't promise wallowing or anything close to what stuart just came up with (i'm waiting for the abridgement), i will attempt to incorporate words like 'deftly' and 'replete' as often as possible.
Friday, November 26, 2004
Actually I have an egolilly disc and I had the following thoughts on it.
The narcissic manifestations of the egalitarian purvue simply resonated with a certain tempered wallowing of superficiality that seemed to condescend to the meager intellectual offerings suggested capable for the average listener. (Just practicing my review stye for the upcoming disc reviews)
s
The narcissic manifestations of the egalitarian purvue simply resonated with a certain tempered wallowing of superficiality that seemed to condescend to the meager intellectual offerings suggested capable for the average listener. (Just practicing my review stye for the upcoming disc reviews)
s
Thursday, November 25, 2004
I just noticed Derek's notion of each of us choosing two disks each week (I normally gloss over Derek's contributions and look for the meatier input from Kyle, Marc, or Stu....or simply re-read mine, savouring my choices of words and refreshing, thought-provoking concepts), and will reluctantly agree, despite my enthusiasm to offer up Kyle as a week 1 sacrificial lamb.
Two selections in the first week, let's say by next Friday, I can probably handle, though it'll still require more thought than I was budgeting. Goddamn it.
Two selections in the first week, let's say by next Friday, I can probably handle, though it'll still require more thought than I was budgeting. Goddamn it.
Just to ease Marc's fears re Wilco I too am coming around to the pleasures of this disc. It was only this past weekend, listening to it for maybe the 6th or 7th time on my MD player, on a cold and overcast Saturday morning that it finally struck a chord. I don't think you can ever rush a Wilco record.
In contrast I picked up U2's latest on Tuesday given that it was available for $10.99, had been garnering decent reviews and the last disc I have of theirs is "Achtung Baby" and that was over a decade ago and like REM their mainstream success has never completely soured me on their music. The disc certainly has its merits the main one being that it's immediately likeable. Methinks however that like a Canadian in an Olympic 1500 metre race it wont stay the pace.
Like your idea Kyle with respect to our year end picks. Each of us should select 2 discs per week over the next 5 weeks and wax rhapsodic about them on the site. Looking forward to see who's been holding out with the hidden gems.
In contrast I picked up U2's latest on Tuesday given that it was available for $10.99, had been garnering decent reviews and the last disc I have of theirs is "Achtung Baby" and that was over a decade ago and like REM their mainstream success has never completely soured me on their music. The disc certainly has its merits the main one being that it's immediately likeable. Methinks however that like a Canadian in an Olympic 1500 metre race it wont stay the pace.
Like your idea Kyle with respect to our year end picks. Each of us should select 2 discs per week over the next 5 weeks and wax rhapsodic about them on the site. Looking forward to see who's been holding out with the hidden gems.
hey, i like and respect stuart even if he can't manage to crank out a sentence without multiple spelling errors so respecting someone who has a different take on a given piece of music or art barely rates a second thought. though we like similar types of films, i find my impressions diverge greatly from those of derek and brian on any number of films. for example, where brian will enthuse over any mediocre piece of crap released by an independent film company and derek will instinctively loathe any film i give an advance rave, i actually think about what i've seen and....okay, okay, kidding...
disagreement is far more interesting than agreement. as any book club member will attest, when there's a wide consensus on a given month's selection, the ensuing conversation is usually pretty dull and short-lived. when there is a lack of consensus, the ensuing conversation is still short-lived but is at least much livelier. if i haven't liked the book, i find i usually come to appreciate it a little better after hearing a spirited defense. i may not agree but at least i understand where that person is coming from.
we're coming up on the end of the year and i'm sure that we'll each want to share lists of our favourite discs or to posit the best releases of 2004. may i suggest that we take turns presenting and defending our top 5 or 10 discs, songs, etc. for the year. there are 5 of us presently contributing to the blog and coincidentally 5 weeks (after this one) until the end of the year so could spend a week on each person's list.
what say you?
disagreement is far more interesting than agreement. as any book club member will attest, when there's a wide consensus on a given month's selection, the ensuing conversation is usually pretty dull and short-lived. when there is a lack of consensus, the ensuing conversation is still short-lived but is at least much livelier. if i haven't liked the book, i find i usually come to appreciate it a little better after hearing a spirited defense. i may not agree but at least i understand where that person is coming from.
we're coming up on the end of the year and i'm sure that we'll each want to share lists of our favourite discs or to posit the best releases of 2004. may i suggest that we take turns presenting and defending our top 5 or 10 discs, songs, etc. for the year. there are 5 of us presently contributing to the blog and coincidentally 5 weeks (after this one) until the end of the year so could spend a week on each person's list.
what say you?
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Incomplete thoughts on a provocative subject…
What I find curious about music, art, friends, life et al, is that I never know what is going to strike a chord with me… jump out of the crowd and turn me on in one way or another. For me, music (and so much else of what I deem to be important in life) speaks to me on so many different levels that can range from the intellectual to the purely visceral. Equally, I think we can each extract such differing qualities from any given stimulus.
I find it fascinating one can be drawn to a particular artist that someone else is also into, and yet you can not see eye to eye on their body of work. The new Wilco might be a prime example of this. I cannot get enough of the album, while Kyle who is a die hard Wilco fan is less than indifferent about it. Could it have something to do with the fact that it’s my first Wilco album? Will I be disappointed with Yankee Foxtrot when I finally pick it up? Will my expectations of Wilco be formed by their latest departures?
We are all individual looking for different things in art at any given time. Interesting how it is possible to so pass things by at one point in one's life and then be so drawn to it months or years later.
The problem with music (art) review is many fold. Firstly, I think that the majority of readers are looking for the quick fix…am I going to like this album or not…should I buy it…am I going to get into it. I think that the majority of music listeners never go deeper into their music than that. Are they the ones reading the reviews in the Globe, probably not. They are more likely picking up a free rag like now or eye. Rag writers may well lose many of their readers at the mention of complex concepts and argument; besides if they were capable of profound concepts and arguments they would be going for a job that did not suck, like at the Globe. I think that people rarely listen to music in a profound way and seek out reviews that are as superficial as the way they think about the music.
I think that much of what is released these days is sophomoric and does not stand up to serious criticism or thought. It’s easy to write a dissertation on, say Moby’s Play, but try to find something meaningful to say about yet another release by a prolific artist who might have done better work?…it gets a bit harder.
Unfortunately, the way we see things critically in our society is by comparison…..”I like London. It’s such a cool place, but Paris is so much more romantic” …”Timothy’s is o.k but Starbucks is way better”...“Kerry’s frightening but Bush is worse”. Things rarely stand alone to be judged on their own merits without reference because that reference becomes the common ground for describing or understanding…at least superficially. It’s the easy way out.
As for Metabeats Blog reviews, I’m all for them, but how can Kyle possibly respect my opinion when we can’t even see eye to eye on the latest Wilco! and how can any body respect someone who's a pathological cleptomaniac!
What I find curious about music, art, friends, life et al, is that I never know what is going to strike a chord with me… jump out of the crowd and turn me on in one way or another. For me, music (and so much else of what I deem to be important in life) speaks to me on so many different levels that can range from the intellectual to the purely visceral. Equally, I think we can each extract such differing qualities from any given stimulus.
I find it fascinating one can be drawn to a particular artist that someone else is also into, and yet you can not see eye to eye on their body of work. The new Wilco might be a prime example of this. I cannot get enough of the album, while Kyle who is a die hard Wilco fan is less than indifferent about it. Could it have something to do with the fact that it’s my first Wilco album? Will I be disappointed with Yankee Foxtrot when I finally pick it up? Will my expectations of Wilco be formed by their latest departures?
We are all individual looking for different things in art at any given time. Interesting how it is possible to so pass things by at one point in one's life and then be so drawn to it months or years later.
The problem with music (art) review is many fold. Firstly, I think that the majority of readers are looking for the quick fix…am I going to like this album or not…should I buy it…am I going to get into it. I think that the majority of music listeners never go deeper into their music than that. Are they the ones reading the reviews in the Globe, probably not. They are more likely picking up a free rag like now or eye. Rag writers may well lose many of their readers at the mention of complex concepts and argument; besides if they were capable of profound concepts and arguments they would be going for a job that did not suck, like at the Globe. I think that people rarely listen to music in a profound way and seek out reviews that are as superficial as the way they think about the music.
I think that much of what is released these days is sophomoric and does not stand up to serious criticism or thought. It’s easy to write a dissertation on, say Moby’s Play, but try to find something meaningful to say about yet another release by a prolific artist who might have done better work?…it gets a bit harder.
Unfortunately, the way we see things critically in our society is by comparison…..”I like London. It’s such a cool place, but Paris is so much more romantic” …”Timothy’s is o.k but Starbucks is way better”...“Kerry’s frightening but Bush is worse”. Things rarely stand alone to be judged on their own merits without reference because that reference becomes the common ground for describing or understanding…at least superficially. It’s the easy way out.
As for Metabeats Blog reviews, I’m all for them, but how can Kyle possibly respect my opinion when we can’t even see eye to eye on the latest Wilco! and how can any body respect someone who's a pathological cleptomaniac!
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