| StoreTags: what you don't, what you like, music
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so...i was reading in the forums and a couple blogs that people aren't listening to the electronic music that they used to. somehow people are putting alot of groups into genres that i don't think even fit the music. i think this is a big problem in understanding what an artist is trying to do with their music. this got me thinking about some shit. my questions for anyone are: what are you looking for in music? is it to be on top of the trends, to know about all the newest shit? is it the melodies or sound itself? are you making music for yourself or other people? what makes a song with literally the same kick-snare-kick-snare-kick-kick-snare with a few buzzes and bleeps running for three minutes interesting? what makes the most complex beats and melodies not just seem too saturated? music is expression! i think many artists out there are being lumped into generic genres because the music is different...but it isn't experimental or idm, or this or that. people like what they like. why the fuck does music have to be generalized so much? if you like what you do or other people do...listen to it. expression shouldn't be something that is torn to pieces by us or labels. i'm really struggling at this point to decide if i'm going to make music full time or just drop it entirely. i'm serious about it, but to devote enough time and energy to reach the goal i want to achieve is a struggle. now i'm only admiting this because i know people don't take shit that seriously. they sit at home and fuck around with music but don't devote themselves to it. yet they seem to think they know so much about it that they can rip peoples music apart that have devoted their life to it. fuck it...if you want to do it just for kicks on the weekends, awesome...more power to ya. in no way am i trying to say that you have to devote your life to music to enjoy it. get a grip though if you sit with your ipod playing all the new "hot shit" or what pitchfork tells you is cool and think you can judge someones music. you can read all the medical literature in the world but that doesn't mean you can perform heart surgery.
this is where i apologize to anyone that read this...because really it's a bitch fest of my own frustration... | |
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06/19/07
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sprouts
drink much?
06/19/07
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Polyoddity
actually i do...haha
06/19/07
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saladnoise
I think that there is a herd mentality that can really look like it is the only game going if you just look at the internet. Pitchfork is loathed by many, and there are many more lurkers that posters in any forum, so i think it is safer to think that there are people recording music that simply don't have time for Pitchfork and a blind appetite to fill every corner of their iPod with whatever a hip blog/site sez to check out.
Why the labels/genres?... if you don't take them too seriously, they can be okay references for a particular connotation that some quality in a peice of music is evoking. Its like if you were discussing painting and didn't use any references to famous painters'/periods vocabularies of brushstrokes and color and whatnot... you'd have a hard time quickly giving a general description of the paintings. It does suck because it causes people to write off things they haven't heard... but we humans are beasts whose minds rely on pattern-identification to look through all the leaves to find the juicy berries, and our language kind of models that same generalizing behavior in order to quickly organize a lot of information. oh well!
06/19/07
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utofbu
To be fair, I am never looking for more than one thing. The Process.
The method of what you do and how you allow it to grow across time is the only truly seek able goal. In my opinion, you cannot work on music for some end means.
Perhaps it is a compulsion inside of you, it replaces more distorted realities you could easily fit within your life.
Maybe it is this underlying urge to ressurect a moment in time.
Maybe you seek the appreciation of others
I could easily see people driven by totally autocratic reasons as well. People who see it as a money machine or maybe a vehicle for further exploration in venture capitalism.
For me, its easy, I write music for the same reason I like to garden. You get to watch it grow. A careful hand and a constant appreciation for moments of patience and commitment seems to give me a journey.
I want to share this music, but I dont really see it as an economic vehicle. I dont feel like I am virtuosic at all but I want to play out.
Everyone will have a story, you will see.
06/19/07
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Polyoddity
@saladnoise...when i was discussing this with my roomate, he pretty much said the same things. i guess all i can do is say oh well.
06/19/07
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astroid
preaching to the choir here, buddy
and, who cares about the world? seriously. just do your shit.
06/19/07
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Analog
doing my shit: 
06/19/07
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djugel
I really do think that the "hair-splitting" micro-genre's did sorta killed underground music... and it was all done with good intentions... we loved it to death.
06/19/07
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jsotelo
I dont think so at all.. If anything it gave a new avenue of exploration. Sitting in a genre and making music for that genre is ok. Inc. underground experiements into that genre is also ok. Either way, nobody cares!
You either want to dance, get high, create, or share, or get paid. Maybe all of them.
If your struggling with the decision to quit, i suggest taking a break. Your obviously to caught up in the bs and its frustrating you.
If not, then pick an ave. and stick with it. If you want to make money, then figure it out. "genres" would probably be a good start.
If you have no goals, who cares.. get a desk job and waste time allday thinking of new creations..
If, then - statements
I agree with ass troid. You either playing the game, watching it, or screaming at the ref.
Experimental!, Pop?
06/19/07
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subset
of course bandwagon jumpers are frustrating.
I think with any artform you have to make a personal decision to just keep an open mind. You can be informed by knowing genres/influences/references, but if you see or hear things in generalizations, then its a problem - you're not seeing the art.
I've never been to this pitchfork - I'll take this as advice not to make the effort to go. But I'll also try to keep an open but informed mind!
06/19/07
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appollo51
...there's nothing wrong with web journalism, be it Pitchfork or other blogs - they just bring exposure to music that might be otherwise unexposed/
most of 'fork's writers are freelance, and i don't know of any specific editorial policy one has to abide by. listen to music, and be your own critic. buy what you like, and support good art. where else can you get a review like this! ---
link
06/19/07
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nightowl
a very thought-provoking blog, i think of many of the same issues. i hate the hair-splitting genre thing, i don't set out to make music in any genre. it might end up being in one, but i dont care about that aspect. i make music first of all, for myself. i think this is a basic principle in art. trying to please the crowd and conform to the latest hip genres is not being genuine in your art. are you doing it for the praise it might bring? wrong track--the process of creation
is the reward, along with a sense of accomplishment when you listen to the end result. i think there is too much conformity in em culture. i like the comments by utufbu above---when he mentions a journey. that is the creative process. and, like what can be said about life itself, the destination IS the journey.
06/19/07
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astroid
i think the hairsplitting is entertaining, but i could never peg my identity on a genre
06/19/07
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Psyingo
i am industrial.
astroid is math-dump-music.
06/19/07
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astroid
psyingo: grundlecore
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