Re: The Machines Rule (was: Re: Damn The Machines!!!!)

From: Eighth Dimension (badmood@earthlink.net)
Date: Sun Nov 26 2000 - 21:28:01 CET

  • Next message: tim sweeney: "BiS..."

    At 8:13 PM -0800 on 11/25/00, Elson Trinidad wrote:
    >
    >I know people will throw eggs and various garden vegetables at me for saying
    >this, but in my experience, most people doing the studio production thing are
    >doing it for the love of it, the art of it (hey, it's all underground anyway)
    >and those playing in live bands are primarily in it for the money.

    I will step out of my long silence to point everyone at a good
    article about the above ... in the latest issue of the UK magazine
    Uncut (with the Beatles on the cover, ironically) there is a Simon
    Reynolds article on Radiohead that is less about that band and more
    about this phenomenon that Elson speaks of.

    The (somewhat generalizing) theory is that an artistic person is a
    loner by nature and would rather not be in the social situation that
    a band requires. In the past, this artistic person would have to
    align him/herself with those more capable of social flag-waving -->
    someone whose goal is fame rather than artistic expression. Thus,
    rock bands are formed with (as example) Brian Wilson being the
    creative force but in the background in public obligations.

    Now, with new avenues of technology, we see the revolt of the
    artistic loner, as he/she is able to fulfill his/her goals solitarily
    without the annoyances of pesky bandmates. Thus, the only people left
    in bands are the grandstanders and the fame-grabbers, while the
    artists are staying home.

    Reynolds believes that this is the reason for the downward spiral in
    modern "band" music (really, where are the 'great' new bands?) while
    electronic and solo production has flourished. This is mentioned in a
    Radiohead article as Reynolds heralds the band as one brave enough to
    move and work with this trend, by embracing electronic and solo
    production wholeheartedly and compromising as a band to realize the
    translation. (not to make a comparison, but it is safe to say that
    the Beatles were studio/band innovators in a similar fashion ...)
    Reynolds sees more bands working like this, more as 'collaborators'
    towards a more artistic and possibly public end rather than as a
    'band'.

    I'm not sure if I agree 100% with Reynolds' points. However, it's
    funny because I fall into this cycle I suppose ... I was someone who
    has played in bands all my life, but gave all that the boot once I
    amassed enough technology to go at it on my own. Bands are pesky
    things to me, and I was never good at dealing with the personality
    struggles. Being locked up in my studio and doing one-off DJ gigs is
    actually much more fulfilling. Now I follow Reynolds' evolution as I
    find myself stuck in a rut and need to go forward by going back to
    bring my sound to more people. Thus, I'm working on the band thing
    again, getting together a few others to add the emotional spark of
    on-stage 'vibing' to the one-man studio productions. Interesting. And
    even more interesting is where it may all go. I'll keep you posted.

    Thanks for the thread. Got the noggin' throbbin' on a Sunday afternoon ...

    love,

    michael
    Q-Burns Abstract Message



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