>>Let me know what you think.
While I definitely like electronic music, I do understand where the
lack of respect for Hip Hop, Acid Jazz et al comes from, and to some extent
agree. The increased availability of music making techno-logy has given people
with no musical aptitude the ability to turn out music. Much of this music,
even the stuff I genuinely like is really catchy rhythms, not actual songs.
80% of the stuff I like now, I will not be playing in two years, while many of
the jazz records I have I play all the time.
Similarly, most songs today really don't have the integrity to really
stand alone. Much of jazz is the playing of old standards, songs which really
stand the test of time. Like in classical music, the songs have stood the test
of time and continued to be played for decades or even centuries. How many of
today's hip hop, acid jazz, or even grunge/garage will survive.
Lastly, the hands on ease of today's techno-logy has removed the
necessity of needing to play an instrument. I believe this is good in that it
allows people to express feeling through music without the need for years of
study, but I think it provides critics with an easy way to disparage the music.
I really understand where this feeling comes from although I disagree. I feel
the same way about going out to eat. I love to cook so I don't go to a place
which I think I can cook better than. I think its the same perception with the
music. If people don't respect the technical skill of the artist they don't
give it a chance.
All IMO of course
-- Mark Bowen mb@gettins.bche.uic.edu"The universe," said [the devil], "is a Ph.D thesis that God was unable to successfully defend." -James Morrow