once upon a time in music

[.tom]

amidst all the kool new sound of music and great fashion clothing and forward thinking was this great jolt of psychedelia and psycho keneticism of a new generation overflowing with advanced thinking and a sortof peace starting within from knowing the music knew too. energy. reality. realization. question.

the horror of war reduced to the dissappointment of nation invasion and the catching of the big liar seemed to guide the music writers of rok as much as love and pussycat desire. the squares were upon the scene with calculated machines of replicated jingles for december birth capitalism and the music became advanced with new synthetic technology guided by one button.

the square peeps infiltrated and began filtering. you knew who the man was. he was this old fuk with old hair and a block head. he drove a beat up b/w jalopy with a cherry on top. you knew who was square. the music took you above all the bullshit and down through it too.

then it all changed.

there were these bands that started popping up that made albums full of "commercial" music. this music was well done but it was also mediocre because it was based in old fashioned melody rules and was meant to keep the listener happy with every song. jingle. there was no other emotion in the music and all the beats were the same upbeat feel. it was worse than disco because it was catchy from start to end. the jingle dad loves.

the music sounded expensive. it sounded like hard work and full with musicianship that can only be attained through rigorous means. it sounded like a disneyland ride where you can get back in line and ride it again and again but every time you ride it you begin to notice more and more they painted over chipped paint....very old chipped paint, but the ride is "new". it sounded like old peepol. it sounded nice. it sounded general. it sounded clean. it sounded perfect. every time. every song. everywhere. one.

[ASpencer]

I'm going to take a stab at this one, but I'd say that Music and its perception in culture hasn't changed.

Old stuff is old stuff, as are the classics. New stuff is scary, or not very musical. Pop music isn't music, just a money making format etc. . .

I think its safe to say that you could have 10 bands all play the same song and it would probably sound different each time. To me, thats music. Infinite variations on one melody, or infinite melodies from one variation. Or both. Every time I play a song it only sounds good when I really mean it, regardless of how great the writing is. Likewise if I'm dragging my feet on the greatest written piece of music, or I'm not in the zone, then it will probably sound like regurgitated garbage.

The moment we start thinking that music was better once, or can only come from certain sources, is the moment we lose our ability to be progressive and create new exciting art.

People like to be inspired, they like to empathise, they like to be energised, they like to have their thoughts expressed, they like to feel like a million bucks, they like to feel like crap (trust me, people like to cry).

I think its safe to say that as long as everyone can find something in the archives of music which hits the spot, then our musical culture is in good stead.

Music, like religion, is all about interpretation. If it sounds like paint over chipped paint to you than I sympathise with you.

The moment I stop enjoying all forms of musical expression, regardless of genre, production company and time period, will be the saddest day of my life.

If I ever convince myself that a paradigm shift has occured in the world of music, and it isn't as great as it was, then I will have come full circle and become the Man.