August 13, 2002
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It's not exactly that my musical tastes have changed, but the type of music I choose to listen to regularly has changed.
My taste in music is extremely eclectic. I like to boast that there's something in my collection of 500+ albums for everyone to hate
.
What I like and what I don't like depends on a number of factors, none of them concrete or definitive. I value instrumentation, vocal, and lyric. I generally dislike fake, unskilled, bland or spiritless instrumentation. I'm very picky about vocals, and a voice has to grab me. I doesn't have to be beautiful or technically skilled, but there has to be something about it. Lyrics are tricky. I value a firm grasp of language, evocative imagery, strong perspective, and honesty. I don't generally like overtly political, religious, or social lyrics, nor do I generally enjoy lyrics which glamourize aspects of life which I don't feel are deserving of glamour. If you're going to try and teach me or convey a strong message, you're going to have to be one helluva good musician to grab me and keep me. But then again, I don't like fluffy music, and I would consider my favourite music to be extremely pertinent and relevant to the important aspects of the human condition.
There are more exceptions than rules. It really comes down to whether it grabs me or not. Sometimes I'll love the voice, but hate the production. I hate sterile production. Music should sound like it's made by humans. I prefer acoustic instruments, and generally abhor synthesizer, especially when it's used (as it most often is) merely as a lazy substitute for a "real" instrument.
So, coming back to change. Making this current mix tape is demonstrating to me that I'm listening to much mellower stuff than I was a few years ago. Not necessarily surprising, since I'm currently in a very stable time in my life, vastly different from the fast-paced and tumultuous times during which previous mixes were compiled. It's interesting to try and balance out songs I used to listen to with my current tastes. I still like the old songs, but their presence seems a little odd, and maybe even a little insincere.
Anyhow, long blogs seem to kill readers. More anon.
Take care
-J-
Comments (8)
yes i find that my taste in music isn't stuck to one group permanently, but rather when the songs are of no significant meaning to me or seem pointless, I change to ones which I can apply my life to.
No, your blog was not all that long, and again, no, it didn't kill me. I'M ALIVE, ALIVE, I TELL YOU! ('ever see Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein?--but I digress). Question: What led you to my site? I only hope you make a return visit. Thanks! Oh, and your name sounds familiar.
p.s. I've long been a fan of Escher's work. I've only ever seen the piece you have displayed in black and white, I didn't know there were colored versions, or did you do that yourself ala Ted Turner?
Mellow = Old.
Just kidding...you know I'm just kidding.
By the way, check your guestbook. I wrote a lengthly ramble in there.
So who's your favorite?????
I like.
check out http://www.tuatara.com for tuatara and wayward shamans. my musical tastes are all over the place, and completely inexplicable. I completely agree with your assessment, however.
so how do you feel about techno/electronica?
And I thought it was just me. Thanks!
Best
B.
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