[Photon46]

Ever notice how while it's all too common on AC for folks to lean forward in their rockers and start waving their canes around and gettin' all shouty at the very mention of hip hop or rap, you never see the people who like those genres getting in the faces of the folks who enjoy jazz or classical or cave rock ? 

Just sayin'...

D.D.

Personally, I think the distinction needs to be made between musical aspects of rap and the lyrical. There's no legitimate way to criticize the formal elements of rap music, you either like it or you don't. But adopting a position of moral relativism that says one can't question lyrically expressed celebrations of thug life because "it's all good" is a slippery slope. Who knows the full reasons why societies evolve and devolve? I'm able to see both sides of the sentiments expressed here, but I also wonder what the cultural end game will be as society is increasingly reluctant to put any self imposed brakes on "artistic expression." IMO, there's  got to be a balance of innovation and respect for tradition for artistic culture to remain vibrant and relevant. If the cultural see-saw gets too weighted in either tradition or innovation, the results can be really wrong.

[Mike Nomad]

Ever notice how while it's all too common on AC for folks to lean forward in their rockers and start waving their canes around and gettin' all shouty at the very mention of hip hop or rap, you never see the people who like those genres getting in the faces of the folks who enjoy jazz or classical or cave rock ? 

Just sayin'...

D.D.

+1. Having programmed for a college radio station, I took the door mouse's advice and fed my head. Consequently, the station was quite successful at what it did. After graduating, I went to work at a music wholesaler.

One thing that became immediately clear is that 80% of _all_ music is cr@p. It doesn't matter what your favorite/pet genre is. At best, 80% of it is bad. While that may sound like a high percentage, most people have no idea how much music is actually released over the course of a given month. The InterWebs is taken up the slack on the tail out of releases coming from the majors.

Someone earlier mentioned winding the clock back 60 years (1952) and finding a lack of cop killers and people otherwise bobbing for "cougars." I'm sure there is an absence to be found across the span of national acts. But when talking about regional labels and acts (then, a much higher percentage of the biz) all bets are off. When the record biz was more Wild West, the material was definitely a lot more free range.

Looking at Country, Blues, or Rockabilly from the first half of the previous century, it isn't that hard to find one that addresses murder or women (or some combination of both). If you want some real perspective on Blues, as a genre, check out the year-end issue from The Oxford American. It really has all been done before.

Cop Killers? Someone shot the sheriff...

[Diamond Dog]

But not the deputy...

Excellent post, Mike!   

D.D.

[Diamond Dog]

Personally, I think the distinction needs to be made between musical aspects of rap and the lyrical. There's no legitimate way to criticize the formal elements of rap music, you either like it or you don't. But adopting a position of moral relativism that says one can't question lyrically expressed celebrations of thug life because "it's all good" is a slippery slope. Who knows the full reasons why societies evolve and devolve? I'm able to see both sides of the sentiments expressed here, but I also wonder what the cultural end game will be as society is increasingly reluctant to put any self imposed brakes on "artistic expression." IMO, there's  got to be a balance of innovation and respect for tradition for artistic culture to remain vibrant and relevant. If the cultural see-saw gets too weighted in either tradition or innovation, the results can be really wrong.

I understand and appreciate where you're coming from in your thoughtful post. Three thoughts:

i) "Thug Life" is a bit of a dated reference at this stage, but its the sexy one so it sticks. As previously stated by others, hip hop and rap are pretty diverse genres now and to paint all of that music with the same brush is like saying that all rock music is about Satan worship because of a small number of Scandinavian headbangers see the world through those particular bloodshot eyes.

ii) Was ( Vas? )  Wagner responsible for the Nazis or was he just what they chose for background music?

iii) Let's face it - most of the posts coming from the " I hate rap & hip hop " crew have less to do with this:




and more to do with this:





D.D.

[Wayner]

Well, Diamond Dog, the 2 old farts in the balcony almost always hit the nail on the head, and were funny while they did it.

Wayner

[neekomax]

Statler and Waldorf were funny precisely because they were given partially true sentiments to convey, otherwise they would have just been a--holes.

I don't think anyone finds general naysaying particularly funny. It just make the purveyors of naysay seem closer to the latter group.

[Wayner]

I don't have Eric Clapton's "I shot the sheriff", and there is no naysaying coming from here. I also don't care if you did college radio.

I stated that I do not like RAP, nor will I listen to it EVER, nor do I think its a valuable genre to the world at large.

I do find it amusing that because I blast your favorite music, you spin doctor it all and turn on me in a personal shot. None of my comments are directed at anyone. I'm entitled to my opinion, and if you don't like it, that's fine with me, but when you find little (childish) cartoon characters to help you get your dirt in, then it just reinforces my opinions of the thinking of people that defend this music.

Wayner

[Diamond Dog]

I do find it amusing...
Wayner

Funny, you don't seem amused...

D.D.

[Wayner]

I am.

Now to the OP's statement. Does that mean there should be line drawn, say at 40, that you can no longer review anything? Are they too old, too not hip, bad hearing, or just what is the problem?

I'm pretty sure a 60 year old doesn't think like a 50 year old, or a 40, 30,20, 10 or even 5 year old.

Perhaps Disney cartoon movies should only be reviewed by 12 and under kids. I think what we have here is age discrimination. We are suppose to be tolerant of people, regardless of age, sex, race, religion, or sexual preference. Perhaps we could add some more restrictions to who can and who can't do a review.

No? Sounds foolish to me too. Here is the thing. If you don't like a review, change channels or move on or get a different magazine or find a different thread to read.


Make your own path.

Wayner

[Æ]

Funny, you don't seem amused...

D.D.

Antithetically speaking of course.

[Æ]

  Or at least how does one review gear without at least first divulging the stats of one's ears? Are you even capable of hearing the entire range of sound being produced? Are you wearing a hearing device? Do you suffer from tinnitus and other ailments? After all, the experience with equipment is nice to have, but what happens once the decades start to slip past and you forget what it was like to hear above 10k? After all, aren't the ears and their quality also part of the review system?

 I often find myself reading these reviews nowadays, and will often see them written by older gentleman, and I often wonder just how useful the review actually is, beyond measurements and the technical stuff.

Maybe there should be a height and weight requirement too.

[Æ]

I understand and appreciate where you're coming from in your thoughtful post.

Rodin's sculpture was originally named "The Poet" and is often used to represent "Philosophy."

[macrojack]

Can you really trust a reviewer who eats meat? Or hates Soduko? Isn't your height?
There's really a lot to be concerned about if concern is your goal. Why not just sit back and listen to your damn sound system just the way it is and enjoy the music?

This whole audiophile thing seems to hinge on worry about what you might be missing. What's there that you aren't hearing? Is there more to be had? Is my experience less than The Absolute Sound? Will it impress my friends? Will it show that I don't know what I'm doing? Will it prove that I do?
Let's just try to grow up and get real. Your stereo is an appliance - just like your refrigerator and washing machine. They all do a job for you but the stereo is the only one that is submitted to perpetual scrutiny. Why?

[Wayner]

Macrojack, wait a minute. Washers and dryers used to cost 300-500 dollars. But now these little machines just can't do the job like the 1200 per unit machines. Who does 16 loads of laundry at one time? It's the spin doctors, again, trying to part us with our money.

 

And BTW, review = marketing.

[dflee]

Maybe I should put a power conditioner on all my appliances. I might get better ice or whiter whites.

[Rclark]

I'd like to put a further stamp on it. A rapper's brain and voice are one of the main instruments, removing the need for fancy drum fills and guitar solos and the like. Given that, there are several hip hop albums that I would place as some of the greatest albums of all time, regardless of genre. Period.

[Wayner]

dflee, I like how you think!

I've been watching the ABC nightly news lately with what's her name. I've decided that half of the so-called news stories are actually infomercials. There is the "feel good" story that always seems to end up focusing on a product or place. And every commercial in between the news stories is a drug commercial. We either can't get it up, can't sleep or can't poop. Just remember to ask your frickin' doctor if it's right for you. And what's with the Viagra couple on the beach in separate bathtubs. No wonder they have problems.

W

[Diamond Dog]

Macrojack, wait a minute. Washers and dryers used to cost 300-500 dollars. But now these little machines just can't do the job like the 1200 per unit machines. Who does 16 loads of laundry at one time? It's the spin doctors, again, trying to part us with our money.

Spin doctors selling washing machines...I love it!  Who better qualified, I ask ya ?

D.D.

[macrojack]

dflee - Power conditioning will absolutely improve the performance of all your electrical appliances - and you should try different AC cords too. Invite your friends over to do a double blind test with you. I haven't tried any myself but I understand that Underwood Wally has worked up some kick-ass mods for the Samsung front loaders.

[Wayner]

Spin doctors selling washing machines...I love it!  Who better qualified, I ask ya ?

D.D.

I thought it would be funny, but not that funny. Well, it is kind of funny. OK, I promise not to use "spin doctors" any more tonight.