Was up with modern art?

jimdgoulding · « **on:** 29 Jun 2013, 07:41 am »

Or, the absence of it. I find myself listening to music from the 80's and earlier. From the looks of it, so do most of you. A lot of old stuff gets me off, still, as it does you, but what is going on, or not going on, with modern music? By old stuff I mean to include classical music some of which hits passions that are timeless. But, what's happening in jazz? What's happening in rock? Cyndi Lauper is in Houston tonite, and she's a good artist, but isn't she 80's? WTF? Do we need to spike the water supply? Ani DiFranco still making albums? I can think of more artists who aren't than who are. I'm going to San Francisco in December and looking at club dates, I hope there is an underground. But, big but, I'm not terribly hopeful. Help!!

Mjosef, what's happnin in Brooklyn? My girl Maria Neckam still gigging around your scene?

bunky · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 Jun 2013, 11:04 am »

How about metal with bagpipes? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJYxxs37_PA&feature=player_detailpage

Folsom · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 Jun 2013, 05:56 pm »

The quality of music these days is down, even despite the musician ability capable of being higher. For example The Velvet Underground, not good at playing instruments but they made music that people won't even stop listening too.

There are a lot of bad habits these days among young musicians. They don't know how to control their volume, they never stop playing or slow down in songs, and being sucky at your instrument is totally ok (actually encouraged by everyone else who isn't that great). For many electronic people having it be like mono with boring sounds is acceptable too, no reverb, no nothing. It's sad.

Many of them believe in lo-fi too. They think it's fine. But what they don't get is lo-fi instruments and mics need the best hi-fi in order to sound lo-fi. You can play pots and pans for drums but if no one knows you are playing pots and pans for drums then you failed to deliver the lo-fi you like. Plus really low quality stereos actually hurt to listen to because they are so bad; and they don't even know it is happening.

Chazro · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Jun 2013, 08:23 pm »

I assume you're referring to modern pop music which I would agree is truly abysmal nowadays. Within my favorite genres, Latin and contemporary/Fusion Jazz there's an abundance of riches! Just yesterday I spent more than I should've on music!;) Latin Jazz has always felt like the world's best kept secret to me. I always feel like a kid that owns the coolest toy in the neighborhood but can't get anyone to play with me! Jim, San Francisco has a rich, fertile, smokin' Latin Jazz history and a thriving 'scene'. Two of the records I scored yesterday coincidentally are from artists in the bay area.

Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet - 'Latin Jazz-Jazz Latin' - Dr. Wayne Wallace is an outstanding trombone player/arranger/educator. I've been listening to him for close to 40 yrs (!) in various bands and own a bunch of his excellent solo records. This latest record is one of his best and I recommend it highly.

Brian Andres & the Afro-Cuban Cartel - 'San Francisco' (coincidence!)- I just got turned on to this band yesterday! Like Wallace they're from the bay area and they're quite good.

I've always felt Latin Jazz has huge crossover potential due to it being primarily instrumental music. Every time I've brought a 'gringo' (non-latin;) pal to a LJ concert they've loved it. Tellyawhat, the ladies especially dig it!;) Anyhow, if you have an ITunes account, look up these records and sample them. Maybe you'll enjoy what you hear! Hey Jim, if you feel so inclined, PM a mailing address and I'll send you a 'homegrown' Latin Jazz 'sampler'!

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 Jun 2013, 08:52 pm »

Chazro, you have a PM.

ltr317 · « **Reply #5 on:** 30 Jun 2013, 01:12 am »

This is all opinion, based on personal taste. I like a lot of the older music, from the 1960s to the 1990s. I also like a lot of the current music, so there's no right or wrong. Your opinions are valid and so is mine. What matters is what each person likes.

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #6 on:** 30 Jun 2013, 01:18 am »

Quote from: ltr317 on 30 Jun 2013, 01:12 am

This is all opinion, based on personal taste. I like a lot of the older music, from the 1960s to the 1990s. I also like a lot of the current music, so there's no right or wrong. Your opinions are valid and so is mine. What matters is what each person likes.

You is right, of course. Opinion and personal taste. Something I seem to have a lot of it's just there is not enough new music for me to apply it.

HAITIMAN · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 Jun 2013, 01:22 am »

Quote from: Chazro on 29 Jun 2013, 08:23 pm

I assume you're referring to modern pop music which I would agree is truly abysmal nowadays. Within my favorite genres, Latin and contemporary/Fusion Jazz there's an abundance of riches! Just yesterday I spent more than I should've on music!;) Latin Jazz has always felt like the world's best kept secret to me. I always feel like a kid that owns the coolest toy in the neighborhood but can't get anyone to play with me! Jim, San Francisco has a rich, fertile, smokin' Latin Jazz history and a thriving 'scene'. Two of the records I scored yesterday coincidentally are from artists in the bay area.

Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet - 'Latin Jazz-Jazz Latin' - Dr. Wayne Wallace is an outstanding trombone player/arranger/educator. I've been listening to him for close to 40 yrs (!) in various bands and own a bunch of his excellent solo records. This latest record is one of his best and I recommend it highly.

Brian Andres & the Afro-Cuban Cartel - 'San Francisco' (coincidence!)- I just got turned on to this band yesterday! Like Wallace they're from the bay area and they're quite good.

I've always felt Latin Jazz has huge crossover potential due to it being primarily instrumental music. Every time I've brought a 'gringo' (non-latin;) pal to a LJ concert they've loved it. Tellyawhat, the ladies especially dig it!;) Anyhow, if you have an ITunes account, look up these records and sample them. Maybe you'll enjoy what you hear! Hey Jim, if you feel so inclined, PM a mailing address and I'll send you a 'homegrown' Latin Jazz 'sampler'!

You would like Alfredo Rodriguez - Sounds Of Space (2012). This guy can really play.

doorman · « **Reply #8 on:** 30 Jun 2013, 01:27 am »

The jazz fusion scene is alive, vibrant & happening.
Check out abstractlogix.com for starters.
You've gotta dig a bit, but there's no reason to get stuck in a time-warp!
don

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 Jun 2013, 01:31 am »

Quote from: bunky on 29 Jun 2013, 11:04 am

How about metal with bagpipes? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJYxxs37_PA&feature=player_detailpage

Do this was not the guy who ate his own excrements on stage and died of overdose at the hotel??

Sir Paul & Lynda and Bag Pipes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFRcMYjut4o

charmerci · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 Jun 2013, 02:10 am »

I've had many debates with people over the years and I'm afraid that the average person - and most musicians just simply don't get it, i.e. can't hear it. Typical of what happens - a musician friend gave me a compilation CD of music. I told him it was not my cup of tea. I told him every song was three minutes of bam! straight into the music, no introduction. The drum, bass, guitar (and whatever additional instrument) was 10 notes repeating the whole time. Boom, boom, boom goes the drums. Dum, dum, dum goes the bass and so on. His reply - "well, that's rock n' roll."

Well, it doesn't have to be.

So I gave him a return CD compilation of oldies rock songs - early Doobies, Allman Bros. Hendrix, Joplin, etc. (I can give a list if you like.) Each one of those songs had an intro (implying the tune), there are pauses in the music, there are variations on the combinations of musical instruments being played at any given time, they don't repeat the same 5 notes in order over and over again, etc.

Maybe the new generation of musicians (including the old rockers - a rather ironic term

) just no longer want to put in the effort to be creative with their works. A catchy tune and an interesting beat now is enough to get a hit with the money and fame. It seems that that all they want now.

Of course, in addition to this the large companies play it safe to generate the money and hits. I remember when LeeAnn Rimes first came out - and I'm not into country music. Here was a talented 14 year old who wrote her own music. It was a bit different and interesting. Her first album was a huge hit. Then the music industry (and popular culture) told her how fabulous she was and brought in producers and the "best" musicians. So now she popular and huge hits with banal music that sounds exactly like all the other big country stars.

charmerci · « **Reply #11 on:** 30 Jun 2013, 02:17 am »

Quote from: ltr317 on 30 Jun 2013, 01:12 am

This is all opinion, based on personal taste. I like a lot of the older music, from the 1960s to the 1990s. I also like a lot of the current music, so there's no right or wrong. Your opinions are valid and so is mine. What matters is what each person likes.

No one is telling anyone what to like. If people want to like banal, mediocre, uncreative music, they have the right to do so.

Just don't say that it's good music.

Of course, that's just my opinion!!!!

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #12 on:** 30 Jun 2013, 02:32 am »

Quote from: FULLRANGEMAN on 30 Jun 2013, 01:31 am

Do this was not the guy who ate his own excrements on stage and died of overdose at the hotel??

Sir Paul & Lynda and Bag Pipes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFRcMYjut4o

FRM, you rock.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #13 on:** 30 Jun 2013, 02:38 am »

Quote from: jimdgoulding on 30 Jun 2013, 02:32 am

FRM, you rock.

Thanks Jim. I just found that strange guy (GG Allin):
RIP
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GG_Allin

sts9fan · « **Reply #14 on:** 30 Jun 2013, 11:20 am »

Another one of these threads? Your not trying hard enough.

Quote

The quality of music these days is down

Prove it. What's your metric?

I find new amazing music every week. Also, there is plenty of very good modern "pop" music. Might not be top 40 but still pop and great. With Pandora, Spotify etc there is no excuss to not discover new music.

jtwrace · « **Reply #15 on:** 30 Jun 2013, 11:24 am »

Quote from: sts9fan on 30 Jun 2013, 11:20 am

Another one of these threads? Your not trying hard enough. Prove it. What's your metric?

I find new amazing music every week. Also, there is plenty of very good modern "pop" music. Might not be top 40 but still pop and great. With Pandora, Spotify etc there is no excuss to not discover new music.

BIG +1

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #16 on:** 30 Jun 2013, 04:36 pm »

Glad some of you are finding and enjoying new music. One thing I may begin doing more of is listening to programming on the computer.

Chazro · « **Reply #17 on:** 30 Jun 2013, 07:01 pm »

Quote from: HAITIMAN on 30 Jun 2013, 01:22 am

You would like Alfredo Rodriguez - Sounds Of Space (2012). This guy can really play.

I've got that one and yr right, the dude's an amazing pianist!

Folsom · « **Reply #18 on:** 30 Jun 2013, 08:19 pm »

Quote from: sts9fan on 30 Jun 2013, 11:20 am

Another one of these threads? Your not trying hard enough. Prove it. What's your metric?

I find new amazing music every week. Also, there is plenty of very good modern "pop" music. Might not be top 40 but still pop and great. With Pandora, Spotify etc there is no excuss to not discover new music.

I find good new music too. But not often by going to live shows. Also often the idea of good these days relates to tolerable, and not necessarily a genre or anything I'm interested in.

You want proof? Ok lets go see a bunch of local bands. Last night a band was playing at my friend's half-way making a movie celebration and the PA thing was so distorted it hurt my ears, and it wasn't even cranked up! One of the guitar players is nothing but a drunk so he is usually boring. Young people are literally afraid of being good. Then the electronic crowd is often a bit lack luster given inebriated crowds they cater too. Part of the deal is there is more music being made than ever these days. If there was less but we kept the good stuff it wouldn't look so bad.

ltr317 · « **Reply #19 on:** 30 Jun 2013, 09:30 pm »

Quote from: charmerci on 30 Jun 2013, 02:17 am

No one is telling anyone what to like. If people want to like banal, mediocre, uncreative music, they have the right to do so.

Just don't say that it's good music.

Of course, that's just my opinion!!!!

You're putting words in my mouth, and you didn't get my message. Since it's an opinion, I can say what I want as well as you. If I think its good music then its good music to me. You don't have to agree with me, nor I you. I don't think all current music is good, nor do I think all music from the 1960s is good. But there will always be some people who like a type of music that most people dislike, and their opinion are just as valid. With music being a form of art, there is no standard definition anymore. And like other forms of art, music keeps changing from time to time. From the earliest forms of rhythmic beating to wandering minstrels to baroque to classical to ragtime, etc. the musical form takes a different shape as time marches on. The important thing is that the entire musical spectrum is so wide, that there's some form of music everyone can enjoy.