11-02-2010, 00:58
Moving JonG's post in the "Listening To" thread over here so we don't continue to clutter up that thread with an unrelated discussion.
Jon's quote
"I like many, many things. First, I've been a fan of Four Tet for years and own some of his previous work. I expected to like it going in. I like dance music, and while this album works for home listening it is dance music. I'll wager you don't favor dance music. Four Tet tested every one of these songs at a club he had a residency at during the making of the album. I like the sounds he uses to build his tracks - the static, crackles, snippets of voice, etc. And, without gushing on for too much longer, I love the rhythm of his work. This kind of music is meant to give a physical response first, then emotional, then maybe mental.
I think most people who don't respond to dance music prefer to think about the music instead of just react. They want lyrics that paint pictures in their mind. When there are no lyrics to focus on they have trouble approaching the music. Lacking vocals (such as with most classical and much jazz) they want complex music with much variation. Again, this music appeals to the mind first and the body second.
I rarely pay attention to lyrics myself. The vocals are just another instrument. Don't get me wrong, I love the human singing voice. But I don't need to be told a story through words in each song."
A good descriptive response to what I asked about why you liked the Four Tet album. You would win your wager that I'm not a fan of "dance" music. I don't have a good reason why. I'm certainly not against dancing. I used to watch and enjoy the dance tv shows of my younger days, American Bandstand, Shindig, even Soul Train. I think it was the disco era that sunk me. I always just thought of that as mindless music with mindless lyrics, and was so relieved when I was saved by the Brits and the punk movement. I was once again swept up by the music, reborn I would say. Anyway I equate the "techno" music of the day to that disco era. The fact that it is not played using instruments that I can relate to, makes it even worse. It is recreated in a live atmosphere by flipping a switch and turning knobs, which to me takes absolutely no talent. Most of what I hear has no lyrics, but just five or 10 seconds of a computer generated sound, repeated over and over, with a disco beat added. As I've admitted elsewhere I lack an appreciation of music that is just instrumental. I'm not sure from where that originates as I do love both traditional classical and jazz. Even rock jams that go on for more than a couple of minutes become tedious for me. I admit that is an undesirable trait on my part. So I guess where we part ways on our love of music, is that you have more appreciation of music (however generated), where as I have more appreciation for the vocals/lyrics. And you are right that I am one that likes something being said in the lyrics that I can actually interpret. That doesn't mean I hate songs that don't make sense, as many do, just that I prefer a story being told. Bottom line, we both love music, just different styles. Nothing wrong with that.
Jon's quote
"I like many, many things. First, I've been a fan of Four Tet for years and own some of his previous work. I expected to like it going in. I like dance music, and while this album works for home listening it is dance music. I'll wager you don't favor dance music. Four Tet tested every one of these songs at a club he had a residency at during the making of the album. I like the sounds he uses to build his tracks - the static, crackles, snippets of voice, etc. And, without gushing on for too much longer, I love the rhythm of his work. This kind of music is meant to give a physical response first, then emotional, then maybe mental.
I think most people who don't respond to dance music prefer to think about the music instead of just react. They want lyrics that paint pictures in their mind. When there are no lyrics to focus on they have trouble approaching the music. Lacking vocals (such as with most classical and much jazz) they want complex music with much variation. Again, this music appeals to the mind first and the body second.
I rarely pay attention to lyrics myself. The vocals are just another instrument. Don't get me wrong, I love the human singing voice. But I don't need to be told a story through words in each song."
A good descriptive response to what I asked about why you liked the Four Tet album. You would win your wager that I'm not a fan of "dance" music. I don't have a good reason why. I'm certainly not against dancing. I used to watch and enjoy the dance tv shows of my younger days, American Bandstand, Shindig, even Soul Train. I think it was the disco era that sunk me. I always just thought of that as mindless music with mindless lyrics, and was so relieved when I was saved by the Brits and the punk movement. I was once again swept up by the music, reborn I would say. Anyway I equate the "techno" music of the day to that disco era. The fact that it is not played using instruments that I can relate to, makes it even worse. It is recreated in a live atmosphere by flipping a switch and turning knobs, which to me takes absolutely no talent. Most of what I hear has no lyrics, but just five or 10 seconds of a computer generated sound, repeated over and over, with a disco beat added. As I've admitted elsewhere I lack an appreciation of music that is just instrumental. I'm not sure from where that originates as I do love both traditional classical and jazz. Even rock jams that go on for more than a couple of minutes become tedious for me. I admit that is an undesirable trait on my part. So I guess where we part ways on our love of music, is that you have more appreciation of music (however generated), where as I have more appreciation for the vocals/lyrics. And you are right that I am one that likes something being said in the lyrics that I can actually interpret. That doesn't mean I hate songs that don't make sense, as many do, just that I prefer a story being told. Bottom line, we both love music, just different styles. Nothing wrong with that.