Musical Regression

I am currently listening to a Thelonious Monk playlist and I am thinking to myself. I’m wondering why people of my generation or younger for the most part think me or anyone else who listens to jazz or classical or anything not currently popular is weird. How have things gotten to a point that when I go to type Thelonious monk on youtube when I type “thel” the lonely island is a recommended result first? I have come across this sort of thing many times and wondered how these new acts, which I deem horrible, are more popular than acts that have been well known for decades. I declare the 2010′s the decade of musical regression, and I mean regressing in the sense of music that should be intended for children. I wouldn’t say just musical regression either, it is much broader than just music. People are now finding entertainment in people getting hurt. To me this seems like what should amuse a child and concern an adult. All in all I just hope that someday soon people will wise up and start listening to good music and if possible legitimate sources of entertainment fit for intellectual viewing.

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Good Music Is Timeless

I am proud to say that I was raised on good music and I live on it to this day. I remember weekends home alone with my dad while my mom and sister were out shopping. My dad would crank up the stereo so loud it shook the house. It is my belief that these occasions are what lead me to start a love affair with music.

So here I’ll share some of the more memorable songs and maybe mix it up somewhere along the way.

The Doors – Riders On The Storm

When I first heard this song it made me feel as though it had some sort of magic mixed in the riffs. It was just the sort of song to bring out the adventurous nature in a young child. Every time my dad would crank it out I would get the same sense of wonderment.

Rush – Tom Sawyer

I think I can safely say that Rush is the band I can credit for my initial desire to be a drummer. I know I’m far from alone on this one too. Neil Peart just brings out children’s inner drummer.

Black Sabbath – War Pigs

My biggest memory of this song is my dad challenging my drumming skills. He asked if I thought I was good enough to play this. Needless to say I pulled it off and I will admit it was definitely a labour of love.

Nirvana – The Man Who Sold The World

So there are many other songs that might have been better to post but I think this one is a good fit because they managed to convey the same vibe without the more abrasive instrumentation.  It’s also a good intro to my next song…

David Bowie – Rock n Roll Suicide

Thanks to good old Nirvana, along with some great skateboard videos I discovered how awesome Bowie is. I’m not going to lie this discovery lead to many car sing a-long’s. This song in particular was one of the first songs I attempted on guitar while singing.

Bob Marley – Easy Skanking

His music brings peace and joy into peoples lives and it’s just downright great to listen too. Besides the relaxing sounds of joy in his music, the lyrics inspire hope in anyone who enjoys his work.

Pink Floyd – Great Gig In The Sky

I have always felt that Pink Floyd have an almost orchestral sound in the way they structure their songs yet at the same time display a sense of insanity. I think this song is a clear display of that concept. There are far better examples but this was one of my early favorites.

Led Zeppelin – Black Dog

I had meant to put this song closer to the start but forgot. Now that I’m done I decided to put it last to leave you with a lively tune. This is timeless rock n roll at its finest.

if you enjoyed this let me know and I might make more. I’m open to requests as well.

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Digital Repulsion

I want to hear more noise in music. I’m not just talking about how the digital world we live in is trying and doing a very good job at killing analog recording and the wonderful medium that is vinyl. Even though it is almost directly related to my main point. Peoples desire for perfection in my opinion has taken music in a horrible direction. I wouldn’t even call it backwards because that would actually be a good thing. Now maybe I have been listening to too much sonic youth, shellac and the like. It’s not just the style of their playing but the manner in which they were recorded. Bands of the past managed to have such a rich sound even if their music was droning without sounding hollow and not sounding over produced.

It reminds me of peoples initial reaction when I hand them my bands demo tape and they are so shocked to see anything but a CD. I can understand where they are coming from but if my band was to have a record people wouldn’t be so shocked. In my opinion the cassette is a great alternative to compact disks when the higher price of vinyl is not a realistic option. Maybe I’ll go as far to not even include a digital download code just to mess with them a bit. Another good way my band-mates and I have poked fun at the digital music world is by handing out floppy discs with a song on them. I believe people need to wake up from this advanced technological world we live in and start realizing how great non digital music can be, among other technology related issues.

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