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February 25, 2009
Play Listen Repeat Vol. 37
Imagine that you are a judge at a baby beauty contest. Thousands of babies are brought out in front of you for you to inspect, and it's up to you to decide which ones the public at large would want to see.
Every baby that you see is wonderful: full of life, full of curiosity, energy, enthusiasm and its own kind of perfect integrity and even beauty. In that sense, they are all exactly the same, equally open, curious, and ready to engage. Every one of them deserves the same chances as every other.
At the same time, though, you have to admit to yourself that some of the babies are certainly easier to look at than others (and now that you're on the subject, some of them - bless their little hearts - just look pretty undercooked).
That's what it's like to make judgments about music.
It's clearly true that some music works better than others. Popularity and critical acclaim, both immediate and enduring, attest to that. And yet it's also true that all artists, no matter how effective, popular, or acclaimed their music, feel that they are special, and deserving of peoples' attention.
This is a situation where, when looked at through one eye, all music is exactly equal, and looked at through the other, some music is, as Orwell put it, "more equal than others."
It's not by accident that I reference Orwell's "Animal Farm," because I think some of our deepest ideas about these things are rooted in a conflict between ideology and biology.
The idea that all music is equal and deserves equal rights is somehow fundamentally a democratic idea; as is the corresponding idea that the public, and not some small cadre of experts, is the best judge of musical quality.
But the fact that some music not only attracts more listeners, but also seems to mean more to more people over a longer period of time, indicates that there is actually something fundamentally unequal about music as well. And if you really think about this, it's doubtful that any two records are really ever of the exact same level of quality. After all, different people can't have identical experiences of the same piece of music, can they? And in fact, a single person can't even have the exact same experience of a piece of music even if they listen to it twice in a row. Fascinating...
And so we have a paradox, which for those of us who have to make value judgments about music, is a constant challenge to negotiate. Like any good challenge, it's also endlessly absorbing in its own way.
I'd like to understand it better, so if you will, imagine once again that you're judging that baby contest, and tell me: what are you thinking? How are you going to decide? And then extend those ideas to music if you dare.
gurgles,
mz
Posted by Michael Zapruder at 11:51 AM | Comments (36)
February 24, 2009
Matt Nathanson :: Concert Videos :: Vol. 15
Boston native Matt Nathanson has honed his songwriting and singing for many years, and has kept up a relentless touring schedule that would have run a weaker guy ragged. Acknowledging the persuasive romantic powers of the song "Come On Get Higher," David Letterman's producers booked Nathanson to perform it on their Valentine's Day show a few weeks ago.
Posted by Kevin Seal at 10:55 AM | Comments (9)
February 17, 2009
The Spinto Band :: Concert Videos :: Vol. 14
Straight out of Delaware!
These six young men
have been playing music
together since they were
eleven (11) years old.
Nine albums later,
the Spinto Band hasn't
lost any of their
youthful energy.
Here they are live at
Bottom of the Hill:
Posted by Kevin Seal at 7:53 AM | Comments (14)
February 12, 2009
Pandora Valentine
I made you a couple of stations for Valentine's Day. See what you think!
I took suggestions from listeners and from Pandora staff, and together we came up with these two stations:
Bitter Valentine
Songs of disenchantment, frustration, martyrdom and heartbreak.
Community Valentine
Songs involving the schmoopy, the loving, and the sentimentalists.
[photo by Sister72]
Both stations are great, though honestly, I like the "bitter" station a little better. And may I suggest that you even try the two stations QuickMixed together? Both themes mixed together is probably closest to real-life experience anyway. ;)
Enjoy your weekend, however you celebrate or ignore the holiday.
Hearts and chocolate,
Lucia
This valentine glitter art was mailed to us by a young fan of Pandora, with help from his mom. It's prominently posted in the Pandora HQ kitchen, of course.
Posted by Lucia at 12:14 AM | Comments (16)
February 11, 2009
Mason Jennings :: Concert Videos :: Vol. 13
I think you guys are going to really enjoy Mason Jennings.
Mason lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two sons, and crafts album after album of plain-spoken, poetic, insightful music. The acoustic guitar, harmonica, and rootsy rhythm section might call to mind a certain R.Z. from Hibbing, MN, but Mason has really come into his own as a songwriter.
Here are four songs we recorded at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz, two of which are from his most recent album, In The Ever.
"Nothing"
Posted by Kevin Seal at 10:24 AM | Comments (8)
February 5, 2009
Bullet Proof Space Travelers :: Concert Videos :: Vol. 12
Turntablism (n.)
1. A style of music in which the
contact between the record player's
stylus and the vinyl groove is controlled
by hand, and the Long Player (LP) is
scratched. This destructive motion
produces sounds that are manipulated
in speed, pitch and intensity.
2. A variety of hip hop based on the
use of the turntable as an instrument
See also: Grandmaster Flash, Grand
Mixer DXT, Jam Master Jay, DJ Quest,
Bullet Proof Space Travelers, Kid Koala,
Mix Master Mike, Mike Relm, DJ Disk,
DJ Q-Bert, the X-ecutioners.
Live on Pandora this week:
Bullet Proof Space Travelers
illustration at right by Pandora graphic designer Lawrence Anderson.
Posted by Kevin Seal at 1:16 PM | Comments (0)
February 1, 2009
Say Hi :: Concert Videos :: Vol. 11
Care to learn a bit of music shorthand? Try "RIYL" on for size.
That acronym is "Recommended If You Like," and when it comes to this week's band, Say Hi, I would suggest that their four Pandora live videos are RIYL Weezer, Grandaddy, Imperial Teen or Sebadoh.
Say Hi is essentially the brainchild of Eric Elbogen (pictured in full bunniness here), and largely a home-recorded endeavor. He released his first four albums as "Say Hi To Your Mom," and then last year moved to Seattle and shortened the band's name. Live, it's a different story, though -- Say Hi is a four-piece, and the other three players breathe lots of life into Elbogen's scruffy, warm-hearted indie rock.
Posted by Kevin Seal at 12:37 PM | Comments (0)
