Quote Originally Posted by thcbongman
I am commenting positively that high musicianship is no longer a preresiquite. I don't think you need the top of your craft to produce beautiful music. I don't think you need the finest in studio production to produce a good sound. I think creativity, passion and soul are the most important elements, regardless of the genre. What good is some wankster who plays a mean guitar but puts you to sleep with his creativity?

Not only is there good stuff being made these days, amazing stuff is being produced. I agree you 100% it isn't being played on the radio and you have to search for it. But today there is so much out there, there's massive schism amongst fans of music in general because there is so much out there, whether it's indie, underground hip-hop, electronica, I'm very excited for the future of music, I think a renaissance is coming and long overdue.

Likewise on ones sophisication when it comes to music, I am a believer that listening to certain genres of music require some conditioning. Some music instantly catches while there are others that grows on you. Only someone that loves music would be willing to condition themselves to open their minds and absorb something new. You can't fault people who don't view music as a passion and want something easy, basically what they hear around them and not necessarily what they feel. It's simply because that type of music does not envoke emotion into them. That's why everyone loves the 60s loved the bands they did, the mainstay was free love: sex, drugs and rock and roll, a beautiful time for music. What about today? Urban, uptight, more politically aware society. What's popular mainly reflects that.

I think you are incredibly wrong about Jefferson Airplane. I felt they got the recognition that is merited. 3 of their albums, Volunteers, Surrealistic Pillow, and After Bathing At Baxter's are on Rolling Stone top 500. Pretty good considering it's Rolling Stone issuing the rankings. And they all outranked Michael Jackson. Personally Jefferson Airplane is a damn good band, but to the average drug-free listener whos not passionately into music, it's way too complex for them to follow.
I agree that creativity is the most vital component of music, but I maintain that musicianship is imperative also. I'm sorry, but if you know 10 chords on a guitar, I'm not going to want to listen to you. Even if you're a creative genius, your ability to express it is going to be limited if you're a lousy musician.

I thought only Surrealistic Pillow and Volunteers were in the top 500--must have missed After Bathing at Baxter's, but somehow I doubt it, since it was their least commercial album. Regardless, they've stood the test of time a lot more poorly than they deserve--of the many gems they made, only 2 are EVER listened to or played. And I agree it's too complex for many people to follow, but that's their limitation, not the band's, right?
overgrowthegovt Reviewed by overgrowthegovt on . How subjective is music, really? People always say everything's a matter of taste, and that's true for what people should listen to/read, etc....as far as actual quality, though, you can't really say it doesn't matter if you prefer Shakespeare or Danielle Steele. Same as music, I think...can everyone's tastes really be respected if some prefer MTV trash to the works of, say, Hendrix or Bob Dylan? Just a thought. Rating: 5