is. it tries to force everything into a lame post-modern perspective
whereby EVERYTHING MUST BE categorized somehow and all descriptions of x
track are supposed to sum up the music perfectly by using lots of
adjectives. it does more damage to the music than respect.
On the one hand - yes. Most music mags do an awful job describing new
music - your issues are accurate. They do use lots of adjectives, and they
don't really seem to tell you anything.
That said - I review music for WCBN. These reviews are *ONLY* for the use
of DJs at our radio station - no one else will see/hear/read them, but
us. We are a generally musically literate bunch - several of us sub to
this list, if nothing else. And it's still fairly difficult to write a
review conveying anything about how the music sounds/feels/makes you
feel. Even though you know that the people who are going to be reading it
will probably recognize your obscure comparisons - it's still difficult to
write a good review. !Especially! if you have to review a lot of music - I
personally do 2-3 CDs a week, and it takes a fair amount of time to write
even the cursory reviews I tend to give to the bad ones.
So, back off the music press - they have a tougher job than you
think. After all - *you* get to choose what you want to listen to. They
get it assigned to them. If you don't like what they have to say, or who
they're saying it about, do it your own damn self and let the list know
where they can find it.
As to 4/4 beats - nearly everything is 4/4. I know, I know, there's a lot
that isn't, but the vast majority of music (in the Western tradition, I
amend - and techno is a western music) is in 4/4 time. Jazz and
experimental music aside, 4/4 is pretty much it.
Last rant - DJ Ken? Come on. The last sort of music that pre-pubescent
girls listen to is techno. It'll be dropped within 3 months. On the other
hand, they might become a twisted sort of collector's item.
These things aside - anyone else go see Negativland last night? Amazing
show - these guys show what can and should be done with sampling. If you
need new ideas on what to do with samples - listen to their
cds/vinyl. Nothing like it.
Josh Landau
We are post-modern vampire killers, driving analog stakes through binary
hearts.
- Anti-Pop Consortium
