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  • December 3, 2009 at 2:59 pm #79454
    B.Daws
    Participant

    Reading John J’s posts on the other forum made me think about a lot. I feel music today is dead for the most part. The main problem to me is music is supposed to be emotional and it’s about the interconnectedness of the human condition and how we all relate, feel, and share our experiences within the outward world. Since music is made for the most part to make money now a days that emotional concept is not there. It’s about celebrating individualism/hedonism for the most part and not about the togetherness/community/sharing that music originates from. Like John said, and I couldn’t agree more, anyone can emulate or copy what has already been done. So what do you do to be your “own” guitarists?

    I started half heartedly learning guitar around the age of 16. I played off and on for many years but over the last year I have really tried to focus. I got into modding guitar pedals and it kind of got me back into playing and searching for my sound. In the beginning I learned songs and the usual but I wanted to take a different approach now. My cousin, a mid 50s semi pro musician who has had a couple of big bands, really sparked me to take a different approach. He just told me to “learn as many songs as possible” but I felt like learning other’s music would only shape my ideas into copies of theirs so I decided to just start studying and creating that way none of the riffs/knowledge in my brain was learned from others. Another thing my cousin did was, I wrote a song that I loved but it was 9 minutes long and he said “you have to make it catchy and 3-5 minutes if you want play” and that made me realize that’s not what I want. I want to be true to who I am and what I believe so I didn’t change it. I feel all classic guitarists were themselves and didn’t have the “mold” or “constrictions” you have today and that is what I want to emulate is being true and honest to the self. So over the last few weeks I endlessly sat down and tweaked my set up for “my” sound and the sound I want then a couple of nights ago it all was there. Now I am in the process of making an album and I couldn’t be happier. Granted I love the feeling of purging emotion out of my fingers through an instrument and making music so I could care less about the money component but this is where I am. So where are you on your journey?

    December 3, 2009 at 4:59 pm #104761
    electro-melx
    Moderator

    “On a side point, why do cover bands exist?”

    ok, I’ll have a go at this side point!

    I love the Detroit Cobras (who play almost 100% covers)

    I love the Cramps (who’s early material was about 80% covers)

    I love the Byrds (my favorite album is Mr. Tamborine man, which a large chunk of is Dylan covers)

    …even the Beatles did plenty of covers in the early days .. Twist & Shout, Good Golly Miss Molly etc.

    A good friend of mine plays in a covers band (doing new wave/early punk/two-tone) they work 3 nights a week around most of the pubs on the island and make very good money going it. All members have been on other bands before and one has been in a band who had a major label deal, released a couple of albums and did UK tours in the early 90’s. They exist as a covers band because they all have families now and they just want to go out play and have fun. People go to see them because A: it’s free (the pubs pay them to bring the people in midweek) B: It’s a lot better than sitting in the pub listening to nothing (or even worse a jukebox with chart music on) and C: it’s a good fun night out.

    They are under no illousions about what they are doing, they are just playing the ‘hits’ of the late 70’s early 80’s for people my age who enjoy a bit of nostalgia with a pint. ……. we call them the ‘human jukebox’ because they know so many songs! … I mean where else can I go out and hear ‘London calling’ followed by ‘Turning Japanese’ and ‘Too Much Too Young’ sing along and enjoy a drink with friends? it’s not high art, but music doesn’t have to be.

    December 3, 2009 at 5:19 pm #104762
    B.Daws
    Participant

    That’s awesome melx. I wasn’t trying to knock people for doing it, I just think it is a funny concept. Seriously no path how the great melx got to where he is today? I can’t believe you chose to talk on my one little side note in there, I’m taking it out.

    December 3, 2009 at 5:34 pm #104763
    julian
    Moderator
    Quote:
    Reading John J’s posts on the other forum made me think about a lot. I feel music today is dead for the most part. The main problem to me is music is supposed to be emotional and it’s about the interconnectedness of the human condition and how we all relate, feel, and share our experiences within the outward world. Since music is made for the most part to make money now a days that emotional concept is not there. It’s about celebrating individualism/hedonism for the most part and not about the togetherness/community/sharing that music originates from. Like John said, and I couldn’t agree more, anyone can emulate or copy what has already been done. On a side point, why do cover bands exist? They seem like the most ridiculous idea that some guys can basically fake being another band and people like it (and sometimes relate to them like it’s the actual band)…back to the topic. So what do you do to be your “own” guitarists?

    I started half heartedly learning guitar around the age of 16. I played off and on for many years but over the last year I have really tried to focus. I got into modding guitar pedals and it kind of got me back into playing and searching for my sound. In the beginning I learned songs and the usual but I wanted to take a different approach now. My cousin, a mid 50s semi pro musician who has had a couple of big bands, really sparked me to take a different approach. He just told me to “learn as many songs as possible” but I felt like learning other’s music would only shape my ideas into copies of theirs so I decided to just start studying and creating that way none of the riffs/knowledge in my brain was learned from others. Another thing my cousin did was, I wrote a song that I loved but it was 9 minutes long and he said “you have to make it catchy and 3-5 minutes if you want play” and that made me realize that’s not what I want. I want to be true to who I am and what I believe so I didn’t change it. I feel all classic guitarists were themselves and didn’t have the “mold” or “constrictions” you have today and that is what I want to emulate is being true and honest to the self. So over the last few weeks I endlessly sat down and tweaked my set up for “my” sound and the sound I want then a couple of nights ago it all was there. Now I am in the process of making an album and I couldn’t be happier. Granted I love the feeling of purging emotion out of my fingers through an instrument and making music so I could care less about the money component but this is where I am. So where are you on your journey?

    While I can agree that individualism pervades our society (just look at stuff like facebook and myspace that are meant to be social websites where everyone just shows off pictures of themselves and their personal taste) I don’t think music is mostly dead.

    Even in a year where only a couple of albums I enjoyed came out, I always think “Hey, in five years, I’ll probably discover some really kickass albums that I missed from this year.”

    And hey, one of the best songs to come out this year was 9:00 minutes long.

    Screw money, the chances of making money are so slim in the first place, it’s better just to do what you enjoy, and to record it.

    But of course, while you’re making music that truly moves you, it might not hurt to do some covers at bars. You can make money that way.

    December 3, 2009 at 5:48 pm #104764
    electro-melx
    Moderator
    Quote:
    That’s awesome melx. I wasn’t trying to knock people for doing it, I just think it is a funny concept. Seriously no path how the great melx got to where he is today? I can’t believe you chose to talk on my one little side note in there, I’m taking it out.

    no, I know that… and I didn’t mean reply to sound angry either! :)

    lol…my story is a long one, filled with dissapointment, bad choices, missed chances and mistakes!!!!!! :D

    (I’ll save it for later when I have more time!)

    I must add, that although I can appreciate a good cover, I’m not a fan of so called ‘tribute’ bands.

    December 3, 2009 at 6:01 pm #104765
    DarkAxel
    Participant

    i listen to alot of modern music… so music is not dead for me for sure :D

    i don’t know where i’m going… absolutely not… where the destiny takes me :)

    December 3, 2009 at 7:45 pm #104773
    B.Daws
    Participant

    By saying music is dead, I was referring to Pop music and how it is ruining the ears of the younger generation. I know there is still good music out there that is made every day but the soulful music with meaning seems like it is on the decline. Now a days there is no Pink Floyd, Hendrix, Bob Marley or captivating powerful soulful musicians like there once were.

    December 4, 2009 at 12:43 pm #104806
    cabomano
    Participant

    I don’t think the music’s any worse. It’s just that it’s so much more diffuse and varied than it used to be, and thus you get less and less of these iconic figures.

    December 4, 2009 at 9:44 pm #104825
    BlueSteel
    Participant

    i do listen to a lot of new music, but like this year and last year, no good albums came out. probably the only good albums that came out last year and this year are John Frusciante’s “The Empyrean”, The Vines “Melodia”, Brand New “Daisy” Alkaline Trio “Agony and Irony” and The Dead Weather “Horehound” there might be more, but thats all i can think of.

    so music is sort of dead to me, because there are so many annoying bands around and there are no good new bands around.

    December 5, 2009 at 3:01 pm #104867
    BlueSteel
    Participant

    i really hope the new white stripes album comes out soon.

    December 5, 2009 at 11:41 pm #104881
    BlueSteel
    Participant
    Quote:
    me too. is there any news about it? i havent seen anything and im not sure if your a ukian and it seems like they get all the cool stuff a bit earlier that us americanas do

    haha, i read that they performed for the first time live on late night with conan obrien in february. and that they recorded a few songs for the new album, and that the release “won’t be too far off. maybe next year”

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