Degrees of Difficulty January 26, 2007
Mark Richardson, of pitchfork fame, is, well at least in my opinion, one of the best music columnists around. For those needing a refresher, he wrote the article on music critics that I posted a while back. Anyways, today he tackles the pleasures (?) of the difficult album. It’s an interesting read, so check it out if you’re into that kind of thing.
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/40709/Column_Column_Resonant_Frequency_43
dude makes a good point. one album that pops into my mind was the LCD soundsystem album. i think the fact that it was a double album (ok, it was really a bunus ep) made it intimidating. but it took me a few months to really dig it.
although i think people often try to find something good in nothing, and the music they’re listening to is just pure crap. ya ya, music is subjective i know. but sometimes people are just too quick to say “this new band is so fucking awesome”, but then in a few months they’re totally forgotten (who the hell are the arctic monkeys? hahah). most of this is probably because of “social networking” and websites like pitchfork, and fugaze (ya, we’re guilty too).
it’s just that so much music is available to us now. anyone and their mother can create their own “demo” on their computer and put it on the internet. this is by no means a bad thing, but it does come with a few downsides.
the main downside being that there is no longer a filter for SHIT music. we’re constantly fighting “CD overload”, when only 10 years ago CD overload would cost you $100 (so you would force yourself to listen to those albums). but then again, there are people out there that like shit fucking music.
so what’s my point? i’m not really sure anymore. i’m starting to confuse myself.
i guess my point is, like what you like and leave it at that. just dont listen to SHIT.
oh - another album i didn’t like the first half a dozen listens - arcade fire, funeral
the first time i heard ‘yankee hotel foxtrot’ i really didn’t see what the big deal was.