tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7844635773610042538.post5363042086193577549..comments2019-07-09T10:49:17.052+02:00Comments on The Art and Soul of Sonic Warriors United: reCord WisDomDenard Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18021515722834890235noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7844635773610042538.post-10947515638611391512010-07-22T15:18:12.097+02:002010-07-22T15:18:12.097+02:00PART TWO
On the other hand, there are some aspect...PART TWO<br /><br />On the other hand, there are some aspects that did have a negative influence on the scene.<br /><br />Technical aspects aside, what MP3 and internet really affected most is the way we deal with music and culture in general and how we value them today. Their availability and mass consumption degraded them to short living lifestyle gimmicks that quite often aren't perceived or respected as art anymore.<br /><br />To be a DJ or producer is way easier (and cheaper) today. This led to a situation, where almost everybody in the scene feels like he/she has to be a "maker" somehow. This culture lacks some long-term attraction for simple fans and dancers, because it is too shallow. Creating lifestyle products doesn't take a lot of artistic integrity and it won't have a very lasting impact on the audience.<br />That's why there is a lot of cookie-cutter shit and blatant rip-offs out there.<br /><br />In a difficult economic situation, indie labels tend to work more and more like mainstream companies: playing safe, offensive marketing and PR.<br />Some indies should have more of credibility and down-to-earthness.<br /><br />The younger generations basicly grew up in a situation like this and have a different approach to music and culture. There's a different audience and vibe in the clubs today, because people come with other expectations and wants.<br />You don't have this intensity and manic dancing in many clubs anymore because people have seen / heard it all on the internet. The first hand experience isn't so unique as before. Sometimes I think, a "live event" has become like a resource for material to post on blogs / Myspace / Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.<br />All this might reduce the excitement of the music experience.<br /><br />Having said that, good music and parties are still out there. Just don't expect that everything that has the tag "Electronic Dance Music" on it has to be great.<br />Maybe we have to wait until Techno has grown as old as Jazz now, where things have settled a bit. Those who like it are into it, others might pass by but continue to search for something else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7844635773610042538.post-59666341200611321832010-07-22T15:14:39.820+02:002010-07-22T15:14:39.820+02:00PART ONE
I pretty much agree with you, this situa...PART ONE<br /><br />I pretty much agree with you, this situation isn't really new to someone who has been around for a while.<br /><br />I wouldn't maybe go so far as suggesting how to play records "the right way". For example, I don't like it how "classics" nowadays are often played like an alibi or testimonial for the DJ - it should be aesthetic criteria that determine the place of a tune in a mix.<br />And concerning statistical ratings for DJs, clubs and the like: things like that have to be a joke, really. I always thought that "underground people" - unlike more passive mainstream folks, who need somebody to tell them what to listen to - are active and seeking music lovers who are able to judge for themselves what they like and don't like.<br />Maybe one shouldn't take this self-important "scene" too serious sometimes...<br /><br />However, I think that these current diffuse complaints actually refer to a range of different things that have developed over the last ten years or so. I'm just wondering why a lot of people come to solely blame the music for everything.<br />(I still can find so much great music today, I could never have enough money to buy it all - but mind you, I'm listening to pretty much everything from Blues to Industrial...)<br /><br />On one hand, the fond memories of our youth will probably always be greater than most things that are around us today, mainly because we tend to forget the negative and remember and cherish those "golden moments".<br /><br />In the past, there weren't that many information resources (music-wise) and most people didn't realise how much crap there was. Today, we have a wealth of information and music, we can observe almost anything. But that's to much for many people to handle on themselves - they get bored, complain or turn their ear to what the "opinion makers" say. (I think in this respect, websites like Beatport, Resident Advisor or Discogs aren't that different from what MTV was in the past - although it might not be their fault in the first place.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com