Monday, June 06, 2005
FUNCTION OVER FORM
And the debate continues. Chris said something to me the other day, and I believe he hit the nail on the head. People seem to more into the gadgetry of music than the music itself. It's all about what you can do with a file, and not about the content of the file. Most of the talk I hear on blogs is about the functionality of podcasts, rhapsody, rss feeds, tagging, and the like. Are people more into the gampeices than the game? Are we losing the forest for the trees? And what about all the time spent routing the file here and there? My point is made by the title of one of Fred's recent blogs - This Is Cool. Yes it is cool, but I feel that the coolness of the gadgets are overshadowing the main point - The Music. It seems to me that we're willing victims in the great commercial folly of mankind. We gotta have the new cool thingy, and we can't wait for version 2.0 to come out. How many cell phones have you been through in the past five years?
And the debate continues. Chris said something to me the other day, and I believe he hit the nail on the head. People seem to more into the gadgetry of music than the music itself. It's all about what you can do with a file, and not about the content of the file. Most of the talk I hear on blogs is about the functionality of podcasts, rhapsody, rss feeds, tagging, and the like. Are people more into the gampeices than the game? Are we losing the forest for the trees? And what about all the time spent routing the file here and there? My point is made by the title of one of Fred's recent blogs - This Is Cool. Yes it is cool, but I feel that the coolness of the gadgets are overshadowing the main point - The Music. It seems to me that we're willing victims in the great commercial folly of mankind. We gotta have the new cool thingy, and we can't wait for version 2.0 to come out. How many cell phones have you been through in the past five years?
Comments:
You are absolutely correct. The quality of digital delivery keeps changing (not necessarily getting better, mind you, but certainly different) and every time a new device hits the stores we gotta have it. The content has absolutely taken a back seat to the technology. If you think the record labels will be happy selling you an mp3 that you never have to replace then you're crazy - it's a bad sakes move. The technology HAS to keep changing to spur sales, and your iPod will be out of date before my discman is.
He doesn't say much, but when he does, it's usually far more prophetic than my diminutive attempts. My feelings are the same as Chris's. We are in the grips of one of these "isn't it neat" worlds. I would say that it benefits the true music aficionado, but cheapens the experience for the new listener as I've stated many times before.
“History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of man…”
“History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of man…”
# posted by 
: 4:03 PM
: 4:03 PM
Jackson,
I am going on 3.5 weeks without my iPod. The main thing I've realized is, for the past three years or so I have been shuffle playing my way through the folly of mankind :). After reading Fred's blog I'll be blowing the dust off my iPod, and putting it to work.
I have read so many of your blogs about listening partys and all the great bands... so many time your blog has prompted me to tear through my stuff looking for some old album (Gang of Four entertainment, UFO strangers for example). My wife curses your name every time I rummage through the basement looking for music as a result of reading your blog. She calls you "fuckin Jackson".
Anyway, where am I going with this? YOU my friend need to be putting together some shows. I'd love to check out one of these infamous listening parties.
I'd definately download a weekly Savage Distortion show, perhaps you could do that Boss impersonation.
I am going on 3.5 weeks without my iPod. The main thing I've realized is, for the past three years or so I have been shuffle playing my way through the folly of mankind :). After reading Fred's blog I'll be blowing the dust off my iPod, and putting it to work.
I have read so many of your blogs about listening partys and all the great bands... so many time your blog has prompted me to tear through my stuff looking for some old album (Gang of Four entertainment, UFO strangers for example). My wife curses your name every time I rummage through the basement looking for music as a result of reading your blog. She calls you "fuckin Jackson".
Anyway, where am I going with this? YOU my friend need to be putting together some shows. I'd love to check out one of these infamous listening parties.
I'd definately download a weekly Savage Distortion show, perhaps you could do that Boss impersonation.
I have thought about it Hue, obviously I have the gear, I could even do an all vinyl podcast if I wanted to. Two things stop me, free time, which I have very little of, and liscensing. I have broken many laws in my life, but I'm not keen on unliscensed broadcasting of proprietary media, in other words, unless you pay for the rights to the music, it's not legal, and unfair to the artists who have to pay lawyers to set up thier publishing deals, only to be ripped off by scofflaws of the new media. Am I making a big deal out of this? Yes I am. As an artist, I'd love to have my music being shared, and wouldn't mind a bit, but when you look at the big picture, it's a slippery slope, and I'm turning into an idealist in my old age.
i have finally gotten around to reading all the stuff that has been said on this blog in the past week and it's a lot to digest. this has become a great blog and a must read due to Ted's constant posts and Tony, Chris, and Hue's regular comments. well done guys. hopefully you'll keep it up.
now on to discussion of the gadgets vs the music. i think anything that let's me listen to Jason Chervokas' amazing history lesson on roots american music while i am riding my bike or walking to work, or better yet anything that lets Ted hear Josh cut some cheese live and in color is great stuff and we should be applauding it, not complaining about it.
now on to discussion of the gadgets vs the music. i think anything that let's me listen to Jason Chervokas' amazing history lesson on roots american music while i am riding my bike or walking to work, or better yet anything that lets Ted hear Josh cut some cheese live and in color is great stuff and we should be applauding it, not complaining about it.
Point taken, let's just keep some aspects of the old technology that we like. It's not that we are aginst the new technology, we just fear that trends will diminish the quality of the experience - for some of us at least.
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