Today's music isn't any good.

Chris Templeton · Post by **Chris Templeton** » 22 Aug 2015 6:32 am

Sure, the quality of recorded music has gotten better, but what is missing these days is people getting together, enjoying themselves and playing music. That "back porch" thing of playing TOGETHER is lacking and this is one of the greatest joys in playing music.
I see this in videos produced by one of my ffavorite players, Zane King.
Although he is "armed" with fine technology and obviously has spent a major amount of effort getting it all together, not once have I seen a video with a band. (I have seen the one with his wife singing).
Somehow we've grown content to staring at a screen and sending links, messages, emails, etc..
Kind of like prisoners tossing crumpled notes from cage to cage.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 22 Aug 2015 8:24 am

Wow, that's a very depressing image, Chris.

My mantra is "advance the music every day". Some days it means practicing to computer tracks, some days it's playing music with friends, some days it's recording, some days it's just making chord charts. But if anyone thinks that playing along with a computer is more satisfying than playing with your average rhythm guitarist, I feel sorry for them.

The most wonderful thing about playing music is the synchronization with other humans. That's where the pleasure lies. It's not in compliments and applause. It's not in the feeling of accomplishment or the appreciation of our peers. All of those things are nice perks, to be sure. But the real payoff is in the real-time wordless communication with other players. It's a feeling that can't be beat. That's what I play for.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 22 Aug 2015 9:05 am

That "back porch" thing of playing TOGETHER is lacking and this is one of the greatest joys in playing music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swwjTfdOjo4
I think Doyle Hargraves put an end to that...

Chris Templeton · Post by **Chris Templeton** » 22 Aug 2015 9:16 am

Yes, a somewhat a negative comment, Bobby. That's great that you are able keep after your rounded musical experiences.
We humans love our neurotransmitter, dopamine, and the internet and screen time is a great way to trigger it.
You probably know the "Serenity Prayer" and that being able to recognizing the difference of what can and cannot be changed is helpful.
I love your term "synchronization with other humans". That's beautiful and one of the most important aspects of music.
Now, If I can get these wasps in the front door to stop synchronizing so much with their hive buildingâ€¦:0)

Tommy Shown · Post by **Tommy Shown** » 4 Sep 2015 8:56 pm

I was in Ft. Lauderdale, last month. I had an mp3 player with ab FM radio on it.
One day while I was there, I took my mp3 player out to try to find some COUNTRY MUSIC. THERE WAS ZIP, NONE NADA!!!!!!!!!! Before I left my wife Roxanne programmed some Buddy Emmons, early Conway Twitty with Papa John playing, some David Hartley and other GREAT COUNTRY performers. The only thing I could find was, Sports talk, Raegae, SMOOTH JAZZ, JAZZ, Light Rock,
and ALERNATIVE. Everything sounds alike. Scott you are letting me get on my soap box here. And I can go on and on.
Tommy Shown

Jamie Mitchell · Post by **Jamie Mitchell** » 5 Sep 2015 12:43 pm

what you're saying makes no sense to me.

you had an MP3 player, which you were using to listen to the radio?
and "alternative" sounds like reggae to you? huh?
reggae, like actual reggae, like not a band of white guys dong the "now we're playing our reggae tune", is heavy, deep music. with a focus on a kind of pocket that is basically non-existent in country music.
midnite: http://youtu.be/kQvjX2FOw5Y

you have, at your fingertips, a wider selection of music than anyone in human history. and that's just music being made right now. if everything sounds the same to you, that's your listening choices. you don't get to blame others for that.

j

admin · Post by **b0b** » 5 Sep 2015 1:08 pm

I like reggae because the chord progressions usually stay with the major scale (like country), but the groove is totally different, almost hypnotic. I play bass in a band that does a few reggae tunes. The music is absolutely sublime!

Mark Carlisle · Post by **Mark Carlisle** » 5 Sep 2015 1:44 pm

One of the reasons I enjoy David Lindley's El Rayo X project so much-he did a great job of incorporating reggae and country. For example his re-do of Lord Kichener's "Gimme da Ting" is a blast to play live!

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 5 Sep 2015 5:23 pm

b0b wrote:I like reggae because the chord progressions usually stay with the major scale (like country), but the groove is totally different, almost hypnotic. I play bass in a band that does a few reggae tunes. The music is absolutely sublime!

Yup, I've liked it too! Ever since Johnny Nash did "Hold Me Tight", it's appealed to me. I think the accent on the upbeat definitely gives it a different "vibe", sometimes almost dream-like. And the simplistic style and use of instrumentation tends to allow the players to concentrate more on feel than on complexity. You can have 15 instruments playing in a reggae song, and it's still not "busy" or overpowering, because the playing is so understated and (usually) tasteful.

It's "mood music" without being pablum.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 6 Sep 2015 7:55 am

A lot of reggae song have positive, uplifting lyrics, too. We're doing Bob Marley's "One Drop", which has religious overtones. My friend's recording of "Get Ready" (by the Gladiators) got me through a rough time in hospital after surgery.

If you will be lighter
And Jah will give you rest of your weary head
If you're wrapped up in big sorrows
Then Jah will amend your broken heart
Forget about sadness
'Cause I know for sure there'll be gladness
Forget about your weakness
'Cause tomorrow Jah will heal your sickness
Even if you're old and grey
Come dance, those bad vibes, those bad vibes away

Each and every day I pray
For you to come home and stay

I know it's off topic for a post about how bad today's music is, because it's an old song, but it's a recent recording. A lot of people are making a lot of great music today, and it's all available to anyone with an internet connection. We grew up when radio was king. Radio today is a just a small part of the music universe. None of the people I hang with listen to commercial radio as their main source of new music.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 6 Sep 2015 3:28 pm

If you want to hear good music being made today or music that you have missed, all you need to have is friends with good taste in music. I've proudly served as that friend to many people and still do so when I get a chance. I listen probably double or triple the amount of music than most.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 7 Sep 2015 8:56 am

D'angelo

Self taught piano players
Decided he likes the sonic qualities of a guitar so used that mainly for his 3rd album.

Awesome musician and songwriter. Very unique sound and style. But the music is lush with extensions and advanced jazz chords

Dustin Rigsby · Post by **Dustin Rigsby** » 7 Sep 2015 8:54 pm

I like Easton Corbin...he's pretty good. Does that count ? I think an earlier post nailed it dead on. It's not really very organic anymore. Van Halen always left the mistakes on the records. Eddie says"it's all about the vibe"....

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 8 Sep 2015 4:59 am

Stefan Robertson wrote:D'angelo

Self taught piano players
Decided he likes the sonic qualities of a guitar so used that mainly for his 3rd album.

Awesome musician and songwriter. Very unique sound and style. But the music is lush with extensions and advanced jazz chords

D'Angelo and Thundercat are two of my favorite artists. I've been to 2 D'Angelo concerts, including the first show of his current tour at the Apollo Theater. He is incredible. I don't think he would appeal to many here.

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 8 Sep 2015 6:32 am

What is "music"?

"Vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion."

I agree with the above definition. words like beauty, harmony, and expression work. Also, I think "pleasing to listen to" would be a good definition.

There are some forms of "music" that I will walk away from. I've heard some stuff that could have been beautiful, have harmony, expression, and been pleasing to listen to except it sounded so bad it was offending.

I don't need my hearing destroyed to listen. I walked out of a gospel concert by one of the greatest groups of all time simply because the leader refused to turn down the system a little. In fact I wasn't alone. By the third song, half the people had left.

Do I like loud music? Sure, some of it sounds good loud. Some of it DOESN'T.

I like the hear the definition of music above, along with "balance". If an instrument needs to be louder for a solo, OK, but not one above the other all the time.

I've heard vocals sound so bad because the singer thought they had to scream into the mic for it to work. Come on man, let the mic do the work, save your voice for another day.

I've seen sound people attempt to run sound with every new gadget there was (IPad remote control, motorized faders, pink / white noise generators, auto-eq units, etc). And the result... point blank terrible. My word man, use your EARS!

Well, here I go ranting, and probably a lot of people don't agree, so I'll go back to the rock I came from...

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 8 Sep 2015 7:14 am

Fits the above description, but will you like it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEph_2Qx-7Q

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 8 Sep 2015 7:16 am

D'angelo, how unique and hip is that. I heard some schmaltzy singing with a David T. Walker styled guitar.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 8 Sep 2015 7:29 am

Joachim Kettner wrote:D'angelo, how unique and hip is that. I heard some schmaltzy singing with a David T. Walker styled guitar.

LOL

Well, try this on for size: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRCLjK5OWjU

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 8 Sep 2015 7:42 am

I can't access your link here, Mike.
I commented this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3y2aP0B4Ic

Now I wonder if your LOL was meant that you think I'm stupid or funny?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 8 Sep 2015 7:57 am

I don't think you're stupid. Your response just cracked me up.

One man's treasure is another man's....

Jamie Mitchell · Post by **Jamie Mitchell** » 8 Sep 2015 9:08 am

Joachim Kettner wrote:D'angelo, how unique and hip is that. I heard some schmaltzy singing with a David T. Walker styled guitar.

deep:
http://youtu.be/8fNtipp5RLs

he's a master

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 8 Sep 2015 9:33 am

I have to agree. The song is good!

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 9 Sep 2015 12:21 am

Mike Neer wrote:
Stefan Robertson wrote:D'angelo

Self taught piano players
Decided he likes the sonic qualities of a guitar so used that mainly for his 3rd album.

Awesome musician and songwriter. Very unique sound and style. But the music is lush with extensions and advanced jazz chords
D'Angelo and Thundercat are two of my favorite artists. I've been to 2 D'Angelo concerts, including the first show of his current tour at the Apollo Theater. He is incredible. I don't think he would appeal to many here.

Mike I knew you were clued up but damn you are right on the money. We have d'angelo in common. Aww Mike why did you have to be on the other side of the pond. The jan sessions would be epic.

Anyway on that note: figured out Africa, Untitled and now I'm tacking Spanish joint.
BTW Africa has the most awesome extensions you would love it. Will record some tonight and let you hear the chords. Absolutely awesome musician who uses Jazz knowledge to serve the song. Never lets the solos rip unless it serves the song. Amazing taste and colours musically. He's the reason I asked about substitutions and started learning about extensions.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 9 Sep 2015 12:27 am

Here's a cover version of his latest album with just an acoustic guitar and an amazing female vocalist covering it. Good thing is you can hear the lyrics clearly and appreciate what is also being said.

http://youtu.be/hl-jTixt6C0

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 9 Sep 2015 4:27 am

Stefan Robertson wrote: Mike I knew you were clued up but damn you are right on the money. We have d'angelo in common. Aww Mike why did you have to be on the other side of the pond. The jan sessions would be epic.

I got hip to D'Angelo the first week his Brown Sugar CD came out in 1995. J&R Music gave me a sampler cassette of the record. I heard it and went right back to buy it. He has been my favorite artist since then.

I saw him on the Voodoo tour, which was really remarkable. I'm hip to all his recordings, even the demos.

Charlie Hunter plays guitar and bass simultaneously on Spanish Joint. Have you checked him out?

Here is a little taste of Thundercat. He is a remarkable bassist (all of the chording is played on his 6 six string bass). he is also a really nice vocalist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlufecqB9l0

This is a really light, happy tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh31etowmbk