Food and Music

the difference between food and music?.... you can consume junk food n it tastes great but isnt great for you. .... you can consume "junk" music n it tastes great and....... is great for you! you need all types of music in you, 'fast food' "junk" and gourmet vegan organic. whatever that means..... all is good for you, its whatever ur craving to hear... is what you should indulge in and enjoy.

Beats

Percussion/ beats is 1 of most xploited music components. i have a theory ppl use them as a 'defense mechanism' almost n not to enhance the song necessarily, to its fullest. Several songs stand on their own, without beats that are in a way, ruined by beats. Beats are powerful and can make a song and in other cases..... destroy one.

Never ever lay beats for the sake of it! Rather, is the song calling/ asking for them? Let the core, the honesty of the song guide that decision and be loyal to it. Beats for the sake of beatz..... is an evil most poisonous evil of the world. Do not abuse beats. 

Natural Beats

Reworking an indie singer's song this morn.. teaching him the power of patience n to wait for the beat, let it evolve in to the song naturally, DO NOT FORCE IT

New Bjork

Over the weekend, i listened to new Bjork. Warning, it had a physical reaction on me. it brought me to weeping tears on several songs, reading along, i could totally relate on many levels. Yes its a heartbreak album on the raw most pure form, ending on a note of hope with "Quicksand" probably my favorite track.

The first track that immediately jumped out at me though was "Family" and i count "Black Lake", ("Quicksand"), and "Lionsong" my favorites.

Thanks to Bjork for having the courage to make this, what with the emotional challenge of it all alone, and.................... for reminding us all, humanity, that through the hardships you can make beauty. Beauty can and should come of it. It's really inspiring to say the least and while it wasn't easy i am sure i will listen again all the way through eventually. Beauty prevails.

First 2015 Post- LP

So i rarely post here anymore, just blog it on twitter usually, but, i have to say............. how excited i am for the artist LP! was listening to some of her new stuff tonight off "Forever For Now" and, first impressions: I adore 'One Last Mistake'. i have a lot more to listen to but quickly, her voice reminds me of a cross between Diane Birch and Stevie Nicks, but still totally unique. her voice is truly a gem and unlike anything ive heard in quite a while, very raw and primitive almost. i am enjoying her music immensely, she has the exciting energy i love to see. i am learning quite a lot about her and her story is interesting also, very self- taught and so forth.

ive made a couple tweeks to the song 'One Last Mistake' already that i hope i can one day share with her. they're very tiny and subtle. everyone check LP out!!!!!!

PS
She is reminding me of a 'modern Fleetwood Mac', while i feel silly using term 'modern' b/c Fleetwood Mac always has been modern, their songs so timeless and classic. but... thats best i can think of right now.

Lana Del Rey

I cant believe we live in a society that thinks lana del rey's music is 'respectable' 'good' music. Its like.... shes got everybody fooled i really do feel. i listened to all of 'ultraviolence' just to sort of see what the hype is.... omg, theres 3 good songs, 1 really good song thats it. her music on this one is trying to be something its not (she's attempting a throwback vintage thing) it misses many marks. she nails it on 'West Coast' and 'Old Money' is really good but thats it!

i just dont get the super hype n admiration for her music i really dont but i wish her well and i admire that she keeps attempting despite so much public/ vocal mixed feedback.

AKG or none.

Omg guys- i can not stress enough the fact to listen to things PROPERLY on great expensive speakers. Seriously- its the difference between hearing it..... n not. #CatpowerOnAKG headphones........ ahhHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! much betta.

Tower

Tonight I ponder and reminisce back on Tower Records.. those tuesday nights you'd stand in line til midnight- waiting for your fav album to drop. then get all the freebie posters n stuff to go with it...

I'm just glad i lived through a time like that in music. A time where u had to WAIT. You had to wait til u got home, pop in the cd.. open the case and read thru the booklet/ lyrics. It was like a ritual.


Not anymore.

I'm not saying i dont embrace Modernity, i do.. but that was such a special time in music- pre MP3s n so forth.

I really look back on that fondly and always get nostalgic. Tonight for some reason, maybe cos its Tues I was remembering back. .... #Tower.

Today's Pondering: What's a Song's 'Worth' ..... ?

Today I ponder the worth of a song.


What's worth (.99) to one person.. may be worth 99,000,000.00 to another. You know?

Its all very subjective, and... like all great art.... I see vinyl records of the same caliber.


Take the Joanna Newsom album 'Ys' for example. You can buy the cd of that pretty much anywhere say for ten bucks.

To me? ........ That is a masterpiece, unlike anything I've heard, and probably unlike anything I'll ever hear in this
lifetime.

So.... to me...... that is up there with Picasso / Andy Warhol n such. Jackson Pollacks... not a direct comparison, workwise,
but just..... the cultural, and in this case, musical value and significance. It could be auctioned at Sotheby's in my mind.

I dont know how to put a 'museum fine art piece' price tag on it though.. you know? ... I guess maybe the master versions of
the songs... I'm not sure. It just begs the question, the worth of a song/ album n such, varies so greatly from one individual
to another.

That album, basically to me, Joanna Newsom 'Ys', is priceless. There is NO price tag. Those who get the pleasure of having heard
it, can consider themselves a 'lucky, extremely fortunate..... Few'. The fact that I have the hearing to get to hear that,
and enjoy its serene surreal beauty.... I consider like........ an 8th Wonder of the World. And I know Ive said something similar
before, but its always worth repearting, especially with an album such as 'Ys'.


So......... name that price, what is your favorite music worth to you, say from an art dealer perspective in a gallery sort of
situation.... Because honey.............. That album 'Ys' sure belongs in a museum somewhere- dedicated solely to IT. And that's
my 2 sense for Friday, TGIF! ;))) #JoannaNewsom.

I Wanna be Rich Enough...................................

I can commission any band (at any time)- to produce any music/ musical piece (i so)------ commission. thatbeit- any band/ musician- i would want to play- together. I can commission them--- (to play together). Or, just any band/ musician- I think might make or play great... _____ whatever music- if i wanna hear them dabble in a nother genre lets say........ Or write a song for my new sketch or.... whatever it is-- that is total freedom to me. (a form of it). I also (wanna be rich enough)- to own a home- so that bands can play living room/ house party shows in my house. (whenever they want). I want to be able to accommodate this at almost any time, any day. That is why I want to #own a home.


This would also be a collaborative thing (sometimes)- with commissioning these bands. Sometimes- I would just need their help on my own song--- or something. That is a dreamworld to me.

..... music needs to be the most accessible thing eveRRRR!!!!! (i will preach this til i die) if i'm lucky- i will have a hand in (making this a reality/ more accessible). #love #beauty #peace ultimate peace!

This made me Cry:

....... i agree with pretty much everything that guy says, n how music is the ultimate 'peace maker'- 'resolution' to society's problems. ive been preaching this forever (n will continue). #vivaMusica!

Hmmmm... I dont Know where to Begin:

I've had a lot on my mind (musically)- lately. First off: I have a confession: I switched- n started listening to KT Tunstall radio on Pandora. (*********GASPPPPPPPPPPPPP*****). This is the first, in a departure from 'Punjabi Girl'- radio. (and.. i gotta admit: it feels good). It feels really good to hear guitars again. There's definitely a yin n yang at work here.

Anyhow: its taking me back to the 90s, girl acoustic guitars n such, n i love it- n am nostalgic.

Also: ive been thinking lately how much I belong- in a 'music think tank'. Not in the 'industry' sense. But in the, 'app', technological sense. What's funny is- I have NO background in computers/ technology- nothing of the sort- no skill set there. Yet, all of my ideas (musically)- are technology based. Its frustrating (to say the least). All of these ideas/ concepts/ n no where to put them/ nothing to do with them/ all in my 'head'. It's to the point though where: that's not enough, and I wish to pursue these ideas aggressively. Sort of become my 'mission'. Conceptual is no longer enough. I have no idea where to begin- but plan to do 'something about it'. Twitter/ the face of 'blogging' as we know it- is about to change (if I have any control). Twitter is no longer enough for me. I need a new way to 'blog' pin my music- I was thinking this morning how 'Pinterest' might quench my thirst- but only for a while. Even that wouldnt be enough: my 'latest': a 'Voice blog'. so like 'Siri'- for music blogging. I hear a song, i like it, i wanna write about it- i'm out on the road or whatever/ doin what i'm doin/ n so i 'voice blog' it- n it blogs it for me. I need that. I need blogging to be that accessible n seamless. I cant always wait til I have a moment to 'sit down at the computer'- (and I think most ppl dont). Anyway: that is where I'm at musically. Also, been checking my 'Google stats' recently...... ha!....... didnt know I had any readers (1.)- and 2. didn't know many of them are in Russia!!???........ very interesting to say the least. N Ukraine too- so fascinating. Not many, but there are some, and any of it surprises me. I currently have 89 followers in Twitter too- n that is equally fascinating surprising. Fact that anyOne wants to read/ know what I'm listening to is the 'ultimate'. N totally flattering. Anywho: I belong in a music think tank somewhere... I want to go swimming in that. Put on my fins, n dive..

I was thinking this morning how: in a dreamworld: I wish facebook would let you timeline your music (n Only your music).

currently listening to: guitars! My friend Caitlin Schneiderman. n RIP Whitney Houston.........

.... it's still sort of in this 'mysterious'- i dont know what will happen w/it phase..................... n thats really xCITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am on a.......................................................

Punjabi kick, like no other.................................................. n (part of me)- thinks..... i always will be.






.............. i was listening tonite-- on pandora (i cANT stop listening!!!!!).... n some AR Rahman stuff came on.... Guru or something or another........................................... n i felt like............................. i was listening to the fUTURe.......................... it was really weird/surreall/ sort of out of body. i couldnt believe what i was listening to/my ears.................................... it was really insane, and, xciting!.................. i cant explain it. i really do (feel)- punjabi/bhangra, is the future of 'music'. in an insane way.......................... i hear it in the future/in pop music...................... i really do, (more). Toxic (britney spears)- is sort of an example of where it's 'begun'. (Strings). but i hear more of it. it really is, on 'to' something.................................................. n i am excited, and thrilled, to see what!........................... n will (be)- following it, like a hawk.............................. it is some of the most gorgeous, detailed, complex, rhythmically, just insane............................. music. ... not much else out there, (like it)- is happening. n i can't hail it enough. to Punjabi/Bhangra...................!!!!!

We are able.........................................

We are able to interact with music, in a way, like never before........................................................



and this, is what excites me most about technology.

'Radical ideas'---'Music Mantra'

when it comes to music.............that is the only time i have 'radical ideas'. ..like for example, i believe it should be a requirement, to have music education til, well, all the way up through highschool-i do. when it comes to music-is the only time i become 'radical', or 'extreme'. i believe there is a musician in all of us.......and i believe with the 'progressing' technology, as it unfolds....it will make that idea/that 'fantasy', a reality......the idea of, that anyone can be a musician (w/out necessarily been trained). i believe in the power of apps, and their ability to enable us to create music. for example, tonight, i had a melody in my head, (as i often do)--my dilemma has become (and has always been)--how do i get it down? the race to get down/record. will it slip away......something else, thats also interesting is---i often come up with melody first.......and, usually (no) words. just melodies. i dont know what that is. anyway. i see the future as being one where/in which, anyone can create music, at the click of a.........app. or whatever. that is a future that i see/that i envision/that i hope. were i running for anything in office (which i won't/my lack of interest in politics)---but if i were---as i see music something worth fighting for--bringing it to the political arena---i'd vote for/be a candidate, who, funded all things music. -making music as accessible and, ubiquitous as possible. where, music was right along with math/science in the educational 'line-up' of things. it'd be a 'core subject'. it would not be an elective. people would think as 'sub-consciously' in music-as they do in english-or whatever their language is-and be able to put it down. i believe in music as a fundamental subject. i believe in centralizing music-to almost everything else. making it as accessible as possible. democratizing music i suppose-in the most 'viral' of ways. i want it everywhere. that is my 'music mantra' for the night.

this is so cute!..

target has a 'holiday album'..i discovered this 'toy jackpot' song (blackalicious) this way, and i like this one..


blackalicious..

..the whole album is free! what a cute idea!..

On reviews..

so pitchfork just posted a wanted for writers--i seriously considered it, then thought..wait i hate reviews.

part of me hates reviews, i like musical discussions. i also like reviews, seeing the music in a whole new way, another way to explore the music, but only after i have heard it first and judged for myself.

i think part of (my problem with) it is them, as writers, fluffing their feathers, making the emotional, intellectual. colorful language and so forth. which theres nothing wrong with being articulate, but if somethings really great, i dont wanna read a 2 page essay on how/why great it is. i wanna be told to just listen and then i'll understand. music/culture reviews are its own form of pretension. and i have a problem with them, and i also dont. i always feel 2 ways about something it seems..

can u make the intellectual emotional?

anyway, i think this is me just dealing with the fact that i could never be a music critic, not in the conventional sense. i dont think it does great music justice to have it reviewed-thought about intellectually, i think thats missing the point. i think music should be enjoyed, THEN picked apart (if one wishes). basically, stay away from reviews til AFTER. not the other way around. its like movies, where they show the making of before its release..i dont wanna see that! i wanna believe the magic, see it with innocent eyes, then go from there, if anywhere.

i founded this blog on the pretense that there would be 'no fluff', and i think ive held true to that. lose the 'soaring guitars' blahblahblah please. well, or just dont bother writing fancy adjectives til AFTER ppl have heard and can judge for themselves. there's a manipulation there that i have a problem with, (attempting to) coloring ppl's opinions and so forth. i dont mind descriptive writing so long as its subjective. all music 'reviews' need to be from a subjective point of view, b/c its all a personal experience. i think i'm just too honest to work as a music critic, i'm too selective. for ex., new arcade fire is nothing to ride home about. (but theyre still one of my fav. bands).

..i think if i were a musician, i'd lean the other way (objective), but thats another discussion and bottom line, is not why i do or dont listen to something.

Brazilian Jazz

So lately I've been hearing a lot of great Brazilian jazz (thanks to aol radio). This list is from November last year, i almost forgot about it...(and many of these can go on my 'dream label':) They're ordered as I heard them:

Os mutantes

Poema do adeus by: Lalo Schifrin

Minha Voz, Minha Vida by: Caetano Veloso

Reste by: Sophie Milman

Swing da cor by: Daniela Mercury

Ife Bobowa by:Brother of Soul from GlucklichIII

I've heard some good stuff by the late Suba. and off-topic, I forgot about a band called the Cranes who was also randomly on this list.

Currently listening to: the Jeff Buckley song 'All Flowers In Time..' (no idea how i JUST discovered it...), Now Now Children Everywhere ('Cars' especially), The Ettes (esp. 'No Home'), new YeahYeahYeahs (not sure what i think of it yet...) & Brazilian jazz but of course!