Do you like reading "Music Writing"?

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

I don't think I do.

Internet mutual interest groups drew me into usenet and bulletin board (ahem) discussions about music, but i think i was only ever in there, for a "i like x" "really you should try y" "i recommend z then" sort of stuff, and general chat about stuff i like. I noticed some time ago that i don't think i get talking about stuff you don't like - it happens a lot on the internet, and i dip into those conversations. But i find it baffling that anyone would sustain much of a conversation (beyond "wow that's really popular even though i think it sounds rub") IRL about a band or piece of music they don't like all that much. (Mentioning no names.) I like hearing people being enthusiastic and passionate because i like to be enthused. And i like a lot of music.

now i've read quite a bit of the internet by now (maybe half of it), and you may not know this but the internet is a fertile place to find all manner of musing on music. And a lot of it bugs me. The language used doesn't chime with my experience of music at all. Where is the conflict in all this music, when all i see is plurality? You don't get this when people talk about contemporary clothing (eg off the top of my head there). Another minor thing, but the "music is food" metaphor (nourishing, balanced diet, "x is good for you") is balls too.

I'm sure i'll think of other stuff.

(ps the chart still hasn't been re-calced yet, but i'll be there when it is)

Comments

[dickmalone.livejournal.com]

I actually love reading criticism about stuff I've never directly experienced--it often inspires me to do the legwork. But that kind of criticism that's worth reading is always written well. I feel like I would get more work if I didn't basically regard individual works of art as standing in for whatever you want them to stand in for at the time.

That said, all the non-music-nerds I hang out with tend to have strong dislikes about music and enjoy expressing those more than expressing their likes. This may just be the kind of people I hang out with, though.