Death of music???

Fine. Let's agree to agree. Totally.

Yeah, I think the original comment iis based on a false premise. I haven't heard anyone predicting or lamenting the "death of music" at all. Some people think that music might be worse than before, or that the technology makes it so that anyone can be a "musician," but that has been the case for decades if not longer (how much does a harmonica cost? How many families had a member who could read music 100 years ago compared to today?)

The real change (even bigger, in my opinion, than the ability to alter and fix things post-recording) is the ability to distribute your music. It's possible now to write, record and distribute your album so that it's available to more people than a band on a major label could have reached only 25 years ago. This means that there is a lot more music out there. It also means that there is a lot of noise to filter through. That's maybe the glass-half-empty that Rollins (who isn't someone that I'd listen to on the subject) is talking about.

The glass half full is that there is almost literally something for anyone. For example: thanks to things like the resurgence of vinyl as well as producers and musicians who are analog and vintage nuts, there are probably as many bands and studios recording on vintage equipment (and new equipement designed as throwbacks) as there were when the equipment was new.

On the other hand, I would argue that mainstream pop music, pop music that gets play on the radio, on MTV, in film soundtracks, &c is worse than it was ten years ago and more. But I think that has everything to do with the business of music, and not the number of good musicians or the way technology has changed recording.

Though I think quality is on a bit of an increase, because the means of distribution are becoming more democratic and the good stuff is once again getting the chance to float to the surface.

I assumed, unlike me, people would be inspired to defend the state of music. That was the point of the debate, many apologies if it was unapparent.

Thanks for correcting me dude, I got confused by the semantic of my point. But would you agree that jazz was the next 'phase' of music after the romantic period?

Postmodernism: My favourite quote and description of this, and the only one that would fit on this board

"It's the combination of narcissism and nihilism that really defines postmodernism," Al Gore

Within music this can be defined as, in nothing but my own opinion, say The Strokes regressing to 1960's recording methods to define their modern sound on 'Is This It', or the use of 80's power metal phrases in 'Emo' or Klaxons taking 90's dance songs and structures playing them as an indie band and calling it New Rave. It's not an insult it's just the only option in my opinion as I believe music to be technologically driven.

I didn't know that vinyl was cheaper to produce, that kinda explains it all! Lol. I'm still gonna keep buying my CDs and downloads though... I don't own a turn table, lol. Do you think I'd save enough money on record purchases to make a turn table economical?

Also. I wasn't looking to start original debate, I cited my words as a rant about people telling me music was dead and there was no originality to music and they couldn't make a dollar out of it because the market was saturated.

I said, music isn't dead just that technology has stifled it's progress into true originality, as I think it has reached a peak and the two are very closely linked. So we have to borrow themes from, mostly, our modern history to create new songs.

Then everyone started saying that music was rubbish these days and had died! Sorry PointBlank, "Yeah, I think the original comment is based on a false premise. I haven't heard anyone predicting or lamenting the "death of music" at all." read the first few posts on this thread. Some people just decided to post corrections.

I fundamentally disagree with these thoughts. I like much of the modern contemporary arts. Hence my statements about Take That and easy access to none big label acts i.e. unsigned and just mates bands. Thats fine though, I just wanted to hear what other thought. I wasn't looking for an argument, sorry.

Sweet. Get on it dude!

short version!

with regards to the natural progression (or descent, if you're on that side of it) of a specialized discipline into the commons as better tools for it are produced: all it does is increase the total volume of output and, depending on the discipline, vary the ratio of wheat to chaff.

people generally love to argue that eventually it'll be totally diluted, or that wading through the increased output is a bitch to deal with, but the sky hasn't fallen yet and we're already writing better sorting and discovery tools.

so party on, i guess.

I also think it's pretty arrogant and self-involved to think that it's yr generation that music came to to die. It's been around since before recorded history. I think it's doing just fine.

The world does not revolve around you.

i believe there's a saying that dictates that the get on itself is, in fact, what there currently is to get on.

1) Change is good.

2) Music will never die.

3) I wouldn't take Henry Rollins' word on anything.

Yknow, I think I agree with all three of those points.

Fucking luddites.

What? You don't want to listen to the punk rock Ayn Rand talk about production and engineering?

I would listen to his stance on pumping iron and flexing. And developing huge jaw muscles that could crack walnuts. And bouncing quarters off of one's neck tendons.

long-winded fervent storytelling.

and ripping men in half with his bare hands.

I listened to his advice in Def Jam Vendetta. It was quite helpful.

Studio engineering is no longer a speciality as we are all tech savvy these days and have easy access to cheap equipment and software. I like it, the last three EPs I have been a part of have all been recorded using a collection of equipment set up in a house for a week it makes it all feel so natural.

I beg to differ on that being on the other side of the glass.......there are guys out there that made the great records of the 60's and 70's still working and putting out great stuff.......

This rings true in the mastering arena........I got alot of home brewed stuff that is either to thin sounding to master or mindblowing what someone can do with what they have...I would rather send a mix back to the artist and tell them to turn up the levels a bit than to have them put out crap.......The old analog stuff sounds lightyears better than alot of stuff in the box........

I adapted to using a computer for editing and assembling a cd before it goes to the pressing plant, and it helps so much at that stage.........also for some lower budgets I have used some plugins to help speed up the process, not many though......

Music aint dead, yet but I can agree also with the recycled sound of things.......you would think with the ease of creative tools these dyas something would float to the surface that would be great, mostly it is just ok..........