A Memory of Music

Excellent work Christopher! Fascinating read. Your incisive thoughts about the changing landscape of experiencing and acquiring music articulates similar thoughts that I have, as someone who appreciates songs as a whole and not disembodied sounds.

Comment by Christian John Wikane — November 14, 2006 @ 3:25 am

I couldn’t disagree any more strongly. I’ve been a music lover since I was child playing 7-inch 45’s on my little suitcase-like phonograph. I’m now thirty nine and I have never had more access to, and listened to, more great music, from all over the world, in all kinds of styles, by terrific artists young and old, than I now do now. This is a direct result of the technological advancement you disparage. I placed a dj-like mix of songs (worldbeat, house, and hip-hop) on my friend’s music blog and received favorable responses from individuals as far away as Beirut. As a music lover, what could possibly be more thrilling than that?

Comment by Brian from Minneapolis — November 14, 2006 @ 5:28 pm

I couldn’t agree/disagree more equivocally.  I’ve been a music lover since I began loving music long ago.  Now I love ringtones young and old as I blog my way through the cyberverse.  Who taught you how to write software?

Comment by Will from Los Angeles — November 16, 2006 @ 8:10 am

I admit that I love the fact that I don’t have to be uncomfortable, somewhere outside my house, talking to people, to listen to new music.  And I’m perfectly happy with the crappy speakers
my computer comes with.

And yet, the tragectory of the sounds we, the global we, choose to suround ourselves with, to me feels moribound.  For me it’s the issue of originality more than sonic quality; and the progressively infrequent sensoral interaction with others while experiencing music.  It’s a matter of the preferred isolation of people on the street cloistered in their headphones, oblivious to living sounds; or the total lack of individuality or anything remotely interesting proferred by large-scale labels and television;
it’s mildly shocking, too, to watch the record stores closing down - buying music has gone private.  I think it’s all somehow part of the same animal that pushes crazy frog to the top of everyone’s chart. 

but it’s heartening to know that this has been happening all along and yet good music has surfaced.  We can’t be worse off than we were fifty years ago, and even a hundred.  I’m curious to discover how musicians will reach audiences within the new social frameworks.  It’s a relief
someone sees this as a phenomenon not just to observe, but to deal, and sometimes struggle, with.

Comment by K from usa — November 19, 2006 @ 8:39 pm