yup.
that's me mr. tull - or rather mr. anderson..
david posted a link to one of the best music polls,
the village voice's pazz and jop poll...in reading it, i finally have come to the conclusion that pop music, for the most part, is not relevant to me anymore - and that's ok - i am, after all, not the target demographic...
take critical darling kanye west - well, i've heard a few of his songs - and, well, um - they're ok - but record of the year - really? is it on the level of stevie wonder? marvin gaye? will it sound as good in 30 years as those two artists...
the same can be said of many of the selections - some, though admittedly, not all, i have actually listened to...
when i say these things, several possibilities pop into my head - 1. pop music today really sucks 2. i am an old crank that sounds like the people in the fifties that blasted rock and roll - albeit, at least i am not calling it the devil's music, or buring records...yet.... 3. i simply don't get it....
i am going with #3, for a number of reasons - experience has taught me that when you come down to it, every era produces good music and bad music - probably in a constant proportion... i reject explanation 2 because really, i am not all that old (probably younger than most of the critics on the list) and really, i am open minded and a very eclectic listener of music...
so, it's gotta be 3.... which is ok - i've had a good run being a dedicated follower of fashion - it's not made for me, so why would i hope to get it - and why should i pretend to like it to seem that i am cooler, younger and hipper than i really am (i do wonder, however, if some critics votes are influenced by that desire...) christgau hints at this: "Never before has rock criticism been so into three of its ancient sins: cooler than thou, instant gratification, and what have you done for me lately." frankly i get a similar sense from many of the records on the list - good for a spin than never want to hear it again...
does this mean, i'll never listen to new bands and love them - no, ocassionally i have found and expect to find gems, but i think i'll be finding them a bit more off the beaten path - not among the most commercial, or self consciously 'alternative" or "indie"... in other words, i'll remain as hip or unhip as ever...
what do yo folks think - either of my self diagnosis or the state of pop/rock/hiphop/whatever 2005-6?