blogbo

Chad can attest to my addiction to pop music. Many disagree with the amount of credit I give pop music — unoriginal, superficial, I’ve heard it all. But taking a page from their book may not be a bad idea, there is a reason it’s called “popular music.” I can appreciate that you have a deep lyrical message that needs a somber melody behind it to create the emotion BUT there’s no reason that somber melody can’t be catchy.
One reason I look forward to summer is anticipating the next pop-punk band’s one hit that’s gonna carry me through the next 3 months and, though it’ll be the same story of you and the girl near a beach I’m sure, wishing you had more time to develop your relationship or wishing you hadn’t left to go on tour, it’ll still be a great song for summer. Yellow Card, Ryan Cabrerra, The Atari’s, Kelly Clarkson—that’s 5 summers of pop goodness. Like crack people, gimme that!

Another disputed point-of-view is that I don’t see the value in imitating music’s founding father’s in today’s songs. I am definitely influenced by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, maybe some Neil Diamond when I’ve had a bad day BUT if your music sounds like this today don’t count on much attention. There’s room for influence and inspiration, but not alot of room for imitation. Look at Jack Johnson, kinda like a Pop Bob Dylan SOUND. They helped define a time-period that was very important, set the foundation for music structure and created pathways for genre’s that weren’t there prior. But, the time has come to over-produce your music and create sounds on your recording that you’ll never be able to reproduce live, and, if you do, you’ll need a computer set-up that is reserved for rendering 3D animation (hyperbole). AND, I don’t wanna hear it if your not hauling on 2/4, then slow it down half-time for the bridge, do that thing where the band drops out and it’s a measure of altered vocals, with that woosh sound (reversed cymbal swell, love it), right back into the 2/4 to the outro.

On a second to final thought, I don’t discriminate on genre, just as long as it’s catchy. Look at Alt. Country for example. There is no way I would ever have enjoyed true backwoods country, but Toby Keith, Keith Urban, Alison Krauss helped me give country a chance. I still don’t like hardcore country but at least I’m more knowledgeable of that genre thanks to these “sell-outs” as Tennessee and Kentucky folk call them.

I guess, for me, I don’t look to music to define my emotions or guide me when I feel lost, but I do rely on it to enhance feeling I’m already having. So, if the lyrics are some generic rhyming one-liners with an awesome hook, than hey, I’m cool. Just keep in mind that Chad disagrees with almost everything that I’ve stated here, so rest assured that he is representing all of you who want to email me a piece of your mind.

Don’t worry, tomorrow We’ll blog about something a little less controversial…
like gay marriage.

Ben