Sunday, December 23, 2007

Am I Schizophrenic?

I'm starting to wonder about myself. I've been spending a lot of time on pandora.com and I've made some interesting discoveries about myself. The first station I set up was Progday Afternoon, comprising things like King Crimson, Gentle Giant, and Frank Zappa. The second station I set up is called Michael Nymanish, after the minimalist English soundtrack composer Michael Nyman (this station has a lot of small string/piano/chamber ensamble music with New Age leanings). The third station I set up is called Gordon Lightfootish, and it comprises music by whimpy, sentamental guys singers like Gordon Lightfoot, John Mayor, David Byrne, Cat Stevens, and James Taylor. The last station I created is called Cookie Monster Metal and it consists of speed metal with uninteligable lyrics (vocals that sound a lot like Cookie Monster from Sesame Street) but with AMAZING instrumental dexterity (the stand out band so far is Necrophagist - WOW!)

As I bounce from station to station, I find that I'm equally pleased with each genre, yet I don't want to listen to any of them exclusively. Each is providing me with something I crave: musical exploration, virtuoso chops, lyrical experimentation, folk sentimentality, Baroque harmony, Classical arangement, meloncholy, angst, symphonic stylings, hard rock aggression - some of it with technically amazing drumming.

Somehow, I want to combine all of these elements into one composite unite. Somehow.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I am pleased to see you expanding your 'Baskin Robbins' of musical taste and moving up toward the METAL realm. M'TAL (As I like to pronounce it) is by far the most challenging, spiritually uplifting, soulful, and darntootingood music. We can all learn from Michaels discovery after spending most of his time listening to sub par tunage. Bravo!!