quoted 3 lines Andrei wrote:>Andrei wrote:
>
>Or when IDM tunes are used on major commercials or when IDM tunes are used
in highly
quoted 1 line publicized movies or when IDM artists go on tour with internationally>publicized movies or when IDM artists go on tour with internationally
famous artists
quoted 4 lines or when you see reports about IDM artists on MTV... Hold on...>or when you see reports about IDM artists on MTV... Hold on...
>
>Look ! Pierre Henry, Xenakis, Cage, Derek Bailey, Cecil Taylor, Gesualdo, Noh
>Theater, Peking Opera or even Bach are some examples of stuff that's _not_
pop.
quoted 1 line IDM/dance music/whatever is fucking POP music. It's not challenging>IDM/dance music/whatever is fucking POP music. It's not challenging
music. It doesn't
quoted 1 line engage you intellectually. You don't have to make any effort to appreciate>engage you intellectually. You don't have to make any effort to appreciate
the music.
I'll agree a lot of IDM/dance falls into this category, but you can't
really lump it all as non-challenging. Autechre? Mouse on Mars?
A lack of melody is not requisite for music to be intellectually
challenging. Thats not a knock on the aforementioned fellows. I'm a huge
Xenakis fan but fail to see a clear distinction between his electronic tape
compositions and those of someone like Autechre. Your choice of Bach is
interesting as he i certianly pop music. Especially during his own
lifetime. Bach is pure melody harmony and song structure. That doesn't
mean its not challenging.
Essentially, I wouldn't agree that pop music is defined by how accessible
it is. The best example I can think of for intellectual pop music is
Steely Dan. It doesn't take any effort by an average listener to really
enjoy them, but there is certainly an enormous amount to be gleaned both
musically and lyrically. I consider it some of the most challenging and
intellectual music in my collection. Essentially I agree with you in
tendency but not absolutes. A prototype pop song is fairly banal ear-candy.
I think the real brilliance lies in making something that is accesible on
a popular/masses type level and a artistic, intellectual level.
"Challenging" can only go so far. The fine line between listenable and
intellectual is what attracts me to some of the "IDM" artists. However,
the fact that most of the stuff is without sing-along choruses goes a long
way to limiting its popularity. So is it pop? Yes, somewhat. I don't like
to classify things in absolutes.
Tom
quoted 1 line There's nothing challenging about A(/B) song structures or simple,>There's nothing challenging about A(/B) song structures or simple,
repetitive nursery
quoted 1 line rhyme melodies or beats that stick to a regular pulse for 5-10 minutes,>rhyme melodies or beats that stick to a regular pulse for 5-10 minutes,
even if
quoted 1 line they're highly syncopated. They still appeal to your ass more than any>they're highly syncopated. They still appeal to your ass more than any
other body
quoted 1 line part. It doesn't matter if your mom or some frat boy or some 12 year old>part. It doesn't matter if your mom or some frat boy or some 12 year old
girl doesn't
quoted 1 line "get it". I'd say when you start getting into Mego type stuff you're>"get it". I'd say when you start getting into Mego type stuff you're
starting to
quoted 1 line leave the pop realm, but is that even IDM ? And personally I don't even>leave the pop realm, but is that even IDM ? And personally I don't even
find _that_
quoted 1 line stuff very challenging. There's not that much going on there beyond the>stuff very challenging. There's not that much going on there beyond the
surface. But
quoted 5 lines Lexaunculpt and his basic major key chord progressions isn't pop ?>Lexaunculpt and his basic major key chord progressions isn't pop ?
>
>: )
>
>Andrei
-
Tom Aikin taikin@ucsd.edu
Undergraduate, Department of Cognitive Science, UCSD
"In the final end he won the war, after losing every battle." - Bob Dylan
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