the following is a bit of pro-reynolds propaganda... because i feel that
people, especially those that are convinced of being "undergroud," tend to
pick on successfull people. reason . r ea s o n . . .
quoted 3 lines In all seriousness, Simon Reynolds comes from a fundamentally
>In all seriousness, Simon Reynolds comes from a fundamentally
>different context in discussing music than most people on this list.
>He's all about populism, dancing, and cultural revolution.
--William VanLoo
another thing to bear in mind : reynolds is also the paradox of the
intellectual who hates intellectuals (cf. orwell, steinbeck...). he is a
brilliant writer, historian and music critic. he is by no means a lost
drug-addled teen who couldn't pay attention in class, like he might like to
believe. he captures the feelings of songs tersely and so eloquently that
his style is almost remiscent of, well, good writing, unlike modern music
critics who tend to really drop the ball and get so caught up in being
funny or cute that they hardly even discuss the music (even certain IDM
reviwers do this...!).
quoted 3 lines how he picks on Ae, Squarepusher, Aphex, and all the other fine
>how he picks on Ae, Squarepusher, Aphex, and all the other fine
>purveyors of IDM (or whatever you want to call it) on his web page, for
>forgetting about electronic music's orriginal purpose -- dancing...
--Q-Bot Eye
not to pick specifically on Q, but i think in general you've all lost the
plot. reynolds does not hate idm, he does not see dance music as the only
potential of electronics. that's stupid. he's not an idiot ! to someone
like myself who was too young during most of the electronic music
revolution, _generation ecstacy_ was a comprehensive history of electronic
music, a good way to catch up quick. i have read the chapter on idm a
number of times, in which he praises r.james, and tells the rest of the
history in a standard subjective tone. and no, he is not much a fan of the
music, but if THAT is what you find disagreeable, well, then... i remind
you that this is the list where people complain about having to listen to
garage, or the music *he* likes. not *everyone* feels or enjoys the
complex spectrum of emotions in music that we idm fans do (i.e.,
uneasiness, false relaxation, mad delight, and other standard afx/ae
tricks....)
some while ago on the idm-list, franco ingrassia cited reynolds' passage on
what he calls 'geektronica'. (
http://members.aol.com/blissout/over98.htm)
is there anything there that isn't true ? would anybody here not call
himself a geek ? (because i know someone will say it : 'himself' is here
sexually ambiguous) essentially, the main point that reynolds criticizes
about this genre is one that even its own members resent, and dispute
ceaselessly : the bug of 'elitism', the secret desire that no more than 300
people should deserve this record, the quest for more music and the delight
in connoisseurship, the selfish joy in owning and knowing something secret
that the the rest of the world finds unattainable.
(and, frankly, undesirable.)
.af.
ps; props to christophe for making the frogs post in this discussion !
pps; i must say that i find reynolds' mockery of FSOL in the aforementioned
book to be cruel and immature, for those who have read it. he does get
childish.
ppps; i think i have heard someone complain about the name INTELLIGENT
DANCE MUSIC one time too many. i am willing to begin discussions on
reforming this name. or at least on thinking of different words for the
acronym IDM..... ?
incomprehensible devolving mentality ?
international disenchanted movement ?
in dirty minds ?
?
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