Could somebody please explain


I know what the dictionary says that it means, but here's the problem....every so often - increasingly frequently because people are starting to know that I am into audio and even more into music - some aquaintance (ie., colleague, co-worker, friend of a friend, etc.) will hand me a CD and say something like: You have to listen to this disk, it's got heavy jazz/classical/latin/blues (pick one..or two) influences but it's hard to pin down just what it really is. It's very eclectic."

Invariably the disk is crap.

The disk is usually generously given to me by an individual who wouldn't know a pianissimo from a pinada, and I am left to wonder just what is meant by the "eclectic" designation. Here are some of the possible meanings under consideration:

1. I don't understand even a fragment of what is going on here musically, so this disk must be really good.

2. I paid good money for this thing and I hate it, so I'll try and pass it off on someone else and call it eclectic.

3. It sounds like world music, and world music is eclectic (the "peace, love, dope" approach).

4. It's eclectic and I like it, so if you don't, you're an idiot.

5. Since I listen to eclectic music you have to think that I am intelligent.

I often wonder what response I would recieive if I merely returned the disk and said" It's not eclectic, it's sh**. Stop worrying about it and go listen to some music you like."

Any thoughts?
esoxhntr
Slothman...you are what you is...

Frank wasn't ecletic..he by-passed eclectic and went straight to genius. I saw him in concert five times when I was a younger man. While I don't listen to him anywhere near as much as I used to, I didn't doubt then, & still don't doubt today that 200-300 years from now his music will still be around..just as Mozart, Bach...is today. I once dated (and married...and divorced...:-) a classical pianist who had never heard of Frank or his music...basically her entire "music world" consisted of only classical styles. She heard one of Frank's CDs I was playing way back when and said..."wow...this guy's music is amazing..."

In tune with this thread...if you want an "ecletic" spin on Frank try the Omnibus Wind Ensemble's "Music by Frank Zappa" CD on the Opus 3 label:

Frank
When i used to live in an apartment, most every one of my neighbors had commented to me "you sure do listen to some strange music" or something similar. As such, i must be a big fan of "eclictic" music. That is, compared to what most others listen to. Maybe that's part of why i am the way that i am : ) Sean
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PS... Here's a review of one of my favourite "eclectic" performers that sometimes changes styles quite drastically. Since it is only one guy, i have a hard time calling them a "band". This is true even though he has 19 different albums and countless other recordings to his credit.

"If only the countless lesser talents who trail in the great man's wake had this much imagination; sounds with this much evocative power and atmospheric intelligence are woefully few and far between.” – Kerrang, 2003.