Sometimes neutral is all that the art aspires to be.
****our take on the music is determined by us, and not the music.****
Exactly right. And exactly the point that I've been making for over three years. "Our take" on the music is usually a reflection of ourselves. But our own individual take on the music is not the final arbiter of the music's ultimate value; after all we are clearly not clones of each other. Perfect example: I can't for the life of me understand how the Jesse Cook clip can be felt to be anywhere near as "spectacular" (to use your definition) as any of the recent piano trio recordings. I wish I could say I was "neutral" to it. To my sensibilities it is bland, derivative and (almost) totally pointless music. Obviously, not to all. But, that's just me and goes to your point.
****our take on the music is determined by us, and not the music.****
Exactly right. And exactly the point that I've been making for over three years. "Our take" on the music is usually a reflection of ourselves. But our own individual take on the music is not the final arbiter of the music's ultimate value; after all we are clearly not clones of each other. Perfect example: I can't for the life of me understand how the Jesse Cook clip can be felt to be anywhere near as "spectacular" (to use your definition) as any of the recent piano trio recordings. I wish I could say I was "neutral" to it. To my sensibilities it is bland, derivative and (almost) totally pointless music. Obviously, not to all. But, that's just me and goes to your point.