Do You Understand Music?

To all Jackson Pollock fans: good evening. It takes all kinds. Some folks stick to what they know and only consume more of it. Some folks try different things when they get bored, only to convince themselves that what they are used to is way more likable, so they scurry back. Some folks will sample everything and rush to the most peremptory of verdicts. Some folks will give it their best shot and listen with their hearts and minds. I don't know that you have to understand a piece of music to like it. I am convinced no one actually is required to understand music, in the broadest sense, to like it. If this was so, a great majority of people who claim to like music but don't have a clue about it, would have given up long ago, and the recording industry would be in even worst condition. Sometimes the most hermetic, least approachable music turns out to be the most rewarding. Liking or loving and understanding are very different things. Part of the enjoyment of music is discovery, and the more run-of-the-mill music you know, the more you have to go off the beaten track to get that sense of discovery. Once you get there, I think you owe the music you find a good listen. One hour for a piece may be stretching things though, if the enjoyment is simply not there. I don't believe in suffering for art that much. Understanding is good, but may be harmful if swallowed. In the end, I fear that, as someone once told me many years ago, " to know a living thing is to kill it". Maybe that's what Sjorgensen means. Now where is that Anthony Braxton album...

Twl - I listen to alot of flung paint, and cast a very wide net. Some of the wildest: Magma: Their skin is to machines what machines are to man. Disharmonic Orchestra: Brain smelter. Os Mutantes: Everything is possible. Amon Duul: The priest, he's escaping! Flower Travelin' Band: Japfro. Esquivel: Whatchamacalit? Negativeland: I'm not naked, pal. Nektar: Elephants are very fond of oranges. Nik Turner: I have come forth by day, my name, my name is Decay-eth Not.

It never gets wierd enough for me. Music is one of the few places left where society is powerless to contain you. Go as far as you wish, and stay as long as you like.

Mwilson, if you want to try a real cool record that is very creative and "out there" in the rock/jazz/blues fusion genre, then try David Sancious' album "Transfiguration: The Speed of Love". This is a killer album that has unique stylings and improvisations with a basic fusion theme, with some blistering guitar and keyboard work by Sancious. I saw these guys in concert in 1975, and they were as good live as on record. He also does some Dobro work that has to be heard to be believed. This album has been out of print for a long time, so check the good used record websites. It is worth the trouble to get this one. He was once the keyboard player with Springsteen, and he makes Springsteen seem like a musical toddler with this individual effort. This band is ultra tight and the music and themes are complex, with unlimited expression by the musicians. Very highly recommended. Not available on CD, it is on LP only.

I think that Zorn & O Coleman are extreme examples for some, who like myself, were more accustomed to classical music with a preference for things before 1940. I listen to jazz (D. Cherry, Miles, etc) and Blues -- but the sound of Spy vs. Spy by Zorn was a totally different experience. Although each piece lasts a few moments (let alone an hour), it took me a long time to get used to... Similarly with Webern, for example (I haven't got used to!).

...some day usually on weekend I go to the East Village and check(mandatory to check) a huge number of "underground" downtown musical stores; yes, searching for the bargains and rarities, recognizing them by the record labels, producers, credits, discovering discovering and acquiring. Sometimes my "shopping cart" riches 500 CDs and LPs sometimes doesn't rich 10. I know definitely that even if I won't like it I will be able to punch it through ebay even with the profit.

Discovering a new music is always interesting. There were a thousands even approaching to 10000 CDs and records bought and nearly 90% sold. Some of records and CDs were acquired for information purpouses only and than sold after one listening some of records and CDs are being placed into collection. Some of the collection records or CDs will NEVER be sold.

Thanks you all for understanding and participating in this discussion.

Ultrakaz, To anyone who is too addicted to eat burgers I would strongly suggest to try out fried beef liver or veal liver. I possess a knowlege of a very tasty recipie of how to cook a fried liver so you can e-mail me if you're interested:)

Twl, your statement is too contraversal: I was surfing through the Cluster albums and CDs for a long time already and I do realy consider music of Roedelius, Moebius, Plank is to be on one of the top levels of intellegence. Seing their names together or individually on CD or record means that this record or CD I should listen. Their albums are so different that you should have a certain mood and motivation for each one of them i.e. "tune yourself up".
"One Hour" CD album was something that I've never expected from them and I do not realy know how to interpret my feelings. Very often that could happen if you're listening to Richard Kirk(Cabaret Voltaire) or even Klaus Schulze.