Tuning In // For Good Measure


“I think it’s time we stop, children, what’s that sound?
Everybody look what’s going down.”

For What It’s Worth -Buffalo Springfield (1966)
Video Killed the Radio Star — The Buggles
The first song to play on MTV

Choosing a Path

When it comes to selecting music to play and share, I sometimes pause for a minute to reflect on the message I am sending when I hit that button. As it happens, I have a very diverse and eclectic taste for music which I couple with some very strong opinions on that matter. Not everything is flattering, but I suppose that’s the nature of the beast. It’s not my fault if everyone I know seems to listen to crap. I’m just being hyperbolic, after all.

” My neck, my back, lick my pussy and my crack.”

Trash, (And seriously. WTF is wrong you? This is not my only example.)
Electric Avenue — Eddie Grant
Not Trash

The Onslaught

The problem comes when I decide the spark of inspiration has struck me and I get to feeling really good about myself I start flooding the world with music. While that’s nice, it’s not exactly neighborly for the people who have their timelines flooded with various music examples. I’ve played with different ways to ameliorate that problem, but each solution requires effort and I don’t know which I really prefer.

“Excuse me while I kiss the sky.”

Purple Haze -Jimi Hendrix
Comfort Eagle — Cake
And then there’s this.

Dark Work

There’s a lot I work on behind the scenes and I’m eventually going to have to show it to people. It doesn’t do me any good to learn all these special skills which I’ve supposedly built up if I never put a single one of them to use. The only real way to do that involves other people. It’s an everlasting fact of life. It takes time to build up momentum. It’s not just about being motivated, it’s also about being disciplined, patient, and passionate. I think it also has something to do with intent. There’s something to be said for having goals, but the underlying question becomes: “Why are those your goals?” That’s a good question.

“There’s a certain mad beauty to unorthodoxy.”

Dick Cavett, September 9, 1969
Time of the Season — Zombies
Fair Enough.

Let it Go

With that out of the way, I think about the extremes. There’s only so far in any given direction that I’m willing to go. In point-of-fact, I’m actually quite liberal in most degrees, but where those lines falter I’m particularly uncompromising. I can always change my mind.

“You’d better change it back or we will both be sorry.”

Don’t You Want Me -The Human League
Tony the Beat — The Sounds
I mean…yes.

The Source of Power

It’s not like I can’t go to the deep, dark, gritty depths. Anyone can bang the shit out of a drum, slam a guitar, or do beat poetry over digital samples. Great. But when it sucks, it sucks. And so much of it sucks, I do not understand how it sells. I do not understand how people could possibly enjoy any of this trash without the aid of mass hysteria (It’s a party, by George!) and drugs (Read: Alcohol). I say this knowing full well how guilty I am in my own right, but that doesn’t negate the fact that I frequently watch people singing songs that contradict their spoken values on every conceivable level. It’s Wacko, Yacko, and Dot.

” How can I help it if I think you’re funny when you’re mad?”

One Week -Barenaked Ladies

It’s All Over — Insane Clown Posse
#notajuggalo

That’s it for now.
Until next time,
Thank you;