So, I was at a kegger the other night, and me and this dude got to talking about music, a frequent happening with me, anywhere. Anyway, I knew he was a metalhead, so I said how if I had to pick out any modern form of music that was closest to classical, I'd pick metal, just because of the unique arrangements and such. He agreed in the case of symphonic black metal, but concluded his statement with the sentence: "And everyone hates metalcore". At which point I objected, and hence started the discussion that inspired this writing.
I'm really sick of hypocrisy in music, especially extreme, "rebellious" forms of music. The whole "we're non-conformists because we conform to this extreme music's ideology" bullshit really gets under my skin. I think that the idea of metal, when it started, was "Fuck you, mainstream. We're not going to write music that prescribes to a set formula of songwriting. We're gonna do our own thing." And they did.
And it was awesome.
But now it seems metal is in a place where "metalheads" aren't willing to admit it's metal if the artists do what they want with the music instead of trying to keep themselves confined in a certain set of rules and song formulas. Which is exactly what metal was trying to get out of when it first appeared on the scene.
...
Enter metalcore; the argument aforementioned dude used (if I can remember correctly) was that metalcore wasn't real metal because it didn't stay true to the ideology of satanic black metal. I don't think metal should be defined by any particular ideology; it's an extreme form of music.
Which brings me to another point: what's with ultra-sub-classification of music? I mean, trying to make music fit into a box is one thing; making an excel spreadsheet with attached diagrams and a legend for quick reference is quite another. Any musician that seriously starts describing their genre using more than three words should be greeted by a swift kick to the face, followed by raucous laughter. I do understand the desire to classify music for convenience; but like I said, you should only need three or less words to describe it. If you want to get specific about a band using words...don't. Just tell your audience to go listen to said bands music. Not complicated at all and it accomplishes what you were trying to do as a fan, which is getting people to listen to your favorite band's music. CRAZINESS.
I once had someone describe some trance music as "psy-trance-electro-happyhardcore-fusion", so after kicking them in the face I realized I didn't have to listen to the artist anyway because I'd already read the book.
Plus most black metal sucks ass anyway. Just kidding!
\m/,
Brian
Monday, August 25, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Late ramblings-hopefully not too incoherent.
So, a decent amount of stuff has happened in my life lately that I've been forced from my relatively care-free outlook into something a little more introspective.
I've been thinking how the whole aspired-to rockstar lifestyle applies to other aspects of my life: i.e. relationships. Part of me wants to be able to live that rockstar fantasy of being able to just sort of do whatever I want when it comes to girls, but who I am contradicts that. I was raised on respect for women and emotional responsibility, and through that developed a love of chivalry and the desire to live my life like that. It's a curious contradiction.
So many times, I find myself in situations that force me to decide which Brian I want to listen to: the rockstar Brian whose impulsive and does what feels good, or the chivalrous Brian who won't do something avoidable if it's gonna hurt other people. I feel that the answer, as usual, doesn't lie in either of the extremes but somewhere right in the middle, favorite haunt of the truth. (ASIDE: I believe in absolute truth.) The obvious answer to give is that the whole rockstar/chivalric knight personas each have their moment; it depends on the situation and other parties involved. However, something just feels missing from this solution.
I can't help but think that part of the appeal of the rockstar fantasy is living in a world without consequences, where no one expects you to do anything but act on impulse and essentially just satisfy your whims. However, living in such a world would be detrimental to the music I write; I always write what I feel, and it would lack depth if there were no consequences for my actions. Because I write from emotion, *SCREECHING HALT*
I would like to take this moment to assure everyone that I do not like or write emo music, except satirically. There's a different between writing a sad song and an emo song; a distinction which is starting to get lost in the modern music scene. Besides, emo is lame and not metal, and I'm manly and awesome.
*RESUME* Now I've lost track. Meh; was worth it. Manly AND awesome. *kills a swarm of angry bees with pure testosterone*
I think consequences are important to the emotions we feel. *NOTE: the following is purely hypothetical* Say I'm in a "romantic situation" with girl Z. Girl Z likes me and wants a relationship, but I, being the carefree rockstar that stereotype demands I be, am just looking for a bedwarmer for the evening. Now, in the world I live in now, if I followed through with the bumping of nasties, the consequence would be leading her on, and therefore hurting her when I told her that I wasn't looking for anything other than a squeeze. I'd feel like a piece of shit covered in douche-sauce. Ok, I just had a mental image of what douche-sauce would look/taste like and shall now be mentally scarred for the rest of my life. Back on topic.
In the world without consequence, she would understand perfectly that I didn't want a relationship, but be perfectly down for a tumble in the sheets. Here there's no consequences so I don't feel any emotion other than satiation. As odd as it may seem, the second scenario is completely repulsive to me.
Having to make choices, even about things I don't wanna think about, is something that I highly value, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. The need to restrain impulsiveness when it's going to cause pain is one of the things that makes one noble, a mon avis. As much as the hedonist, consequenceless rockstar stereotype lifestyle appeals to me, I don't think that's an aspect of it I want. Or at least not much.
I can't deny a taste here and there might be a little fun.
I mean, what?
*cough*
\m/,
Brian
I've been thinking how the whole aspired-to rockstar lifestyle applies to other aspects of my life: i.e. relationships. Part of me wants to be able to live that rockstar fantasy of being able to just sort of do whatever I want when it comes to girls, but who I am contradicts that. I was raised on respect for women and emotional responsibility, and through that developed a love of chivalry and the desire to live my life like that. It's a curious contradiction.
So many times, I find myself in situations that force me to decide which Brian I want to listen to: the rockstar Brian whose impulsive and does what feels good, or the chivalrous Brian who won't do something avoidable if it's gonna hurt other people. I feel that the answer, as usual, doesn't lie in either of the extremes but somewhere right in the middle, favorite haunt of the truth. (ASIDE: I believe in absolute truth.) The obvious answer to give is that the whole rockstar/chivalric knight personas each have their moment; it depends on the situation and other parties involved. However, something just feels missing from this solution.
I can't help but think that part of the appeal of the rockstar fantasy is living in a world without consequences, where no one expects you to do anything but act on impulse and essentially just satisfy your whims. However, living in such a world would be detrimental to the music I write; I always write what I feel, and it would lack depth if there were no consequences for my actions. Because I write from emotion, *SCREECHING HALT*
I would like to take this moment to assure everyone that I do not like or write emo music, except satirically. There's a different between writing a sad song and an emo song; a distinction which is starting to get lost in the modern music scene. Besides, emo is lame and not metal, and I'm manly and awesome.
*RESUME* Now I've lost track. Meh; was worth it. Manly AND awesome. *kills a swarm of angry bees with pure testosterone*
I think consequences are important to the emotions we feel. *NOTE: the following is purely hypothetical* Say I'm in a "romantic situation" with girl Z. Girl Z likes me and wants a relationship, but I, being the carefree rockstar that stereotype demands I be, am just looking for a bedwarmer for the evening. Now, in the world I live in now, if I followed through with the bumping of nasties, the consequence would be leading her on, and therefore hurting her when I told her that I wasn't looking for anything other than a squeeze. I'd feel like a piece of shit covered in douche-sauce. Ok, I just had a mental image of what douche-sauce would look/taste like and shall now be mentally scarred for the rest of my life. Back on topic.
In the world without consequence, she would understand perfectly that I didn't want a relationship, but be perfectly down for a tumble in the sheets. Here there's no consequences so I don't feel any emotion other than satiation. As odd as it may seem, the second scenario is completely repulsive to me.
Having to make choices, even about things I don't wanna think about, is something that I highly value, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. The need to restrain impulsiveness when it's going to cause pain is one of the things that makes one noble, a mon avis. As much as the hedonist, consequenceless rockstar stereotype lifestyle appeals to me, I don't think that's an aspect of it I want. Or at least not much.
I can't deny a taste here and there might be a little fun.
I mean, what?
*cough*
\m/,
Brian
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
MY FIRST POST EVAR!
GREETINGS TO THEE, VASTNESS OF THE INTERNETS!
No, this entire thing won't be in caps. So I've done it. I've joined the scores of people who write down what they're thinking for the entertainment of complete strangers. Fortunately I'm not a shy person, so I think I'll fit right in. The reason I named this blog "Reaching for the Dream" is that it's always been my dream to make a career doing what I loved: playing metal guitar and singin' my heart out. I'm in a band called d'Archangel, in which one of my best friends Dom, who plays a mean lead, and can roar like a lion, is my counterpart.
I think we make a good team.
However, there is, at the moment, just the two of us. A drummer and bassist are required, no matter how awesome two guitarist/vocalists just going nuts would be.
Nonetheless, that's not what this blog is about. Basically, I just decided to create this to keep the internetz aware of my progress towards said goal. And also to rant about shit I think about music in general. (As an aside, I like this "Katy Perry" person-she's different, which is more than can be said about most pop.) Ever since I first got passionate about playing/listening to music, it's all I've really wanted to do as a career. I mean, I love the arts in general; I've done some acting, and stage-fighting is super cool, but my heart lies in music. It's always been the balm with which I've soothed the wounds life has given me; seriously, there's never been anything that's bugged me that writing a song hasn't helped with.
Aside from playing metal guitar, I do enjoy playing acoustic. Considering Dom lives 2 hours away, most of the gigs I've been doing have been my solo acoustic stuff, some of which you can find here:
www.myspace.com/lupehomme
Honestly, I can't wait until Dom moves into town so we can start up d'Archangel for real. I really wanna do this rockstar thing; I'm hoping that my drive will be enough.
\m/,
Brian
No, this entire thing won't be in caps. So I've done it. I've joined the scores of people who write down what they're thinking for the entertainment of complete strangers. Fortunately I'm not a shy person, so I think I'll fit right in. The reason I named this blog "Reaching for the Dream" is that it's always been my dream to make a career doing what I loved: playing metal guitar and singin' my heart out. I'm in a band called d'Archangel, in which one of my best friends Dom, who plays a mean lead, and can roar like a lion, is my counterpart.
I think we make a good team.
However, there is, at the moment, just the two of us. A drummer and bassist are required, no matter how awesome two guitarist/vocalists just going nuts would be.
Nonetheless, that's not what this blog is about. Basically, I just decided to create this to keep the internetz aware of my progress towards said goal. And also to rant about shit I think about music in general. (As an aside, I like this "Katy Perry" person-she's different, which is more than can be said about most pop.) Ever since I first got passionate about playing/listening to music, it's all I've really wanted to do as a career. I mean, I love the arts in general; I've done some acting, and stage-fighting is super cool, but my heart lies in music. It's always been the balm with which I've soothed the wounds life has given me; seriously, there's never been anything that's bugged me that writing a song hasn't helped with.
Aside from playing metal guitar, I do enjoy playing acoustic. Considering Dom lives 2 hours away, most of the gigs I've been doing have been my solo acoustic stuff, some of which you can find here:
www.myspace.com/lupehomme
Honestly, I can't wait until Dom moves into town so we can start up d'Archangel for real. I really wanna do this rockstar thing; I'm hoping that my drive will be enough.
\m/,
Brian
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
