Re: "The Death of High Fidelity"

[joe cipale]

On Sat, 2007-12-29 at 16:52 -0500, George M.Middius wrote:
>
> Jenn said:
>
> > From The Rolling Stone:
> <http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17777619/the_death_of_high_fidelity>
> > Thoughts?
>
> Compressing of dynamic range... check
> Louder, louder, louder... check
> Catering to MP3 devices, computer speakers, and IPOD-type gear... check
>
> Here's one claim I didn't follow:
>
> "Computer programs like Pro Tools ... make musicians sound unnaturally
> perfect."
>
> How is this a new phenomenon? Before PC-based mastering, didn't studio
> goons mix and match the final recording from several different attempts?
>
>
> Also, the reporter interviewed David Bendeth, who "works with rock bands
> like Hawthorne Heights". That's not the band to hold up as a benchmark of
> subtle intonations. They are loud, strident, and cacophonous.
>
> Donald Fagen, producer and Steely Dan frontman, gives a nod to the inroads
> made by audio 'borgism: "We're conforming to the way machines play music.
> It's robots' choice. It used to be ladies' choice — now it's robots'
> choice." Pretty grim.

Hey all... new to the group but an interesting post.

Thanks to eBay, I have been able to 'rebuild' my high-end audio
equipment with devices that I once lusted after and can now afford:
Denon Tuner, Sony turntable, Grado Ruby cartridge. As a result, I have
rediscovered vinyl and other programming I thought I had given up for
lost.

I went into Sure-is ****ty (Circuit City) today, looking for an HDMI
cable for my STB-to-Flat screen. My God... the ONLY sound level they
know how to play in there is L-O-U-D! Talk about sound distortion! The
sad part was, one of the movies playing in the 'Surrond-Sound' demo room
had a very soft, orchestral piece to it. But you would never know it as
loud as they were playing it. And the pimply-faced sales dweeb added
insult to injury by turning the volume up and complaining 'I dont know
what is wrong with this DVD here...'

Volume is what sells these days, in terms of both quantity and loudness.
Gone are the days when I could go to my favorite audio salon, sit back
with a sales person (who KNEW WTF they were talking about!) and enjoy
auditioning a new pair of speakers, cartridge and/or vinyl/CD release.
Even some of the venerable names I grew up with in the Puget SOund area
are now catering to the LOUD is GOOD philosophy, with one exception -
Speakerlab! But I suspect that they too will give in to the More Volume!
mentality.

Sadly, the 'Wal-Mart' mentality of music/music production has destroyed
(or pretty damn close to it) the last remaining vestiges of the music
industry. Add in current artists (sic) who's vocal range and tonal
quality remind of the sound of two pigs mating and, well you get the
idea. That is the reason I have yet to surrender and purchase an MP3
player. I love the fact I can uncompress my recordings via my DBX unit
and have a little cleaner sound than the junk that comes packaged today.

Okay... rant off

Joe

[Jenn]

In article <1198966190.3390.12.camel@humboldt>,
joe cipale > wrote:

> On Sat, 2007-12-29 at 16:52 -0500, George M.Middius wrote:
> >
> > Jenn said:
> >
> > > From The Rolling Stone:
> > <http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17777619/the_death_of_high_fidelity>
> > > Thoughts?
> >
> > Compressing of dynamic range... check
> > Louder, louder, louder... check
> > Catering to MP3 devices, computer speakers, and IPOD-type gear... check
> >
> > Here's one claim I didn't follow:
> >
> > "Computer programs like Pro Tools ... make musicians sound unnaturally
> > perfect."
> >
> > How is this a new phenomenon? Before PC-based mastering, didn't studio
> > goons mix and match the final recording from several different attempts?
> >
> >
> > Also, the reporter interviewed David Bendeth, who "works with rock bands
> > like Hawthorne Heights". That's not the band to hold up as a benchmark of
> > subtle intonations. They are loud, strident, and cacophonous.
> >
> > Donald Fagen, producer and Steely Dan frontman, gives a nod to the inroads
> > made by audio 'borgism: "We're conforming to the way machines play music.
> > It's robots' choice. It used to be ladies' choice — now it's robots'
> > choice." Pretty grim.
>
> Hey all... new to the group but an interesting post.

Welcome to the group!

>
> Thanks to eBay, I have been able to 'rebuild' my high-end audio
> equipment with devices that I once lusted after and can now afford:
> Denon Tuner, Sony turntable, Grado Ruby cartridge. As a result, I have
> rediscovered vinyl and other programming I thought I had given up for
> lost.
>
> I went into Sure-is ****ty (Circuit City) today, looking for an HDMI
> cable for my STB-to-Flat screen. My God... the ONLY sound level they
> know how to play in there is L-O-U-D! Talk about sound distortion! The
> sad part was, one of the movies playing in the 'Surrond-Sound' demo room
> had a very soft, orchestral piece to it. But you would never know it as
> loud as they were playing it. And the pimply-faced sales dweeb added
> insult to injury by turning the volume up and complaining 'I dont know
> what is wrong with this DVD here...'
>
> Volume is what sells these days,

For sure.

> in terms of both quantity and loudness.
> Gone are the days when I could go to my favorite audio salon, sit back
> with a sales person (who KNEW WTF they were talking about!) and enjoy
> auditioning a new pair of speakers, cartridge and/or vinyl/CD release.
> Even some of the venerable names I grew up with in the Puget SOund area
> are now catering to the LOUD is GOOD philosophy, with one exception -
> Speakerlab! But I suspect that they too will give in to the More Volume!
> mentality.

Yep. I bemoan the passing of all of those good audio places that used
to abound in the L.A. area as well.

>
> Sadly, the 'Wal-Mart' mentality of music/music production has destroyed
> (or pretty damn close to it) the last remaining vestiges of the music
> industry. Add in current artists (sic) who's vocal range and tonal
> quality remind of the sound of two pigs mating and, well you get the
> idea.

Amen!

> That is the reason I have yet to surrender and purchase an MP3
> player. I love the fact I can uncompress my recordings via my DBX unit
> and have a little cleaner sound than the junk that comes packaged today.
>
> Okay... rant off
>
> Joe

Thanks for the rant, and again, welcome.

[[email protected]]

On Dec 30, 9:47 am, Jenn > wrote:
> In article <1198966190.3390.12.camel@humboldt>,
> joe cipale > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Sat, 2007-12-29 at 16:52 -0500, George M.Middius wrote:
>
> > > Jenn said:
>
> > > > From The Rolling Stone:
> > > <http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17777619/the_death_of_high_fid...>
> > > > Thoughts?
>
> > > Compressing of dynamic range... check
> > > Louder, louder, louder... check
> > > Catering to MP3 devices, computer speakers, and IPOD-type gear... check
>
> > > Here's one claim I didn't follow:
>
> > > "Computer programs like Pro Tools ... make musicians sound unnaturally
> > > perfect."
>
> > > How is this a new phenomenon? Before PC-based mastering, didn't studio
> > > goons mix and match the final recording from several different attempts?
>
> > > Also, the reporter interviewed David Bendeth, who "works with rock bands
> > > like Hawthorne Heights". That's not the band to hold up as a benchmark of
> > > subtle intonations. They are loud, strident, and cacophonous.
>
> > > Donald Fagen, producer and Steely Dan frontman, gives a nod to the inroads
> > > made by audio 'borgism: "We're conforming to the way machines play music.
> > > It's robots' choice. It used to be ladies' choice -- now it's robots'
> > > choice." Pretty grim.
>
> > Hey all... new to the group but an interesting post.
>
> Welcome to the group!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Thanks to eBay, I have been able to 'rebuild' my high-end audio
> > equipment with devices that I once lusted after and can now afford:
> > Denon Tuner, Sony turntable, Grado Ruby cartridge. As a result, I have
> > rediscovered vinyl and other programming I thought I had given up for
> > lost.
>
> > I went into Sure-is ****ty (Circuit City) today, looking for an HDMI
> > cable for my STB-to-Flat screen. My God... the ONLY sound level they
> > know how to play in there is L-O-U-D! Talk about sound distortion! The
> > sad part was, one of the movies playing in the 'Surrond-Sound' demo room
> > had a very soft, orchestral piece to it. But you would never know it as
> > loud as they were playing it. And the pimply-faced sales dweeb added
> > insult to injury by turning the volume up and complaining 'I dont know
> > what is wrong with this DVD here...'
>
> > Volume is what sells these days,
>
> For sure.
>
> > in terms of both quantity and loudness.
> > Gone are the days when I could go to my favorite audio salon, sit back
> > with a sales person (who KNEW WTF they were talking about!) and enjoy
> > auditioning a new pair of speakers, cartridge and/or vinyl/CD release.
> > Even some of the venerable names I grew up with in the Puget SOund area
> > are now catering to the LOUD is GOOD philosophy, with one exception -
> > Speakerlab! But I suspect that they too will give in to the More Volume!
> > mentality.
>
> Yep. I bemoan the passing of all of those good audio places that used
> to abound in the L.A. area as well.
>
>
>
> > Sadly, the 'Wal-Mart' mentality of music/music production has destroyed
> > (or pretty damn close to it) the last remaining vestiges of the music
> > industry. Add in current artists (sic) who's vocal range and tonal
> > quality remind of the sound of two pigs mating and, well you get the
> > idea.
>
> Amen!
>
> > That is the reason I have yet to surrender and purchase an MP3
> > player. I love the fact I can uncompress my recordings via my DBX unit
> > and have a little cleaner sound than the junk that comes packaged today.
>
> > Okay... rant off
>
> > Joe
>
> Thanks for the rant, and again, welcome.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

==========================
I 'm truly diffident as a rank amateur to try discussing music with a
profesional but it is only internet....
High- fi means fidelity to the original music if it means anything.
The movement was created by the giants of recording engineering of
Decca-Londion, Mercury and RCA whose aim was to come as close as
possible to the sound of original musical instruments: the piano, the
violin, the flute and the human voice. It died a slow death once the
new consumer generation grew up; those who never listened to anything
that was not transmitted electroniv\cally through the ludspeakers. To
this generation compression, MP3 and what not are music. To me they
are caricatures of what I hear when I play the best of the recordings
of the sixties.
Ludovic Mirabel
in the s

[joe cipale]

On Mon, 2007-12-31 at 11:32 -0800, wrote:
> On Dec 30, 9:47 am, Jenn > wrote:
> > In article <1198966190.3390.12.camel@humboldt>,
> > joe cipale > wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > On Sat, 2007-12-29 at 16:52 -0500, George M.Middius wrote:
> >
> > > > Jenn said:
> >
> > > > > From The Rolling Stone:
> > > > <http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17777619/the_death_of_high_fid...>
> > > > > Thoughts?
> >
> > > > Compressing of dynamic range... check
> > > > Louder, louder, louder... check
> > > > Catering to MP3 devices, computer speakers, and IPOD-type gear... check
> >
> > > > Here's one claim I didn't follow:
> >
> > > > "Computer programs like Pro Tools ... make musicians sound unnaturally
> > > > perfect."
> >
> > > > How is this a new phenomenon? Before PC-based mastering, didn't studio
> > > > goons mix and match the final recording from several different attempts?
> >
> > > > Also, the reporter interviewed David Bendeth, who "works with rock bands
> > > > like Hawthorne Heights". That's not the band to hold up as a benchmark of
> > > > subtle intonations. They are loud, strident, and cacophonous.
> >
> > > > Donald Fagen, producer and Steely Dan frontman, gives a nod to the inroads
> > > > made by audio 'borgism: "We're conforming to the way machines play music.
> > > > It's robots' choice. It used to be ladies' choice -- now it's robots'
> > > > choice." Pretty grim.
> >
> > > Hey all... new to the group but an interesting post.
> >
> > Welcome to the group!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > Thanks to eBay, I have been able to 'rebuild' my high-end audio
> > > equipment with devices that I once lusted after and can now afford:
> > > Denon Tuner, Sony turntable, Grado Ruby cartridge. As a result, I have
> > > rediscovered vinyl and other programming I thought I had given up for
> > > lost.
> >
> > > I went into Sure-is ****ty (Circuit City) today, looking for an HDMI
> > > cable for my STB-to-Flat screen. My God... the ONLY sound level they
> > > know how to play in there is L-O-U-D! Talk about sound distortion! The
> > > sad part was, one of the movies playing in the 'Surrond-Sound' demo room
> > > had a very soft, orchestral piece to it. But you would never know it as
> > > loud as they were playing it. And the pimply-faced sales dweeb added
> > > insult to injury by turning the volume up and complaining 'I dont know
> > > what is wrong with this DVD here...'
> >
> > > Volume is what sells these days,
> >
> > For sure.
> >
> > > in terms of both quantity and loudness.
> > > Gone are the days when I could go to my favorite audio salon, sit back
> > > with a sales person (who KNEW WTF they were talking about!) and enjoy
> > > auditioning a new pair of speakers, cartridge and/or vinyl/CD release.
> > > Even some of the venerable names I grew up with in the Puget SOund area
> > > are now catering to the LOUD is GOOD philosophy, with one exception -
> > > Speakerlab! But I suspect that they too will give in to the More Volume!
> > > mentality.
> >
> > Yep. I bemoan the passing of all of those good audio places that used
> > to abound in the L.A. area as well.
> >
> >
> >
> > > Sadly, the 'Wal-Mart' mentality of music/music production has destroyed
> > > (or pretty damn close to it) the last remaining vestiges of the music
> > > industry. Add in current artists (sic) who's vocal range and tonal
> > > quality remind of the sound of two pigs mating and, well you get the
> > > idea.
> >
> > Amen!
> >
> > > That is the reason I have yet to surrender and purchase an MP3
> > > player. I love the fact I can uncompress my recordings via my DBX unit
> > > and have a little cleaner sound than the junk that comes packaged today.
> >
> > > Okay... rant off
> >
> > > Joe
> >
> > Thanks for the rant, and again, welcome.- Hide quoted text -
> >
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
> >
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> ==========================
> I 'm truly diffident as a rank amateur to try discussing music with a
> profesional but it is only internet....
> High- fi means fidelity to the original music if it means anything.
> The movement was created by the giants of recording engineering of
> Decca-Londion, Mercury and RCA whose aim was to come as close as
> possible to the sound of original musical instruments: the piano, the
> violin, the flute and the human voice. It died a slow death once the
> new consumer generation grew up; those who never listened to anything
> that was not transmitted electroniv\cally through the ludspeakers. To
> this generation compression, MP3 and what not are music. To me they
> are caricatures of what I hear when I play the best of the recordings
> of the sixties.
> Ludovic Mirabel
> in the s

Amen brutha!

To also answer Jenn in this thread: The RIAA has tacitly embraced the
musicality (not!) of file-sharing sites like Napster simply by the
publicity they have generated. I think the only concern the RIAA has is
to make as much money as possible (not necessarily a bad idea) for as
little as possible. Like I said in an earlier post - the Wal-Mart
approach to music.

Quick... can anyone distinguish Josh Groban from any other non-descript
male vocalist out in the market today? How about Chris Botti? Feist? The
artists I mentioned are all fairly generic in terms of talent and
ability. Groban became the 'it' performer thanks to Oprah, Botti via
that vile format known as 'Smooth Jazz', and Feist... hell ya got me.

Artists are sadly lacking in this era: Call it the Globalization of
Music. Performers are signed/recorded who have a mass appeal and are
marketed accordingly. When was the last time you heard a Oscar Peterson?
A Bette Midler? A Mel Torme? All three had/have very distinct styles and
talents that enthralled them to their legion of fans. Case in point:
Years and years ago, back when the Mt Hood Festival of Jazz was a TRUE
Jazz Festival, Mel Torme was the headliner on the Saturday night show.
My wife was not much of a Jazz fan (she prefers Country which is
perfectly fine...) but she attended this with me that night. When she
heard the name "Mel Torme", she thought it was a joke, as Mel made
frequent guest appearances on the TV show 'Night Curt'.

Needless to day, she was very happy to have attended as Mel was in rare
form that night and performed for well over 90 minutes. It was a
wonderful night, but one I think underscores the comparatively sorry
state of music today. Fortunately living here in Portland, I can receive
KMHD (Mt Hood Community College Public Jazz Station), KPCL(IIRC - the
local Public Radio Classical Station), KPLU (Pacific Lutheran University
Public Radio Jazz Station) and, on the occasion I go to LA for work, the
Public Radio Station that plays Jazz.

Audiences today are treated to the likes of Ms Spears, Clay Aiken,
Shakira, Pink. The similarity is that the musicality is missing. All
that is there is the 'performer' and their antics (public and private)
that covers for their lack of musical taste. Well, okay, Mr. Aiken hasnt
done anything to embarrass himself or get in jail, but can you honestly
say he has produced a recording of merit?

Okay.. I am done. I enjoy music. I really, really do. But I simply find
it to hard to anymore when there is so much crap out in the market place
today. I think I will go and find some of my old Steely Dan LPs, along
with some Doobie Brothers and chill for the remainder of the evening.

If you made it this far through my long-winded diatribe, you are doing
better than I would have done (and I wrote this junk...).

Happy New Year everybody!

Joe

[dizzy]

Jenn wrote:

>> Volume is what sells these days,
>
>For sure.

I'd say looks are the primary thing.

[Jenn]

In article <1199160903.8949.22.camel@humboldt>,
joe cipale > wrote:

> On Mon, 2007-12-31 at 11:32 -0800, wrote:
> > On Dec 30, 9:47 am, Jenn > wrote:
> > > In article <1198966190.3390.12.camel@humboldt>,
> > > joe cipale > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > On Sat, 2007-12-29 at 16:52 -0500, George M.Middius wrote:
> > >
> > > > > Jenn said:
> > >
> > > > > > From The Rolling Stone:
> > > > > <http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17777619/the_death_of_high_fid
> > > > > ...>
> > > > > > Thoughts?
> > >
> > > > > Compressing of dynamic range... check
> > > > > Louder, louder, louder... check
> > > > > Catering to MP3 devices, computer speakers, and IPOD-type gear...
> > > > > check
> > >
> > > > > Here's one claim I didn't follow:
> > >
> > > > > "Computer programs like Pro Tools ... make musicians sound
> > > > > unnaturally
> > > > > perfect."
> > >
> > > > > How is this a new phenomenon? Before PC-based mastering, didn't
> > > > > studio
> > > > > goons mix and match the final recording from several different
> > > > > attempts?
> > >
> > > > > Also, the reporter interviewed David Bendeth, who "works with rock
> > > > > bands
> > > > > like Hawthorne Heights". That's not the band to hold up as a
> > > > > benchmark of
> > > > > subtle intonations. They are loud, strident, and cacophonous.
> > >
> > > > > Donald Fagen, producer and Steely Dan frontman, gives a nod to the
> > > > > inroads
> > > > > made by audio 'borgism: "We're conforming to the way machines play
> > > > > music.
> > > > > It's robots' choice. It used to be ladies' choice -- now it's robots'
> > > > > choice." Pretty grim.
> > >
> > > > Hey all... new to the group but an interesting post.
> > >
> > > Welcome to the group!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > Thanks to eBay, I have been able to 'rebuild' my high-end audio
> > > > equipment with devices that I once lusted after and can now afford:
> > > > Denon Tuner, Sony turntable, Grado Ruby cartridge. As a result, I have
> > > > rediscovered vinyl and other programming I thought I had given up for
> > > > lost.
> > >
> > > > I went into Sure-is ****ty (Circuit City) today, looking for an HDMI
> > > > cable for my STB-to-Flat screen. My God... the ONLY sound level they
> > > > know how to play in there is L-O-U-D! Talk about sound distortion! The
> > > > sad part was, one of the movies playing in the 'Surrond-Sound' demo
> > > > room
> > > > had a very soft, orchestral piece to it. But you would never know it as
> > > > loud as they were playing it. And the pimply-faced sales dweeb added
> > > > insult to injury by turning the volume up and complaining 'I dont know
> > > > what is wrong with this DVD here...'
> > >
> > > > Volume is what sells these days,
> > >
> > > For sure.
> > >
> > > > in terms of both quantity and loudness.
> > > > Gone are the days when I could go to my favorite audio salon, sit back
> > > > with a sales person (who KNEW WTF they were talking about!) and enjoy
> > > > auditioning a new pair of speakers, cartridge and/or vinyl/CD release.
> > > > Even some of the venerable names I grew up with in the Puget SOund area
> > > > are now catering to the LOUD is GOOD philosophy, with one exception -
> > > > Speakerlab! But I suspect that they too will give in to the More
> > > > Volume!
> > > > mentality.
> > >
> > > Yep. I bemoan the passing of all of those good audio places that used
> > > to abound in the L.A. area as well.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > Sadly, the 'Wal-Mart' mentality of music/music production has destroyed
> > > > (or pretty damn close to it) the last remaining vestiges of the music
> > > > industry. Add in current artists (sic) who's vocal range and tonal
> > > > quality remind of the sound of two pigs mating and, well you get the
> > > > idea.
> > >
> > > Amen!
> > >
> > > > That is the reason I have yet to surrender and purchase an MP3
> > > > player. I love the fact I can uncompress my recordings via my DBX unit
> > > > and have a little cleaner sound than the junk that comes packaged
> > > > today.
> > >
> > > > Okay... rant off
> > >
> > > > Joe
> > >
> > > Thanks for the rant, and again, welcome.- Hide quoted text -
> > >
> > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
> > >
> > > - Show quoted text -
> >
> > ==========================
> > I 'm truly diffident as a rank amateur to try discussing music with a
> > profesional but it is only internet....
> > High- fi means fidelity to the original music if it means anything.
> > The movement was created by the giants of recording engineering of
> > Decca-Londion, Mercury and RCA whose aim was to come as close as
> > possible to the sound of original musical instruments: the piano, the
> > violin, the flute and the human voice. It died a slow death once the
> > new consumer generation grew up; those who never listened to anything
> > that was not transmitted electroniv\cally through the ludspeakers. To
> > this generation compression, MP3 and what not are music. To me they
> > are caricatures of what I hear when I play the best of the recordings
> > of the sixties.
> > Ludovic Mirabel
> > in the s

I agree, Ludovic.

>
> Amen brutha!
>
> To also answer Jenn in this thread: The RIAA has tacitly embraced the
> musicality (not!) of file-sharing sites like Napster simply by the
> publicity they have generated.

With this, I disagree. The file sharing site would be every bit as
popular without RIAA taking the actions it has taken, IMO.

> I think the only concern the RIAA has is
> to make as much money as possible (not necessarily a bad idea) for as
> little as possible. Like I said in an earlier post - the Wal-Mart
> approach to music.

RIAA doesn't sell music, nor does it market it. Their concerns are
about intellectual property rights.

>
> Quick... can anyone distinguish Josh Groban from any other non-descript
> male vocalist out in the market today? How about Chris Botti? Feist? The
> artists I mentioned are all fairly generic in terms of talent and
> ability. Groban became the 'it' performer thanks to Oprah, Botti via
> that vile format known as 'Smooth Jazz', and Feist... hell ya got me.

lol Pretty much agree. My little theory is that those guys have a bit
of popularity with the Oprah crowd because at least they EXPRESS fairly
well, and that's the most basic thing that people yearn for in the art
they consume, IMO. They show some passion, are fairly well in tune, etc.

>
> Artists are sadly lacking in this era: Call it the Globalization of
> Music. Performers are signed/recorded who have a mass appeal and are
> marketed accordingly.

They are signed to quick deals, based on the tastes of the second (sound
and LOOKS), with (and this is important) almost NO artist development
activities. This is key and is strikingly different than in the past.

> When was the last time you heard a Oscar Peterson?
> A Bette Midler? A Mel Torme? All three had/have very distinct styles and
> talents that enthralled them to their legion of fans. Case in point:
> Years and years ago, back when the Mt Hood Festival of Jazz

I know it well! I used to go every year while I conducted in Portland.
Even played there once with my buddy, marimbist/vibraphonist Dennis
Plies.

> was a TRUE
> Jazz Festival, Mel Torme was the headliner on the Saturday night show.
> My wife was not much of a Jazz fan (she prefers Country which is
> perfectly fine...) but she attended this with me that night. When she
> heard the name "Mel Torme", she thought it was a joke, as Mel made
> frequent guest appearances on the TV show 'Night Curt'.
>
> Needless to day, she was very happy to have attended as Mel was in rare
> form that night and performed for well over 90 minutes. It was a
> wonderful night, but one I think underscores the comparatively sorry
> state of music today. Fortunately living here in Portland, I can receive
> KMHD (Mt Hood Community College Public Jazz Station), KPCL(IIRC - the
> local Public Radio Classical Station), KPLU (Pacific Lutheran University
> Public Radio Jazz Station) and, on the occasion I go to LA for work, the
> Public Radio Station that plays Jazz.
>
> Audiences today are treated to the likes of Ms Spears, Clay Aiken,
> Shakira, Pink. The similarity is that the musicality is missing. All
> that is there is the 'performer' and their antics (public and private)
> that covers for their lack of musical taste. Well, okay, Mr. Aiken hasnt
> done anything to embarrass himself or get in jail, but can you honestly
> say he has produced a recording of merit?
>
> Okay.. I am done. I enjoy music. I really, really do. But I simply find
> it to hard to anymore when there is so much crap out in the market place
> today. I think I will go and find some of my old Steely Dan LPs, along
> with some Doobie Brothers and chill for the remainder of the evening.
>
> If you made it this far through my long-winded diatribe, you are doing
> better than I would have done (and I wrote this junk...).
>
> Happy New Year everybody!
>
> Joe

Joe, we're pretty much in agreement about the present state if music.
The good stuff is still out there (Portland is a WONDERFULLY musical
place!) but the masses are fed an insipid soup of blandness, IMO.
Hopefully, the tide will turn.