Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Re: New metamusic test
Dylan and Neil Young were precursors of metamusic (protometamusical), as were the many Western classical and jazz musicians who tried to incorporate non-Western influences into their music. Leonard Cohen just can't sing.
Dylan and Neil Young were precursors of metamusic (protometamusical), as were the many Western classical and jazz musicians who tried to incorporate non-Western influences into their music. Leonard Cohen just can't sing.
The most striking example of protometamusic I can think of at the moment is Link Wray's "Rumble," which challenges the myths of harmony and of musical competence.
What distinguishes the Anachronisms from protometamusicians is that they (the Anachronisms, the metamusical) challenge every myth of music at once.
New Metamusic Test Proposed
Why do we like certain bands or musicians? Invariably there’s something “the same” about their music that’s sufficiently different from piece to piece to maintain interest. To those who don’t share a fan’s enthusiasm for a specific artiste it “all sounds the same”. In a certain sense most music is muzak. Not so metamusic. Metamusic makes the listener say, “what the hell was that?” The mega-critical may say, “it’s all the same, it sounds bad!” But this the same thing. No-one says that about either the music they like or dismiss as aural pablum. These thoughts lead me to suggest that Dylan has strong metamusical tendencies. People do say “what the hell was that?” (WTHWT) to Mr Dylan, if not all the time. Likewise, perhaps, the man of the moment – Mr 70, Leonard Cohen. Can this be true? Dylan and Cohen admitted to the metamusic fold? While I’m at it, try bits of Neil Young for size. The WTHWT test suggests that tracks like “Why Do I Keep Fucking Up” come close to metamusic. This WTHWT test is a potentially powerful tool but should be handled with care. It would admit the Legendary Stardust Cowboy to the ranks rather than to the Loony Bin, for example. But maybe metamusic can live with that?
Why do we like certain bands or musicians? Invariably there’s something “the same” about their music that’s sufficiently different from piece to piece to maintain interest. To those who don’t share a fan’s enthusiasm for a specific artiste it “all sounds the same”. In a certain sense most music is muzak. Not so metamusic. Metamusic makes the listener say, “what the hell was that?” The mega-critical may say, “it’s all the same, it sounds bad!” But this the same thing. No-one says that about either the music they like or dismiss as aural pablum. These thoughts lead me to suggest that Dylan has strong metamusical tendencies. People do say “what the hell was that?” (WTHWT) to Mr Dylan, if not all the time. Likewise, perhaps, the man of the moment – Mr 70, Leonard Cohen. Can this be true? Dylan and Cohen admitted to the metamusic fold? While I’m at it, try bits of Neil Young for size. The WTHWT test suggests that tracks like “Why Do I Keep Fucking Up” come close to metamusic. This WTHWT test is a potentially powerful tool but should be handled with care. It would admit the Legendary Stardust Cowboy to the ranks rather than to the Loony Bin, for example. But maybe metamusic can live with that?
