Tuesday, May 24, 2016
A Portrait of the Art
I am making progress on a Standard Model of elementary characteristics of good art. I have:
A high-quality piece must be self-consistent; it must be subtle in its themes and artistry, although overt or abrasive style does no harm; and it must be made with a high degree of effortlessness, which is on the part of the creator and not necessarily the audience.
This last subject explains why practice is completely essential to the artist. He or she must develop a cognitive routine in piecing together the unit, such that stifling intentionality isn't required at each step, for that makes impossible cohesiveness of the whole.
Can accessibility be amended to the list? As mentioned earlier, it need not be easy on the part of the audience, but isn't it necessary some relation between the art and some conscious observer? Must good art be accessible to at least some sector of the cosmic sentient population?
Must good art be accessible to not all of the population? Can good art exist in relation to all?
Or must it exist in relation to all?
No-- accessibility is the only fair candidate here. I will ruminate over its merit...
Revision: These three characteristics are not requirements for high-quality art, as implied. They are elementary pieces that add to the quality, and they are the only ones I can presently identify.
consistency
subtlety
effortlessness
A high-quality piece must be self-consistent; it must be subtle in its themes and artistry, although overt or abrasive style does no harm; and it must be made with a high degree of effortlessness, which is on the part of the creator and not necessarily the audience.
This last subject explains why practice is completely essential to the artist. He or she must develop a cognitive routine in piecing together the unit, such that stifling intentionality isn't required at each step, for that makes impossible cohesiveness of the whole.
Can accessibility be amended to the list? As mentioned earlier, it need not be easy on the part of the audience, but isn't it necessary some relation between the art and some conscious observer? Must good art be accessible to at least some sector of the cosmic sentient population?
Must good art be accessible to not all of the population? Can good art exist in relation to all?
Or must it exist in relation to all?
No-- accessibility is the only fair candidate here. I will ruminate over its merit...
Revision: These three characteristics are not requirements for high-quality art, as implied. They are elementary pieces that add to the quality, and they are the only ones I can presently identify.
A Moon Shaped Pool 5/24/16
I like the first three songs, and "Present Tense", and the last song a lot. The rest are mostly forgettable, save a few moments of clarity.
There is some melodic perfection in this album... as always with this group. There are also some quality hooks, and some beats that are more than just 'intriguing'. Some of this is truly substantial, meaningful. Half of it is disposable new-age tinkering.
I wish I could have more of a rock band from the group. This is so processed that it's actually, literally, not a band playing music together. It sounds like Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood got together for a project electro, and then invited Phil Selway for some good features... Every time Colin comes in it feels out-of-place, and there's no recognizable sign of Ed anywhere. The piano is too piano to be Radiohead (what the fuck is that Chilly fill on "Daydreaming"?), the guitars are different and don't really work.. There's a good deal of what sounds like Jonny doing new chords for their sake, which no longer impresses. "Daydreaming" has some excellent stuff, really Radiohead -- but there are definitely off moments there too. The end of that song is pure Kid A though, which we need more of.
The first three songs as introduction are bruising, the last song gifts perfection, and we get some good moments along the way.... But in total this is a sub-par album relative to the Radiohead canon. It's still nice work.
I note the drop to the 3 in "Daydreaming", which completely saves Radiohead as Radiohead. Thank God for that drop, which could not have been more nor less.
I note the wooping chorus in "Present Tense", especially in that beautiful 7th and then the step down.
The triplet-suspension complex in the "Daydreaming" melody.
The perfect melody of "Decks Dark" laid atop the uber-groovy line.
The riff at the end of "Decks Dark"-- very strong.
Along with that piano stepwise ascent in "Daydreaming" (clearly the most notable song on the album), there's the clumsy strings at the end of "Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief".
They sent the album off perfectly for me ~~ memory of who the group is through time, for all time. Identity. Calling themselves by name. After such a distant album they ended compassionately, stoking my love again, invoking a warm pleasure of the heart.
There is some melodic perfection in this album... as always with this group. There are also some quality hooks, and some beats that are more than just 'intriguing'. Some of this is truly substantial, meaningful. Half of it is disposable new-age tinkering.
I wish I could have more of a rock band from the group. This is so processed that it's actually, literally, not a band playing music together. It sounds like Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood got together for a project electro, and then invited Phil Selway for some good features... Every time Colin comes in it feels out-of-place, and there's no recognizable sign of Ed anywhere. The piano is too piano to be Radiohead (what the fuck is that Chilly fill on "Daydreaming"?), the guitars are different and don't really work.. There's a good deal of what sounds like Jonny doing new chords for their sake, which no longer impresses. "Daydreaming" has some excellent stuff, really Radiohead -- but there are definitely off moments there too. The end of that song is pure Kid A though, which we need more of.
The first three songs as introduction are bruising, the last song gifts perfection, and we get some good moments along the way.... But in total this is a sub-par album relative to the Radiohead canon. It's still nice work.
I note the drop to the 3 in "Daydreaming", which completely saves Radiohead as Radiohead. Thank God for that drop, which could not have been more nor less.
I note the wooping chorus in "Present Tense", especially in that beautiful 7th and then the step down.
The triplet-suspension complex in the "Daydreaming" melody.
The perfect melody of "Decks Dark" laid atop the uber-groovy line.
The riff at the end of "Decks Dark"-- very strong.
Along with that piano stepwise ascent in "Daydreaming" (clearly the most notable song on the album), there's the clumsy strings at the end of "Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief".
They sent the album off perfectly for me ~~ memory of who the group is through time, for all time. Identity. Calling themselves by name. After such a distant album they ended compassionately, stoking my love again, invoking a warm pleasure of the heart.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
A Moon Shaped Pool
Once I laid in my bed with my eyes shut and headphones in and I listened to it in full, and I crafted a story to go with it, and it all connected, and it was a very real experience for me.
Another time I sat in my small closet with the lights off and the crack under the door smothered with these headphones in and I listened to "Kid A", and I listened to "Treefingers", and I moved my hand with a pencil on a blank sheet of paper. And I did "Pyramid Song" off of Amnesiac, and to all these things I made my hand move with a pencil across this sheet of paper in connection to what I was hearing, and I was blind in this black stuffed place.
Another time I sat in my small closet with the lights off and the crack under the door smothered with these headphones in and I listened to "Kid A", and I listened to "Treefingers", and I moved my hand with a pencil on a blank sheet of paper. And I did "Pyramid Song" off of Amnesiac, and to all these things I made my hand move with a pencil across this sheet of paper in connection to what I was hearing, and I was blind in this black stuffed place.
A Moon Shaped Pool
I remember the first time I heard Kid A. I wasn't ready for it. It topped the Rolling Stone list, so I bought it and at my cabin laid in my bed and sent it through my headphones. I didn't get it, it wasn't abrasive, but it was just 'off'. It wasn't on, it didn't connect, it was something spectacular but I didn't see that then and it didn't make a good connection. I suppose it still doesn't. But as a whole, complete product, it is spectacular, and it takes me back to that time. And so I love it, and there are few pieces of music so real to me, so attached to memory. It was set deep in me, and so it holds this reality that few other musical pieces do.
A Moon Shaped Pool
I remember the first time I heard Radiohead. I was not ready for it --- it was "Weird Fishes" in my high school hallway. In my Green Day days, I must have had some hidden, emerging ear for atmosphere. I must have had something as a kid then, that allowed the connection to be made.
But it wasn't really made-- I liked it, thought it sounded nice, and didn't pursuit it.
How did it get on my iTunes? Did it come from my sister?-- which of her friends gave me such a beautiful masterpiece?
Or perhaps it was "Paranoid Android" that came from my friend, who called it one of the best songs ever. He said "radiocabeza" in that text, and I didn't know what he meant. Did I know about it then?
This must have been my freshman year.
I watched the video and was mildly upset, and repelled. The music was too much --- the graphics were unappealing. This was an abrasive work, and it did not please me to experience.
But that experience with "Weird Fishes"..... That's where I belong. And still do.
But it wasn't really made-- I liked it, thought it sounded nice, and didn't pursuit it.
How did it get on my iTunes? Did it come from my sister?-- which of her friends gave me such a beautiful masterpiece?
Or perhaps it was "Paranoid Android" that came from my friend, who called it one of the best songs ever. He said "radiocabeza" in that text, and I didn't know what he meant. Did I know about it then?
This must have been my freshman year.
I watched the video and was mildly upset, and repelled. The music was too much --- the graphics were unappealing. This was an abrasive work, and it did not please me to experience.
But that experience with "Weird Fishes"..... That's where I belong. And still do.
A Moon Shaped Pool
My favorite band released a new album two days ago. Today I listened to it. I feel a lot of love for the band. One of those things in the world that I understand deeply, and which can invoke a sense of 'home' regularly. Like a family member.
It's amazing to have things that I understand, forever, and to a deep core. That I know, and have experiences with. Caden Cotard. Radiohead. I know these things. They are as family as family is. They shaped me. They are the most real things to me, since they comprise part of my foundation. I cannot escape them -- they are baked into my mortar. Infused throughout my self -- I cannot see reality without them.
The album closes with an old song -- one of the most earnest efforts in the group's history. It's as if there would be nothing more afterward--- they submitted to a freeze-death, and left with their last hand an old piece by which we are to remember them.
Nothing is so constantly real as family. Few things in the world don't fade into space. Few things are phaseless and prominent. Radiohead hangs in the sky bright and constant. Radiohead is always something to me; it never phases into and out of existence.
It's amazing to have things that I understand, forever, and to a deep core. That I know, and have experiences with. Caden Cotard. Radiohead. I know these things. They are as family as family is. They shaped me. They are the most real things to me, since they comprise part of my foundation. I cannot escape them -- they are baked into my mortar. Infused throughout my self -- I cannot see reality without them.
The album closes with an old song -- one of the most earnest efforts in the group's history. It's as if there would be nothing more afterward--- they submitted to a freeze-death, and left with their last hand an old piece by which we are to remember them.
Nothing is so constantly real as family. Few things in the world don't fade into space. Few things are phaseless and prominent. Radiohead hangs in the sky bright and constant. Radiohead is always something to me; it never phases into and out of existence.
Saturday, May 7, 2016
The Illusion, Tony Kushner
I got deeply involved with the characters again. This time, they were much less appealing, so my life wasn't turned forcefully by the narrative. I was involved with them as much as I could be without connecting with them, without needing them like last time. I watched them and I loved them, but I didn't need them. I wasn't desperate for their stilted world this time.
The language captured me. I fell for the Maid In Verse, and had the breath bashed out of me with each exquisite perfection, wandering soliloquy. Each word took part in a flurry of punches, hooks, uppercuts, that slowed down and grew in might until the last... mighty... word.... hit. Each time it was a knockout.
The language captured me. I fell for the Maid In Verse, and had the breath bashed out of me with each exquisite perfection, wandering soliloquy. Each word took part in a flurry of punches, hooks, uppercuts, that slowed down and grew in might until the last... mighty... word.... hit. Each time it was a knockout.
Sunday, May 1, 2016
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