Analog vs. Digital recording

Far gone are the days of tape trading and record players.  In a time where everything is becoming digitized, it was only a matter of time before this transition became relevant in the music world.  Analog recording now faces obliteration by the popularity of the easy-to-use interface of digital recording.  What does this mean for the music world?  And is it a good thing?  Or is it the downfall of music as we know it?

First off, here is a basic rundown of how each recording process works.  In analog recording, the original sound is modulated onto a seperate physical medium, such as a tape or the grooves of a record, etc.  The quality of the music is directly related, or analogous, to the properties of the original recording.  With digital recording, the sound is converted into digital information, which are called bits, and stored onto a hard-drive of some sort.  The effectiveness of this conversion depends on the sampling rate and the sampling depth of the process.  However, the fact that analog recordings are present in physical mediums makes them vulnerable to being lost, while digital recording can be stored and recovered.

Now, for the debate.  Most self-respecting fans of music have to admit that analog recordings sound warmer and clearer than digital recordings.  This is why so many people still prefer albums over CDs.  Yet, digital recording present many benefits that analog recording does not possess.  Obviously, with the internet dominating the world right now, and digital recordings conveniently able to make their way onto the internet, digital recording seems to be the preferable way to record something.  You can’t stick a tape into the computer and send it across the world.  The accessibility of digital recordings make it the “perfect” way for artists to get their music into the hands of as many people as possible.

Yet, this accessibility is also the biggest downfall of digital recording.  The simplicity of the process makes it possible for even a group of 11-year old pre-pubescent boys to record music of their own and make it available to the world.  And sure enough, the music industry quickly became saturated with insane amounts of suckage.  It’s like being really hungry, but having to swim through an ocean of feces to find that one particular gem of a meal you’re looking for.  Now that any kid with a guitar can record a song, we find ourselves in the midst of a digitized musical hell.  But, one could argue that the ability for anyone to produce music of their own is a good thing, and allows more people than ever to get the creative juices flowing.  But when most of those juices start to leave a bad taste in your mouth, you know you have a problem on your hands.

So which is it?  Analog recording or digital recording?  While their are still some diehard promoters of analog recording, it looks like the days of analog recording are soon coming to an end.  This is not the end of music as we know it though.  It is just a different direction that music is heading in.  Just like everything else in our lives, music will soon become entirely digitized.

First photo: http://www.cel.sfsu.edu/images/programs/music/record-player.jpg

Second photo: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e9/Neve8078@TheWayStudio.jpg

I wanna be anarchy!

There was a small portion of the world in the 70’s who were tired of what was popular.  They were tired of being part of the norm.  They were tired, of being restricted by what society tells us is the “cool” thing to be.  And from this mindset, came a genre of music categorized by it’s unrelenting pace and never before seen passion.  But it became more than just a bunch of outcasts flocking to someone’s basement on a friday night to hear a group of untalented kids shout their discontent with the world.  It was a reaction to the music industry promoting trends rather than music. It became a counter-culture.  It became, Punk.

When most people think of what it means to “be punk”, this image comes to mind.  Skinny kid wearing a leather jacket plastered with patches and spikes.  And to top it all off, the trademark spiked hair.  This was an outright “#$@# YOU” to the world.  It was a statement.  These were the kids who got made fun of at lunch time.  These were the kids who were the laughing stock of the world in the eyes of the public.  With early pioneers such as The Sex Pistols, The Ramones and The Stooges bearing the flag, Punk became a breeding ground of loners.  It was the ultimate form of rebellion to many.  This became a united effort at tearing down what these kids thought was wrong.  From songs about government to the flaws of society, punk rock became the voice of anarchy.  Nothing was “popular” about it.  Punk rock never produced any chart-topping songs or grammy-award winning albums.  Punk rock was about doing what you want, when you wanted to, and nobody was going to tell you not to.  To this day, it would be hard to argue that any form of music has been able to produce such a dedicated group of followers, and leave such a deep mark on music and society.  For a more in-depth analysis of the actual music of punk’s early history, you can check out this article from In Music We Trust. 

As for who the first true punk rock band was, there is much debate.  But the general consensus is that The Ramones created the genre with their self-titled debut album.  It was like nothing anyone had ever heard before, and it was something that appealed to those who wanted something different in their music.  With short songs that only utilized a few chords, The Ramones were characterized by their aggresive sound and outspoken lyrics.  Those two characteristics would be what shaped the punk rock music to come.  But as to who shaped what the culture of punk rock, most look to none other than the infamous Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten.  Often tagged as the “all-time greatest punks”, the were the canvas to which punk kids modeled themselves.  With their ripped jeans and explicit shirts that were used to push a message (or more common, just piss people off), they became the role models of the culture.  Sadly, this also meant that the Punk rock scene was full of sex, drugs and alcohol.  It wasn’t until the emergence of the Hardcore punk scene in the late 70’s/early 80’s was this stereotypical behavior modified to fit the beliefs of the new age of Punk.  For an informational and intertaining film, watch American Hardcore.

In a day and age where more and more people are trying to be different, Punk isn’t what it used to be.  But for the span of about a decade, Punk was the epitamy of counter-culture.  Maybe never again will a culture like this arise.

First photo: http://www.caughtinthecrossfire.com/media/images/music/dvd/americanhardcorepic.jpg

Second Photo: http://www.redkid.net/generator/punk/yoursign.jpg

Be creative or die.

What is the essence of contemporary music?  What is it about music that keeps the attention of the people, and prevents it from becoming a dead art?  Well, it is the continuous innovation within music that keeps things fresh.  Creativity is of the utmost importance in music, for without it, there would be nothing to keep the masses coming back.

Think about it.  If artists in the music world decided not to be creative with their songwriting, and simply jump on the bandwagon of what’s popular (which is something that far too many artists do anyways), every band would be putting out the same record year after year.  The same basic song structure, the same lyrical overtones, and the same over-used guitar riffs recycled repeatedly.  Soon enough, the fans would lose interest, in turn making the musicians lose interest.

That’s not to say that every band in the world needs to bring something completely new to table with each song they write.  But as long as artists continue to implement their own ideas into their songwriting, and not just cash-in on the latest craze that’s dominating MTV, the music world can continue to prosper.   Alan Belkin, a well-known composer and teacher of musical composition, makes the assertion that, “All creativity deserves to be developed and encouraged. While not everyone is a Bach or a Mozart, that does not mean they have nothing to contribute.”  This rings true through any genre of music.  As long as artists continue to innovate and be creative with their ideas, the essence of music remains intact, and fans can always have something new and exciting to look forward to.

Take for example, Arcade Fire.  In an indie genre that is overpopulated by nasally bands whining about broken hearts, Arcade Fire managed to create their own little niche in the genre with their vast musical influence, incorporation of many musical instruments (such as strings and accordion), and extremely heartfelt lyrics that resonate with despair, without being cynical.  Now hailed by many as the force to be reckoned with in the music world, including Pitchfork Media (read their review of Arcade Fire’s debut full-length album here), the band achieved the success they’ve received by putting out music that is fresh, and doesn’t sound quite like anything the music world has experienced yet.  It’s this never-ending contribution to the advancement of music that makes creativity the key to keeping contemporary music alive.

Another artist who possesses the essence of music, is Pig Destroyer.  While not for everyone, fans of the scene cannot help but appreciate Pig Destroyer’s unique blend of punk-influenced grindcore.  With their three most recent records garnering universal praise from fans and critics alike, they bring a revolutionary sound to the world of extreme music.  Guitarist Scott Hull’s signature light-speed aggressive guitar playing, JR Hayes’ pummeling vocals that assault the eardrums, and Brian Harvey’s supernatural drumming make Pig Destroyer the poster boys of the underground metal scene.

While on two completely different ends of the musical spectrum, both artists are the epitamy of the essence of which this post addresses.  Creativity is essential to the continued evolution of music.  And as long as there are die-hard music enthusiasts with a passion for the art still out there making albums, music will forever be a sanctuary for individuals around the world.

Adam Belkin quote taken from http://www.musique.umontreal.ca/personnel/Belkin/creativity.html

First Photo: http://wendylynchphotography.com/ArcadeFire1_4.jpg

Second Photo: http://www.exclaim.ca/images/up-pig_destroyer_1.jpg

Get in the van, we’re going to a show.

In the above photo is Greg Puciato (vocalist for The Dillinger Escape Plan) screaming his heart out with his fans during a show.  While sitting at home listening to music on your stereo is all fine and dandy, you have never really experienced music the way you should until you’ve been to a live show.  When those lights dim and the crowd goes into an uproarious frenzy, and the people whose music you have been enjoying by yourself in the confines of your room or car step out onto the stage and begin to play, there really is nothing like it.

The sense of comradery present at a show cannot be replicated in any other environment.  Once the music starts, the people in that venue or stadium become your family.  It’s an assembly of like-minded individuals stuffed front to back into a space, singing with eachother as if they were one.  Nowhere else can you put your arm around some stranger you’ve never met in your life, and sing to your little hearts content without feeling stupid.  Take the above photo as an example.  It can safely be said that most of those people have never even laid eyes on one another, yet they are united by the fact that they are there for the same reason.  To scream like a banshee along with Greg Puciato, and probably get crushed by airborne bodies and pummeled by body parts in every direction.  Every individual has preferences when it comes to the music they like, and the same can be said about the shows.  One person might want to be giddy and dance at a Tegan and Sara show, while another might want to go and raise carnage in the pits at a Pig Destroyer show.  To each his own, but regardless of who is playing or what genre of music it is, a live show is truly an experience that any fan of music should take part in.  And the beauty of the whole thing is, it doesn’t matter what your background is or who you hang out with, or even your outlook on life.  For a few hours, you can interact with other human beings, and feel like you’re a part of something bigger than yourself.

What some people don’t realize, is how important the live music scene is to a huge chunk of inviduals.  For many, the experience of going out and seeing a show is their ultimate source of happiness.  The one thing that can make everything disappear for a few hours.  Not only that, but it’s basically a huge social gathering.  Music can bring people together better than almost anything else, and countless friends have been made over the years due to the concert experience.  It isn’t like walking through the halls in high school, where anyone at any time can ridicule you and point out your flaws.  All of those things disappear when people are brought together at a show.  It’s a magic that is unexplainable, but a magic that many people cherish.  A magic, that makes contemporary music so special.

First Photo: http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j30/djstevegerrard/DEP30.jpg

Second Photo: http://jacintamathews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/phoblog45.jpg

“Shine on me baby, ’cause it’s raining in my heart.”

Music is a haven for those who need an outlet in their life.  On days when life just seems to be kicking dirt in your face just for the fun of it, nothing brings more comfort than throwing on your favorite record from your favorite artist.  The music speaks to you.  The lyrics put an arm around you, and give you hope for the future.  Many people can tell the story, that music saved their life.  That when they were on the brink of giving in to the hardships of life, and simply giving up, the music was right there to catch them fall.  Quite simply, music is the ultimate source of help.

The fact of the matter is, music is eternal.  People can change, people can be irresponsible, but most of all, people are usually the problem.  And when the problem starts to weigh heavily upon your heart, music is there to help cope with the burden.  Day after day, the lyrics are the same, and the effect is reliable.  Your favorite music isn’t going to flake out on you.  The music isn’t going to hurt your feelings and make you cry.  It might be for that reason that so many people turn to music in their time of need.  Whether you’re listening to Elliot Smith to know that someone is going through the same thing as you, or Weezer to just have fun and forget about everything else, there is always an antidote to whatever poison you are feeling the effects of.  It’s that powerful effect that music has on people that makes it such a potent weapon against the everyday struggles that life presents.  No matter how downtrodden or sad you may be feeling, there is a huge comfort in knowing that as soon as you listen to your favorite record, you’ll feel better.  That comfort is what helps so many people get through their day, their year, their life.

Music helps people get through their lives on a daily basis, and will continue to do so for a very, very, very long time.  When track 1 comes on, for the next 40 minutes or so you can take shelter from the outside world.  For that brief amount of time, you are in your own little utopia, where you can connect with someone you’ve never met before, on a level that cannot be achieved in any other way.  But most important of all, you know that music is there for you.  Music is the most consistent and the most reliable source of help for anyone who needs it.  You just have to open your ears, and your heart.

Here you go, read this.

If there is one thing in this world that I’m certain about, it is that I am a diehard fan of music.  Nothing in this world, aside from friends and family, bring me more joy than music.  Which is why it only seems fitting that my first venture into the world of blogging center around contemporary music.

Within this blog, you can expect to find information on the history and current state of contemporary music.  Expect in the near future a historical analysis of specific genres of music, such as the origins of said genre and those artists who made the genre what it is today.  For those of you just in search of new music, look no further.  Innovative musical artists who are contributing to the growth and expansion of contemporary music will be put in the spotlight and discussed.  Also, the greatest advances in the music world will be analyzed, such as the transition from traditional to electric instruments, and the phasing out of analog recording.

This blog offers a unique insight into the present, past and future of contemporary music.  Any fan of music will find something to dig into, from the hardcore kids to the indie hipsters.  I am undergoing this endeavor to broaden my musical horizons, and to hopefully be a help to anybody interested in learning about music, or expanding upon their current knowledge.

Hopefully, this blog can become something special.  A musical cornicopia of knowledge.  Please leave any suggestions as to what I can talk about or how to improve this blog.  Thank you for caring, and I hope you find something worthwhile in my little corner of the internet.