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Re: lag time





On Tue, 1 Oct 1996, Adam McKible wrote:

> apropos all of this singer stuff:
> 
> the ny times arts and leisure section ran a story a few years back about
> the "death of melody." the author's main point was much like ri's: that
> popular music has long since abandoned its focus on melody (something
> "serious" (ahem) music had done a long time ago) and has instead become
> more interested in things like texture and rhythm. as an example, the
> times compared peggy lee and trent reznor. do with that what you will.

Ridiculous.  The idea that there is a lack of MELODY in NIN is one of the
most outrageously stupid things I've evr heard in my life.  The idea that
our current flavor of WHITE POP (commonly referred to as "alternative") is
also lacking in melody is equally ridiculous.  Alternative is just
repackaged classic rock with slightly lower fidelity and the gain turned
up on the bass as well as the guitar, and the melodic content of most
classic rock (even the more challenging stuff like live Hendrix) is easy
to handle.  To think that someone thinks NIrvana is also lacking in melody
makes me want to run out and bludgeon people.  Simple rule: if, extracted
from all supporting threads (like the muzak in the elevator) you can hum
or sing the song, it has melody.  Everyone try this out: "Come, as you
are, as I am, as I want you to be..."

Someone seems to have a problem with the definition of melody.  Perhaps
current pop music lacks "readily associative sappiness" (and I enjoy Peggy
Lee)...now jungle actually does lack melody, but last I heard there was no
jungle on the commercial alternative stations i the Bay Area.  Since there
are none in CH I guess you can't fill me in on that.


With special vitriol...

Bob


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