easycure

No. It's not true that a difference exists, at least not in Rock. Between you and Matt, you've mentioned the word "conservatory" several times; but is composition and interpretation taught in the conservatory as it developed within the culture and history of rock? No. Just as jazz or blues isn't taught there (perhaps only some hints of the former). Regarding "content," you still overlook a fundamental factor for me, which is only significant for you in one of your two "categories" of musicians: expressiveness. Content doesn’t mean lyrics or purely genre-based expression; it simply means expressing oneself, saying something in terms of personal expression through the musical medium; in other words: personality. It’s not about creating ten different genres, or writing beautiful lyrics, but simply being able to express oneself, even just through music; which may seem like a taken-for-granted concept, but it’s not: Pausini doesn’t express, because she’s simply packaging, written by others for her; she has nothing but a pretty voice, she’s a plastic product, there’s no torment, no critique, no analysis, but above all, there’s simply no personal story; music must express; this is content; but since there’s no expression that isn’t personal, meaning unique, without personality, there’s no expression, except mediocre; and precisely because every expression, as such, is personal, it is also original (but not necessarily innovative). That’s why without originality, without personality, there’s no content. There’s no content because, in fact, without originality and personality, there’s no expression (except for style, which is merely an exercise of style).

Hi Alex! I don't know of any darker versions of "Just Like Heaven"... unless you’re referring to the unplugged one performed for MTV, but that didn’t seem much darker to me... as for Join the Dots, it’s packed with masterpiece b-sides, and the artwork is great too.. however, personally, I’m no longer motivated to spend that kind of money on an album, I’d gladly save the 50 dollars and download it, but in any case, it’s worth the price and I think it costs a bit more in euros! Bye

x Riccardo: "who knows something about music".."planets compared to grains of sand" ahahaha :-D ..I understand that it might be hard to accept that bands like the Pixies, who CANNOT play, have been immensely more creative than many so-called "good musicians," but you know how it is, I'm also willing to accept your opinions if you bring me some arguments to support them: what have King Crimson done that’s so great after "Lizard" or what don't you see in an album massively considered a masterpiece like the Pixies' "Surfer Rosa"? come on, enlighten me.. right now your comment just sounds stale, useless, and quite ignorant, but I might change my mind ;-)

X therootofitall who occasionally shows up to spout nonsense :-D ..mine may be nonsense too, but that’s your opinion, just as my so-called "nonsense" is nothing but opinions; now, I don’t know if you were taught manners in school, but opinions are usually respected, and if one disagrees, they simply respond. You didn’t do that, you just insulted. Do you understand the difference? Or do you need another ten comments? eheheh ;-)

X lux: instead, the standard of judgment MUST be the same; we are always talking about Rock, and the stylistic elements are the same; Metal has been anything but a revolution, and it is far from being a genre distinct from Rock in its basic forms of expression.

Take it easy, guys, take it easy, I've just returned to the computer after two days away: so first of all for Mario: you misunderstood both my concept of "content" and that of originality. For me, content does not mean saying something necessarily new, but simply saying something. And art, which is primarily communication, cannot disregard this. As for originality, you, like many others before you, have confused originality with innovation; but they are two very different concepts: originality can easily equate to personality and uniqueness; in other words, one can also be original without revolutionizing or dismantling; THIS is what is fundamental. Then you continue to make a sharp distinction between two points of view (even though you misunderstood mine) that in fact do not exist: because, as I have already said, I do not reject technique a priori, but I reject technique understood solely as such. Therefore, your distinction between "raw" musicians and "conservatory" musicians does not exist for me. One, because there is no art without originality; two, because there is no technique (or form or, in my opinion, refinement) that, solely as such, creates art.

But it's probably true.. I don't think there are the foundations to create a meeting point.. we're quite on opposite ends :-)

Are you sure? Even though 30 years ago they did it with really few variations, the Genesis? Moreover, even the Hüsker Dü, a punk band, have made songs over ten minutes long, like "Recurring Dreams" from the album "Zen Arcade"... there’s punk and punk...

One thing is to stretch it out for ten minutes; everyone can indulge in such a waste of time, changing moods and shifting dynamics, creating a labyrinthine piece, etc. But it’s far more difficult with two minutes, as punk groups allow, to recreate a world like Fugazi do: paranoid and schizophrenic, now neurotic and introspective, just after unleashed and restless.. an ultra-regular rhythm section for a fleeting and shifting harmonic section, exceptional musicians (among the best of the last 20 years, as acclaimed by critics with far more experience than me) as well as one of the greatest bands of the '90s. There's punk and there's punk; perhaps we should inform ourselves before making certain claims.

Congratulations to Lux for his intellectual honesty (I’m speaking seriously) your comment above in response to mine is accurate and interesting. However, I have to agree with Matt7 (amidst the considerable nonsense that I think he continues to spout) when he says that the yardstick must be the same: he’s right, we are still talking about rock, and if everything were to be relativized we would end up being unable to talk about anything at all, if you understand what I mean. After all, every opinion is relative, yes, but as such it is also a personal attempt to absolutize and objectify what it discusses. That said, for me originality and expressiveness are fundamental standards not only irrespective of the genre, but also of the form of art. That said, to say that writing a punk piece is nonsense is false: clearly, as usual, Matt7 hasn’t heard much punk or he has misunderstood it; I challenge anyone to successfully recreate the writing of a group like Fugazi, or like Husker Du; if you really want to know, it is much harder to recreate their writing than the overly elaborate (though pointless) style of Dream Theater;