THE FUTURE OF MUSIC

Art is all subjective. Everyone has the right to an opinion and no one can ever be completely right or wrong. Which is really nice if you think about it. I mean, if everyone loved the same thing — well, that is a tired thought. But, you know what I mean. Diversity in art is what give us the sweet flavor of being unique.

Cinema has taken a great fall over the course of the last five years. I can only think of a hand full of films that have really shaken my core. This is just my opinion. INLAND EMPIRE is really the only movie that has totally rock’d my world in quite a while. And, I seem to be in a minority on that. But, so I am. And, I’m proud of it!

However, when it comes to music I have a much greater sense of hope! There is quite a bit out there which I am enjoying. But, once again, very little which I feel will really stand the test of time. But, only time will tell and time tends to kill most critics.

There are two “new-ish” music makers who I feel will prove to be quite important to pop/rock music history. Of course, I might end up wrong on this but I shall go out on a limb and name them both. If you’re not aware of them — you really should check them both out.

Now, you all know I LOVE Goldfrapp! I really do! Whether Alison and her main man take us on a breezy whim, a dark trip hop spin, the heights of mountains or the sheer magic of glitter trash glam disco — I shall be there! But, there is not so much loft to Goldfrapp. It is magic for me and a few others.

Nothing is completely original. Everything has been building off something else since man started to bang bones.

No, the two music makers who I feel are providing the most valid peek into what might last are:

Bright Eyes — Certainly this group (or Conor Oberst) owe a great deal of their sound to the likes of Gram Parsons and The Flying Burrito Brothers or Neil Young (this is a fairly important piece of work in my book!) — but they’ve turned those influences inside out. The music is powerful, soft, human, fragile, honest and quite often damn catchy. I think Bright Eyes is able to take the listener to places that other indie folkies can’t quite reach. These folks — and Mr. Oberst — are true artistes. …and, he ain’t bad on the eyes either! Always a plus in my book! I am quite curious to see where they continue to take us. And, I am so in love with the video to “Four Winds”! …and, you can get the George Bush protest song for free off of iTunes! Go grab it!!!

Antony And The Johnsons Candy Darling on her deathbed is the cover for one of my favorite CD’s. Once you hear the album, the picture makes total sense. — Just like Bright Eyes, this band (or Antony) owe a great deal to everyone from Lou Reed and Nico to Boy George and Grande Opera (another great piece of work — if you ask me!) — but they (or he) has warped into a beautiful bit of tragic comedy that soaks into your soul. Essentially, they rock with feeling like no one else I can think of at the moment.

These two music makers are still on the fringe but close to “breaking” — I hope they don’t ever actually cross too far into the mainstream. But the eccentricities of their work are not so far removed from the course of the individual. The songs deal with issues we all seem to run across in poetic and harmonious ways.

I suspect they are creating magic which might last the ages.

Or, I could be totally wrong. I still listen to Enrique and Britney. So sue me. (not really, I’m not officially unemployed and still on disability! This is just a figure of speech!)

Kisses,
matty