From Oxybate Sent Wed, Nov 5th 1997, 20:33
> > what about timing, melody, measure, harmony, rythmic variation, > etc....all these are used in some way in a composition, and it is how > they are used that 'makes' that song. simple enough to say 'add a > couple of chords....' it is how everything is put together that make > the song. > > i'm not a RDJ worshipper, although I do enjoy alot of his work, but > making it sound as if anyone with some hardware/software can create sory, ill explain below. > his sound is a bit stretchy. I do hear alot of imitators out there, > and i'll give the guy credit for this, he seems to do whatever the > hell he feels like and could give a shit less what folks think. Because he is signed to a major record label. > abnoxious? don't know, don't care. is he the best thing out there? > not in my mind, but he does have some pretty creative stuff. > just my bit. Maybe I was too terse in my explanation. I meant that anyone with a LITTLE musical talent, that is, an ear for music can do it. I know I can, and that is not out of conceit, and there are COUNTLESS others who can do it alot better. My point is that HE's not one of them He is where he is because of the usual - being at the right time at the right place. For those of you who have never touched a keyboard, go try one..take a lessen in sequencing; the mystery will be taken out of his work and those like it. Frankly many of the tracks he makes, LACK harmony, structure, and even bring forth alot of dissonance. THere NOTHING wrong with that. I love alot of dissonant music! But there is a technique to that as well. Simply randomizing snares, hihats and kickdrums within a measure is NOT a display of talent to me - it is more of an exercise in sequence programming. Some of Brian eno's most simplistic work, like THursday afternoon, where different melodic length are endlessly repeated to produce wonderful experimentations in music, is very powerful. I just dont see Richard James as being one of these great composers. A. Mukerjee Vassar College Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through. --Jonathan Swift