Random Thoughts #3

1. If I had a cd for every random musical style and genre, I'd have music for years. Genres and styles have little to no meaning, with the same band often labeled dozens of different things depending on which critic is writing, which fan is gushing, or which detractor is complaining.

I understand this completely, and know to be wary of those labels. But I still find myself enticed by the briefest mention of certain genres. If someone says a song is a Krautrock homage, I suddenly have to listen to that song. And the weird thing is, I really don't even listen to Krautrock. I don't even own a Kraftwerk album. Yet I'm listening to the Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Animal Bar" because the song is supposed to be imitating Krautrock. I confuse myself so much.

2. I did link to Wikipedia in the previous thought, but to those wondering, Krautrock is a term applying to bands that came from a certain musical scene in Germany in the 60s and 70s. It was based on heavy use of electronic instruments and repetitive beats to create "rock" music that was both coldly robotic yet still interesting and beautiful. And also very danceable if slightly remixed.

The leaders, and most well-known, of this genre were/are Kraftwerk, who had an obsession with bicycles and robots. They often even sent perfect replica dummies in place of themselves for many things. Their song "Tour de France" is probably the best song ever about a bicycle race.

3. Music fans are incredibly ungrateful. Now that the previously mentioned Radiohead album has been available online for a day, a certain group of fans have begun complaining about the slightly reduced sound quality. They get the newest Radiohead album for free months before it'll even be available in stores, and yet they still complain like they've been injured somehow.

Looking. Gift Horse. Mouth.