Off The Shelf

When I started working with synthesizers back in 1986, I was the only person that I was aware of who was using a computer as a tool to compose music. Sure, there were synth-nerd rock stars on MTV who were using the new technology, but it hadn't really trickled down to the local shlubs yet, and I was "the first person on my block" to learn how to program synths and sequencers. Now everybody and their mother is mixing prefabricated rhythm loops and snippets of performances (of some anonymous performer playing some generic non-copywritten musical blurb), and rewarding themselves with the title of "musician" without having actually conjured a single original idea or, for that matter, written a single actual note of music.

And this is frustrating... for a number of reasons...

First of all, in the context of our stupid culture's current obsession with giving trophies even to the most talentless for fear of damaging self-esteem (and thus diminishing the recognition of actual talent when it comes along), current software gives any mouth-breather with opposeable thumbs the ability to drag and drop items into an onscreen window under the impression that they are engaged in the act of "creating" music when they aren't. Secondly, it diminishes the accomplishment of those who actually do participate in the creative act of composition. Dragging and dropping loops in popular consumer-level software is the musical equivalent of paint-by-numbers. Anybody who thinks that this makes them a musician is deluded. And I don't mean this in a way that disregards the talents of inventive dj's and remix producers - there are people out there who are doing some very amazing things under those frequently neglected titles (ever hear a really creative dj on the top of his game? Wow!). But their work is far beyond what some 12-year-old is doing with software that is only one slight step above "Guitar Hero" in approximation to an actual creative process. The act of composing an arrangement note-by-note, and writing lyrics one word at a time is a far cry from "seeing how this guitar riff sounds with this drum track."

And undoubtedly, after years of micromanaging every single aspect of sound and performance and painstakingly recording audio tracks of actual instruments in order to capture my personal vision of the original songs that I have written, there will be some dipshit out there who will blow off my work in favor of something that his eight-year-old concocted in five minutes by dragging and dropping tracks into "Garage Band."

No, I don't expect to please everyone, but I'm not bothered by legitimate criticism - even if it's of the vague "I don't think I like this" variety - as much as I might be bothered by the type of "oh, this is nothing... you should hear what my daughter came up with on Garage Band in five minutes at the Apple store" that is glaringly illegitimate on so many levels. I don't fear legitimate appraisal of my work, but I fear the direction that our culture is heading if music-by-numbers garners more appreciation and attention than something - anything - that actually results from a concerted effort to achieve an original vision. When we disregard the value of human beings attempting to express ideas through music in favor of the generic motifs of bland computerized loops in an exponentially dumbed-down pseudo-musical interface, not only do we compromise our definition of musical expression, but we lower the bar of what we expect from the music we enjoy (or become conditioned to enjoy). We settle for less than we deserve. We dissolve the concept of artistic integrity.

And many will do this willingly if it allows their talentless child to feel like a rock star without actually having to learn how to play an instrument.

Prince recently turned down a lucrative offer to have his music appear in a "Rock Band" or "Guitar Hero" -type game. He turned it down, saying that he'd rather see kids learning how to play real instruments. Long live Prince.

Integrity. Worth looking into.

Days remaining as of this post (see "Statement of Purpose" for explanation): 452