Expanding My Thoughts

OK, so I did my first blog...and I'm thinking, perhaps I should vent, etc., about the industries and people I have worked with as well. I will not use real names, but I have many stories to tell about athletes, classic rock acts, etc. Some good, some bad...so as I go on this journey, I'll make an effort to spew some fun things for all to read...but the emphasis is still going to be about music. Let's talk about rap music for a second. I first heard rap when I was a personal manager in the music business, a million and one years ago. When I first heard it, my knee jerk reaction was that it was that year's disco...it would be around a little but fade over time. Shit, I was very wrong...however, it is still shitty music, if you want to call it that. And is it me? Every fucking rap artist sounds exactly the same. Now, I'm also a musician...a great guitar player, even if I do say so myself. I have great ears, and actually discovered the artist that wrote the two number one hits from Dirty Dancing. Although that story in and of itself is my own cautionary tale, it is for another day. The purpose behind this new blog is simply to ask again, as it pertains to rap music, just what the fuck are you listening to? Yeah, I heard all the bullshit before...it is about socail commentary, blah, blah, blah...fuck that...the music blows and blows big time. There are rarely any melodies and I swear, the rappers must all go to the same music school because they all sound the same each and every time. And mainstream rockers try being cool by accepting them onto their recordings, concerts, etc. Ya know what, all it does is make the rockers seem like shitheads! I have always tried to listen to music very objectively, but these days it is way too difficult. I remember years ago, while a student at NYU, I took a bullshit course about the history of jazz. I happen to love jazz, so for me it was not a bullshit class, but let's face it...in reality it was a bullshit class. So the professor puts on some avant garde shit...I mean, really atonal music...it had me jumping out of my seat. I actually raised my hand in class and said: "What is that shit you put on?" The professor laughed and said, remember they laughed at Dizzie Gillespie when he came out with the first bop recordings...I replied: "Yeah, but at least it had melody". Well, that's how I feel about rap...nothing redeeming...the lyrics? So fucking what! This is what makes this "music" special? It's simply just a series of beats, looped around lyrics that are either screamed or shouted or simply just spewed...I shake my head at every award show when I see rappers come out to perform. And believe me, its not an age thing...it is simply that nobody in the music business has the balls to come out and say what they all think behind their corporate doors...that rap music sucks! However, until the music business stops whining and crying about how sales are down and nothing sells anymore, they should realize a few simple things. First, lower the cost of the fucking cd...everyone knows it costs hardly anything to make, so pass it along to the consumer. Second, start signing acts that write great songs so the kids have a reason to go out to the store and buy the cd or go online and download it onto their ipod. I hate that these music executives all whine about the state of the industry...wake the fuck up. Years ago, circa 1980 or so, there was a bloodletting in the industry...all the great A&R guys were fired and music took a sharp detour and never found its way back on track. Those great A&R guys were the ones responsible for signing and developing the great acts of that time...But all of a sudden everyone lost their head. They needed a change so they decided to hire young people to fill the posts that couldn't pick a winner if their lives depended on it...and off they went as well...in the great words of my grandparents: OY VAY!!! What the fuck are you listening to? OK, so I said in the first blog, I'm going to start to educate those out there who are interested in great music. I will suggest all sorts of genres along the way, and hopefully get your ears to expand. So, let's start off with something harmless...great singer/songwriter and a great album. This is a throwback album in one sense...that is every song is a winner...did you get that? Every song is a winner...not just one or two like most records of today. So, although there is no rhyme or reason for my picks, let me suggest Cat Stevens album Tea for the Tillerman. Check it out...while you are listening to this genius of an artist, start going through your collection of cd's and ask yourself what comes close? If the answer is nothing you own, start throwing shit out...don't be nervous...just pick up the cd's you have, walk down the hall to the incenerator room and chuck them down into the fire...or, sell them at a garage sale...its time to clean house and get some good music on the cd player...enough for now, my back hurts...