Comments on: Real guitars are for old people http://www.ethanhein.com/wp/2009/real-guitars/ Music, Technology, Evolution Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:18:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ethan http://www.ethanhein.com/wp/2009/real-guitars/#comment-673 Ethan Fri, 28 Aug 2009 01:02:11 +0000 http://www.ethanhein.com/wp/?p=1772#comment-673 All good food for thought and all true. Dude, when are you gonna start your music blog? All good food for thought and all true. Dude, when are you gonna start your music blog?

]]> By: Leo (you know the one) http://www.ethanhein.com/wp/2009/real-guitars/#comment-672 Leo (you know the one) Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:38:50 +0000 http://www.ethanhein.com/wp/?p=1772#comment-672 "I've made a commitment to let go of authenticity." Tom de Zengotita in his book Mediated talks about the modern idea of authenticity as the absence of optionality, not of fakery. We live in a world where synthetic is ubiquitous (and therefore real). What a stripped-down guitar-bass-and-drums trio offers is a lack of optionality. For the same reason (or one reason, anyway) that composers leave the infinite orchestra aside for a string quartet or forgo the big band for the quartet we take pleasure in necessity's insistence in finding power and individuality with the minimal tools available. I have been listening to the Heads lately: Radiohead's In Rainbows and Portishead's Third. They are both amazing albums. Totally amazing. But I love the soundworld of the Portishead so much more. Why? Analog. A limited set of tools used to incredible effect. In Rainbows is compositionally gorgeous and rich, but it SOUNDS like a Pro-Tools album. Every notion that went through Jonny Greenwood's head is flattered and digitally massaged. That's cool, I guess... “I’ve made a commitment to let go of authenticity.” Tom de Zengotita in his book Mediated talks about the modern idea of authenticity as the absence of optionality, not of fakery. We live in a world where synthetic is ubiquitous (and therefore real). What a stripped-down guitar-bass-and-drums trio offers is a lack of optionality. For the same reason (or one reason, anyway) that composers leave the infinite orchestra aside for a string quartet or forgo the big band for the quartet we take pleasure in necessity’s insistence in finding power and individuality with the minimal tools available.

I have been listening to the Heads lately: Radiohead’s In Rainbows and Portishead’s Third. They are both amazing albums. Totally amazing. But I love the soundworld of the Portishead so much more. Why? Analog. A limited set of tools used to incredible effect.

In Rainbows is compositionally gorgeous and rich, but it SOUNDS like a Pro-Tools album. Every notion that went through Jonny Greenwood’s head is flattered and digitally massaged. That’s cool, I guess…

]]> By: wayneandwax.com » Re-Meet the Beatles, *Really* This Time http://www.ethanhein.com/wp/2009/real-guitars/#comment-671 wayneandwax.com » Re-Meet the Beatles, *Really* This Time Wed, 19 Aug 2009 01:56:51 +0000 http://www.ethanhein.com/wp/?p=1772#comment-671 [...] and writer Ethan Hein, who himself recently posted about Rock Band and inhabiting songs, also seemed a little irked by McCartney’s comment. His retort? “You know what really [...] [...] and writer Ethan Hein, who himself recently posted about Rock Band and inhabiting songs, also seemed a little irked by McCartney’s comment. His retort? “You know what really [...]

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