Film and art make up most of the lurid, weird, and fantastique creative work that I've talked about in this blog, and I'm coming to realize that I've been remiss when it comes to touching on music. Much of that has to do with the fact that there are many writers who are way better than me at discussing music, and I'm more than happy to leave those explorations in those capable hands! But the time has come, interpals, for me to geek out on some of the music I've been enjoying that informs my aesthetic universe.
My approach to music is a lot like my approach to film and art--I haven't got patience for labeling, nor for the minutiae of classification, nor for the distinction between lowbrow and highbrow. It's all about the quest for that mystical X Factor that catches my attention and makes my brain resonate to an appealing frequency. It's kinda like the American Bandstand thing--"it's got a good beat, and you can dance to it," except edited to read "it's in a minor key, and there's a whiff of brimstone about it."
I make no secret that I rely on a team of audio experts to grab me by both shoulders and shout "KATE, LISTEN TO THIS--IT REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION!" I will doubtless forget someone, but a by-no-means exhaustive list of thank yous goes out to: Professor Jack (and his Witchhammer Hot Sauce), Costuminatrix Jenni, the Duke of DVD and the Vicar of VHS, Joey Zone, Joan Arkham and Citizen Ken, and every record store owner who ever exhibited patience with my teenage curiosity (not all record stores are run by know-it-all jerks).
So please--read, listen, comment, share your own faves, and with any luck at all: enjoy!
4 comments:
If you're interested in German expressionism you could do a soundtrack to a Dr. Mabuse film.
That would be presuming that I could make music! The closest I've come to making a soundtrack is turning the sound off on "Haxan" while playing Mercyful Fate albums when friends visit, which--alas--does not count. I had a brief run-in with attempting to learn Classical Guitar as a 'tween that ended in frustration and tears. I will gladly leave the musical duties to those with more talent in that realm :)
Hah! I've been playing guitar for (mumble mumble) years and I still have no real aptitude for it. I just don't have the talent for it.
Looking foward to the rest of the week.
Dr. M, my brother (yes, there is a Tenebrous Brother) has a natural gift for music and it makes me so envious! If for no other reason than it's way easier to pick up & put down a guitar than it is to clean up a mucky mess of half-dried paint...
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