Mike’s Blog About Music

Current mood: rebellious
Category: Music

I have been thinking about what to write about the state of music since I told Mike I would write more about the death of urban music. I have been moved in another direction though. I want to write about ALL music. All music is suffering. We know sales are down in the music industry but who cares about those rich fuckers. I care about musicians. I care about artists. I want to be able to access good music not just on my CD Player but at clubs and bars. We have a problem though.

The problem is greed.

Rock, latin, jazz are the only genres I know that has venues for up and comers. Pop clubs, urban clubs, and everything else is all about who's "hot". Where is the open mic night filled with people who truly appreciate music? I can think of a place here but the crowd is not always about the music there. I keep meeting artists who will perform anywhere at the drop of a hat. (Maybe I should help them. After all I am the sound boy MASSIVE now!)

I still believe the greatest lyricist ever is out of LA and will remain underground forever. Aceyalone. I will always believe that the best singers are unsigned. I'm thinking about all this and realizing maybe that's the way things should be.

So the problem for music listeners is their own fault. We don't support underground artists. We look for CDs. Dead Presidents is not an underground group. If you have a label, you are not underground. If Cheri Dennis is such a great singer, why are we waiting on her to put out an album. Go seek her out and get her to perform for you. I'm sure she has a recording if that's what you want. Why are we waiting on CDs? Why are we waiting on MySpace artist to get signed? Send them a message. Go to their shows. Order their CDs directly from them. If they can put their songs online, they can burn a copy and mail it to you.

I generally don't get into music debates. The reason is most of the people involved in the debate are really into music. They are into SoundScan. They are into MTV or BET 106th and Park or the radio. They are into singles. A good album has always been one that you can listen to all the way through and feel good about. I don't do "Greatest Hits". All the songs I like aren't on there. The only greatest hits worthy of its name was Prince's. I like music. I realize that I will never be able to satisfy my quest for good music. Its everywhere! What's to debate? If you've never been to LA, how can you have an opinion on Aceyalone? Hell most people IN LA have never heard him.

The bottom line is, the quest for good music should not depend on the music industry. The industry as we know it will fail eventually anyway. Then where will we be? With no CDs to buy, no I-Tunes, MTV and BET only running reality shows because the labels can't afford music videos anymore, where would we look for entertainment? I know where I can go. You need to find you some good music and hold on to it. And quit calling it urban music. Jodeci is from North Carolina. People in the country got soul too! Let's find another name or no name at all. Just music

Just music. Listen

And the croud goes HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! Yes that was great! I NEED ANOTHER ONE!!!!!!!! BTW did you get the topic idea from my last blog comment(Greed)?

JR

Naw not really. I been reading this book "New Earth" and something clicked from that. I keep trying to fit that book into my recent blogs. Another is coming.