Don't know if you've heard, but Roger Waters plans on performing the whole "Wall" album this fall. I LOVE LOVE LOVE albums. LIke a collection of poetry or a painter's concentration, it presents a collection revolving around one theme, story, idea, or sound. Because of itunes (a.k.a. my old best friend. Download Mp3's on Amazon, bitches. It's mad cheaper) the album may be going the way of painting: no one cares besides artists, critics, and nerds with blogs.
I'm listening to "Ziggy Stardust and the Spider from Mars" at the moment. Songs bleed into each other, creating a lovely story. In the last few years only "The Fame" and "Blackout" have accomplished the same effect as classic albums. Instead of surrounding brilliant singles with airless filler, Britney and Lady Gaga created masterpieces about Warholian fame and breakdowns in the 21st century. Other than that, I just hear crud or brilliance no one buys... or illegally downloading.
This month David Bryne and Fat Boy Slim released "Here Lies Love," a concept album featuring Tori Amos, Cyndi Lauper, and more about the former first lady of the Philippines. It's a techno Evita. This proves to everyone at Wannee right now that electro is just as intelligent as Pink Floyd, Phish, or any bluegrass band. This album says as much as a Tolstoy album. Bryne writes as complex as Bach wrote his operas. IT DEFINES ART. Unfortunately, no one will hear it. Only us nerds will dance in it's electro glory.
Perhaps, itunes has helped the album redefine itself. In our singles nation, no one will eventually write an album unless they want to say something. May itnues saved the album. Frankly, I can't see Fatboy writing "Here Lies Love" in 1998.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment