Comments on: Musical authenticity – The Dark Places http://extremelisteningmode.com/2008/03/28/musical-authenticity-the-dark-places/ You know, there’s a lot of it about. Music, I mean. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:27:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: extremelisteningmode http://extremelisteningmode.com/2008/03/28/musical-authenticity-the-dark-places/#comment-24 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:59:22 +0000 http://extremelisteningmode.wordpress.com/?p=14#comment-24 Yes. And no.

As a human, of course you wish them happiness, health and wealth. As a music fanatic, no, no you don’t.

I think that’s why people have a finite shelf life of brilliance – it just wouldn’t be fair on them to wish them to live a long life of the type which creates artistic ’suffering’, as the other option is the Kurt Cobain/Ian Curtis route.

And I think that’s just too great a price to pay for four great albums rather than three.

But I’d be willing to inject Kasabian with heroin and make them live in Siberian gulag for three months to test that theory. Bet it would still be a shite album.

]]> By: Scotia http://extremelisteningmode.com/2008/03/28/musical-authenticity-the-dark-places/#comment-22 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:19:35 +0000 http://extremelisteningmode.wordpress.com/?p=14#comment-22 The problem comes when the artists ‘gets better’ but loses an edge: do we as fans have the right to moan? Or as human beings do we celebrate?

Kristin Hersh remains a highly talented songwriter, but she was a ‘genius’ when she suffered badly with Bipolar Disorder.

Mark Eitzel is a genius but had even better songs when he drank more, and was more confused re sexuality, drugs and death.

Can I complain?

]]> By: extremelisteningmode http://extremelisteningmode.com/2008/03/28/musical-authenticity-the-dark-places/#comment-10 Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:32:01 +0000 http://extremelisteningmode.wordpress.com/?p=14#comment-10 Yes, but joyous songs still need to have come from the right place. Two examples ; ‘Friday, I’m in Love’ by The Cure up against ‘Stars’ by Simply Red. Both upbeat love songs, but I think we know which one was written to exist and which was written to make money!

As I say, I dunno the right answer to this dilemma. Richey Manic carved ’4REAL’ into his arm; I still thought he was a style over substance cockend. Equally, everything guys like Craig Finn and Will Vlautin do has a the hint of artifice, albeit novelistic, and I still love it.

Though if Mick Hucknall would like to prove how ’4REAL’ he is by butchering his eyes with a nailgun, I’d happily watch.

]]> By: two sides http://extremelisteningmode.com/2008/03/28/musical-authenticity-the-dark-places/#comment-9 Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:23:07 +0000 http://extremelisteningmode.wordpress.com/?p=14#comment-9 angst driven songs need to be authentic I agree. But music can equally be joyous and liberating, created to express elation, love and happiness….and that is just as valid. Whatever your mood, there is music to fit it, that is the beauty of it!

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