journals

So I finished reading Kurt's journals. Very disappointing that the suicide note wasn't at the end. Still, there was a lot of really great stuff in there. Also a lot of teenage punk bitch stupid stuff, but that part was cool too. "I no longer need to be inspired, just supported." GREAT line, and I really need to get to that point in my life. Right now, I still need to be inspired.

There are three types of music. Music for the Money, Music for the Music, and Music for the Emotion.

Most of the crap on the radio today falls squarely into the first category. Producers and executives find a band that has some musical talent and maybe some ideas of their own. The band is then pressed into servitude with the allure of money, fame, cars, drugs, girls... whatever. All at the low low price of their integrity. No integrity? No problem. Hell, that's even better, because the labels can then avoid the cost of brainwashing. Backstreet Boys? No integrity. Talent? Sure. I'd love to be able to sing like that. Would I sell out? Probably. There's a market for the music, and someone's going to fill the niche, so it might as well be me. Our Lady Peace. Talent? Sure. Integrity? well, I feel like they used to have it. But this new stuff is just garbage. There's a rock formula out there, and OLP was duped into following it. For the money and the fame. Just ask Nickelback. Or Creed. Or any other number of neuvo-alternative acts running around the country these days. They all know the formula, and they all stick to it. The music doesn't mean anything anymore because, while they may have great ideas and the songs may be bursting with emotion, the emotion is being expressed using someone else's formula. This isn't inherently a bad thing. Not everyone has the talent to express themselves uniquely, and having an outlet pioneered by others is something we should all be thankful for. But I don't think that expressing one's self through that same outlet is worthy of the adoration and wallets of millions of fans. These bands are short-lived. They will always be short-lived because they are contrived to fit a niche in the market. A niche that won't always be the same, and a niche that demands fresh blood with each successive generation. Ride the wave while you can, but expect to crash.

Currently, I feel like Cast Iron Filter fits into the second group. All the guys are very talented musically, and the music is highly original, but sometimes I'm not sure what drives them to play. Stories about made-up truck drivers, fake shoot-outs, and imaginary street races are all very well and good, but I've had a hard time figuring out what drives these kinds of songs. But now I think it's the music. The simple drive to make the best most original music they can. And it's working. I've heard the songs a zillion times, but I can still get fired up for the heartfelt closing verse of Soky Fair (yes, even tho it's a cover), the When You Don't solos are always insane, and Running Free always makes me feel like that's exactly what I should be doing. Overall, however, it seems like Cast Iron Filter is focused on making good music rather than evoking emotion. This shouldn't be taken as a slight by any means. I think it's very admirable, and maybe reaching this conclusion will help me take the next step towards understanding their growth as a band. While this path is certainly one worth taking, I think it's much more difficult to gather fans and supporters. It's sometimes difficult to identify good music. You have to care about it enough to actually LISTEN to what's going on instead of just trying to feel it. Good music should evoke emotion, but music whose primary goal is to be good music requires the listener to put forth some effort before the emotion will come through. Nothing lasts longer than good music. People's emotions fade and immaturity gives way thoughtfulness, but music is mathematical, and solid musical composition can be as everlasting as any theorem or postulate.

Now, Nirvana made music for the sake of emotion. Kurt NEEDED this outlet for his feelings and emotions to slow his downward spiral. Early Nirvana is not necessarily a musically adept band. But they were extremely emotionally charged. Every song meant something. Even if it was just a cheap stab at the recording industry (Radio Friendly Unit Shifter) or attempting to show men the evils of rape (Polly), each and every song had personal meaning and the point of these songs was to get the emotion across to the listener. Everyone knows what unrequieted love feels like, ("Hurts me so much, it makes me sick.") and Aneurysm can make you feel that pain. This stuff is accessible because everyone has emotion, and you're going to like music that you can relate to. The problem with these kinds of bands is that they can lack longevity. Unless they can change and adapt. Eventually your fans will grow tired of feeling those same emotions, and you'll be left behind. For some bands, it's fine to make a mark, then fade away to reunion concerts and benefits in the park. This wasn't what Kurt wanted tho. He wanted to change the system and change the country. Falling into relative obscurity was not an option.

ugh... I've hit a block and don't know what I'm talking about anymore. I'll probably edit this later, cuz I'm sure some of this is just dumb and doesn't make any sense. I need a THESIS STATEMENT. Stupid high school english. Hope I didn't waste too much of anyone's time. La, la. -jim