a nu derection

Alright - two things:

Hey Ladytron - stop making sexy music that means nothing. Or better yet, keep making it. Make albums, audiobooks, self-help cd's, and disseminate your product throughout the globe. May it serve as a constant reminder that vanity just doesn't sound right. Give me Elmore James, Townes Van Zandt, Dylan, or anybody else with even a moticum of sophomoric melancholy. Your metallic tunes stupefy and entrance, making cool guy think it's the shit. E.g. "Ladytron is huuuge in L.A. - what - you haven't heard of Ladytron?!"

Second thing: Who wants to do a podcast?

Consumerism

Listen - I don't want to be made a target - but I will open myself up for a bit a criticism - just on this issue:

Why is it that the only stuff I ever feel driven to write about is 'the cool?' I truly don't get it. Not that any of these faux-philosphical files are 'cool,' but it's the intent to write about such vain and unimpressive observations which are just that; vague blatherings that describe little and scream of indecision. There is loads of other stuff - more substantive, more interesting - that people write about everyday. I can't even seem to keep my thoughts on one subject, or write from the same perspective for long enough to make this whole mess make sense. I suppose I could ask for direction; take suggestions - but no one will know better than me about what I should write.

I'm not looking to pigeonhole myself, I promise (I think). But the direction of this whole project has always been uncertain. What if I decide to write about a music group that I think is doing great things? Would anyone be interested in reading that?

Back, After a Short Break

Nothing really intelligent to spew from the depths of my bitter, hollow shell. I am in training right now for my new job, passing my intelligence onto the youth of this nation so that others may question the system, fight the oppression - even if it's only seen being imposed onto others, and stop listening to the lies of old, dead, white men.

I'll be back from now on to ramble and rebel rouse. For now, just take this nugget of wisdom from ole Al Einstein.

"Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction."

Then again, didn't he help create the nuclear weapon?

-Thanks, Management.

The Betters

In light of recent events - and even my more recent musings, I got to thinking. I don't presume to be the purveyor of all things altruistic. Benevolence, mental buoyancy, optimism – all that bullshit has its time and place, right? I find it far easier to write what comes to mind, whether that be the despondent dialogue of my darker side, or that sanguine shit that I’ve been spewing as of late.

So - as a turning of the tide - allow me to curmudgeon. I promise to make it justifiably worth your time – not that old-man brand of expostulation – but the kind that needs to be heard. At the very least, it deserves to be heard. Some think the memoir of a ne'er-do-well a ‘testament to dead ideas,’ but they're not whose ear I'm seeking. I'm aiming at the folk who need to hear a social commentary on why we ought to throw out our extended-dance mixes and settle down to some sensibly irresponsible, time-tested rock and roll.

I’m sick of the soulless techno travesty – I want to champion something worthwhile. More on this soon.

-IE

Foreword for the book yet to be written

My name is Ryan and I live in Cincinnati.

Now – you’re probably looking for a premise. I'm happy to report that you will find no such substantive shit in these shallow pages, save the occasional invigorating encounter with the opposite sex, or vivid depiction of a fetching first listen. And while this sad bastard saga will bemoan love loss, the agony of enduring shitty people and their terrible taste, and undoubtedly document gin-drunk diatribes, there is also a lighter side. Because, for all my elderly idiosyncrasies, I’m really just a young man trapped in an even younger boy’s body. A Zevon. And cliché as it may be – fuck you – it’s true.

-IE

Art is Hard

The fact is - sometimes I write these posts and they're easy. Sometimes, they're redundant. My intention is to always provide probing, introspective shit that doesn't necessarily revolve around my current mood or immediate impulse. I sit, think, drink (coffee), and type...usually. But today, I received a prompt from a friend of mine (an assignment, as she called it). She is a promoter for a music label, and after she found out that I have been writing (however briefly) in a blog and on my own, she requested my "services?" yeah - she definitely requested my services (wry grin). This is more like how it actually went: after I begged her to ask me my opinion, she obliged.

ANYWAY - she wants to know about the public perception of the music industry. Since she is so close to the various moving parts of the machine, I suppose she has lost touch with how the "dude" seeks and finds new tunes. She is still very plugged in - I mean, it's her job to have impeccable taste and to know what's popular - two characteristics that don't always coincide. But a healthy dose of perspective is always helpful, so I sat and started to type like I generally do: reasonable rationale soaked in cynicism, and topped with the anecdotal, "but this is all gonna change," so as to avoid any real conflict with anyone anywhere.

After rereading, I realized that no one wants to hear me apologize for my opinions. So, I began to rewrite, criticizing big corporate labels for refusing to accept that their industry is undergoing far-reaching, impactful changes, and simultaneously criticizing those who advocate indiscriminate piracy. Let's face it, some ignorant music thieves have the strange idea that they are just stealing from stinking rich record companies. Conversely, others assume they're helping obscure artists 'get noticed' by making countless copies of their EP.

To further complicate the matter, no other artistic medium has been this thoroughly hacked, passed around, and fundamentaly dismantled; making it difficult to establish precedent.

I have, however, found one common thread. Albeit a bit platitudinous, I think that - even amongst all the money-grubbing - all parties can agree on one thing: the greater good.

All we hear from musicians is that the desire to make music overrides everything else – they are called - that there’s a compulsion to create – so why can't we all just focus on the one common thread? Sure, there are different blends, contrapuntal creations, and music made that goes in entirely different directions. But does that rule out the possibility of all positively pursuing musicality? Maybe we can't do it - peace and harmony sure seem a long way off - but then again, good music is better than nothing.

-IE

Hey alright

Today has been a tough one. I woke up bitter, and have really only continued to snarl as the first few hours of my day have trickled by: I forgot to take out the trash (perhaps my subconscious at work), dropped my lunch (a few times), bumped my head, found out I got ripped off online, and am now on a caustic conference call (the fact that I'm writing this now should be considered a testament to their inefficacy).

That said, I still recognize a few important facts:
I am in charge of a number of things in my life - namely - my thoughts and actions.
At any one time - if things get too crazy - I can jump off this carousel and do something else.
Finally - in the meantime - I will endeavor to do the things that make me happiest. You should too.

-IE