Comments for spencercritchley.com http://spencercritchley.com Media, society, leadership, music, technology... Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:38:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on More Creativity in a Can: When Thomas Dolby Met the Rhinestone Cowboy by Mari Lynch Dehmler http://spencercritchley.com/2009/more-creativity-in-a-can-when-thomas-dolby-met-the-rhinestone-cowboy/comment-page-1/#comment-156 Mari Lynch Dehmler Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:38:21 +0000 http://spencercritchley.com/?p=85#comment-156 I’d much rather experience, say, Hawaii-based artist Vito Truglio harmonizing with Matt Bolton than have either guy replaced with a box of chips! Your post reminded me of an Ancient Futures concert at Carmel’s Sunset Center many years ago. I’d anticipated watching the sitar player I’d so enjoyed in their recordings, then was disillusioned to realize the “sitar” was coming from a techno toy. As I’ve said to one of my musician clients who sometimes wonders whether their efforts to “keep it real” are worth it—and as your own experience bears witness to so eloquently—not only does music technology not necessarily add to creativity, there’s more to a musical experience than what you hear. I’d much rather experience, say, Hawaii-based artist Vito Truglio harmonizing with Matt Bolton than have either guy replaced with a box of chips! Your post reminded me of an Ancient Futures concert at Carmel’s Sunset Center many years ago. I’d anticipated watching the sitar player I’d so enjoyed in their recordings, then was disillusioned to realize the “sitar” was coming from a techno toy.

As I’ve said to one of my musician clients who sometimes wonders whether their efforts to “keep it real” are worth it—and as your own experience bears witness to so eloquently—not only does music technology not necessarily add to creativity, there’s more to a musical experience than what you hear.

]]> Comment on The Desert Mothers release “Nowhere Motel” by duggup » Blog Archive » The Desert Mothers - Nowhere Motel http://spencercritchley.com/2007/the-desert-mothers-release-nowhere-motel/comment-page-1/#comment-4 duggup » Blog Archive » The Desert Mothers - Nowhere Motel Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:21:10 +0000 http://spencercritchley.com/2007/12/15/the-desert-mothers-release-nowhere-motel/#comment-4 [...] Spencer Critchley (the driving force behind The Desert Mothers) has documented the whole process from audio sketch to the finished product above complete with MP3 excerpts from the recording along the way. [...] [...] Spencer Critchley (the driving force behind The Desert Mothers) has documented the whole process from audio sketch to the finished product above complete with MP3 excerpts from the recording along the way. [...]

]]> Comment on How We Went From Nowhere To Track Of The Day On Garageband.com by admin http://spencercritchley.com/2005/how-we-went-from-nowhere-to-track-of-the-day-on-garagebandcom/comment-page-1/#comment-3 admin Fri, 19 Aug 2005 22:19:41 +0000 http://bootsroad.com/spencercritchley.com/wordpress/?p=12#comment-3 I think that in pop music structure is usually kept simple because, as with folk music, the intention is for people to be able to learn the song the first time they hear it. Some pop writers have been able to use unusual structures and still have the song flow naturally, e.g. Steely Dan. Jimmy Webb's "MacArthur Park" is a famous example of a more through-composed (as opposed to repeating) structure. Burt Bacharach writes very unusual phrases that still sing naturally. Not sure if I've heard much lately, though. Songwriter & ASCAP Nashville exec <a href="http://www.ascap.com/nashville/murphy.html" rel="nofollow">Ralph Murphy</a> is scarily knowledgeable on typical pop song structures. I think that in pop music structure is usually kept simple because, as with folk music, the intention is for people to be able to learn the song the first time they hear it. Some pop writers have been able to use unusual structures and still have the song flow naturally, e.g. Steely Dan. Jimmy Webb’s “MacArthur Park” is a famous example of a more through-composed (as opposed to repeating) structure. Burt Bacharach writes very unusual phrases that still sing naturally. Not sure if I’ve heard much lately, though.

Songwriter & ASCAP Nashville exec Ralph Murphy is scarily knowledgeable on typical pop song structures.

]]> Comment on How We Went From Nowhere To Track Of The Day On Garageband.com by Stephen Weir http://spencercritchley.com/2005/how-we-went-from-nowhere-to-track-of-the-day-on-garagebandcom/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Stephen Weir Fri, 19 Aug 2005 18:04:25 +0000 http://bootsroad.com/spencercritchley.com/wordpress/?p=12#comment-2 I thought your comments on simple = focus was very good. You never mentioned structure. Structure of songs in modern pop, rock and country never really vary from verse, chorus and middle8. I've been writing songs that I believe are pushing the boundaries of these restrictions. Do you know of any artists yourself? I thought your comments on simple = focus was very good.

You never mentioned structure. Structure of songs in modern pop, rock and country
never really vary from verse, chorus and middle8.

I’ve been writing songs that I believe are pushing the boundaries of these
restrictions.

Do you know of any artists yourself?

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