Musical Mathematics

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Okay, this is a highly loathed, yet often used device in pop music criticism. There's your disclaimer. Here's what I mean: "Band A sounds like a cross between band x and band y (and then some sort of witty adjectivity gets tossed into the equation)."; but you can write it like so: example (albeit bad): Rage Against the Machine + System of a Down + cred (no, not Creed) = At the Drive-In. As the goal is a general communication of a sound, or "feel", you'll generally want to proceed from more well-known or popular components towards the summation of your choice. Placement in time means nothing. We're going for a description of sound here, not actual (or imagined) streams of influence. Calculate or flame away.

― Dan I., Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Using solely examples of artists' peers & predecessors just seems like especially lazy journalism.

― Alex in NYC, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I agree. I just like putting things in systems, however malformed or constricting.

― Dan I., Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

A dirty little rockist impulse.

― Dan I., Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It's kind of fun really - trying to get that 'yeah!' reaction out of somebody. I usually have quite a good ear for it too... of *course* I can't think of one right now though.

― Kim, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

This breaks from form a bit, but I always got hung up on Talib Kweli having been Oates to Mos Def's Hall in Black Star, for whatever that's worth.

― Andy, Saturday, 1 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I really like it when people are good at it. When I pick something up and play it and it sounds NOTHING like any of the bands in the mathematical formula, I get pissed. THAT'S lazy journalism. Oh yeah, sounds like this. Next record.

― Nude Spock, Saturday, 1 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Britney Spears + green python = Manowar

― Kodanshi, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Hi, my name is Sean Carruthers, and I'm....I'm a musical mathematician. I haven't done any musical math for...six weeks now, and I am tempted every time I put fingers to keys. I keep wanting to say things like "Broken Social Scene is a Penguin Café Orchestra for those who've grown up with Joy Division..." I admit that I have a problem, but thanks to your support and the love of Jesus Christ, I (strangles self).

No, I admit that I do this more than I probably should, though it's really hard not to when so many bands wear their influences so boldly on their sleeves. I mean, I just finished a review of Chalk Circle (Kim will know what I'm talking about here) where I mention that the lead singer must have had a really serious Echo and the Bunnymen fixation. But yes, there has to be some real solid evidence there, otherwise it's CMJ's RIYL with the subjective info recontextualized as some sort of fact, which doesn't really serve anyone all that much.

― Sean Carruthers, Tuesday, 4 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

*does mental playback*
"No April Foooooool"
"The Killing Mooooon"
Yeah indeed!

― Kim, Tuesday, 4 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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