does music have any real purpose anymore?

[exz0rb]

Wow, man, this topic is a deep one and marries just about any opinon out there...

I read the original post, carefully, and understood everything you are feeling right now. But if anything, I would say "draw from your feelings to progress and fight for what you want and feel deep inside".

Sitting around on forums attracting co "opinions" on something so personal, from within, is of course a bad idea. Although music effects us all as an international and worldwide nation, do still remember that music is based on personal form ie; what you - the listener and producer enjoy most. It is an art, and will continue to remain an art for aslong as it exists.

I do not think it has all gone wrong, however, what I do think is that producers have got stuck into a mess of drawing from "other people" and listening to what they want instead of what they want personally from within.

But you see, this is not the end of the world. Everything you are feeling right now you can change. You just need to put your mind in gear, go out and get it. Don't listen to those who tell you that you are a needle in a haystack out there, stuff them, 1 is better than nothing. Just go and fight for what you want and believe me you can get it.

Of course things will change with time, aswell as age. That happens with everything in life. It's called evolution and in reality has been with all of us from day 1. Hell, I can't see how music is losing it's touch. Modern music is still so young, even though we have been using technology for which feels like an eternity.

Create new styles, never heard of before. Create new sounds which turn heads. Experiment, and most of all never lose participation in this industry. Who cares what others want, just have fun - that is exactly what it is all about. When I think of an art, (music) I don't always think of what other people like, or how they would like it, I think of how it sounds good to me. If it sounds good to me, then it's good.

exz0

[dhilsabeck]

It's all so damn fake, fickle, and soul-less...

I'm sorry you feel this way about music.

my apololgies for sounding condescending, but i firmly believe that there is a whole lot of innovative stuff coming out right now and to me the future looks very promising.

For example, you should really check out "The Return of Dr. Octagon" and "Black Holes and Revelations" by Muse (both relased within the last 2 months i think). Both are really dark and bizarre and creative and refreshing in their own regard.

Those two are only the tip of the iceberg. we've entered a technological renaissance thats going to reward people for their creativity and ingenuity. it's inevitable that there will be more beauty to come...

my best advice would be to channel your cynicism into your music and stop taking everything so seriously (and you should really listen to those albums...).

cheers,
drew

[pulsoc]

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum.

[Martyn]

It's all so damn fake, fickle, and soul-less...

I felt excactly like you about a year ago, I still do when those words are applied to the every day, designer-orientated state of the western "cool and trendy" wank that I have to see/experience/interact with on a day to day basis. It absolutely makes me want to puke most days. I felt the same way about music too, particularly British radio, playing the same old shite every day for months on end. That changed when somebody turned me on to Last FM and Pandora, the ability to search for what I wanted to listen to, and stumble over what other like minded listeners had recommended, was like somebody opening the curtains to reveal bright sunshine!

There is some GREAT music being made around the world, stop listening to whatever is turning you off and use another source for inspiration.

The fact that you find everything so shite at the moment is simply YOU being generally RIGHT! Its nothing but a calling to your own heart to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! Stop emulating and start innovating. Try to find some new music that might inspire you, and your creative juices will soon start to flow again.

Give Last FM a try, I just keep on finding totally new music that I could never have found any other way.

http://www.last.fm/

Best of luck

M

[kennerb]

I think music doesn't have a thing to do with what you are talking about. This sort of thing exists in any realm where something is produced. It sounds more like it has to do with your frustrations of the ego of yourself and others. That is frustrating. Music exists seperate of that ego. It seems all great art and works of artists lose their edge once the ego overtakes the passion.

Of course it's a fine balancing act as it takes an ego to push oneself to make something to be proud of.

Maybe you should step out of your normal pattern and find some music that you haven't listened to before.

A lot of gospel, old folk, and ritualistic music appeals to me for the reason that it is made for celebration and community rather than a statement made by an individual. That always confirms musics true function.