I hate music

No, not music in general.  You all know me better than that.  I hate how we have to work to find different, unique, quality music.  Sure, there are talented musicians out there.  Sure, there are good songwriters that we hear from.  But even when they come together, at best you are going to get a formulaic version of their style made for a hit, with one of a handful of subjects that make up EVERY top 40 song out there.

Partying

Girls

Breakups

Love

Money

Cars 

etc.

Not that there's anything wrong with this.  I know that certain formulas work, that's why they are used so much.  What I hate is, and what I'm realizing now, is I don't have the time to go out and find the other stuff I might want to listen to.  And new developments in the way we get our music just make it worse.

More and more, we are getting our music online.  That means less time spent listening to the other 12 songs from an album and more on the 2 that you got introduced to by the media.  That means you don't hear the unique, sometimes uncomfortable songs that will give you chills the first time you REALLY stop to listen to them.  And they don't even have to be the best quality tracks to get in your head, if such a band is even lucky enough to get a push from a label with the clout to get them into the mainstream media. 

Million Dollar Baby tackles the issue of Euthanasia and wins all kinds of awards.  More specifically taking the issue into your own hands and the difficulty of making that decision.  The movie industry supports exploring issues in their medium.  Music, pushes it aside, as it isn't profitable.  Part of that is our fault for what we buy, but I would love to have an outlet to get easier quicker access than listening to an endless supply of crap to find a gem. 

The song that got me thinking about this is a perfect example which parallel's the issue at the end of Clint Eastwood's film.  Stereomud who had a couple minor hits and whom I have never heard anyone reference in YEARS, had a song buried in their first major album called Old Man.  The music wasn't particularly technical, in fact the whole album at first glance is just another nu-metal rock in the pile.  But, this was just one of several songs they produced where the songs didn't have any power until you listened to the lyrics.  The same can be said for Hurt today, which is why I think I'm such a fan of both, although Hurt is musically and vocally spectacular in addition to having unique lyrical topics.  

Stereomud - Old Man

never before would he even thought it
take her life away
nothing could give her peace but leaving
careful what you say
he sees the pain
that no one else is seeing
he feels the pain
that no one else is feeling

now you've gone past the point
you can't take
now you've gone past the point
you can't stop all the suffering
stop all the pain

(old man stop the pain
now your life is stained) x2

had it been the other way around
there's nothing I would change here
for my sake, for her sake
hey, it's not a life I'm ending
hold on to nothing
i'll set you free

go to sleep softly and know this
i'm gonna take away the only thing you have left
because you can't speak to ask
i will send you on your way

it's the way it's gotta be
to set her free
take another shot old man
it's the way it's gotta be
you know what you are ending

Another interesting track from the album is Perfect Self, the title track actually.

If any of this had made a band or song spring to mind, by all means please share... I feel like I haven't heard anything of any substance musically in a long time.  And I need somewhere new to look.

Newest Cult Member

I've joined the cult, I'm one of the sheep, I just finished my kool-aid... I joined Twitter.

Sorry to disappoint you all...

http://www.twitter.com/clayeth

Just when you were totally disgusted with sports and athletes . . .

I know some of you despise sports right now.  Maybe you never were a fan, maybe you are just sick of the news of idiot athletes.  But just when I'd had enough of the steroids, steroid coverups, government wasting of assets on sports issues, legal accusations, idiotic self-shootings, suspensions, and just general worthless nature of our current athletes, I read a story that shocked me for a different reason.

University of Kentucky's Patrick Patterson, a big guy who doesn't suck, the most rare find for all NBA teams, has chosen NOT to enter the NBA draft after his Sophomore season at UK.  But that's not the surprising part.  So, what is it?  One of Patterson's reasons for returning to UK, is that “I have the chance to graduate in three years, which is important to me and my family,”  . . .  What?  I expected the other answers, likes the new coach, thinks he can improve his game and improve his chances for success in the NBA.  But one of his main reasons is not only graduating, but graduating in three years.  Something that seems to take most students, including myself, five years WITHOUT the commitments associated with playing for one of the most demanding college basketball teams in the country.  

Of course, that information was just a footnote, and will never be widely reported.  Good news is boring, it's the norm, it happens all the time.  Unfortunately, people won't stop talking about all the bad stuff.  I'm here for my life, to improve it and myself, to help those close to me, to be happy.  So, instead of listening to all the people talking about how much their life, job, boyfriend/girlfriend, country, economy, etc. suck; I'm going to continue focusing on what matters to me and cheering for a future fellow UK alum who obviously is more focused than myself and more mature than the man who coached him the last two years.  So, don't be surprised when I'm not concerned, or even care the next time that the next Swine Flu story dominates the news talking about the 20 people who died from it, not the thousands that got over it, or the tens of thousands that were never even diagnosed.  If you don't agree with me, go ahead and read your tabloids and watch the nightly news... just don't tell me about it.

My thoughts

Welcome, this is going to be a place for my thoughts.  Whatever crosses my mind.  I've never used the blogging features on Myspace much, but with a dedicated space of my own, I plan to keep this regular, so visit often.