Posts tagged: brian eno
So, this week Brian Eno creeped up as my fifth most-played artist on Last.fm. I had no idea I listened to him so much. I guess it was a kind of subtle, gradual promotion on the ladder of my most played artist. Which is funny, because that sort of subtle, gradual change is exactly what happened with his music and I. I heard Ambient 1 and Discreet Music, and didn’t really get anything out of it. But the more I listened to it, the more I liked it and wanted to seek out his other work. Very glad I did.
Also, why don’t more people use typewriters as percussion instruments?
When I grow up and own my own house, I want it to have this one room in the shape of a dome. I don’t want there to be any windows or lights in this dome, only two switches: one of them will turn on this LCD screen that takes over the entire ceiling. The only thing that this screen can project is the album cover for Brian Eno’s Discreet Music. The other switch, when turned on, will play Brian Eno’s Discreet Music. The only thing I want in this room is a mattress that I can lie on while listening to Eno in the dark.
That is all.
I’m so fascinated by album covers. It’s weird, I’m not as interested in art and design as I should be, just album covers. I would probably buy a Nickelback album if it had great artwork.
Once a month, I try to go to a record store and look for an interesting album I’ve never heard of, judging it entirely on the coverwork. I’ve been doing this for a while, and it has proven extremely effective. I’ve actually found some of my favourite bands this way:
Sonic Youth (Goo)
Nick Drake (Pink Moon)
Talking Heads (Little Creatures)
And, probably my favourite, the one above, Brian Eno’s Another Green World.
In a way making music is constructing machines that, when successful, dredge up emotions- in us and in the listener. For some, this fact is, it seems, repulsive, a trick, a betrayal and deception. Many prefer to see music as an “expression” of emotion rather than a generator of it. This queasiness is connected with the idea of authenticity as well- for example, that musicians who “appear” down-home must be more real. It’s disillusioning to find out that rock and roll is an act and no regular folk in Nashville really wear hats.
STORY TIME:
Last week, I was at Chapters looking for a book, when I heard this song come on the speakers. I asked the cashier what the song was called, and she shrugged, saying there was no way for her to find out (I am still convinced she was lying and just lazy).
Here’s where the story gets embarrassing:
I then went around the store, asking people if they had an iPhone. Most people said no, even though I’m sure they did and were just really weirded out. Finally, after asking nearly a dozen people, one person admitted to having one, and I checked to see if they had that app Shazam. Luckily they did, and I found out what song was playing.
I do not regret it.
King’s Lead Hat is an anagram for Talking Heads.
That alone is a good enough reason for me to post this.
The other day* a teacher at my school (who doesn’t teach me), came up to me and started talking about a bunch of really cool bands from the 70’s. One of them being this great band that I’ve never heard of before. This is a cover of a Brian Eno song, and it is great.
*And by other day, I mean over two weeks ago.
Today didn’t turn out anything like I was expecting it to. I was so excited for the smallest conversations I thought I was going to have with certain people today, but I started losing my voice, which snapped me back to my old reserved self.
Where was I going with this, again?
I thought it would be fitting to post one of my favourite instrumental tracks, considering I can hardly talk right now (but on the plus side, my cold does make me sound more like Tom Waits)
Now I am going to rest and listen to Another Green World while wallowing in my own self-pity.
