Hey, I like this place

[ZOMBIE USER 487]

Okay, so I linked over from the Newshounds main page, and read through your entire archive.

I like it.

Of course, I like any well-done comic with touches of social satire. It's also not everyday I come across a group of classical afficionados and baroque instrument lovers.

Anyway... Hi, I'm Darren, and I'm a musician, altough of a different type than most. And I think I'll stop there to keep this from sounding like a stupid newbie post.

[ZOMBIE USER 8454]

hello and good afternoon, welcome and thanks!
of course, hearing the pleasant appraisal is always fuel for quality, i think, so once again i'm grateful!

[Profdolchissimo]

I am very glad that Proko and I are not the only ones who post here. What kind of musician are you, Consl?

[ZOMBIE USER 487]

Well, I'm an unusual kind of musician. I love progressive rock, but I listen to just about everything out there, including some country, J-Pop/J-Rock (of all things), 80s technopop, classical of all varieties, new age/space music, and many forms of folk and classical from all over the world (this would include Saudi Arabia and India).

But there's just something about the classic synth rock from the 70s that keeps me coming back for more. And going to the roots of the form, we can move all the way back to the 50s and 60s and those huge music synthesizers and computers that Karlheinz Stockhausen made famous.

Yes, I have become a computer musician.

I can't really play an instrument. I have a small keyboard mastercontroller that I rarely use, and an acoustic guitar that I sometimes pick up. I do most everything exclusively on the computer, the way a digital artist would use Photoshop to create an image.

So here's a question. If I can create great (making a big assumption here) music, but can't play an instrument, am I a musician? Or would I be called something like a composer?

[ZOMBIE USER 8454]

a composer IS a musician, i would like to think. i'm sure you could get away with calling yourself either one.

Progressive rock! you know, i just bought a disc by Emerson Lake and Palmer last week, and i'm REALLY getting into the stuff! it's a real stretch for people like me who are still married to the Beatles, but their sound really freaks me out. yeah baby.

[ZOMBIE USER 487]

Hey, thanks. I guess I just needed to hear that from someone.

I currently have plans to release an album or something by the end of this year, but I'm rethinking my strategy now. If you think about it, using the net to release music almost makes the album concept obsolete.

Almost, that is. A CD release still has a few things up on mp3s, the main one being "guaranteed quality". Mp3s are a lossy format, after all. So my thought was to create a web application where people can choose what songs they want, put them in an order, and then send it in and have a customized CD made of my songs, which would be done from the pristine masters.

Also, my studio and web site, Studio::Consul (not up yet, I'm afraid), is going to follow a project-oriented structure, like what Japanese animation studios do. So, even if I can't do that web app I described, I can still play with a wide variety of styles and genres from project to project.

One of the side effects of the album-based system, is that bands are expected to keep the same style from album to album. I would like to break that pattern.

Boy, am I long-winded today.

[ZOMBIE USER 8454]

and now we know, the rest of the story.

[ZOMBIE USER 487]

Yeah, I know, I know... I'm sorry.

I get too excited sometimes.

[ZOMBIE USER 487]

Okay, so I clicked around the site some more, and I've come to three conclusions:

1) You are a very talented artist.
2) Caricatures are funny, classic, and time-honored.
3) I'm getting old.

Okay, so the last one is as a result of seeing your bio page. I was born in 1976. I'm ancient...

I think I need a hug...

[ZOMBIE USER 8454]

On 2002-04-19 10:58, Consul wrote:
Okay, so I clicked around the site some more, and I've come to three conclusions:

1) You are a very talented artist.
2) Caricatures are funny, classic, and time-honored.
3) I'm getting old.

Okay, so the last one is as a result of seeing your bio page. I was born in 1976. I'm ancient...

I think I need a hug...

heh.

1) thank you!
2) also thank you!
3) no you're not, silly. you're still not old enough to run for president, if i'm not mistaken.

seems like the year i was born was about when everything started to get really boring.
sometimes i really wish i were around in the 70's... *wistful sigh* back when bands made MUSIC, and TV was worth watching. wow. how is it possible that i have 70's nostalgia?

and, i'll give you a hug. if you buy me booze. (just kidding, mom.)

_________________
<a href="http://quidproquo.keenspace.com"><img src="http://www.unm.edu/~itogpity/qpq_link1.gif" border=0></a>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: PROKOFIEV2000 on 2002-04-19 12:31 ]</font>

[Profdolchissimo]

I miss the '70s too!!

[Profdolchissimo]

And I'm the same age as Brian! What's wrong with us, are we weirdos?

To answer my own question, I like to think that we are.

[ZOMBIE USER 8454]

i'm about as weird as this guy is BEARD.

<img src="http://www.stat.berkeley.edu/users/spector/beard.jpg">

he's REALLY beard.

[ZOMBIE USER 487]

Well, I was born in 1976, and I have 60s nostalgia. I love the old experimental psychadelia, and of course, prog rock, like I mentioned. So I guess I don't see your 70s nostalgia as weird.

In other news, I started working out on Monday, and boy, do I hurt.

[Profdolchissimo]

I have nostalgia for many different time periods as well! I can imagine being in Paris in 1750, drinking wine with the masters of the baroque era, being an abolitionist in 1800s America, seeing all the flappers of the roaring 20s, experiencing the joy of victory as WWII comes to a close, being totally immersed in the space race, traveling the country in a strange painted bus in the 60's, visiting Haight-Ashbury, and doing all those 60's things, and all the 70's stuff as well, protesting Vietnam, and being a high school student in the 80's. If there was a time to be a high-school student, it was the 80's, no question.

[Profdolchissimo]

I should be a history teacher! That would be fun!!

[Profdolchissimo]

In the past, this has been a very popular place to post stuff. Here I am, trying to keep it that way.


Rolls eyes at self, something I do quite often.

[ZOMBIE USER 487]

Well, this wasn't the most posted-to thread on the QPQ board, although it certainly did grow fast, mainly because of my big mouth.

So what should we talk about? I guess music is a safe subject around here.

Well, I finally received two CDs I ordered, and I realy like them both: "Ancient Afternoons" by Ezra Winston, and "De Luxe" by Harmonia. The first is really well done, solid prog rock. The second defies most description. It's kinda ambient, kinda rock, but very good.

[Profdolchissimo]

I am totally clueless about any music that is not rock or classical. What is "ambient"?

Danny

[ZOMBIE USER 487]

Ambient music is described by Brian Eno as music which can be listened to as easily as it can be ignored. This is as opposed to Muzak, which is basically just ignored.

The Harmonia disc falls somewhere in between ambient and rock, which I guess makes it kinda progressive. Nevertheless, it's a very good album.