Music

I love music, but I just don't approach it like most people. I really can't explain it, but I appreciate it at face value. I don't listen to, or even sometimes understand, the lyrics as words. I don't really listen to what the song has to "say". I simply hear the vocals as another instrument. Mix of horn and percussion.

That is to say I most likely don't know the words to a song I love, or even what they are saying, but I still love the song. The conviction in the lyric and the delivery are what I enjoy.

I have to think a lot of that is simply due to poor hearing. I seriously can't hear 99% of what any artist says.

Exceptions to this are forms of heavy political artists. Hip-hop or rap in particular. For the most part I can hear every word and understand what they are attempting to say. I tend to like this type of work not for the message, but for the raw energy it taps into.

Rage Against the Machine is a prime example for me. They had the ability to tap into the primal energy of aggression, hate, conviction, dedication, hard-work, passion, etc. within me. I call that pool of emotion "Young Man's Energy" mainly because that pool isn't as deep as you get older.

Everyone has that kind of music. It's the stuff that you put in and crank on the Friday night in a car on your way out to a great party, or get together.

For me it's the heavy stuff. In that collection would be Rage, Eminem, Metallica, The Who, Green Day, Van Halen (old not 'new'), No Doubt, Led Zeppelin, White Stripes, etc. Kind of a strange mix, but remember....I don't really listen to what they are trying to say, or the image, coolness, etc....just the actual music notes....

Recently aham turned me on to the flobots. Rather he made me aware of their single "handlebars". I'd like the youtube video, but meh. You have the internet....you do it. I loved the single instantly. I rarely fall for music like that.

....so based on a further conversation with aham I decided to get the album/cd/whatever it is these kids call the collection of music that is released at one time anymore.

First reaction....meh. I hate the idea of buying an album for 1 song. Just never really works out well although I have had great experience doing it before. I started realizing what was ind of turning me off about this one though....it's the lyrics. They're just too Young Guy moody, political, social, protesty, hip wannabe, blah for me. The message is OK for that kind of group, but they just do it so much more poorly than say a Rage Against the Machine.

Kind of in a rut music wise and feel like I am disconnected with a lot of the great stuff going on with the kids.