Here’s another interesting quote from Brian Eno‘s interview with The Guardian
Records were just a little bubble through time and those who made a living from them for a while were lucky. There is no reason why anyone should have made so much money from selling records except that everything was right for this period of time.
The record age was just a blip.
t was a bit like if you had a source of whale blubber in the 1840s and it could be used as fuel. Before gas came along, if you traded in whale blubber, you were the richest man on Earth. Then gas came along and you’d be stuck with your whale blubber. Sorry mate – history’s moving along.
Recorded music equals whale blubber. Eventually, something else will replace it.
Is recorded music whale blubber?
I think this guy is very short sighted and has no idea what he's really saying…
When it comes to recorded music in this day and age I totally agree. I mean; look at your average group of "musicians" who will easily spend 2 months (if not longer) in the studio to make a recording. Then added to all the effects, mastering and filtering you end up with a recording which is.. Yeah, perhaps whale blubber. What you hear on the recording doesn't match with what they manage to perform on stage.
But in the record age it was a totally different issue. The average band didn't spend months in a studio, they spend months getting their act together. And once that was done they went for a studio session to record their performance. Nothing more, and nothing less. What you heard on record was what you got on stage. Yes, people made money from it. Some people made a lot of money, but that wasn't so much because of "recorded music". It was because they managed to get the right group to make a recording using their studio.
CDs, MP3s, LPs etc. are whale blubber. The idea of being able to listen to a carefully crafted musical creation (the recording process) of your choosing anytime you want (the recoded music) is just too good. I don't think it's whale blubber.
Here's an analogy:
Books, papyrus, parchment, etc. might be whale blubber, but the idea of a carefully crafted articulated creation (the writing process) of your choosing anytime you want (the written word) is not.
I love this quote. Not necessarily because I hate recorded music, but because I think it is more general than that: Anything could be whale blubber. Don't imagine you're living in the best of all possible worlds with the best of all possible technologies, because you are certainly not. Anything you use daily could be whale blubber.
I love this quote. Not necessarily because I hate recorded music, but because I think it is more general than that: Anything could be whale blubber. Don't imagine you're living in the best of all possible worlds with the best of all possible technologies, because you are certainly not. Anything you use daily could be whale blubber.
The ‘Blip” that just happened to make him a millionaire!?
Eno’s opinion is as irrelevant and hypocritical as usual. Keep on blubbering…
Sometimes Eno is a cheeky prankster and subject to hyperbole, but he's not only prone to being quotable, but very thoughtful… and there's truth in what he's saying. The evidence is the presence of the present. His observations may even grow progressively true as time rushes on — you know what they say about hindsight. I'm looking forward to watching his full BBC Arena appearance.
Sometimes Eno is a cheeky prankster and subject to hyperbole, but he's not only prone to being quotable, but very thoughtful… and there's truth in what he's saying. The evidence is the presence of the present. His observations may even grow progressively true as time rushes on — you know what they say about hindsight. I'm looking forward to watching his full BBC Arena appearance.
I think this guy is very short sighted and has no idea what he's really saying…
When it comes to recorded music in this day and age I totally agree. I mean; look at your average group of "musicians" who will easily spend 2 months (if not longer) in the studio to make a recording. Then added to all the effects, mastering and filtering you end up with a recording which is.. Yeah, perhaps whale blubber. What you hear on the recording doesn't match with what they manage to perform on stage.
But in the record age it was a totally different issue. The average band didn't spend months in a studio, they spend months getting their act together. And once that was done they went for a studio session to record their performance. Nothing more, and nothing less. What you heard on record was what you got on stage. Yes, people made money from it. Some people made a lot of money, but that wasn't so much because of "recorded music". It was because they managed to get the right group to make a recording using their studio.
I think this guy is very short sighted and has no idea what he's really saying…
When it comes to recorded music in this day and age I totally agree. I mean; look at your average group of "musicians" who will easily spend 2 months (if not longer) in the studio to make a recording. Then added to all the effects, mastering and filtering you end up with a recording which is.. Yeah, perhaps whale blubber. What you hear on the recording doesn't match with what they manage to perform on stage.
But in the record age it was a totally different issue. The average band didn't spend months in a studio, they spend months getting their act together. And once that was done they went for a studio session to record their performance. Nothing more, and nothing less. What you heard on record was what you got on stage. Yes, people made money from it. Some people made a lot of money, but that wasn't so much because of "recorded music". It was because they managed to get the right group to make a recording using their studio.
Eno reportedly produced 25 of the top 100 albums of the 70's, and has had a pretty good track record since, too.
Which makes his comments worth some consideration…..
Hmmm. For someone who made his career on the "engineered" album, compiled from loads of source recordings and effects he's got a lot of attitude. Anyway, his statement here is pretty banal…I guess he never heard the progress vs the Buggy Whip maker. That homily has been around for decades.
His argument really boils down to the performance vs written music argument which has been going on forever. Nothing new here…which is more "musical"…pure improvisation or the composer who sits for a year writing a great symphony. Of course they are both valid.
Anyway these comparisons are pretty vapid and have been hashed out a million times over. I guess what he's really worried about is his own validity. His moved from musician/composer to pundit knowing that punditry always earns more than actual creativity.
Hmmm. For someone who made his career on the "engineered" album, compiled from loads of source recordings and effects he's got a lot of attitude. Anyway, his statement here is pretty banal…I guess he never heard the progress vs the Buggy Whip maker. That homily has been around for decades.
His argument really boils down to the performance vs written music argument which has been going on forever. Nothing new here…which is more "musical"…pure improvisation or the composer who sits for a year writing a great symphony. Of course they are both valid.
Anyway these comparisons are pretty vapid and have been hashed out a million times over. I guess what he's really worried about is his own validity. His moved from musician/composer to pundit knowing that punditry always earns more than actual creativity.
CDs, MP3s, LPs etc. are whale blubber. The idea of being able to listen to a carefully crafted musical creation (the recording process) of your choosing anytime you want (the recoded music) is just too good. I don't think it's whale blubber.
Here's an analogy:
Books, papyrus, parchment, etc. might be whale blubber, but the idea of a carefully crafted articulated creation (the writing process) of your choosing anytime you want (the written word) is not.
CDs, MP3s, LPs etc. are whale blubber. The idea of being able to listen to a carefully crafted musical creation (the recording process) of your choosing anytime you want (the recoded music) is just too good. I don't think it's whale blubber.
Here's an analogy:
Books, papyrus, parchment, etc. might be whale blubber, but the idea of a carefully crafted articulated creation (the writing process) of your choosing anytime you want (the written word) is not.
the last two comments totally MISS the point he is stating. mr. eno is entirely correct, i think he is saying the amount of money made by executives that more than likely knew nothing about music was completely over the top. and the system (monopoly) they set up to, record, market and distribute artist cd's is on its way out. thank god.
the last two comments totally MISS the point he is stating. mr. eno is entirely correct, i think he is saying the amount of money made by executives that more than likely knew nothing about music was completely over the top. and the system (monopoly) they set up to, record, market and distribute artist cd's is on its way out. thank god.
i'm with you on that, GODvin. I guess I was trying to defuse the headline of the post.
i'm with you on that, GODvin. I guess I was trying to defuse the headline of the post.
The guy curates art shows, produces some of the biggest bands, was an innovator in ambient music when no one else knew what it was and he's continually experimenting with new ideas and methods. And you say he's not creative???
The guy curates art shows, produces some of the biggest bands, was an innovator in ambient music when no one else knew what it was and he's continually experimenting with new ideas and methods. And you say he's not creative???
I'm wondering why my comment was 'deleted by the administrator' before it was even posted?
I'm wondering why my comment was 'deleted by the administrator' before it was even posted?
Brian Eno Night on BBC4 tonight (22/01/2010)
Gordon
Not sure what was in your comment, but certain words trigger the automatic "comment nuke" function, because spam is such a major problem with comments.
I "whitelisted" you, so this shouldn't happen again.
Unless you post comments about xanax, valium, incest, etc…..
Gordon
Not sure what was in your comment, but certain words trigger the automatic "comment nuke" function, because spam is such a major problem with comments.
I "whitelisted" you, so this shouldn't happen again.
Unless you post comments about xanax, valium, incest, etc…..
Eno reportedly produced 25 of the top 100 albums of the 70's, and has had a pretty good track record since, too.
Which makes his comments worth some consideration…..
Eno reportedly produced 25 of the top 100 albums of the 70's, and has had a pretty good track record since, too.
Which makes his comments worth some consideration…..
He's not debatin the artistic values in either. He's debating to what extent each can be sold, for money.
He's not debatin the artistic values in either. He's debating to what extent each can be sold, for money.
He's not debatin the artistic values in either. He's debating to what extent each can be sold, for money.
The criticisms and / or dismissals of Eno's methods and views here really underscores for me the idea that no matter what one's achievements, one can never be all things to all people. For me, he's the most interesting and engaging guy working in music and has played a key role in some of my favourite music, so he gets kudos both for his thinking and his doing.
The criticisms and / or dismissals of Eno's methods and views here really underscores for me the idea that no matter what one's achievements, one can never be all things to all people. For me, he's the most interesting and engaging guy working in music and has played a key role in some of my favourite music, so he gets kudos both for his thinking and his doing.
I think the comments reflect the mental shortcomings of egobased musical juggernauts faced with the almost certain disappointment that not only will they never make their first million slinging vinyl product, neither will they go down in history as any sort of a footnote.
"Musicians" knocking Eno's sage brilliance? Light years from a clue.
I think the comments reflect the mental shortcomings of egobased musical juggernauts faced with the almost certain disappointment that not only will they never make their first million slinging vinyl product, neither will they go down in history as any sort of a footnote.
"Musicians" knocking Eno's sage brilliance? Light years from a clue.
I think the comments reflect the mental shortcomings of egobased musical juggernauts faced with the almost certain disappointment that not only will they never make their first million slinging vinyl product, neither will they go down in history as any sort of a footnote.
"Musicians" knocking Eno's sage brilliance? Light years from a clue.