wisdom from the maestro

OK, he's a really good drummer and did a lot of stuff with Frank Zappa, but sheesh. By the way, I play several instruments and think many of the records on which Signor Colaiuta plays are absolute dreck -- "Y Kant Tori Read"? The soundtrack for "Gigli"?

I presume he merely expects a paycheck for the mortgage.

I should add this quote:

"Sting writes great songs in an integer way and at the same time he manages to sell millions of records. Most journalists hate that, that's why they call him an old fart.'

He is possibly the greatest of all time, according to popular opinion amongst that odd community of the drumming world. The guy can achieve what others cannot even conceive.

>I took that quote out of context. It is just that I wholeheartedly agree with his assessment of "critics".

I get it. Hope others will as well. Forget the source of the quote and focus on the message.

What was that great Zappa quote that pertained to this topic? I cannot recall right now and am too lazy to look it up.

hee hee. Marissa Marchant to thread!

The message is an unstated implication that the only thing which can emotionally move someone as trained as they are is something similarly trained and schooled -- meaning that someone who likes something which Coliuata finds comes from someone who 'can't play' apparently doesn't have valid feelings about that music. This is bullshit and if you believe it, stew in the hell you find yourself in.

I mean, there just aren't a lot of Robert Palmers in the current critical sphere, far as I can tell. Folks that have really done the homework. Writers that, when you finish reading the piece, you think "man, I just learned something fantastic about the way this piece of music works!" MOst published weekly and daily 'music critics' (bit of a misnomer) are really just the usual english major types turning their attention to pop culture, post-graduation. It's either write about the foibles of Liz Phair for the local paper or maybe work a desk at People magazine or something. Again, not saying that's a good or bad thing - there is good and bad in the whole spectrum of rock-write - but the Vin-meister isn't completely off the mark. Christ, it's just the old Joe Carducci thing again. But lately - especially as I see many of these year-end lists - I've been growing more and more sympathetic to that viewpoint.

Where both of them (who I agree are tres spiff as writers) would confound Colaiuta is in the fact they could talk about music he would regard as 'bad' with terms of heady praise and could probably both easily dissect something he has some sort of deep regard for 'instrumentally speaking' or something in ways that would leave him crying. Which I sorta wish both of them would do, simultaneously, to a shocked audience of Guitar Player readers.

So what he's saying is that music journalists, like 90% of music fans, are NOT in fact music virtuosos?! Well I never. *drops monicle in tea*

I agree that the opinion sounds elitist and thoroughly off base if what is expressed is that only high quality music can be made by good musicians. This is hardly true in many cases.
Though perhaps this guy is somewhat correct in some confounded way. How else can one explain all the hype over these derivative groups like The Strokes, White Stripes and their like?

1. Jack White is one of the best technical guitarists in current rock n roll today.
2. His song writing ability, in my opinion, is definitely very good.
3. He writes catchy pop songs.

I think the hype has little to do with music critics being confused by complicated/technical/whatever the fuck douche bags like Vincent Colaiuta consider their music, which for one, wouldn't explain the fact that bands with technical ability are usually the ones who DO get good reviews, and more with the fact that they're just looking for a new trend to jump on. Why that trend? Because the people playing the music are young and good looking and have "attitude."

How is this ironic?

And David Allen OTM, too (I only just noticed the potentially confusing 2X David A.s), particularly with this: So what he's saying is that music journalists, like 90% of music fans, are NOT in fact music virtuosos?!

Um, plus... I just answered an e-mail this week, in which I was taken to task for mishearing an instrument or two, and attributing the sounds erroneously. I apologized to the fan, and noted that, in our enthusiasm for music, we music writers occasionally (okay, I only spoke for myself) prioritize emotion and descriptive language over the technical nuts-and-bolts. It's no excuse, but there are only so many hours in a day, days in a week, etc. The point is to express something personal that somehow resonates universally (haha, it sounds so easy, doesn't it?), and however well-versed we are in technical know-how, ultimately, it may not help us to achieve that (those) most important goal(s).