It's all in the beat

[trixtah]

Firstly, yay real internets and reynardo's organisating of it. Yippee.

Since I haven't burbled about music in ages, I'm going to bore you now with the fact that, IMO, the difference between one song being ok and another being great is often in something as elementary as its beat.

ironed_orchid made a comment a while back about music that makes you feel sexy. Not all of my favourite music is "sexy music", but plenty of it has an enhancing (if you like) effect, or is reminiscent. The other thing about much of my favourite music is that the beat is interesting, and is undoubtedly why I prefer breakbeat genres.

It's no secret I enjoy a lot of electronica, but when you mention that, the first thing people think of is house or trance. Me, I can't stand 95%+ of either of those genres, because they have incredibly boring 4/4 beats. So too with much rock music. The basic backbeat is, when done in the usual way, as boring as hell when done to excess (for me, about three tracks). Also add to that the prosaic bassline that a lot of rock or pop has (dum... dum.... or sometimes dum... de dum...) and I want to expire from ennui.

Unsurprisingly, the rock I like has good beats. While people go on about Jimi Hendrix being a fantastic guitarist (and sure, he was innovative in many respects), the reason why he shot to the stratosphere was in no small part due to Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding's efforts. Their backing was interesting and dynamic, and totally amped up the overall sound.



Check out that old rock standard, Hey Joe, as performed by the Jimi Hendrix Experience with that groovy backing:

... and then the tribute version featuring Slash playing lead guitar marvellously, but the rest of the sound being totally stultifying (I'm not even going to discuss Steve Winwoodward's singing). Obviously the last 35 or so years hasn't done Mitch Mitchell's drumming any favours.

I'll go on a bit more about what I think sexy and/or enjoyable music is (for me) anon.

Comments

[aquaeri.livejournal.com]

This is probably invoking stereotypes, but the tribute version beat is so white.

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

Hee, that's a good way of summarising it! Me, I thought the old boys' version had no jazz or funk.

(Not that beardy old white boys can't play wanky abstruse jazz either, but it can give a flavour to other music genres that I enjoy)

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

Woodward or Winwood? But I've gotta say, if that's Steve Winwood then my heart just broke. :(

Slash gets that song but he's on a short leash, and definitely not being given any help by the leaden rhythm section.

If it's interesting time signatures you're after, I don't suppose I have to tell you about trip hop or Tool...

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

Glargh, I knew it was Winwood - don't know why I had butter-fingers there.

Nope, you don't need to tell me about trip hop - some of that is going to in my sexay music post. :-) As for Tool, I'm afraid they're a bit too heavy-metal power-chordy and generic shouty singing for my usual taste - I don't mind some of their tracks, like Lateralus, but I suspect that's because there's some interesting dynamics (quiet-loud) going on during the track. I get a bit, hm, tired by relentless heavy metal (as I do with very heavy and fast dnb).