jssmith

Responses from jssmith

Is Old Music Killing New Music?
@aewarren  New music is killing new music. My first thought too.  The monotony. The simplicity. The same three chords over and over again. The way almost all cars look the same because of aerodynamics for gas mileage regulations, and SUVs and... 
To Buy or to DIY, here is my question
Have you built speakers before? I've done a lot of DIY, especially with wood, and including speakers and crossovers, and I'll tell you right now that it will always take more time than you think and be more expensive than you think. Especially if... 
Decisive moments your your audio journey
My first blind amp test in the 80's. At the time I was lusting after all the expensive stuff the magazines were pushing ... until it was proven without bias that I couldn't pick out any differences, much less the expensive amplifiers. Neither coul... 
A** Kicking, Rock and Roll!
What you want is a consistent driving amped-up atmosphere. Put it on and play it all the way through album. If it gives you the scrunched up nose like you smelled something bad, even better. So ... Metal with training wheels (very accessible): D... 
CD transport vs.streaming
@ghdprentice  Thanks. Yes… physically owning a disk… paying and storing these is on the way out. I have 2,000 vinyl albums and 2,000 CDs… takes up space and if you don’t steam, confines you to listen and re-listen repeatedly to the same thing… b... 
Your method for discovering great music.
I go to the main site for the genre I'm interested in. For instance, if it's metal I go to metalstorm.com and look at the New Releases and Upcoming Releases categories. You can usually find a site like this for each genre. You could even start at ... 
your first system-
A Technics SA-500, JVC QL-A2 turntable with Audio Technica cartridge, and 3D Acoustics sub/sat which was one of the first affordable sub/sat systems and had a very good review in Stereo Review. Speakers were $400. Receiver was about $275. I don't ... 
Is Rap a valid musical form?
Is there any rap that doesn't include some sort of vocal? I say vocal instead of words because I've heard of something called "mumble rap." Can "instrumental" rap exist?  
Is Rap a valid musical form?
@mglik  As said in my OP, Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a 🦋 Butterfly” is as sophisticated musically as any music I know. The musical themes evolve and develop including a brilliant rhythmic rap and sound effects that create “deep and broad emotiona... 
Is Rap a valid musical form?
@jonwatches1 Thanks for the response. Maybe you didn’t see a subsequent post. I dug a little further and I actually like a few songs I sampled from Flo Rida. They were musical, had instruments and some singing. Even one song from Nicki Minaj was... 
Is Rap a valid musical form?
After listening to several of the suggestions here and elsewhere, including Kayne West, Missy Elliot, Tyler the Creater, Snoop Dog, Tupac Shakur, Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida and others (I chose the best-selling names to see what's considered the cream-o... 
Is Rap a valid musical form?
@wongpd Not something I’d listen to, but much better. It seems my main problem is rap’s monotone talking. His singing isn’t impressive either. The chick on See You Again sounds decent. Get rid of the programmed synthetic bass, add some real or e... 
Audio Friends Don't Let Audio Friends ...
@chorus  I don't make that assumption. But I  suppose it depends on the person. I had one audiophile friend who was excited by the music with the equipment being a hobby. I had another who seemed like his equipment was his focus and the music was... 
Is Rap a valid musical form?
@jonwatches1  I gave All Falls Down a listen. My impression. OK, for a standard radio song, but still a monotonous four-chord progression. Now, I don't have a problem with some songs' musical simplicity. The Stones made a long career out of it an... 
Is Rap a valid musical form?
Whatever people think is music is music. But to me, rap is just a bunch of bad poetry with nothing of what I'd personally call music backing it. I sampled that Kendrick Lamar. Yep, same old monotonous programmed bass lines and percussion, unimagi...