A Collective Musical Manifesto
 

Post pithy pronouncements that concisely convey your aural aesthetics, convictions, attitudes, doctrines, etc. With a heavy emphasis on ROCK music, whatever that means. I'll start.

Rhythm and Beat are very different things. Rhythm is alive and organic. Beat is dissonance that demands its implication be fulfilled. In other words: your drummer is a scaffold that holds up your musical architecture. Scaffolds eventually need to be removed! Dumb drums are a crutch that keeps rock music in the special olympics.

In ROCK music, systematic harmony is ultimately superfluous. So is tonality.

Think VERY VERY hard before putting any saxophone or brass in your rock music. Then, after giving it careful consideration, don't do it.

For the love of God, if you have a bass player, let him or her have an independent line. Outer-voice conterpoint matters in ALL music.

Many things should be used in moderation. Two examples: hand claps and screaming.

YES!

I love a good handclap
and a bass has to sometimes hold down the bottom end. it cannot be counterpoint all the time, plus it takes a proficient player to compose proper counterpoint.

More anti-guitarist sentiment. More arpeggios. Less people making music because they want to, more people making music in spite of the fact they feel they shouldn't.

Edit: More listening to the Fall and less people playing as a result of such.

you're eerily reminding me of robert bresson's "notes on the cinematographer". an excellent book. i hope youre not just wasting these on the internet but collect them somewhere.

Oh, here's one...
Remember:
Just because your music is abstract, nonlinear or purposely untutored in nature, this does not mean you are immune to criticism or that your critics "just don't get it." Experimental/improvisational music can be great, but it can be really really bad as well.

Personally, I would condense this to: If you think you're experimental - you're not. You're actually shit. Give up. Preferably, die.

Comedy music is not acceptable. For any reasons. Ever. Ever. EVER.

Additionally - there is lots of music. Your music will never be any good. Why not never touch an instrument or insult the world with your horrific emmisions? Do so. And die.

This includes laptops.

ROCK music must first and foremost convey emotion. If you are performing and it is obvious you are not having fun, whether due to the intricacy of your music, or whatever, then your audience is not going to have fun either. Play music you ENJOY. play music you FEEL. Your audience will see that and enjoy it all the more.

dead milkmen 4-ever

some early punk bands such as The Vandals (and even the Dead Milkmen) were able to pull that off!



I'm not sure that I've ever agreed SO much with something posted on a message board. damn good call.


all I have to add to this thread:

when in doubt, use more cowbell.

I like the way you think!

I hope to god this is sarcasm.
I swear I can feel IQ points leaving my brain when I hear cowbell in a rock song.

Don't Fear The Reaper!!!