Thought for the Day

Too true.
I have a live set from one of my favorite "electronic" acts... from Glastonbury '05... crap recording of an incredible set. I love listening to that. It puts me right there with the crowd for what had to be one of the better events I didn't get to attend.

- zevo

ORIGINAL: foxwolfen

Too true for some of the time maybe.

But, sometimes too it is also true that a great recording of mediocre music is better than a bad recording of great music (of which I have both and listen to the great recording far more often than the bad ones).

Besides, is it not perhaps counterproductive to say its acceptable to have a bad recording if the song is good? You know, this being a music recording and production site and all? Is not a "good recording" the whole reason we are all here? I'm just sayin...

Categorically, no. I would far rather listen to a scratchy old Howlin' Wolf, Leadbelly or Woody Guthrie song than a pristine Coldplay, Keane or Oasis CD.

ORIGINAL: bitflipper

Read in a letter to the editor in the current Tape-Op, and worth repeating, maybe even sig-worthy:

"A bad recording of good music is still better than a good recording of bad music."

Sort of

I own King Crimson's Earthbound. It is vintage 1972 live recording that was done on an ampex 2 track cassette. The musicianship is outstanding. It just sounds like it is being played through one of those speakers at one of the knock-off versions of a Dairy Queen - like a Dairy Princess or something - where weather has more than taken its toll on the speaker so that it perfectly replicates the fidelity of holding a piece of paper up to your mouth while you try to talk.

But there is a great version of 21st Century Schizoid Man - performance wise. Ditto on Groon. But unlistenable.

I happen to be a fan of quality recordings. It disgusts me when a producer destroys an excellent performance by forcing his own particular formula on it (e.g. Rick Ruben, one-man wrecking crew).

But there are still great records I love to listen to that have obvious, sometimes annoying technical flaws. OTOH, I really don't care if the latest Britney Spears record is technically flawless, I'm still not interested.

I would personally rephrase it as "an acceptable recording of good music is better than any highly-polished turd".

This is absolutely a trueism.


Once we hear something good our ears hone right in on it and all the well produced schlock in the world can't mimic it. Fortunately there is now a lot more good music available (internet radio) and we don't have to 'cultivate' another generation on that schlock.

"A bad recording of good music is still better than a good recording of bad music."

yes it is true but it could be a reletive subject i guess.

both the performance and the recordings are blended together.
when the two are seperated in "terms" it sort of disasociates one
from the other. bad recordings of bad music is what takes the cake.

good recordings of a good performance is remarkable. is there
such a thing as a good recording of bad music? if it stinks it stinks.
is there such a thing as a bad recording of good music? if the
music is good then its good.

i agree!. im just having fun with the subject

jimmy

ORIGINAL: auto_da_fe

I am still always amazed by all those late 50's early 60's jazz recordings (Miles (Kind of Blue) and Coltraine (Blue Train, etc.)

No comping, no over dubbing. Performances are superb and recording is superb. I do not know if they will ever be touched for that one-two.

I know I get tired of all these recording snobs going back to Jazz recordings as the gold standard, but really they are.

JR

That I agree with too, and is actually a good illustration of my point.

I do not like the vast majority of Jazz Music. But I own some simply because it sounds so fantastic (Verve was an outstanding label). The songs, hate em, the sound... sublime.

But I am an audiophile. I love the sound of sound. So to me, a bad recording is a bad recording and there is no excuse for it unless its a garage band demo tape (The Beatles "Live at Hollywood Bowl" can be forgiven. I own it but it is not listenable, same with Yes Shows - has some of my favorite songs and performances on it... but I can't listen to it).

is there such a thing as a good recording of bad music?

Prolly. Just as there are great perfomances by actors in lousy movies. George Cloony in that "divorce" movie produced by the Coen Brothers.

ORIGINAL: tarsier

How would you classify Metal Machine Music?

space_cowboy's obsession.

It is a very good recording of very bad noise. I encourage all to try to listen.

Then again, I have a bunch of Cage and others of the musique concrete genre. I am not sure they are much more melodic, but not the same level of cacophony.