@chasingbeemo Hello! Thank you
I have heard a good bit of Ryoji Ikeda's work and I really loved it, though I have not heard the Test Pattern work yet. You are correct though, there are tons of similarities between the two.
Generally, there are a lot of similarities between the Onkyo scene and Microsound, Glitch, and Lowercase. They often overlap with each other, which is cool to see. All genres that I love, though Onkyo is the only one I have taken a true personal connection to
@chasingbeemo Also, the exhibitions and videos which come out of Ryoji Ikeda's work are absolutely incredible. I desperately hope to be able to visit one some day!
Unfortunately the Onkyo scene doesn't have very many exhibitions like this
“ Also - don't you dare compare this album to "modern" artists who sell their blank paintings for tens of millions of dollars. Practically no one in the Onkyo scene is making a living off of this work. ”
cause in my review, i NEVER talked about the financial side at all. I merely were comparing the two because in my OPINION this album is as meaningless as those.
Im sorry for the harrassment youve received for liking this album, but I think people are allowed to call this album pretenious because its subjective at the end of the day.
@riskr No, it isn't directed at you. It's directed to people who think the album is trying to "trick" them like those million-dollar paintings. I've seen that comparison made a hundred times at this point.
Pretentious has an objective definition, and the artists' intentions are well known to not match with that definition. If an artist creates something with a certain intention, that intention cannot be lost based on how you interpret the art as it was objectively present during the creation, even if you don't know it.
Although I get nothing out of it, I wouldn't ever call an album like "To Pimp A Butterfly" meaningless because I know the objective meaning that was put into it during its creation. Art can't be meaningless unless it is a complete cash grab - even then though, the meaning is to make money. Meaningless is rarely, if ever, a proper way to describe art.
@Ritual
Very much appreciate that. Sometimes I consider taking this down because I feel a lot of it comes off needlessly whiny, but I think it is important for it to stay up.
@calebmullings54
This comment really means a lot to me, I appreciate it greatly.
I'm proud of you for being able to break free of that cage some find themselves in at the beginning of their music exploration. It can be very difficult for one to finally get a sense of where their real musical interests and taste lie due to specific albums receiving such never-ending praise and immediate rebuttal to any contradictory opinions.
I am very glad of your presence on the site as well, you have been nothing but a great and kind person since you joined.
<3
I'm not familiar with the Onkyo scene at all but this is one of my favourite reviews on this site. You pointed out many misgivings I have towards online music discussion but also elucidated some complicated feelings I have about music and art in general. Your open-minded but educated approach to art is one I can only hope to strive for.
@Nufskin
Thank you very much.
I often come back to read this review to see whether I have anything else to add or adjust, but I think I've said nearly all I can on this topic. I find it amusing how you can observe me becoming more exasperated with every update, until the end when I'm quite defeated. Dealing with all these issues has put a permanent dent in my music exploration, however, I will never let something stop me. If anything it has actually given me more motivation to keep pushing through and learn as much as I possibly can.
I appreciate your words and open-mindedness. It can be quite difficult to find users on this site who properly understand nuances in music. :-)
I respect this review a lot and reading it just makes me more intrigued and interested for this despite not knowing what I'm getting into if I do ever try it out.
@shiraaaaaaa
Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it :-).
You are absolutely correct in your statement. I've found the reception of this album online (especially here) to be so very disappointing, and in some ways, surprising. I wouldn't have expected those who are so "open-minded" to completely shut out a style of music, refrain from doing any research, and then go on to make ridiculous accusatory claims about both the creators and those who enjoy the work. This was my reaction at the beginning. It's been well over a year now, and nothing has changed. I've seen this behavior in other areas as well.
Now I just try to ignore it and focus on those I can meaningfully communicate with.
@LeoRegistee
Thank you very much. I'm glad that this continues to get recognition and spark some discussion.
Maybe if I'm ever up for it I'll go through and rewrite some of it, as there is definitely a bit I would word better.
@chaz_gaming
This is absolutely pure ignorance in the music community, but it's even worse than that. It's completely offensive and a total disregard that other cultures and contexts exist that aren't what the average western music listener is used to. I personally don't believe the tinnitus comparison to be bad since the high frequencies are my favorite part of the record - their meditative qualities are beautiful. This album doesn't have any shock value. Once again, that is just people doing no research on why this album exists. I’ve seen similar complaints of this album used against culturally important music, such as Hindustani Classical Music being “just a boring drone.” This disregard for other contexts and attempt to set rules onto art is especially apparent in fascism, and most obviously observable with the modern art movement.
"Your actual critiques of this album being so vague" ah, true, maybe I should write some single sentence reviews like you? "It's okay" is a great one. What more do you want, exactly? I’ve explained the reason this album exists, how it was made, why I enjoy it, and how its negative treatment represents something seriously wrong with the online music reviewing community. Research wouldn't help the album sound better (though it would certainly help most appreciate it more), but I don't care if people enjoy this (as I've said many times), it is just ignorant and would prevent them from making such ridiculous accusations about those who make and enjoy the music. It's absolutely insane that you would come after me when you know most other reviews of this are significantly more pretentious, calling this album "not music" or going after its creators.
@chaz_gaming
I would argue that doing research of music from other cultures is the least one can do. You already have an understanding of the context around western pop music since you live it, so why not have an understanding of the other music you listen to?
It can be surprising to other people, that is perfectly fine. What isn't fine is claiming it isn't music, that no one can truly enjoy it, that the artists are pretentious, etc. Baseless accusatory claims.
My man Tristan don't deserve nothing of this, really sucks how many people overreact on others tastes to the point of doing things such as massive harassment. Kinda sad this kind of people around in online music communities, but unfortunately it is what it is.
Even though I'm still in the discovery phase that surrounds this album, I find it incredible the way you describe your love for this album.
I really hope the situation has calmed down and you can have a better experience here at AOTY. That 100 of yours will always be in our hearts <3 (and in RYM, lol)
@criss
Thank you very much for your comment :-). I'm glad that you enjoy reading what I've wrote. It seems to have calmed down for now, which I am happy about. <3
Came here to say that the read explaining all of this was amazingly well written and a good explanation. Anyone who's ignorant to see the harrasment you deal with and how such negative, oddly written and very often baseless reception given to this album may affect an overall score or the artist's integrity is stupid. The fact people have yet to understand the reasoning behind wanting someone to actually listen and not insult the people who listen is surprising and utterly ridiculous to say the least. Gn!
Your PDF that you linked explained your thoughts incredibly well.
The people who are still going against you for enjoying music are such losers, and I would be surprised if they tried to go against what you said here, because it doesn't seem very arguable. Calling (pretty much) any album pretentious doesn't make any sense, and the people who give this album a 0 after listening for 5 seconds and harass its fans to this extent should take a good look at themselves and try to improve as a human instead of wasting their time arguing on this dumb website.
It's profoundly disturbing how people are still harassing you over this - genuine sign that lots of people join music circles with little regard for how one might appreciate the artistry in something, only the intent to bully dissenting opinions
Hi Tristan. I know we don't really talk much, but i am deeply sorry about the people attacking you and leaving hateful messages about this. I truly feel for you. people suck.
This is easily one of the best and most in depth write-ups on the site. It's crazy how much people hate you for liking what you like, amazing work on the review and it's commendable how much you've endured and moved past just because of something as simple as an opinion. Fantastic work <3
Wow, didn't know you were recieving so many threats and harassment over fucking music opinions... People are so dumb. Keep doing what you love and stay strong.
I'm so sorry people have been awful to you for having an opinion. Keep enjoying music and being you. Your positive review of Good Morning Good Night is actually what made me interested in giving it a listen. โค๏ธ
It sucks how much harassment you had to deal with for simply sharing your enjoyment of an album. Currently listening to some Onkyo and EAI to better understand the genre. โค๏ธ
No one should be treated like that just for an opinion about music. It's ridiculous how stupid some people are on sites like Twitter
We Love You Tristan โค๏ธ
Also, almost a year after my first listen, this is going from a 1/10 to a uhh idk a good score i like it