What are you listening to at the present? (genres helpful)

[Forlorn Drifter]

Nirvana were influenced by everything, going by the way I hear it.

[Anapan]

Re: it's bad you know - I never would've guessed it's "The Engineer blow his whistle, the Fireman he ring his bell". Love that song!

I'm listening to Rushjet1's Megaman 2 remade. It's so good!

[dsheinem]

By skilled, I mean classically trained. Not that neither Picasso or Dylan were uneducated. Don't dump Talent with skill. I made it a point to separate the two.

Sorry, I still don't see how you are differentiating between the two...are you suggesting that musical skill is defined by one's ability to perform in classical modes of musical instruction/training? And talent is...what, exactly?

[Sano]

03 - Ultrabeat - Pretty Green Eyes

Complete Clubland - CD4

Eurodance/Trance

AMAZING collection! If you're a Eurodance and/or a Trance fan, get this set.

[Luke]

Sorry, I still don't see how you are differentiating between the two...are you suggesting that musical skill is defined by one's ability to perform in classical modes of musical instruction/training?

And talent is...what, exactly?

Pulled the words right out of my mouth. Musical skill comes from practice of the basics of classical music training, such as the Suzuki method. Skill can be achieved through work. Skill can be achieved with time.

Talent is..what? Exactly.

Talent is the "it" factor; you have it or you don't. I don't think you can learn talent as it is more like an undefined characteristic.

I feel like I'm starting to sound like Russel Brand.

Anyway, I think talent of itself is an art, in itself. There is no right nor wrong with "talent" as it is intrinsic. Talent is given, not achieved. It's that specialness that Mr. Rogers always spoke about and in some way defines us. I think Alton Brown is a skilled chef. I think Jacques Pepin has a talent for cooking.

[dsheinem]

Musical skill comes from practice of the basics of classical music training, such as the Suzuki method.

See, so here's where I disagree. I don't think you can limit one's musical "skill" to a proficiency with a specific set of established musical conventions. I think the Beastie Boys are skilled, but I think they don't know jack about the Suzuki method or have any kind of classical training. Their skills are ill, though. I think Corgan has great skill in creating compelling guitar effects and sounds, engaging riffs, and lyrics that are, when paired with certain sonic choices, quite meaningful to many listeners.

I mostly see "talent" as the relative ease in adopting established high-level skills in one or more contexts (e.g. not just in classical music training) or in creating new ones. Some people are more talented in some areas than others, and this allows them to master, advance, or riff on established skills more adeptly, meaningfully, etc. I think it is a safe argument to claim that Corgan has both talent and skill, given his historical ability to push at multiple genre conventions and his demonstrated prowess across many instruments and styles of performing, producing, etc.. I don't think talent is as subjective as you suggest it is: that it is like art. We can all agree that Odell Beckham Jr. has immense talent and a great skill set, but we won't all agree that Duchamp's Fountain or Full House or Siamese Dream is art.

[Luke]

See, so here's where I disagree. I don't think you can limit one's musical "skill" to a proficiency with a specific set of established musical conventions. I think the Beastie Boys are skilled, but I think they don't know jack about the Suzuki method or have any kind of classical training. Their skills are ill, though. I think Corgan has great skill in creating compelling guitar effects and sounds, engaging riffs, and lyrics that are, when paired with certain sonic choices, quite meaningful to many listeners.

I mostly see "talent" as the relative ease in adopting established high-level skills in one or more contexts (e.g. not just in classical music training) or in creating new ones. Some people are more talented in some areas than others, and this allows them to master, advance, or riff on established skills more adeptly, meaningfully, etc. I think it is a safe argument to claim that Corgan has both talent and skill, given his historical ability to push at multiple genre conventions and his demonstrated prowess across many instruments and styles of performing, producing, etc.. I don't think talent is as subjective as you suggest it is: that it is like art. We can all agree that Odell Beckham Jr. has immense talent and a great skill set, but we won't all agree that Duchamp's Fountain or Full House or Siamese Dream is art.

I'm still digesting this, and I'm trying to read between the lines (that is if there is something to read between the lines), but I think we're at a stalemate. Not that at any point am I dismissing your points.

Here's the beef:

'I don't think you can limit one's musical "skill" to a proficiency with a specific set of established musical conventions'

That's my definition of skill.

Hey, can you do this the way I want you to? -Yes or no? That's it. Can you proficiently do stuff by certain standards. Yes = skilled. No = Back to the drawing board.

That said (you saw this coming), you are far too quick to dismiss the classical trainings of the Boys of Beastie. The late Adam Yauch, as a spotlight and patriarch of the group, has shit tons of classical training. Dude went to Bard College to enhance his musical knowledge, and is known as a supporter and educator of music. ...and he also plays bass, so you are totally off on saying he doesn't know the Suzuki Method. I'd bet my right hand twinkle twinkle was the first song he played on a string bass.

And dude. Low blow. We all know Full House is art.

But Talent is as subjective. I don't know why you would think otherwise. And when I interview people, or am interviewed, to me you have a skill set and a talent. I don't mix the two and do not appreciate when people do mix the two. "I have a doctorate in philosophy, and an MBA, which leads to a skilled and educated businessman, but I have a talent in finance".

Anyone can learn a skill set. but a talent defines you. Talent is je ne sais quoi if you will. Skill has a well defined definition.

[Forlorn Drifter]

But only classical training? That leaves out a huge amount of musicians. If its any kind of cultural music, or comes from it, we have to discount it then. So pretty much all forms of music originating in the US, or traditional music of any country, or music adapted from such traditional music, is without skill.

[darsparx]

The same 10-15 christmas songs with 6 or 7 versions with a random decent song from Darius Rucker(which is sweet relief for me) at work. I think it may be time to try and remember to charge up my speaker, and bring it and a charger to work....since personally I'd be listening to a mix of mannheim steamroller, and Transiberian orchestra(and maybe some other stuff if i bought it), 8 hours of what little variety the station at work has is enough to drive anyone mad


On another note only because I'm still nuts about the artist: The Rose, Is that all there is, I put a spell on you, and You don't own me all sung by The Divine Miss M(the originals for some of those songs are good but but Miss M does it well too)

[REPO Man]

Some time ago Google Play gave away Lorde's "Pure Heroine" album.

Aside from the random Lady Gaga or Katy Perry track, I usually don't care for popular music. But for the first time since I was a Spice Girls fan (only had one of the two albums they put out prior to Geri Halliwell's departure, and then her Schizophonic album), I can say that I've found a popular music album where I don't just cherry pick tracks (usually the ones with videos) and ignore the rest of the album. Such a feat with any album would not be repeated until I procured Linkin Park's "Meteora" album in 2004, by at which point I moved away from pop and more towards rock (ironically, a few of those bands were Good Charlotte and Simple Plan, and they were basically the status quo assimilating edgier bands into the hole left behind after the likes of NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys fell out of favor due to the overproliferation of countless copycat musical acts).

Also have the soundtrack to the Sega CD version of The Terminator on my iPod, a few nightcore-style songs, the song "Thunder in Your Heart" from Rad, a few tracks from little-known '80s pop vocalist Meri D Marshall (one is called "My Obsession"), and a song entitled "Motions" from a group entitled Craze who apparently didn't put out much else (search "craze motions" on YouTube).