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and so it beats in my chest.

I wrote a whole post out the last two days. I was happy with it, I was going to post it which I hardly ever do and.... the page reloaded this morning and it didn't save, I didn't save it and it was deleted. So today will be a paraphrased version of yesterdays and the day before and today.


Side A


The latter half of the post was me deciding to put more structure to this blog so that I can have more inspiration to write on it. I decided a few posts back to talk about music and I am going to expand on that idea. I inherited a wicked vinyl, tape and cd collection with a vintage stereo system to boot from my dad. So, -in no particular order- I am going to listen to every. single. one. At this point everything is very mixed up, nothing is organized by alphabet or genre or artist.


It's okay though because then I can go through each one and experience it for itself. This doesn't count though because yesterday was Steely Dan, Can't Buy a Thrill and today just happens to be another Steely Dan- Pretzel Logic. Which is okay because I was really discouraged when my whole post from yesterday was deleted, so I decided to just trek on today and it happen to be another Steely Dan which, I feel is a good way to crossover the days. This contradicts everything I said in the previous paragraph, buts its okay we're going with it.


I already knew I liked Steely Dan, mostly because I love the song "Dirty Work" which is on Can't Buy A Thrill. I really connect with that song and I have it on my playlist on Spotify. But what was surprising was how many other songs I recognized. But already listening to today, the Pretzel Logic vs. yesterday's Can't Buy A Thrill yesterday was much smoother, much chiller. Yesterday my mom called and when I answered she said something like "wow its sounds happy over there" and I was replied "yeah, it is" I was organizing, cleaning and also yesterday day I made a cat collar for Mira- her first one and the night before I made a pencil case for my pens. I put an elastic band around it so it can slide over my sketchbook and carry it around more easily. I also got to put on one of my new tags I had made for me. I used pattern that I altered slightly from a YouTube person that I will link below along with a link to the person who made my tags from Etsy.


Side B


I can't tell you why things are good. I can just tell you if they are good. For centuries I've been saying this, so yesterday I decided to google "why is Steely Dan so good". And this article that I will link below, I read most of it before I just got side tracked really. It's kind of a long article for my attention span. But the author talked about how they use variations of chords, and here is where I fall short. I can't hear that. As much as I want to, I can just tell you it sounds good. I understand what voicings are and how to play them, but I can't even tell you if it's a C, let alone which voicing of C it is. Hopefully, the article can help me get better?


Another thing the article said was that Steely Dan has developed a cult following from the Millennial generation. So I guess I'm back to being basic. In the article somewhere it says something like it being so good to millennials because there is an element of nostalgia attached to it, like it might remind us of a memory of our childhood. And that's what is does for me. When I hear this, I honestly think more of my Mom, which is weird because this is my Dad's album. But my mom always listened to music when she cleaned the house. My dad always put music on and wanted to dance. He was famously known for his endearingly dorky dance moves for a "bad-ass biker dude". My mom would always get done cleaning and turn off all the lights, light incense and probably smoke a cigarette.


Music is special for me. I know for sure music is more special to me than most people. Not saying it's wrong for other people because they might have something more special to them than it is to me. But I know that music hits me on deeper level, like I'm a prodigy that never got to explore it, so it beats in my chest, wanting to get out. And when I hear it, I feel no pain, as the late, great Bob Marley says.


Side A. again.


Whenever I have a cd or vinyl or tape in the player, I always listen to it a few times before the next one. I don't mind listening a few times, but probably no more than three. lol. I think I was drummer. I was supposed to be a drummer. I tap and beat all the time. I can usually get the rhythm of the song, obviously I can't make all the sounds. But maybe that's why I am not so good at guitar, while I know that drummers still have to be in tune, I don't think knowing the nuances between voicings are their strong suit. But what do I know? (nothing)


I can hear the complexity of the notes being played, like the little riffs and solos I can tell they are good, I can tell they take a serious and gifted musician to play. In the article, there is talk about how "clean" the sounds are. I definitely hear that now, it may not have been something I thought about. But yes, there definitely isn't any distortion. I'd be hard pressed to believe they are using any pedals at all. Maybe a little reverb?


Side B. again.


Playing clean can also mean the workmanship of the playing is precise and articulated. That is probably the hardest part. Because anyone can learn how to play a chord, but to play it cleanly with smooth transitions between chord progressions, that takes practice.


I wrote yesterday that Steely Dan delivers a smooth and chill vibe with sing-a-long worthy lyrics and satisfying solos and riffs. I guess I would play Steely Dan if I was having a low-key party with just a few friends. It's likable I think for most people, meaning it's safe which is probably the most disappointing part of the music for me. But apparently is what is the point in its irony- at least that's what I gathered from the article.

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It's later on. My day is winding down. I just finished yoga and got a shower, switched the laundry, ate dinner and now... I think I'm going to practice. Mira's in her spot right next to my computer on the shelf. Today was a good day.



Linx






 
 
 

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