The Music Of JC Harris

positively the most intelligent progressive rock on this here planet

positively the most intelligent progressive rock on this here planet

JCHRants

A compendium of musings on music and this business we call show

Maximal Machine Minimal Man

Everyone talks about ‘polarization’. Politics, income, culture. It has struck me recently how this also applies to art. There are super-detailed pieces of art which have become common-place. Video games, movies, etc. And these are largely computer generated (humans still supervise.) But art which is strictly ‘human’, ie. generated in real-time by real people, has become more simple. As the machines advance, we withdraw.

I have started thinking that, in a sense, we’ve unconsciously given up. Other than guys like Chuck Close, the idea of humans doing extremely detailed and complex contrivances is going buh bye.

I’ll grant you that there are plenty of stunt-performers. Guys who are like cirque du soleil contortionists. Performing ‘how does he do that finger-busting feats. Unfortunately, most of these are, forgive me, circus feats—amazing to watch once. Not necessarily what you wanna listen to for depth.

You can say that art is supposed to reflect the times. But if artists like Chuck Close (who admits he is imitating a machine) are what’s happening, what does that say […]

Santa Fe

This was a good show. I rarely say that, but ya know? I’m actually starting to get the hang of this (again.) Got back and I’m actually looking forward to next week. Note that my rating scale always comes down how wrecked I feel after a show and the flight back. 😀 Look out, Vancouver! […]

The Uncanny Valley

There is a term used in the psychology of aesthetics known as the The Uncanny Valley. It refers to that funny area when a computer image looks “lifelike” but still recognizable as artificially generated it causes immediate revulsion by pretty much all conscious beings. The idea is that it is programmed into us to protect us from ‘the other’.

It is my belief that we are at a point in “the digital revolution” where we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of that uncanny Valley in both movies and music. And this explains a lot of why we find so much of today’s art so empty.

It also explains why so many people are drawn to musical styles from another time. There is such a focus on the sounds that are digitally created that there is almost no focus left for the content. We find ourselves inevitably drawn to music from other areas that were frankly more nourishing. This partly explains all the interest in Americana […]

Fecal Coliform Bacteria

Fecal Coliform Bacteria.

I can’t think of a better name for a band. Wish I had the dough to trademark.

Rolls right off the tongue.
Has a disgusting connotation.
But it’s vaguely ‘Latin’ so you have to look it up to figure out what it means.
The initials sound really good. Which matters. All the great 3 name bands had great initials.

“Wow, that latest FCB track is just -sick-!”

Whither Goest Thou Detroit?

Some comments on what I thought it would take to turn the city around. My answer lies in history: the waterfront.

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