What is music in the age of the cloud? Today; we can listen to nearly anything; at any time. It is possible to flit instantly across genres and generations; from 1980s Detroit techno to 1890s Viennese neo-romanticism. This new age of listening brings with it astonishing new possibilities--as well as dangers.In Every Song Ever; the veteran New York Times music critic Ben Ratliff reimagines the very idea of music appreciation for our times. In the age of the cloud; the genre of the recording and the intention of the composer matter less and less. Instead; we can savor our own listening experience more directly; taking stock of qualities like repetition; speed; density; or loudness. The result is a new mode of listening that can lead to unexpected connections. When we listen for slowness; we may detect surprising affinities between the drone metal of Sunn O))); the mixtape manipulations of DJ Screw; and the final works of Shostakovich. And if we listen for more elusive qualities like closeness; we might notice how the tight harmonies of bluegrass vocals illuminate the virtuosic synchrony of John Coltranes quartet. Encompassing the sounds of five continents and several centuries; Ratliffs book is a definitive field guide to our musical habitat; and a foundation for the new aesthetics our age demands.
#2767043 in eBooks 2015-07-03 2015-07-03File Name: B010VJ8U42
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