Music is more than the thirty seconds you hear on a Myspace page

(Here is a piece I wrote a few weeks ago)

Today we are so overwhelmed by the varieties of musical styles, that we usually try to categorize everything into specific genres and subgenres, in order to understand all of these varying styles of music. In so many cases, we latch onto a specific sound shared by a variety of bands, and use that one commonality to define a particular genre. Even when hearing two distinctly different bands from the same supposed genre, we sometimes disregard the varying aspects of them, and assume, and even expect that they may as well be the same. But even when two bands may quite obviously share remarkably close similarities, be it through song structuring, playing style, tonal approach, or what have you, it cannot and must not be mistaken for any lack of sincerity or originality. If we can look beyond the thirty seconds of one track of some band we listened to on Myspace, then perhaps we can find what is truly special about the art that musicians create.
I’ve recently familiarized myself with a website called Pandora, an online radio station that gives you almost complete control over the playlist, offering you artists and songs similar to whatever artist you were intending to listen to, and responding to your ‘thumbs up’ or ‘down’ upon their suggestions. While listening to the Mono (Japan) radio station, a band called This Will Destroy You was played. Aside from hearing the name tossed around once or twice, I had no knowledge of this band. The song playing was a beautiful piece, with swelling and fading volumes and intensity, sentimental guitars, and far away tones. I was taken. I found myself the entire album, and took a long listen. The album swept me up, and I flew away, through great clouds, over vast stretches of rolling hills. The constant feeling of nostalgia and even love was all encompassing, and almost too much to handle. I must say that I am completely satisfied by what I have heard from This Will Destroy You.
As far as genre goes, it is easy for anyone familiar with lesser known, “indie” genres to identify This Will Destroy You as a ‘post-rock’ band, their strong use of slower marching, or waltz-like tempos, layered guitars, delay and reverb, and dramatically changing volumes giving them away. There has been a great uprising of post-rock in the last five years or so, and it has undoubtedly reached a subtle level of popularity. Many of the biggest acts have made soundtracks to movies, and had tours with countless sold out shows. And, of course, many younger bands have risen out of inspiration by these influential bands to make their own interpretations of such music. I remember a friend of mine on a few occasions speaking sort of disinterestedly about “Explosions In The Sky bands” that he had seen at shows, implying that they were in a sense plagiarizing a genuine act, and recycling an already defined style of music. It’s easy to see this point of view, and it’s certainly true to say that there have been a large list of bands who have opted to play music that is solely inspired by one band. However, it should not be simply said that those who share so many similarities to other bands of a specific genre deserve no credit for their own work.
Even with This Will Destroy You’s generic post-rock sound, I have been moved by their music. I can easily say what sets them apart from Explosions In The Sky, Mono, Sigur Ros, and Mogwai, and what sets all of the listed bands apart from each other. They all have their own flavor, their own technical approach, their own instrument tones, their own note progressions, their own songs. But what really sets them apart is the genuine sound, and the personal connection. The music we really like is the music that speaks to us, the music we connect with ourselves, with a moment in our life, with an idea, a feeling. Sometimes you will find that sensation you look for from thirty seconds on a Myspage page, sometimes you will only find generic music. The important thing is that you understand that it is not just the genre and the formulaic music style that we make our decisions of our musical taste on, but the things that set them apart from the rest.