Two weeks ago, I attended a workshop on “Writing About Music” at 826 Valencia in San Francisco. The panel included music criticism luminaries and pioneers like Greil Marcus and Ben Fong-Torres, the room was filled with earnest, erstwhile music critics and the dialogue for the most part was at a high level. I took lots of notes and got inspired. Why not me?, I thought. Why shouldn’t I be one of the good ones?
I vowed to stop writing in such a free-form fashion, get outside the tiny boxes that Movable Type provides for editing, start using a proper word processor. To Practice getting to the art and heart of quality writing about music. To give the music the proper critical attention it deserves; and not fall into the trap of constant flippancy that so many of our blogging brethren fall into. To quit inserting my own experience into the artistry of others who are
literally singing for their supper.
So armed with a shiny new set of standards, ethics, hopes & dreams, I intimidated myself right out of posting for two weeks. By setting ground rules that say, “It’s got to be good,” I’ve played my way right off my own blog.
I’m just going to go for it from here out. The previous eight months’ output is a nice experiment, and Entroporium may well continue to be an experiment into perpetuity. I am, after all, a professional with a home, loved ones, and a responsible job to care for. I’m a hobbyist, sure, but what hobbyist wants to feel that they are just mediocre at their passion?
Darn you, Greil.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Hey-
I remeber arguing with Greil at Rather Ripped Records circa 1978 about the merits of this new “Punk Rock” and trying to convince hime that it was as valid as his old Bob Dylan records. Keep on blogging no matter How stupid it is.
wondered where you’d been, and to find out you’ve “intimidated” yourself right out of blogging. Well, don’t stop writing. Honestly, what makes good blogs good is that they are personal and as a result, make the music personal. The blogs I check most frequently are the ones where the music is a reflection of the blogger. Yours is at the top of the list. Don’t stop.
Oh yeah, the CD swap was sweet. Thanks for inviting me in.
I too check the Entroporium frequently and have been missing your posts. You don’t have to look far for examples of exceptional writing about music online: your own “My so-called post punk life” was great stuff. I’m glad to read that your inspiration has been renewed.