HIGH FIDELITY

I love “post-rock” as a genre classification. It seems to refer to a kind of musical equivalent to “post-modern” but at the same time also kinda refers to nothing. Like a signifier without a signified, except one sort of knows what it means. Sort of like reading Derrida, but with less frustration.

Here are the bands that All Music Guide considers part of the genre:

No longer tired, Henry comes away from the wall where he’s been leaning, and walks into the middle of the dark auditorium, towards the great engine of sound. He lets it engulf him. There are these rare moments when musicians together touch something sweeter than they’ve ever found before in rehearsals or performance, beyond the merely collaborative or technically proficient, when their expression becomes as easy and graceful as friendship or love. This is when they give us a glimpse of what we might be, of our best selves, and of an impossible world in which you give everything you have to others, but lose nothing of yourself. Out in the real world there exist detailed plans, visionary projects for peaceable realms, all conflicts resolved, happiness for everyone, for ever — mirages for which people are prepared to die and kill. Christ’s kingdom on earth, the workers’ paradise, the ideal Islamic state. But only in music, and only on rare occasions, does the curtain actually lift on this dream of community, and it’s tantalisingly conjured, before fading away with the last notes.

So writes Ian McEwan, in his excellent novel Saturday. This is probably one of the best passages I’ve read on the subject of music and its ability to transform a moment or even convey a religious experience. In that sense it reminds me of Kerouac’s On the Road. And perhaps, to a lesser degree, Thomas Mann’s Doktor Faustus . Good company to be in.

Since our private beta launch three weeks ago, Jango is getting a lot of love from its users. Here’s one of the best reviews we’ve gotten so far, on a MySpace blog:

“Jango

About a year ago I posted a bulletin about Pandora, a music website
that learns what kind of music you like and introduces you to new
music. Thanks to fellow MTV friend Cassidy, I’m hooked on something
new.

Jango.

It’s a cross breed between old school Friendster and Pandora. I’m
learning how to use it slowly but surely, and I love it. You can make
it so that you are being introduced to new artists or just stick to
the ones you love (unlike Pandora). I’m not using it for networking,
yet, but I am interested to see what other people with my taste in
music are listening to. It’s cool to know that there are other people
out there who love everything from Swedish Trance and French Dance
music to Classic Rock and college Jam bands. Check it out to see for
yourself – Jango.com

Here’s the link: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=9826480&blogID=297067646

One of the great things about working at a music company is all the new releases you get access to (as well as just stuff you hadn’t heard before). On a recent trip to Vermont I grabbed about 20 CDs from the Jango library for the 6-hour car ride. The big standouts for me were NOT the usual favorites: White Stripes (Icky Thump), Velvet Revolver or the latest by Smashing Pumpkins. All of these felt a little boring and formulaic, and frankly the Stripes’ stylized pose of having a kick-ass guitarist but a drummer who sucks is getting a bit tedious. No, the inspiring music came from a band I’d never heard of, and one I’ve grown up with.

The first is Inside In/Inside Out by The Kooks, a very catchy, original-sounding UK band. The second came from The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen Live in Dublin. I am a Bruce fan but not a huge one, and this album really blew me away. Most of the songs are Irish folk tunes, and the band is exceptionally tight. Really worth a listen even if you’re not a Boss fan.