Gheorghasbord: Appreciation Exploration

Many of us have been profuse in our admiration for Professor G. Truck's recent two-part podcast series entitled, The Mysteries of Your Musical Taste. Based on books by Susan Rogers and Ogi Ogas (made up name, obviously) and Derek Thompson, the podcasts unpack the different elements of songs/artists that attract and repel individual listeners. After listening to both episodes, I've found myself thinking more about how I appreciate music and art. And both together.

Here are a few things that have struck me recently in the context of my own musical and artistic taste as better understood through Professor G. Truck's work.

As it relates to novelty, I came across the incredible virtuosity of the Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet in a Tiny Desk Concert released in April. I've never heard anything like it. It fascinates me, but I still don't know if I *like* it or not.

In the same vein, my eldest child told me about Magma, a French jazz-rock outfit that's been making music since 1969. It's weird and puzzling and completely unique. I like their vibe. I don't think I dig the music.

I admire Bruce Springsteen for a lot of reasons. Dig a lot of his tunes. But I've never really been a superfan. Must be a timbre thing. But this collaboration with Dr. John is right on.

We'll take a detour for a moment into art. Specifically AI-generated movie trailers. And at an even more granular level, whimsical conflagrations of Star Wars and Wes Anderson. I like saturated color palettes, whimsy, and fantasy. Don't judge me.

Now to a couple of bands that puzzle me. Spoon and The National have instantly recognizable sounds. In the case of the former, it's the guitar-driven, fuzzy production. For the latter, it's Matt Berninger's unmistakable voice and dark, rich melodies. I like just about everything I've heard from both bands. And yet I never seek them out. I'm content to enjoy them when they come to me, and that's enough. Too much blending of above the neck and below the neck for me to really fall for them? Dunno. You have bands like that?

Now that we've meandered through stuff that intrigues me but isn't always top of my list (though Bloodbuzz Ohio would always make a top X playlist), a brief exposition of what does turn me on is in order. I won't belabor it, because you can find examples strewn hither and yon all over this here website. While I can get into a lot of music, from hip hop to old country to straight ahead rock and roll, I really dig melodic, rhythmic stuff with a particularly guitar-driven aesthetic. Early R.E.M. is on the list. Old 97s, obvs. Bob Mould (and Sugar). Wilco. Crowded House. And from Lucinda Williams to Jenny Lewis to Miranda Lambert to Susanna Hoffs to Neko Case et al, I've always been drawn to unique female voices singing alt-to-pop music. 

I really appreciate the work Professor G. Truck did to open my head up to the whys of my musical taste. Now I might need to get me on the listening bench so he can to analyze what's really going on here.