save music from the future

I like Beck's music. I own a few of his albums. Overall, I support Beck's career.

So forgive me, Beck, while I speak against you in the next few paragraphs.

In last month's issue of Wired Magazine, Beck talked about the future of music in the computer age. Beck says he's exploring new ways to make albums, something beyond the standard 10-15 song format which has been around since the mid-to-late 1960's. Beck said he's exploring the "album" as more of an interactive, multimedia experience. What does that mean, you ask?

The simplest way to say it is that Beck wants the listener to participate in the creative process. He wants to give the listener the pieces, but he wants the listener to complete the puzzle. Call it the iTunes Effect, if you will. You, the consumer, buy/download something...maybe a CD, maybe a DVD, maybe some digital files...and he wants you to put it together in whatever way you want it.

Even his newest album, called "The Information," offers a mostly blank album cover and it's up to you to decorate it. I'm told it comes with stickers.

yuck.

***

I'll say it again: I like Beck. I really do. Sure he'll never be the G.O.A.T., but he's good at being a decent music alternative with unique style.

But this is a bad idea. About as bad as when the Pistons decided to go teal.

















The Album, at its best, is a true expression of something. It can be as powerful as a painting or a film or a book.

And the thing about books, movies and paintings is that they are all finished before they are shared with the world. They are definite things. That's what's good about them. They exist.

Imagine if Moby Dick was a Choose Your Own Adventure book. "Turn to page 17 if you want Ishmael to spit on Ahab. Turn to page 42 if you want Ishmael to start his own whale hunting crew."

When you get to build your own version of Moby Dick you get to tell whatever story you want to tell. Suddenly the devastating poetry of the Pequod's tragedy, of Ahab's manic failure, are all lost. Melville's story is lost. All that exists is you.

And you by yourself is not enough.

***

Of course I shouldn't worry, because Beck's idea is a gimmick. And gimmicks rarely stick.

But still, I wonder what the iPod Era will do to The Album. In this age where you can build your own play lists, remix songs with a mouse, and carry an entire music library in a small hard-drive...what happens to the physical organization of music?

If Dark Side of the Moon was released today, would people download "Money" and a few other cuts and leave the rest? If they did buy/download all the songs, would they play the songs in order? Would the cover art become so iconic?



















Let me cut to the chase. Here are my three demands for the future of music:

1.) Artists make objects of art & art-lovers consume the art. The consumers do not alter the objects of art. They intrepret it, share it, and form opinions about it. But the objects of art exist unto themselves, even without the consumers.

2.) Music will continue to be organized and sold in some physical form, preferably as cheap CDs.

3.) Musical artists will continue the tradition of building cohesive albums that are meant to be played from beginning to end. Filler is unacceptable.

***

If Beck wants to embrace the future in order to look like a trailblazer, an innovator, then so be it. And if, alternately, I come off as an old-fashioned, out-of-touch dork, then so be it. But be forewarned: Beck's path leads to a shallower, emptier world without color or meaning.

My path offers enlightenment and truth.

It's your choice who to follow.