This comment has no relevance to your post but rather your user sound. I know you think U2 sucks for whatever reason but I have to say that I think a three year old could create a better avant gard musical composition.
Sorry Lee, I've wanted to get the off my chest for a while.
Are you actually asking why i think U2 suck, or is that just a dis on my taste? If you want to know why i think they suck, i am very willing to tell you. But if it's a dis, then i guess all i have to say about that is those that live in glass houses shouldn't throw rocks. From what you have directly told me about your own taste, you "like everything". I, unfortunately, can't say the same thing... since we have already noted i don't like U2.
As for my user sound -- they, The Shaggs, are not, never have been or will ever be an avant-garde musical group. Check out my journal, (e:LeeTee,159) and
to find out about outsider music or the same journal and to find out about The Shaggs. In case you aren't in the mood to, or are so inclinded to be able to click a link, this is part of my journal, (e:LeeTee,159) :
And now, as i type this, i am listening to Philosophy of the World by the Shaggs (thanks to (e:Uncutsaniflush) for downloading it!) and i am loving it so much. How could i not love the atonal enthusiasm!?! How could i not love a song called "My Pal Foot Foot"? I can't! Since the song was inspired by a pet cat, if i ever again have a pet cat, i now want to name him or her Foot Foot.
I would love to hear the 3 year old that you think could create a better avant-garde musical composition. That would so rock!
Hmm... should i have some Wesley Willis as my next user sound?
Oh, and for the record, folks, i still can't hear usersounds (ok, i could if (e:Uncutsaniflush) did his geek thing on this 'puter too), and i thank each and every one of you for mentioning what and who your usersound is when you change it, or just 'cause you want to! :O)
Sorry I never mentioned it. My current sound is "Never Said I Loved You" by the Payolas. On the hunt of a new tune....
I decided to "make this a post" because, as you stated, it had no relevance to the post you were commenting on. Since you didn't comment to me in private via a post-it note or an email, i thought it might be interesting to have a open conversation about it. I was also curious if your comment to me about the band U2 was a further dis on my taste or genuine curiosity or even just an offhand remark about taste.
I am aware of the dictionary definition of avant-garde, but thanks anyway for writing it out. You said that a "a three year old could create a better avant-garde musical composition" and my only point was that the Shaggs are not avant-garde. Not even by the definition you wrote out. They are rather "out there" (hence the term "outsider music", i reckon), i agree and i can actually understand why the term "avant-garde" might come to mind.
That's what's so interesting about taste. By your definition of judging "music by its effect in moving me spirituallaly, emotionally, or physically", is pretty much the same as mine.. and that is what The Shaggs do for me. I adore the unabashed enthusiasm, the pureness of the energy and i can imagine these teenage girls, encouraged by their father to become rock stars, pouring into their creations with all they have in them. My gut reaction to them is what fuels my taste.
As for Mozart.. i don't know enough about him to comment too much. I liked Mozart well enough, little too... hmm.. how did Gary Oldman say it in "the Professional? Too light and frilly? Something like that. I've always been more of a Beethoven fan.
But, Mozart was creating this avant-garde music at age 5, though? Not 3? Ah, what's a coupla years, eh?
Luckily, taste is all in the eye of the beholder. I have always had sorta off taste. And i don't expect anyone to share it. I guess it would be safe to say if you don't make me listen to U2, then i won't make you listen to The Shaggs. I can't listen to user sounds (no, dear, that wasn't a hint, honest!), so even if your user sound is U2, then i am "safe". I don't know how to turn off user sounds, but i am sure (e:Paul) or some of the other (e:peeps) might be able to tell you how to turn them off (or mine? how does that work?) if you ask. :O)
Just out of curiosity, why did you make this a post?
But anyway the music I heard whether the band classifies themselves as it or not is avant-garde. By definition avant-garde is described as original - being or productive of something fresh and unusual; or being as first made or thought of; "a truly original approach"; "with original music"; "an original mind." Maybe a lot of bands bang on instruments to make noise and yell some lyrics into the microphone with out any melody, harmony, rhyme or meter. Sure you could argue that a lot of bands lack one or two of those components but the song I just heard lacks them all which makes it "original" and "unusual." Maybe it's not avant-garde enough to be avant-garde, I don't know, just sounded that way.
As far as this music rocking, I have to say that it doesn't do it for me but that's just my taste. I usually judge music by its effect in moving me spirituallaly, emotionally, or physically.
Lastly, at the age of three Mozart's music ability became noticed when he started to create musical composition that could not have been taught to him. At age five he published his first works of Andante and Allegro, which at the time were both considered avant-garde.