http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/arts/music/03indie.html

Hey everyone, Happy New Year to you ! ! I haven't been around alot due to a taxing new job (that I'm happy to have) I am selling Infiniti cars and trucks, right in downtown Chicago. It's going good so far ! Anyway I thought this article was interesting. Do you?

Herbie,

Apparently you and I are the only ones who find this interesting! And I started noticing this a year or so ago. It comes to mind every time I go to post something on Soundclick that isn't in an obvious mainstream genre. I have 2 that are almost finished and no idea what genre to post them in. (In know, grammarians...should be in which to post them! :D). As you know, I have somewhat of a rep for mixing genres in one song (ie, jazz Melody, Reggae percussion, etc.).

Hey good luck with the sales! I sold for a Chrysler Dealership in Bakersfield, CA. for a couple years. My very first commission check was $856.00 for about an hour of work! I sold the car at full asking price plus a 2-year extended warranty...woohoo!

All the best you and Polina for 2010. We miss ya on the boards, though! Hi from Helen, too!

Alan

Hi Herbie,

It is difficult to be proud to wear a badge of honor that you are good enough to not be commercially popular??

Two 17 year old kids in a garage smashing glass, pounding on galvanized pails and tin cans while screaming and spitting gibberish through a microphone. Name the genre.

Now add reverb, a waa waa pedal and a dead cat on a stick. Does it change the genre, or is the genre the same as it was before the reverb, waa waa and dead cat were introduced?

As a note: I'm into country, rock, folk and children's music myself.

I have read several articles about music marketing where advice was given to create your own genre so that when someone does an on-line search for music from that particular genre, your website will likely be the first one they find. It makes sense to me.

I maintain "genre" is the bin the music store is going to put your stuff in after you've died. Until then, I am not going to worry.

I have also watched the seeming proliferation of "genres," most of which I have never heard of (though I see music reviewers discussing them knowledgeably, as if there might actually be something there). Considering that "country" is so grossly misdefined these days, I have not been sure the other labels warranted much attention. I had an awful time trying to find out what Norwegian Black/Death Metal was, so I could write (because I'd been asked to) a Norwegian Black/Death Metal song, and I still have people telling me I didn't get it right.

Back in the good old (fewer genres) days, when people would ask what kind of music the Dodson Drifters played, we'd tell them "bluegrass punk." That usually shut 'em up (and that was the goal). If there ever had been charts for bluegrass punk, we'd have been at the top, because we had no competition. And maybe that is what the current one-band-one-genre movement is about.

Joe

So funny you should say that, Joe. I was just having a conversation with an old friend who said that most artists only become recognized for the bulk of their work...after they die.

I just saw the new John Lennon movie 'Nowhere Boy' and marvelled over his progression of music as a child/youth and how it sure didn't sound like pop rock.

LL.

So true! And this would also prove there are actually only five genres of music because, usually, they only have five bins at the music store...that is to say in the DISCOUNT bin section of the music store (because let's face it). The five bins are marked country, rock, folk, rap and other. Take your pick. What are you?

Duncan, I probably shouldn't second-guess them (and I'll be dead anyway, and am pretty sure I won't care). The way the Music Industry defines "country" these days, I'm sure I couldn't be that--and if the rest are as poorly defined, I probably don't qualify there, either. (And my only rap got good reviews only from non-rappers. Real rappers thought I was making fun of them (duh).) I would likely be an "other," whatever that is.

Joe