MUSIC is not a GENRE Podcast

MUSIC is not a GENRE

Nick DeMatteo
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MUSIC is not a GENRE goes beyond music critique, opinion, and gimmicks to get at the heart of music & how it connects to the world - from the perspective of a true music insider. Every episode starts with a main topic and connects to cultural, social & political issues in unexpected ways. It challenges music lovers to think as if THERE IS NO BOX AT ALL. No music can be confined to a genre. And music itself can't be separated from the rest of the world. SUPPORT MxG: https://www.patreon.com/MUSICisnotaGENRE Nick DeMatteo is a singer/songwriter, producer for the band REC. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/musicisnotagenre/support
PODFAST #4 - YOUR SUPPORT & CHEAT CODES | MxG BONUS EPISODE
Here's how you can support MxG & REC: MxG on Patreon - membership for as little as $5/month MxG on Anchor - monthly membership at whatever rate you can handle Subscribe to MxG on YouTube - subscribing is free, and you can add a one-time donation here: https://paypal.me/MUSICisnotaGENRE REC on Bandcamp - buy REC music once, or subscribe for as little as $5/month Subscribe to REC on YouTube - totally free and one of the BEST places to get REC music Official Website of Nick DeMatteo - sign up free for Nick's newsletter! THANK YOU! *music credit: REC - "You Make Me Wanna" (from Syncopy for the Weird) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/musicisnotagenre/support
Aug 27, 2022
22 min
Welcome to MUSIC is not a GENRE
If you're new to MUSIC is not a GENRE, this intro will explain it all. You can also see the video version of this here: MxG New Intro Video Please consider supporting MxG. This is (as of 2022) a one-person operation, and it exists only because of generous listeners & supporters like you. MxG on Patreon MxG on Anchor Subscribe to MxG on YouTube Official Website of Nick DeMatteo And here's where you can find the music that inspired my creation of MxG, from my band REC: REC on Bandcamp Subscribe to REC on YouTube --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/musicisnotagenre/support
Aug 8, 2022
13 min
PODFAST #3 - The NEW INTRO VIDEO | MxG BONUS EPISODE
*music credit: REC - "You Make Me Wanna" (from Syncopy for the Weird) SUPPORT MxG ON PATREON WATCH MUSIC is not a GENRE VIDEOS and MORE ~~~~ In this episode, I reveal the new MxG intro video, which will officially debut soon. You can check out the PODFAST version of the video here: PODFAST #3 VIDEO  Here are ways you can support, follow, share & show your love for MUSIC is not a GENRE: MxG on Patreon  MxG on Anchor  Subscribe to MxG on YouTube  Official Website of Nick DeMatteo  And here's where you can find all of REC's music: REC on Bandcamp  Subscribe to REC on YouTube  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/musicisnotagenre/support
Aug 8, 2022
15 min
PODFAST #2 - Quick Takes from the Continuum #1 | MxG BONUS EPISODE
*music credit: REC - "You Make Me Wanna" (from Syncopy for the Weird) SUPPORT MxG ON PATREON WATCH MUSIC is not a GENRE VIDEOS and MORE ~~~~ In this episode, I do a quick rundown of seven albums that were released on July 15: ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - XI: Bleed Here Now Beabadoobee - Beatopia callinamagician - Head Full of Snow Chicago - Born for This Moment (XXXVIII) The Drop - Long Held Grudges Interpol - The Other Side of Make-Believe Lizzo - Special --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/musicisnotagenre/support
Jul 22, 2022
20 min
PODFAST #1 - Brand New Brand | MxG BONUS EPISODE
*music credit: REC - "You Make Me Wanna" (from Syncopy for the Weird) SUPPORT ME ON PATREON WATCH MUSIC is not a GENRE VIDEOS and MORE ~~~~ Welcome to MUSIC is not a GENRE’s first ever PODFAST. This edition of MxG will be bonus mini episodes, starting summer 2022 & continuing periodically through future seasons. This episode is all about the changes happening to the podcast - some coming in Season 5 & some already here. FEATURED LINKS: MxG - Every Episode Ever MxG - The Opinions MxG - The Interviews MxG - Death is DUMB MxG - The Book Talks MxG - The Featured Songs --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/musicisnotagenre/support
Jun 27, 2022
10 min
The Freewheeling Catch-Up Machine #2 - Know Your MinaG Terms Edition | MUSIC is not a GENRE - Season 4 Episode #40
SUPPORT ME ON PATREON WATCH MUSIC is not a GENRE VIDEOS and MORE FEATURED SONG: REC - "When It Comes" (from Distance To Empty) Hard to believe, but this is the final episode of MUSIC is not a GENRE’s monumental Season 4. With every season, MinaG gets closer to its ultimate form & tone. New subseries were added (including this one!). Old segments were fleshed out. New objectives set forth – some achieved & some saved as goals for Season 5. New fans & subscribers. New commenters. New patrons & supporters. And, amidst an extremely up and down year, a renewal of spirit & purpose. Here’s what this week’s wrap-up will cover: 1. Know your MinaG terms – I make up a lot of shit. It’ll be more fun if you understand what these four terms mean: Chronolography, Heart Artist, Death is DUMB, the Share Tingles. 2. Season 4 review – a list of every episode, including fan input, some corrections & additional observations. 3. More fan comments – so many of you lovely people weighed in this year, and I’d like to respond. 4. Chronolographies – as per #1, you know what this is, right? I’ll talk about what I’ve been listening to lately. 5. Look ahead to next season – what’s coming, what’s changing, and how you can be a part of it. Other than doing the best show I can do, the most important thing to me is your feedback. While I’m more or less off for the summer, I’d love to hear from you. Tell me what you liked about this season (or what you didn’t like), and what you want for next season. I’ve got some surprises in store, and would love for you to be a part of that. As always, your support is more valuable than I can express, so please join me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MUSICisnotaGENRE I’ll leave you with one of my favorite REC singles. It’s about finding love you didn’t even know you wanted. It feels like summer to me. REC – “When It Comes” (from Distance To Empty) https://recarea.bandcamp.com/track/when-it-comes Hit me with some of your love, and discuss dammit! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/musicisnotagenre/support
Jun 13, 2022
46 min
The Show That Never Ends: The Book That WASN'T LONG ENOUGH! - Book Talk #4 | MUSIC is not a GENRE - Season 4 Episode #39
SUPPORT MUSIC IS NOT A GENRE ON PATREON WATCH MUSIC is not a GENRE VIDEOS and MORE FEATURED SONG: REC – “It’s Like This” (from Parts and Labour) When I’m not into something, I have a miniscule attention span, just like anyo – yeahokaywhatever But when I AM into something, I usually don’t want it to end. As you can guess from a guy who does a Death is DUMB subseries, endings are not my strong suit. It’s one reason I choose my chronolography subjects very carefully. If I’m gonna listen to every single album, I gotta be sure I like the music. I’m the same way with books. I’ve read books nearly 1500 pages long. I’ve read book series with 8 or more installments. The length doesn’t matter. In fact, I was so into those books that even that much wasn’t long enough. The same is true for this week’s subject: The Show That Never Ends: The Rise and Fall of Prog Rock, by David Weigel. And it’s true for two reasons. First and foremost, I really did love this book. I’m glad a book like this exists, because precious little has been written about the history of prog rock. Single bands or band threads have been profiled, but not the whole genre. This book is a great primer for anyone who wants to know more about prog rock, and a fun & informative ride for people who are already into it. Plus it goes all the way to present times and very recent prog bands, which reminds readers that this music is still creatively vibrant and evolving. Of course I wished it was longer. But that’s not the only reason. We’re talking about the most intricate, involved, extensive – and yes, LONGEST – form of rock music out there. This is a genre wherein seven minutes is considered SHORT. A quick online survey revealed that there are many prog rock songs that are well over an hour. To my mind, it would be more appropriate, more fitting, and more respectful to write a book as long & sprawling as the best prog rock songs or albums. Moreover, I’d say it’s necessary and really the ONLY way to write a comprehensive prog rock book. It’s clear David Weigel knows & loves what he’s talking about. It would have honored the music and the fans more – and been way more fun – if he’d got as indulgent as the music itself, and just let stories & facts fly until his hands hurt. It’s possible his objective was to make it more digestible for the casual fan. Or the publishing company heavily edited the book. I can understand those reasons for the book being too short. As someone who’s midway between a casual fan and an obsessive, I wanted way more tangents, way more threads pulled, way more roads followed to their end. He makes passing mention of prog-adjacent genres and bands, but doesn’t go far enough in fleshing them out, and leaves out quite a few bands & genres I would have included. Maybe I’m asking too much. But isn’t that the whole point of progressive rock music? It goes overboard on purpose. It asks too much of the listener. It indulges in ways few other kinds of music rarely get to. So while I was satisfied with this book, I wasn’t satiated. I love what’s there, but sorely miss what isn’t. That said, this is a book any fan of prog rock – or any super curious music fan – should read. Progressive rock has been an influence on my music since my very first demos in my teens & early twenties. You can hear progressive elements on every one of REC’s albums. I’m even working on a song for REC’s upcoming album that might be as long as 20 minutes. But there’s no question my brand of progressiveness leans more pop/accessible – say, Yes in the 1980s instead of the mid-1970s. The above song is a great example of that. Comment! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/musicisnotagenre/support
May 30, 2022
43 min
Belle & Sebastian - When QUIET Was the REVOLUTION | MUSIC is not a GENRE - Season 4 Episode #38
SUPPORT ME ON PATREON WATCH MUSIC is not a GENRE VIDEOS and MORE FEATURED SONG: REC – “The Garden” (from Sympathy for the Weird) Everything is part of a cycle. Macro, Micro, Nano, Epochal. Even if it seems something is brand new never-been-done, guaranteed it’s an echo of something else. That’s partly because nothing is created in a vacuum. New works – even ones so bracingly new they blow your head back – are always influenced by old. Every attention-grabbing shift & movement is a response to something that came before. Complex gives way to simple. So-called “high art” gives way to so-called “low art” (distinctions I always dispute but which are useful here). Brash & confrontational gives way to soft & inviting. Sarcasm & nihilism give way to sincerity & faith. And while each iteration of the cycle is different and almost always a step forward, we’re wise to look back for perspective & context, so we can better understand what’s being done & why. It makes the seemingly unfamiliar & possibly offensive feel closer to our experience & thus more inviting. You can trace the cycle of influence & response back to the first time a humanoid repeatedly hit an object with a bone, or made a sound that was useful to make again & again. Let’s not do that here. That’s what I’d call the “$50,000 version” of this podcast. A quicker illustration goes like this: PUNK – a stripped down response to the complexity & bombast of progressive & classic rock HAIR METAL – a melding of punk, metal & glam intended to poke a hole in the straight-edged seriousness of punk GRUNGE – a stripped down, beefed up and more personal & inclusive response to the excesses & overt misogyny of hair metal TWEE INDIE POP & POST ROCK – a quiet, seemingly more contemplative & less guitar driven response to the moshfest of grunge Now, all of this is simplified & very qualified. These kinds of music existed for more reasons than just as responses to what came before, whether socio-political or purely artistic. And their influences were more far-ranging than just “we don’t want to do what they did”. Punk was in many ways a return to the 3- & 4-chord 1950s pop rock AND the 1960s garage rock movement. Hair metal was, as stated, a descendant of glam, but also very blues based, unlike the more classical/progressive based metal of earlier bands. Grunge took a lot from the 1970s – including the relatively flat, midrange EQ. And the grunge counter-response that included twee & post-rock consisted of strains that had been around as long as grunge, and influences that had been around even longer. And this is where this week’s band comes in. Belle & Sebastian are a 1960s AND 1980s influenced indie pop band from Glasgow. They were carrying on traditions set forth by bands like The Zombies AND The Smiths. Their lyrics are often literary & intellectual – very college-y, and also often very personal. You could say that about quite a bit of grunge lyrics too, but that’s not what grunge was ever known for. When you listen to twee indie pop & grunge back to back, it’s like the aural difference between inviting you into a basement of cloistered suffering or a living room of barely tolerable ennui. Both speak of personal struggle, but in very different ways. Where grunge went out of its way to shock and slam you, twee music tried to be as quiet & unassuming as possible. And both were utterly captivating. For the FULL ESSAY, visit https://patreon.com/MUSICisnotaGENRE --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/musicisnotagenre/support
May 23, 2022
40 min
Death is DUMB Volume 9: Terry Kath - The Spirit & Sinew of Chicago | MUSIC is not a GENRE - Season 4 Episode #37
SUPPORT ME ON PATREON WATCH MUSIC is not a GENRE VIDEOS and MORE FEATURED SONG: REC – “Ripe” (from The Sunshine Seminar) Every band has a different dynamic, both for music and for business. Mick Jagger was right business-wise when he called the Beatles the “four-headed monster”, but on the music side they really just had the two heads. Most of U2’s music is driven by two heads as well, but Larry Mullen Jr. started the band, so my guess is business-wise there’s more equality overall. Fleetwood Mac has almost always been a complete mess on both sides, which makes their longevity & artistic success even more striking. Nirvana was that one troubled head for music, and likely pretty equal on the business end. Chicago was a special case. (I say was because they’ve been a shadow of themselves for a long time now, and more on that later.) They morphed. For their musical direction & business decisions to have changed so much and so often, you’d think their personnel did too. Nope. For all of their classic period, they were the core seven (and for a short stretch percussionist Laudir de Oliveira). After the death of Terry Kath & some growing pains (about which more below), their breakout comeback early 1980s period had six original members plus Chris Pinnick & Bill Champlin. After Peter Cetera left, he was seamlessly replaced with Jason Scheff, and Dawayne Bailey took over for Chris. When Danny Seraphine bowed out, Tris Imboden took over & stayed longer than any other drummer. And for the 1990s and almost all of this century, it’s been the core four, Tris, Lou Pardini on keys, and a bunch of other changes. In the last few years, with Walt Parazaider retiring, it’s down to three originals, Lou, and a handful of others who seem to be sticking around so far. Why do I go into that much detail? Two reasons. One, to show how much change a stalwart band needs to endure to have a career this long. And two, to show how this week’s subject – the death of Terry Kath – made more of an impact on both the business & music trajectory of Chicago than any other event in their history. For those of you unfamiliar, a quick history. Terry was one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Top ten in the minds of many. He was also one of the principal vocalists & writers of the band. His passion & dedication to expression above all else gave Chicago a huge part of their initial raison d’etre, and their depth & groundedness. Then in 1978, he died of an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot to the head. From that point on, Chicago was never the same. And in many ways never as good. You could say that the death of any core band member changes a band forever, but that’s a sliding scale. Bonham’s death ultimately ended Led Zeppelin, but I’d argue it didn’t do a whole lot to change their music. The Who’s sound did change when Keith Moon died, but they’ve always really been another two-headed monster. Cobain’s death of course ended that band. As for the recent death of Taylor Hawkins, the impact remains to be seen. For FULL SCRIPT, visit https://patreon.com/MUSICisnotaGENRE --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/musicisnotagenre/support
May 9, 2022
44 min
Negative Reviews - Constructive Critique or Pathetic Power Play? | MUSIC is not a GENRE - Season 4 Episode #36
SUPPORT MUSIC IS NOT A GENRE ON PATREON WATCH MUSIC is not a GENRE VIDEOS and MORE Not everything in life can be spun into a positive. There are some things that are as objectively not good as you can get. Most of us want most of life to be great. And for those things that aren’t great to be “life lessons” or to have a “silver lining”. But let’s face it. There’s shitty shit out there and that’s that. At the same time, there’s almost nothing that can be deemed 100% bad. Almost everything & everyone has at least one redeemable quality. Society drives us to communicate as simply as possible, to distill our thoughts into memes or sound bites or 280 characters. There’s no place for nuance. No place for the grey. So anything not 100% tends to get lost in the cacophony. What’s worse is we then think the only way to be heard is to shout in kind. But every single time we try, our words get coopted or diminished or misinterpreted. Talking AT is not talking TO, and people will give what they get. But despite the inundation of social media, ads, and abject simplicity, there are other ways to communicate that offer opportunities to say more, to be less reductive & more nuanced, to find more connection & common ground. To actually have a conversation. How we use those ways depends on how much we’ve been pressured into believing that shouting is the only way. Because it’s still possible to talk a lot and only say one big thing: this is great or this sucks. Agree or disagree. Saying that in 500 or 1000 words is just as reductive as shouting it in two. And I’d argue it’s worse because it fools people into believing that you’re coming from a more informed, authoritative place. Fancy words can easily hide simplistic views. And this is where we need to get into negative reviews. I’ve threatened quite often to explain the difference between a review and a critique. So sit tight, because here it comes. A critic is a judge. Which implies power. Which, as we all know, can corrupt. And it does. Big time. So many critics think it’s their job to tear down creations & creators, thoughts & thought leaders, or whatever & whomever they’re reviewing. This is, to be as simple as possible, a pathetic power play. It’s someone with little to no actual power or creative force, trying to take down someone whose power comes from the act of putting something into the world that never before existed, and then waiting to be judged for it. It’s a way to siphon that power, to steal it & wield it for destructive purposes. That’s a “review”. And while some of these reviews do include other more nuanced & constructive thoughts, their overall impression is the worst kind of negative. Biased. Personal. Condescending. Vindictive. Self-serving. Self-aggrandizing. Seeking to destroy & not enlighten. And deliberately misleading. There’s a place for negativity. A place for pointing out flaws, and explaining why something doesn’t work or is just plain bad or false. In a culture that prizes black-and-white on every level, it’s vital that we don’t fall prey to the “everything is awesome in its own way” reduction. That’s as false as its opposite. We need to be willing to get didactic, boring even. To live in the grey. This is what reviewers who engage in constructive critique know & promote. They create a context and a safe space for discussing the negative AND the positive, for respecting the artist or thought leader whether or not they like what they’re hearing or reading. They don’t proclaim. They invite conversation & connection. They prove that it’s possible to be both critical AND respectful. For FULL SCRIPT, visit https://patreon.com/MUSICisnotaGENRE --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/musicisnotagenre/support
May 2, 2022
33 min
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