Jessica Pratt's music' pays dues to a lot of 60s sounds. Wilson, Kale, Gainsbourg, Nacimiento Tropicalia, but the choices are subtle. This isn't pastiche. (or is it?) Her voice is cool, in the fifties hipster sense. It takes very little arranging to make her sound feel like you're listening to something old. Nico, Dusty Springfield or Françoise Hardy.
I agree that music is not aligned anymore with our current moment in socio-political history. If it were, there would be protest music (like during the Viet Nam war) shaking the ground outside stadiums, and not Taylor Swift.
About the Beach Boys: in terms of its appeal as a cultural product, this music spent a long time being an anathema to New Yorkers (my supposed clan). It had to wait decades to be appreciated. Even the Beatles were hokey for a certain set. It amuses me to think how no one ever didn't like The Stones. If you liked the Stones, you were okay. And that cool factor extends to Tom Verlaine. In 1977 you have the colossal 'Marquee Moon'. On the west coast, the most popular record that year belonged to, haha ...The Eagles.
That’s interesting. I wonder sometimes if the rate of change is accelerating now. Specifically, Nov 9, 2016; Covid-19; Jan 6, 2022; Russia’s Ukraine invasion (Feb 2022); Oct 7, 2023… obviously more has happened. These seem like big cultural dialogue pivots. But what’s different is I don’t hear these reflected in the music. There’s a lot of music about being lonely, feeling empowered, sexual liberation, and all this shifting towards women’s voices… but the relationship of music to the political culture feels distinctly different (as it should) from the 60s. Is it keeping up? Too broadly saturated? controlled by “the corporations”? Or are we all in our little micro worlds?
Also, I am guessing John, Paul, Ringo and George were discovering some new psychedelic wavelengths and exploring inner magical mysteries after “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
I think all of that makes sense. While politic is as frantic as ever, maybe culture no longer responds to the actual demands of any audience (and audiences are no longer masses but as you said discrete internet individuals) but is so corporatized that it deals strictly in trying to control cycles of audience interest with economic theories and predictions.
So good. For context, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" was recorded and released only two years before. That's how fast things could change in the Sixties. I honestly think culture changes slower now.
Jessica Pratt's music' pays dues to a lot of 60s sounds. Wilson, Kale, Gainsbourg, Nacimiento Tropicalia, but the choices are subtle. This isn't pastiche. (or is it?) Her voice is cool, in the fifties hipster sense. It takes very little arranging to make her sound feel like you're listening to something old. Nico, Dusty Springfield or Françoise Hardy.
I agree that music is not aligned anymore with our current moment in socio-political history. If it were, there would be protest music (like during the Viet Nam war) shaking the ground outside stadiums, and not Taylor Swift.
About the Beach Boys: in terms of its appeal as a cultural product, this music spent a long time being an anathema to New Yorkers (my supposed clan). It had to wait decades to be appreciated. Even the Beatles were hokey for a certain set. It amuses me to think how no one ever didn't like The Stones. If you liked the Stones, you were okay. And that cool factor extends to Tom Verlaine. In 1977 you have the colossal 'Marquee Moon'. On the west coast, the most popular record that year belonged to, haha ...The Eagles.
I would say definitely not pastiche. This is an interesting comment, thanks Camila!
not pastiche...but on the cusp...like Wire to Television. I love both.
That’s interesting. I wonder sometimes if the rate of change is accelerating now. Specifically, Nov 9, 2016; Covid-19; Jan 6, 2022; Russia’s Ukraine invasion (Feb 2022); Oct 7, 2023… obviously more has happened. These seem like big cultural dialogue pivots. But what’s different is I don’t hear these reflected in the music. There’s a lot of music about being lonely, feeling empowered, sexual liberation, and all this shifting towards women’s voices… but the relationship of music to the political culture feels distinctly different (as it should) from the 60s. Is it keeping up? Too broadly saturated? controlled by “the corporations”? Or are we all in our little micro worlds?
Also, I am guessing John, Paul, Ringo and George were discovering some new psychedelic wavelengths and exploring inner magical mysteries after “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
I think all of that makes sense. While politic is as frantic as ever, maybe culture no longer responds to the actual demands of any audience (and audiences are no longer masses but as you said discrete internet individuals) but is so corporatized that it deals strictly in trying to control cycles of audience interest with economic theories and predictions.
“Tomorrow Never Knows” seriously. How!?!Good rec. I’m hooked on this album now.
So good. For context, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" was recorded and released only two years before. That's how fast things could change in the Sixties. I honestly think culture changes slower now.