You could just take for what it seems to be. Your friend is giving you music to listen to and wants your opinion. Since you are in doubt you could just assume this person is both sincere and generous. After all, what really is your opinion on music worth? If you really see that this music is crap and feel the need to help this person see the light, why not just return the favor? Give your friend some of the music you prize as being the real thing. Tell them why you like it. Ask them to hear what you hear.That would allow you to take your criticism to a constructive place- get your point across without degrading this persons intentions. Also, if the person is really fishing for validation and direction from you- and given you have a sense of what it is they are trying to get to ( music that seems intelligent may indicate they would like to develop an ear for what is generally approved of as being intelligent), you have the opportunity to help them to this end. That is trust.
Could somebody please explain
I know what the dictionary says that it means, but here's the problem....every so often - increasingly frequently because people are starting to know that I am into audio and even more into music - some aquaintance (ie., colleague, co-worker, friend of a friend, etc.) will hand me a CD and say something like: You have to listen to this disk, it's got heavy jazz/classical/latin/blues (pick one..or two) influences but it's hard to pin down just what it really is. It's very eclectic."
Invariably the disk is crap.
The disk is usually generously given to me by an individual who wouldn't know a pianissimo from a pinada, and I am left to wonder just what is meant by the "eclectic" designation. Here are some of the possible meanings under consideration:
1. I don't understand even a fragment of what is going on here musically, so this disk must be really good.
2. I paid good money for this thing and I hate it, so I'll try and pass it off on someone else and call it eclectic.
3. It sounds like world music, and world music is eclectic (the "peace, love, dope" approach).
4. It's eclectic and I like it, so if you don't, you're an idiot.
5. Since I listen to eclectic music you have to think that I am intelligent.
I often wonder what response I would recieive if I merely returned the disk and said" It's not eclectic, it's sh**. Stop worrying about it and go listen to some music you like."
Any thoughts?
Invariably the disk is crap.
The disk is usually generously given to me by an individual who wouldn't know a pianissimo from a pinada, and I am left to wonder just what is meant by the "eclectic" designation. Here are some of the possible meanings under consideration:
1. I don't understand even a fragment of what is going on here musically, so this disk must be really good.
2. I paid good money for this thing and I hate it, so I'll try and pass it off on someone else and call it eclectic.
3. It sounds like world music, and world music is eclectic (the "peace, love, dope" approach).
4. It's eclectic and I like it, so if you don't, you're an idiot.
5. Since I listen to eclectic music you have to think that I am intelligent.
I often wonder what response I would recieive if I merely returned the disk and said" It's not eclectic, it's sh**. Stop worrying about it and go listen to some music you like."
Any thoughts?