Don’t Hate Me Because I Love Radiohead. :-)

Six or seven years ago, I wasn’t listening to much music of any kind. Then I started recording Austin City Limits by DVD player for someone else. Occasionally I’d watch while recording. That’s how I was introduced to Wilco. My background was mostly classical music; some popular music; some soft rock songs - not bands though; and definitely not rock music. I kept playing that Wilco recording over and over, thinking “how did I miss this?” Ditto with Coldplay. I saw this strangely dressed, bejeweled man at a tiny weirdly-painted piano and was captivated. Ditto Neko Case. Ditto The Decemberists (I loved it when Colin Meloy lay down on the floor and pushed himself in circles, still playing his guitar during “The Perfect Crime.” Lately I find them a bit pretentious.)

Then came American Idol and Taylor Hicks with his self assurance, knowledge of music, and excellent song choices most of which I had never heard – Levon, Takin’ It to the Streets, Living for the City, Trouble, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Play That Funky Music, In the Ghetto (really, Elvis sang that?), Dancing in the Dark.

After that came the blogs. And one by one they shut down, to my dismay.

In 2009 I discovered Radiohead. The melodies, chord progressions, lyrics, and Thom Yorke’s voice all appealed to me instantly.  There is real beauty in their music that I identify with. I don’t fault anyone else for not getting it. Our makeup and experiences have something to do with our preferences.

And since then, kc’s influence has been great on me. I have a lot to thank him for musically.

I think I had more to say this morning when I read the link, but the day has driven it out of me if so. This is a statement I especially liked:

"By not limiting our collective listening to what’s solely been celebrated both in the past and present, we’re opening ourselves up to new, different, and unexpected discoveries. It made me think of how since so much music has opened up to me, I find myself more tolerant of other music, willing to hear it out and dig for its value – if not to myself, then to others."