ebh@hou4b.UUCP (09/21/84)
> [DwightMcKay] > The sound seems quite "pop" to me but the instruments and forms > are old. I would say this is "classical" music by the "amount of mental > effort required to listen to it" argument. What do you think? I would regard the work of Mannheim Steamroller as "modern classical" if there is such a thing. Their use of mood, imagery, and tone far transcend the 4/4 boom, boom, boom, so characteristic of pop music, or the rhythmless molasses flow of "easy listening". Granted, they sometimes lack depth or complexity (listen to what happens nearly EVERY fourth measure), but at least here, depth and complexity are an issue. See if that applies to what's heard on your local "urban contemporary" ghetto-blaster station. Their genious, I think, comes from their ability to make Music from literally anything that makes a Sound (capitals intentional). This may range from a full string section, to the latest Bob Moog brainchild, to a toy piano, to a cricket (yes, all have been used at various points in their music). Many times they have blended 500 years of Sound and Music to form new Music that is truly unique and beautiful. > [Jeff Lewis] > ...it strikes me that these types of groups lack a good solid > background in current popular music because they don't realize > what is old hat (i.e. BORING) from that style. I don't think Jackson Berkey, et al, care about their popularity. If they did they'd not be recording on some no-name Omaha record label, and they wouldn't be charging >$15 per album. They'd payola their way onto some influential radio stations, and not allow for a minute their music to be heard as the background to "ABC's Wide World of Sports" commentary. Actually, though, if we talk about popularity as universal appeal, rather than superstardom or tours or airplay or record sales, they are VERY popular. I have played the Fresh Aire albums for many people, with tastes ranging from ghetto-blaster music to C&W to heavy metal, to Bach/Brahms. The albums were enjoyed by EVERYONE, without exception, that I played them for. One thing you should know, Jeff, is that Fresh Aire V is somewhat atypical of the Fresh Aire "sound". It's far more heavily syn- thesized than the others, and has much more of a "spacey" sound. The other albums have many more acoustical passages, using more exotic instruments (like crickets). If you want to hear the album that best displays the full range of their talents, listen to Fresh Aire III. A word of advice to anyone unfamiliar with Mannheim Steamroller music: when listening to an album, be sure to read the liner notes. Each album has a central theme, and it is much easier to relate the music to the theme if you read the notes, and look at the cover photography. (Look at the inside painting on Fresh Aire V.) This is one of the weaknesses I alluded to before: one should not need liner notes to figure out the theme of a piece of music. However, forgive this, and the music takes on a whole new character. (If your listening room felt warmer during Side 2 of Fresh Aire IV, then you know what I mean.) -Ed Horch {ihnp4,houxm,akgua}!hou4b!ebh P.S. Several months ago, someone posted the origin of the name Mannheim Steamroller. Could it please be reposted or mailed to me?
ag4@pucc-h (Jeff Lewis) (09/25/84)
> > [Jeff Lewis] > > ...it strikes me that these types of groups lack a good solid > > background in current popular music because they don't realize > > what is old hat (i.e. BORING) from that style. > [Ed Horch] > I don't think Jackson Berkey, et al, care about their popularity. If > they did they'd not be recording on some no-name Omaha record label, > and they wouldn't be charging >$15 per album. They'd payola their > way onto some influential radio stations, and not allow for a > minute their music to be heard as the background to "ABC's Wide > World of Sports" commentary. Actually, though, if we talk about > popularity as universal appeal, rather than superstardom or tours > or airplay or record sales, they are VERY popular. I have played > the Fresh Aire albums for many people, with tastes ranging from > ghetto-blaster music to C&W to heavy metal, to Bach/Brahms. The > albums were enjoyed by EVERYONE, without exception, that I played > them for. I love for groups to not care about their popularity; it keeps their heads where they belong. What I meant by that comment was that, while I enjoy The Steamroller (I just purchased a copy of F.A. III, and at those prices, you know it's more than a passing interest), I just wish, for example, that their drummer would play something more interesting than the standard overused four-on-the-floor set-playing that was perfectly acceptable in Jr. High, and most top 40 songs, but ... (O.k. so I'm a percussionist and it hits a sore spot) -- Jeff Lewis {decvax|ucbvax|allegra|seismo|harpo|teklabs|ihnp4}!pur-ee!lewie