A Tribute To Tiesto
So I've been into techno for a while now. For a couple years I think. I've heard various artists...Daft Punk, ATC, Prodigy, Alice Deejay, Aqua, Ian Van Dahl...most of these artists I have only one or two songs of (downloaded), which are pretty good for the most part.
Pretty good, mind you. For a long time I've been wanting an EXCELLENT artist, one who isn't about just one or two hit songs, but for the life of me, knows how to put out good techno like it's second nature.
And then, about a few months ago, I found THE man...an artist who's songs and mixes are as excellent as they are numerous (both going hand-in-hand).
Tiesto, bitches. DJ Tiesto.
He's for the most part "trance," which is surprising since I wasn't much into that kind of techno to begin with. I mostly digged Prodigy's hard-corish techno...and yes, some VERY japanese techno...but then, lo and behold, I heard one Tiesto song after the other and slowly got hooked.
I have bought one of his albums, "In Search Of Sunrise, Vol 3" and have just ordered four more online (since he's particularly hard to find in stores--he isn't really that well-known in America). Those being "In Search Of Sunrise Vol 1," "Just Be," "Nyana," and "In My Memory." All should be excellent, from the reviews I've read online.
Let me reiterate this: I am BUYING music. Yes, BUYING. That should tell you how good this guy really is. I never BUY anything unless it is truly worth owning.
I'm telling you, if you are at ALL interested in techno, this is the guy to try out. And even if you're not, listen anyways. He is absolutely amazing. The stuff he puts out is just...bliss.
Let me reiterate some facts/rant: techno is worthwhile. The genre is growing on me steadily and is becoming something that I listen to regularly. It's just so....different. The way the albums are set up are awesome. Unlike most rock/rap/pop/whatever albums, techno albums (traditionally) flow from one track to the next. There are no breaks, no pauses, just one smooth listening experience that's over before you know it.
What I hear most from people when they talk about techno is something along the lines of, "It all sounds the same." How untrue, and how unfair, in my opinion. Any other genre has the same problem, don't they? Artists copy and artists and before you know it, everything sounds the same. At least in the case with techno (or more specifically, trance) the genre is underground enough that you actually have to be ORIGINAL to succeed.
Another misconception: the same "noise" or "beat" is played over and over again. That "noise" being electronic beats, basically. A common misconception, and something easy to follow into. Think about rock. I could just as easily say "Well guitar riffs are played over and over again." But you know that's not true. Those guitar riffs are switched up to make a song, to make it interesting to hear. The same applies for techno.
In my opinion, techno is the future of music, and has a lot of potential to be something great for a very long time. Just think about it. Techno itself is electronically engineered, constructed and crafted into whatever the artist has in mind. Physical instruments, in a way, is limiting in the regard of composing music. So much more can be accomplished when any sound at will can be incorporated and used.
So this is my tribute, to the man of the here and now, DJ Tiesto, and a tribute to a very promising genre of music.
Pretty good, mind you. For a long time I've been wanting an EXCELLENT artist, one who isn't about just one or two hit songs, but for the life of me, knows how to put out good techno like it's second nature.
And then, about a few months ago, I found THE man...an artist who's songs and mixes are as excellent as they are numerous (both going hand-in-hand).
Tiesto, bitches. DJ Tiesto.
He's for the most part "trance," which is surprising since I wasn't much into that kind of techno to begin with. I mostly digged Prodigy's hard-corish techno...and yes, some VERY japanese techno...but then, lo and behold, I heard one Tiesto song after the other and slowly got hooked.
I have bought one of his albums, "In Search Of Sunrise, Vol 3" and have just ordered four more online (since he's particularly hard to find in stores--he isn't really that well-known in America). Those being "In Search Of Sunrise Vol 1," "Just Be," "Nyana," and "In My Memory." All should be excellent, from the reviews I've read online.
Let me reiterate this: I am BUYING music. Yes, BUYING. That should tell you how good this guy really is. I never BUY anything unless it is truly worth owning.
I'm telling you, if you are at ALL interested in techno, this is the guy to try out. And even if you're not, listen anyways. He is absolutely amazing. The stuff he puts out is just...bliss.
Let me reiterate some facts/rant: techno is worthwhile. The genre is growing on me steadily and is becoming something that I listen to regularly. It's just so....different. The way the albums are set up are awesome. Unlike most rock/rap/pop/whatever albums, techno albums (traditionally) flow from one track to the next. There are no breaks, no pauses, just one smooth listening experience that's over before you know it.
What I hear most from people when they talk about techno is something along the lines of, "It all sounds the same." How untrue, and how unfair, in my opinion. Any other genre has the same problem, don't they? Artists copy and artists and before you know it, everything sounds the same. At least in the case with techno (or more specifically, trance) the genre is underground enough that you actually have to be ORIGINAL to succeed.
Another misconception: the same "noise" or "beat" is played over and over again. That "noise" being electronic beats, basically. A common misconception, and something easy to follow into. Think about rock. I could just as easily say "Well guitar riffs are played over and over again." But you know that's not true. Those guitar riffs are switched up to make a song, to make it interesting to hear. The same applies for techno.
In my opinion, techno is the future of music, and has a lot of potential to be something great for a very long time. Just think about it. Techno itself is electronically engineered, constructed and crafted into whatever the artist has in mind. Physical instruments, in a way, is limiting in the regard of composing music. So much more can be accomplished when any sound at will can be incorporated and used.
So this is my tribute, to the man of the here and now, DJ Tiesto, and a tribute to a very promising genre of music.
Comments
Incidentaly, you're comment about physical instruments being limiting made me remember a funny little story. Frank Zappa, the famous musician (and one of the main inspirations for Ween) experimented with electronica (the groundwork genre that lead to techno) from time to time. At one point he put out an electronica album that's sole purpose was to be so good and hectic, that no one would ever be able to play it. I heard it myself, and I must admit, that it was pretty insane, and the idea of anyone playing it seemed implausible. Then, years later, a symphony heard it and played a few of the harder songs from the album at a live show. I heard these recordings as well.
Everything was spot on.
So while I can agree with your opinion that techno certainly has potential, I must say, I think music of any kind is only as good as the musician who makes it.
Oh, and while we're on the subject of spending money on music, these are my two current obsessions that I've bought and paid for, and would encourage others to purchase if they enjoy it:
Gorillaz - Demon Days (This album is insanely good. Very electronica Brian. I think you would enjoy it.)
Common - Be (Seriously, this album is the only hip hop/rap/whatever album worth buying today. Incredible and conscious.)
However, let me say that in no way is rock an inferior genre. It will certainly be a long time until techno puts out as many great artists and songs that rock has done over the past 50 years.
I'm more about speculating the possibilities techno can achieve. I believe techno really is starting to grow now, especially with the explosive popularity of Tiesto not just in Europe, but in the USA too.
But I'll definitely share with you the stuff I have. Copies of his albums to anyone who wants them (and hopefully you'll think he's good enough to buy yourself).
Therefore, it is in my miraculous opinion that even Outkast is a failure of a musical artist. Sorry Lucio.
So it appears you have read nothing that I posted, Dante. Here I am saying that this trance artist is very good, and here you are talking about stereotypes that you probably read on the internet.
It's nice that Dante doesn't take into consideration the opinion of a friend, and rather accentuates a stereotype like its something intelligent to post.
O, by the way, the only people I know of who listen to Tiesto besides me is Bryan Kim, Tim Suhr, and Erik. But I guess that solidifies them into fat, white, and male computer users.
Consider:
1) I literally had no idea what was the stereotype that listened to trance. In fact, before all of what you said, I would of guessed asians (Bryan Kim, Tim Suhr, Erik) and Europeans (because Tiesto is very popular over there). So if there are any implications that I'm simply trying to follow a crowd, you are dead wrong.
2) The quality of a genre of music shouldn't be defined by the fans.
In your case, the fans that you have met suck. In my case, the fans I've met are awesome (prob not Tim Suhr though...nobody likes that fat bastard ;)
3) Techno, or trance specifically, isn't mainstream because well...it's obvious isn't it? Since when has the majority of America really had good taste in music?
4) As to tracks interconnecting (which I think is something appropiate when you have to do something for a long time...say, a road trip or working out), Tiesto also puts out albums with individual tracks--songs that don't meld, so you can listen to an individual song without feeling you jumped right in the middle of something else.
5) Drug use has been an almost complementary entity of music. Every genre has had its afflictions; does that mean that since I'm listening to trance, that I must be using E? No. And I don't doubt that some trance fans do that kind of stupid shit. But I don't. A neither does many other fans. Which again stresses that the douche-bag fans you meet shouldn't ruin the genre for you.
I will conclude with saying that I have no doubt in my mind that there are many shitty trance tracks out there, and like any genre of music, you would have to shovel through the 90% crap to get to the 10% good. In this case, Tiesto was the first find for me, saving me the trouble of putting on my shit-boots.
I'd also like to point out that stereotypes are not correct, and are generally offensive.
Although to be fair, if you read her blog you'd see why she hasn't gotten around to it yet.
Side note: don't know why it deletes comments. I think only the person who put it up can delete it.