From: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org (alloy-digest) To: alloy-digest@smoe.org Subject: alloy-digest V5 #261 Reply-To: alloy@smoe.org Sender: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk X-To-Unsubscribe: Send mail to "alloy-digest-request@smoe.org" X-To-Unsubscribe: with "unsubscribe" as the body. alloy-digest Saturday, October 28 2000 Volume 05 : Number 261 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Alloy: Alloy--more pondering of TMDR's music ["Julie Sweeney" Subject: Alloy: Alloy--more pondering of TMDR's music One of the things I've always loved so much in Thomas' > music is that he can bring out this type of subtlety and very direct, > straightforward feel (I have a feeling this is from a combination of his > musicianship, his lyrics and his unique, very honest delivery) no matter what > instruments he's using. > This was another facet of this discussion Damien and I had. I mentioned I felt that listening to Thomas' music is very intimate, you really get the feeling it's just you and him, and for me at least, this results in an immersion in his music that I don't think I get with any other artist or group. I always have the sense that he is playing purely to please himself, and does this remove a layer of artifice that usually exists when music is made for more commercial success, or when it's heavily produced? This raised the other question we had, which we haven't had time to investigate, does Thomas produce his own stuff? He must... the feeling or sense of him in his music is a constant throughout his work, no matter what phase or style he's in. It's not like, say the B-52's, who are great anyway, but you can really tell when they worked with David Byrne. Thomas' music is all Thomas. Enough, anyway. This is a small part of a very long conversation we had (while driving, no kids in the car, hurray!) that ranged all over the place--so I won't bore you with the rest. Have a day-- Julie ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 18:59:26 -0400 From: Robin Thurlow Subject: Re: Alloy: Alloy--more pondering of TMDR's music Julie Sweeney wrote: > This was another facet of this discussion Damien and I had. I mentioned I > felt that listening to Thomas' music is very intimate, you really get the > feeling it's just you and him, and for me at least, this results in an > immersion in his music that I don't think I get with any other artist or > group. I know what you mean. Music is a really extraordinary form of communication in Thomas' hands & the way he comes across through it really touches you - he is really one of the best artists of our time! It's hard for me to talk about his work without getting into 'visuals' but even then it's hard to describe. I feel it as both impressionistic and extremely intimate, the way things come across in dreams. This is me just blathering on in the dark, with a ferret in my lap, drinking coffee... so I apologise for the weirdness that may be coming across... it's just one of those nights. Most striking to me, and something I personally identify with (as people have pointed this out in my own artwork too) is the motif of the individual, surrounded by impressions of other things but still isolated within them. This can be heard in the brilliant piano part in 'I Live in a Suitcase', for instance... I don't think I've ever heard a piece of music echo this sentiment so perfectly, even without the poetry of the lyrics there is no doubt about the isolation of the character as expressed through the piano part. xxx Robin T ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2000 00:33:13 -0400 From: Robin Thurlow Subject: Alloy: TMDR at PopTech conference Thomas is scheduled to give his presentation today, Saturday 10/28, from 8pm to 9:30pm, Eastern US time. The web site (http://www.camcon.org) is supposed to have a live feed of all conference events, though I haven't been able to link into it so far when I tried to test it out. It says the link is incorrect, or something. Hopefully it'll connect in time for Thomas' presentation..? mmmmm... Technology :) Anyway, try to tune in if you're around for it! Robin T ------------------------------ End of alloy-digest V5 #261 ***************************