Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces

No, I'm not reviewing a Seether album. I'm feeling the slightest bit of optimism today, so I decided to take a positive perspective on something that is usually touted upon: music piracy.

I think its a bad thing on the whole, but if music files weren't easily transferable from computer to computer, there would be hundreds of bands that never got off the ground, millions of iPods with thousands of songs fewer, and less of a stir about music releases nowadays. If the CD torrenters didn't exist, there would be much more hype for new releases, much less knowledge about bands and music in general, much lower attendance at shows, and far, far fewer people paying for CDs. Even though bands lose money from internet piracy, its not like every single torrent download is equivalent to the purchase of an album, and its not like people who steal but enjoy music don't go to shows or buy the occasional band t-shirt.

With some exceptions, I don't think its a smart thing to do, but with any decision, there are consequences. While there are significant consequences to internet piracy, even outside of music, there are benefits to both parties, even those who seem to suffer on the whole.

Of Instrumentation

While listening to Sigur Ros's Hoppipolla I realized a characteristic of some of my favorite bands is a wide use of instrumentation. King Crimson is a decent example of progressive instrumentation, The Dear Hunter and Sigur Ros both use small brass ensembles, and even guitar-and-voice Conor Oberst has incorporated a few off instruments into his music. My (current) all-time favorite live album, Dream Theater's Score, is better than the rest of my favorites partially because of the impressive incorporation of the live orchestra in the second set.

I'd really like to see Matthew Bellamy play the harp in a song like Falling Away With You, Claudio Sanchez play the voilin in a sad emo love song, Flea play the French Horn in an epic RH composition, and Mike Portnoy play some marimba.