Automatic Gainsay

Such a great song that I have almost forgotten so many times since I first saw the video on early MTV

SO cool!

When I saw this song posted, I was like “I wonder if they know that Pr- oh, yep!”
One of the cool seemingly-unlikely pairings!”

Twitter has turned into a bastion of selfish, unintelligent tribalism that shames people for not being “on the team.” I’m sorry to say that I saw a few posts in my feed here, today, that were shaming people due to their race, and not being on the teams of others.
Is humanity doomed?

Sometimes ARP2600

That’s fantastic! Thank you!

I have a 2-hour documentary on the history of polyphony in YouTube that I largely created in order to address that term!

But I am an unbearable pedant, and it isn’t really relevant to your great post!

As a synth historian, I struggle with the term “semi-modular,” as it USED to describe a modular synthesizer that relied on SOME connections that were not modular. Which is important. In the early 2010s, Eurorack inspired usage that meant “doesn’t have separate modules,” which isn’t as practical.

Thank you for saying this. The notion that the value of art is dependent upon approval of the character of the artist does not serve art. As an artist, I insist that most of us are intolerable.

I find politics to largely be simple thinly-veiled tribalism; people feeling valid through seeing similar perceptions and opinions in others. I prefer practical and beneficial governance. But I do find that Liberal people are, on average, the creative people.

Hey, haters! ARP McCartney for your Christmas synth tutelage!

The other morning, I was able to spend a little time with the MiniBrute again… with an audience… the illustrious Liebes.
I am reminded that despite being a small-keyed affordable synth, it is incredibly powerful, capable of a startling array of synthesis type sounds and more.

For much of my life, I imagined meeting someone who wrote music like I did, was like me, and was staggeringly intelligent. Of course, such imaginings were fantasy. And yet, I found that person. Here is me with my unbelievably amazing partner, Christine Anderson.

Price has always been a challenge in regard to the synthesizer as a product. Of course, the synthesizer benefits from the most control possible, it the viability of it as a product has always meant that it was less controllable.

Recently, I visited the glorious United Kingdom and was able to hang out with a couple of great friends: fellow synth demonstrator Alex Ball, and synth industry icon Dave Spiers… in Dave’s astounding vintage synth studio.

The synthesizer is the ultimate realization of the centuries-long quest for humans to exert complete control over the authorship of sound.
That’s not to say it isn’t fun to use to create prog rock solos, filter sweeps, or sequenced techno.
But it is sad how pigeonholed it has become.

When I mentioned vitriol, it was more about the people who personally hate it, and instead of assessing it objectively, are basing their measurement of the validity of the song as a Christmas classic on that. Also: most “classics” are less than 100 years old.

My point is that his early adopting of the Minimoog was far more influential at the time than some of the synth-only artists currently cherished by enthusiasts, is all.

It is absolutely not a music Al masterpiece despite being a catchy pop tune with a rather important implementation of a CS-80… Irving Berlin it is not. But it IS popular and oft-played.

Ultimately, I think what defines a Christmas Classic is up for examination.

For many, it does!

Hi! I’m specifically not a bot, but I am a synthesist, synthesizer historian, composer, songwriter, and synthesizer educator. While I can totally understand why some may not enjoy this song, I find the vitriol and unfounded musical criticism a little silly. Glad to engage in discourse about it.

Right here!

As a synthesist, synthesizer historian, and composer, I find this meme slightly amusing, but largely offensive.
Keep in mind that Band on the Run was exponentially more influential and present than anything Kraftwerk ever did!
Undoubtedly unpopular view… however accurate. :)

I believe that it was to indicate that sailors, in particular, were to take warning.

Here I am with the incomparable Liebes.

Playing that is SUCH a joy. I sat down with one at Knobcon in September.

Earlier this year, or late last year, or some time at some point (I have lost the ability to make or organize memories, i guess), I was at Analogue Solutions playing the then-largely-unheard Maximus. I probably don’t need to say that it was utterly SPECTACULAR.

Williamsville model! Unless it’s been updated, it has the oscillator set that is less stabile but more pleasing!