Pleased to see a fellow curator in the house when it comes to Spotify! I've been using them for work playlists and have gotten great results. Digging the inclusion of Dvořák and Coltrane among the running order.
Thanks man! Yeah, "classical" or more technically "concert" music I guess is my favorite genre and the one I listen to most. This feature will probably always lead with a larger orchestral work that I hope people will check out. And my formal education is in Jazz, so there will be lots of that too. And of course my love of metal will get play. End of the day I really believe in that Duke quote, so I hope people find lots of new stuff to explore from this. For myself, I very often find music I adore that I didn't even know existed before someone sent it my way.
A mix of just about everything short of pre-fusion jazz and classical, although there are some Gary Numan and Isao Tomita recordings that fit the bill, plus two separate electronic renditions of the Largo from Dvořák's 9th. Hope you dig and looking forward to more from you guys. It's been a stellar first week!
100%. Music, especially when tastes are diverse is such a good thing to get to know people with.
All I know is Chariots of Fire from him, but I love that aesthetic, will dive deeper now.
And this playlist slays, man. Now I just gotta get you into some crazier modern metal to go with all the NWOBHM. But yeah it seems like we like a ton of similar stuff. Very cool!
And yeah even though I threw some shade at No. 9 (in jest) that largo has one of the best suspension and resolutions ever written in the main theme. Stunningly beautiful.
I'm the oldest 21 year old I know, so I promise I won't shake the cane too hard at some of the modern stuff lol. Besides, there's black metal in there to keep people on their mark!
On the subject of Vangelis: while it's easy to say "go for Blade Runner or Antartica or 1492," try L'Apocalypse des animaux first. Heavenly stuff on that record.
And agreed: you could perform that largo with a chorus of slide whistles and it'd bring down the house.
Update: Vangelis album was excellent. Timbral aesthetics on point, lovely melodic writing. It sounds like an ocean of the most pleasant dreams. Endorsed.
I'm 34 but also spiritually old. My first words were "get off my lawn!" And yeah I'm definitely not gonna stop blasting people with black metal. There's some mighty fine Christian black metal too, believe it or not. That stuff will make an appearance.
Will spin this Vangelis record today. 🤝
Actually laughed aloud at the slide whistle quip. Not wrong either.
Have you always thought Evanescence sucked or do you just think so now? In my teenage years I liked them but heard something "new" recently and was..... not impressed....
It was more for the lolz tbh. I like being comically polemical. I still like "Bring me to Life" and the other ballad one I can't place right now, if nothing else but for nostalgia. They also probably helped make Nightwish a more accessible band, which is good in my book. I've not listened to anything new, but I'll always evaluate stuff on a case by case basis. tl;dr - some Evanescence is good
Well the lolz was certainly achieved on me. And I'm pretty much the same with them. "Bring Me to Life," "Lithium," and "My Emmortal" I will still listen to them for nostalgia purposes IF I come across them, which would be rare.
But so far I'm digging the playlist. I'm still a novice when it comes to classical but I love this Antonin Dvorák so far. At this point you're kind of acting like my Discovery Weekly in showing me things adjacent to what I already listen to so I know I'm bound to find a new flavor of the week.
Dude that actually means a lot to me. I find the Spotify algos can be decent, but they lock you into a genre usually. Hoping the eclecticism of these lists gets people to check out things they wouldn't come across otherwise.
I'll also being doing some essays on how to listen to music (sounds weird, but it's an active skill) and that will include some basic info on what to discern in classical music, so you might like that. I think next week we'll be putting one of those out. But my advice for now is just what you're doing. Put it on and enjoy it. Dvorak is a wonderful composer.
I'll be on the lookout. My brother and I formed a band in high school and have pretty much been music junkies our whole lives so anything to discover new music or read about music, I'm ALL IN.
And this is a weird thing to say but I haven't actually used Spotify's discover weekly in quite some time for the reason you just described. But my brother and I constantly build our own collaborative playlists of various genres so that helps me stay fresh. I also often will just pick a new song I love and start a radio station based on that to find some good stuff. Works like a charm.
I've taken a swing at writing about music myself. If you have a chance, I'd love to get your feedback on any of it.
Yeah I've been performing professionally since high school and am also obsessed. I'm more passionate about writing now, but music was my first love.
Your write up on Phil Servati is great for two reasons: 1) we are on a Bluey bender at my house with our daughter haha, and 2) more seriously, it's a compelling review that makes me want to listen to the record but isn't laden with theory jargon and such. Music writing is always in danger of getting uber pretentious, I think you've kept it at a good lay level. Respect.
Isn’t Bluey just fantastic! Of all the shows my daughter has picked up on that one has been the best by leaps and bounds. Especially when it comes to the music… they do some cool stuff playing with classical works. The way they used “The Planets” throughout that dream episode… pretty good.
Now to be an adult… thank you for your kind words. That was the intent with that piece. To promote a friend’s music because I simply find it beautiful. Thanks for taking a look.
Damnit Brady, you finally gave me a good reason to download the spotify app. What a list! I guess I can hide it in the app library so I don’t have to look at it. But no matter what you guys at Pulp, Pipe, & Poetry put out, no Twitter, Facebook, or insta apps for me.
Spotify is the exception to my general hatred of apps. Though they continue to try and ruin it (they call them "updates"). Still a recommended service.
Cool I like that you added some madrigal.
Will look into the missing blade runner ost
thanks
Edit: HOLY SHIT ITS MARVELOUS
Haha the S U R V I V E one? Yeah that drop at the end is insane on a good sound system
Pleased to see a fellow curator in the house when it comes to Spotify! I've been using them for work playlists and have gotten great results. Digging the inclusion of Dvořák and Coltrane among the running order.
Thanks man! Yeah, "classical" or more technically "concert" music I guess is my favorite genre and the one I listen to most. This feature will probably always lead with a larger orchestral work that I hope people will check out. And my formal education is in Jazz, so there will be lots of that too. And of course my love of metal will get play. End of the day I really believe in that Duke quote, so I hope people find lots of new stuff to explore from this. For myself, I very often find music I adore that I didn't even know existed before someone sent it my way.
To quote a classic: "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
All you had to do was mention Vangelis and I'd be left here wondering if I was a carbon copy lol. And since I made it public a few weeks ago, here's that work playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/56ykRhgKgmZQnojB4DX89O?si=e39d324af65945ca
A mix of just about everything short of pre-fusion jazz and classical, although there are some Gary Numan and Isao Tomita recordings that fit the bill, plus two separate electronic renditions of the Largo from Dvořák's 9th. Hope you dig and looking forward to more from you guys. It's been a stellar first week!
100%. Music, especially when tastes are diverse is such a good thing to get to know people with.
All I know is Chariots of Fire from him, but I love that aesthetic, will dive deeper now.
And this playlist slays, man. Now I just gotta get you into some crazier modern metal to go with all the NWOBHM. But yeah it seems like we like a ton of similar stuff. Very cool!
And yeah even though I threw some shade at No. 9 (in jest) that largo has one of the best suspension and resolutions ever written in the main theme. Stunningly beautiful.
I'm the oldest 21 year old I know, so I promise I won't shake the cane too hard at some of the modern stuff lol. Besides, there's black metal in there to keep people on their mark!
On the subject of Vangelis: while it's easy to say "go for Blade Runner or Antartica or 1492," try L'Apocalypse des animaux first. Heavenly stuff on that record.
And agreed: you could perform that largo with a chorus of slide whistles and it'd bring down the house.
Update: Vangelis album was excellent. Timbral aesthetics on point, lovely melodic writing. It sounds like an ocean of the most pleasant dreams. Endorsed.
Brady has been converted to Vangelis Enjoyoor! Jacob is to be commended!!!
Blade Runner is, of course, incredible. Tales of the Future probably my favorite cut.
I'm 34 but also spiritually old. My first words were "get off my lawn!" And yeah I'm definitely not gonna stop blasting people with black metal. There's some mighty fine Christian black metal too, believe it or not. That stuff will make an appearance.
Will spin this Vangelis record today. 🤝
Actually laughed aloud at the slide whistle quip. Not wrong either.
Pleased to have made the acquaintance and the impression. Godspeed good sir!
Have you always thought Evanescence sucked or do you just think so now? In my teenage years I liked them but heard something "new" recently and was..... not impressed....
It was more for the lolz tbh. I like being comically polemical. I still like "Bring me to Life" and the other ballad one I can't place right now, if nothing else but for nostalgia. They also probably helped make Nightwish a more accessible band, which is good in my book. I've not listened to anything new, but I'll always evaluate stuff on a case by case basis. tl;dr - some Evanescence is good
Well the lolz was certainly achieved on me. And I'm pretty much the same with them. "Bring Me to Life," "Lithium," and "My Emmortal" I will still listen to them for nostalgia purposes IF I come across them, which would be rare.
But so far I'm digging the playlist. I'm still a novice when it comes to classical but I love this Antonin Dvorák so far. At this point you're kind of acting like my Discovery Weekly in showing me things adjacent to what I already listen to so I know I'm bound to find a new flavor of the week.
Dude that actually means a lot to me. I find the Spotify algos can be decent, but they lock you into a genre usually. Hoping the eclecticism of these lists gets people to check out things they wouldn't come across otherwise.
I'll also being doing some essays on how to listen to music (sounds weird, but it's an active skill) and that will include some basic info on what to discern in classical music, so you might like that. I think next week we'll be putting one of those out. But my advice for now is just what you're doing. Put it on and enjoy it. Dvorak is a wonderful composer.
I'll be on the lookout. My brother and I formed a band in high school and have pretty much been music junkies our whole lives so anything to discover new music or read about music, I'm ALL IN.
And this is a weird thing to say but I haven't actually used Spotify's discover weekly in quite some time for the reason you just described. But my brother and I constantly build our own collaborative playlists of various genres so that helps me stay fresh. I also often will just pick a new song I love and start a radio station based on that to find some good stuff. Works like a charm.
I've taken a swing at writing about music myself. If you have a chance, I'd love to get your feedback on any of it.
https://derekjpetty.substack.com/s/lend-your-ear
Yeah I've been performing professionally since high school and am also obsessed. I'm more passionate about writing now, but music was my first love.
Your write up on Phil Servati is great for two reasons: 1) we are on a Bluey bender at my house with our daughter haha, and 2) more seriously, it's a compelling review that makes me want to listen to the record but isn't laden with theory jargon and such. Music writing is always in danger of getting uber pretentious, I think you've kept it at a good lay level. Respect.
Isn’t Bluey just fantastic! Of all the shows my daughter has picked up on that one has been the best by leaps and bounds. Especially when it comes to the music… they do some cool stuff playing with classical works. The way they used “The Planets” throughout that dream episode… pretty good.
Now to be an adult… thank you for your kind words. That was the intent with that piece. To promote a friend’s music because I simply find it beautiful. Thanks for taking a look.
Damnit Brady, you finally gave me a good reason to download the spotify app. What a list! I guess I can hide it in the app library so I don’t have to look at it. But no matter what you guys at Pulp, Pipe, & Poetry put out, no Twitter, Facebook, or insta apps for me.
Never fear Jeanne, you should be able to listen to the whole playlist inside the Substack post?? I think????
UPDATE:
Unfortunately it only shows previews. You will have to get Spotify. I can assure you a playlist of this magnitude is fully worth it.
Also, if you need the upsell, Jeanne, I'll be doing them weekly. Big time v*lue
The deed is done.
Yes, I had to download it. It’s OK. I still don’t have a second page of apps on my phone but it is getting uncomfortably close.
Spotify is the exception to my general hatred of apps. Though they continue to try and ruin it (they call them "updates"). Still a recommended service.