music evolution

preface: opinionated rant ahead. please do not take personal offence or judge too quickly.

so what i've observed among the people i spend time with and with our culture in general is that the indie-folk style music is kind of taking over. you know - the local band that uses guitars and an array of unconventional instruments and is typically led by a guy with big glasses and a beard and a skinny girl with long, straight hair (who may also have matching glasses and a nose-ring). the vocals are very relaxed and smooth and raspy at the same time (often the whole band sings at once) and the whole track sounds like it was recorded in a metal box.

some people call me a music snob. maybe i am. maybe i'm just narrow-minded. maybe i just know what i like. maybe i'm stuck in a rut. maybe i'm old fashioned. whatever.

i struggle liking this music.

i've really tried. mostly because it seems like everyone i know likes it and i feel like i should too. no one likes feeling left out. and also because it is fining its way into modern worship music and people i know are wanting to do stuff like this in church and i just want to say HOLD UP!

there's nothing "wrong" with indie-folk music. just like there's nothing "wrong" with country or rock or pop or  metal or whatever. every genre has its moments of excellence and there is difference between personal taste and credibility. i often assign credibility without actually liking the music. this being said, i personally have a difficult time listening to indie-folk music.

it all sounds the same to me. it jumps between 2-3 chords the whole song, the vocals are lazy and often not good. the words are either about nothing or are so complex that you have to read them over and over just to understand what the writer meant. the instrumentation is guitars strumming away with either little musical ideas here and there from the other instruments (dumbed down) or little musical ideas everywhere from the other instruments (busy and muddy). it wears on me and i just can't seem to find peace with it.

maybe it's because i just don't identify with the people who make music like this. i'm no where near hipster. i appreciate music where i can follow and be impressed by the theory behind it. i enjoy listening to quality vocals. i like structure and symmetry and song form and instruments working together to make one sound - not working independently to make a bunch of different sounds that sort of go together. i like blend and intentionality as opposed to a free for all.  i don't dress hipster or act hipster or do anything hipster. the thought of trying to do this in the church scares me a bit because i don't know if i'll be able to do it well. when it comes to indie-folk, i have next to no talent or insight to offer. and that makes me wonder if i'm even needed?

it has made me think how my parents' and grandparents' generation must feel as they have tried to embrace modern music over the years. i have always appreciated their struggle, but i am beginning to understand some of the angst they felt - especially with church musicians as they try to keep up with the changing styles. is there still a place for them if they can't keep up? i know that at times i can be old fashioned, and seemingly no one in my circle has any appreciation for any type of musical theory, but i like the music i like and i think it's the best music out there. and when i share it with people and they don't feel it like i feel it i want to smack them! don't they know they're missing out!?

all this to say...that's my own little world. and God has called me to more than that. it's not about me. people are the ministry. and if indie-folk worship music will help people connect with God, then it's my job to help bring it to them...with a good attitude. i can't say it will be easy or without angst, but i will certainly have to give it my best shot.