musical musings (remixed version)

I've always been a proud music lover at heart, always have been & always will be.

So when it comes to what genres of music I enjoy listening to, I don't really have a clear-cut favorite, whether it's new wave, reggae, classical, etc. To tell you the truth, I'm a bit eclectic when it comes to music in general. And that's a good thing, since to truly appreciate & love music, to even say that you're a bonafide music lover, one must have an open mind, open ears & an open heart as well.

Ever since I've been a toddler, that's been the case with me. I've been listening to practically anything I can get my hands on ever since I laid eyes on my father's collection of old record albums...FYI the first & foremost place anyone should start getting tuned in to their favorite artists, bands, composers, etc. So whether it's reggae, post-rock, R&B, shoegaze or IDM (for those who don't know, short for Intelligent Dance Music), I've considered myself rootless, checking out new genres as I go along. Whatever genre comes my way, I'll listen to it; I have never treated musical styles as flavors of the month or passing fads which are awesome for a short period only to get old a year or so down the line.

It comes as no surprise, then, that in order to be a genuine music lover at heart, as I am, one should not only be unbiased; one should also be adventurous as well, come to think of it, even if there is one musical genre you wouldn't pass up for anything else out there, a favorite genre which you basically grew up on. That's the stuff of true audiophiles, what makes folks such as yours truly sincere music buffs in the first place: the vibe of adventure, risk-taking, wrenching oneself free from any bias or negative opinions about certain types of music like jazz, classical, progressive rock (& better yet, keeping such biases out of your mindset).

Your favorite musical genre is metal? Fair enough, but don't be afraid to branch out to guys like Miles Davis or John Coltrane. Is it post-rock? Alright then, but check out albums from The Cure or Cocteau Twins while you're at it. You like Krautrock or post-punk? OK, but don't miss out on Fela Kuti or anything from the Nonesuch Explorer label (one of the top-notch labels in terms of field recordings). What I'm trying to say here is this: one genre alone doesn't make you a wholehearted music lover so keep your ears open. And embrace the other genres with an open mind & an open heart.

That's how I have wound up loving music to this very day: with an open mind, an open heart, & open ears.