From: The Cassette Mythos, Autonomedia 1990
So here we are--thinking about independent music (or at least reading about it). Why? Perhaps you are an independent music fan--or perhaps an independent musician--or perhaps both. Why? And why has this particular book been published? Who am I? Perhaps I am an independent music fan--or perhaps an independent musician--or perhaps both. Why? Are you answering any of these questions? Are you even still reading this? Why? "WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME GOING OVER THINGS WE'VE GONE OVER BEFORE AND I DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT THEY WARRANT GOING OVER ANYMORE..."
-- Interrupt your reading to listen to The Wonderful World of the Dits.
Now. Why am I writing this? And what are my qualifications? Do you assume I know what I'm talking about just because this is in print, or do you suspect that I am simply full of shit? Why? Is there a line between art and self-indulgence, or are the two not mutually exclusive? Are The Dits artists or merely self-indulgent? What day is it? Is this test art or self-indulgence? Is there even a difference between the two?
"WERE WASTING OUR TIME GOING OVER THINGS WE'VE GONE OVER BEFORE AND I DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT THEY WARRANT GOING OVER ANYMORE..."
-- Interrupt your reading and listen to The Proud Americans.
Does something sound strange? Strange in comparison to what? And why do we make such comparisons? Are we comparing The Proud Americans to an arbitrary perception of normalcy or to reality? What time is it? Why do we even discuss reality, if there is no alternative? Is there an alternative, or is everything a reality?
Many people believe that music which contains such "unconventional" elements (which in turn tend to embarrass or confuse people) is undesirable. Why do they feel this way? Undesirable in comparison to what? To an arbitrary measurement of desirability, or are there set laws governing desirability? Why does number 6 precede 7? And what do the numbers 4 and 12 have to do with anything? If a piece of music is undesirable to a majority of people in an arbitrary group, does this make it undesirable? What if it is undesirable to the majority of the people alive today? Does this make it undesirable? And, if it were, wouldn't such extreme undesirability make the piece desirable? Why am I being forced to listen to Muzak as I write this? Is it because it is desirable, or is someone merely pointing a gun at my head?
"WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME GOING OVER THINGS WE'VE GONE OVER BEFORE AND I DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT THEY WARRANT GOING OVER ANYMORE..."
-- Interrupt your reading to read Silence.
Now. Why does Cage consistently repeat his ideas and observations over and over again? Is he trying to make a point, or is he repeating himself just to be monotonous? And why does he ask so many questions? Is John Cage an artist, or is he merely full of shit? Am I consciously trying to write like John Cage? Is there anything at all indeterminate about what I'm writing? Is there ever such a thing as indeterminate? Is John Cage an artist, or is he merely full of shit? And if I am trying to write like Cage, does this mean that I am either an artist or full of shit? Have I implied that I think that Cage is either an artist or full of shit? Or have I simply baited you into thinking that these are the only two things that Cage can possibly be?
"WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME GOING OVER THINGS WE'VE GONE OVER BEFORE AND I DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT THEY WARRANT GOING OVER ANYMORE..."
-- Interrupt your reading and start at the beginning of this book again.
Now. Why are you reading this? Why do you refuse to follow instructions? Is it because you have read and digested all of the material and ideas found within the covers of this publication or is it because you just don't have the time to waste? Or is it because you are stubborn? Why are you still reading this? When one does not follow instructions, does this mean that they are necessarily wrong? Or do they just have a disdain for authority? Whose authority? Isn't it possible that I am wrong for insisting that you follow my instructions? What color is your car? Isn't it possible that Ronald Reagan is wrong? Why do I mention Ronald Reagan and your car when I have personally seen neither and both are the farthest thing from my mind right now? Is it because either of them are relevant to independent music? Is it because I am stupid, or because I am ignorant about independent music? Why do you continue to ignore instructions and plod merrily along your way, when you could comply with my instructions and go back to that with which you are already familiar, ad infinitum, until your demise?
-- Interrupt your reading to telephone Beethoven and ask him the last half of every third question encountered in this test.
Now. Why didn't you call Beethoven and ask him the question fragments? Is it because he is dead, or simply because you were afraid that he would hang up on you? Oh, yes--I almost forgot:
"WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME GOING OVER THINGS WE'VE GONE OVER BEFORE AND I DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT THEY WARRANT GOING OVER ANYMORE..."
Now. Why do you continue to waste your time by reading this?
-- Interrupt your reading and do not continue with it.
Now. Why do I continue to waste my time writing this, when I now know that no one will be reading this? Is it because I have nothing better to do or is it because I already know that you will not follow instructions and will continue to read on simply to spite me?
"WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME GOING OVER THINGS WE'VE GONE OVER BEFORE AND I DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT THEY WARRANT GOING OVER ANYMORE..."
-- Interrupt your reading to listen to The Light at the End of the Tunnel...
-- Interrupt your listening 6 minutes and 23.7 seconds (including leader, of course) into side one and read pages 507 to 521 of IBM manual #GC28-0629-5: OS/VS2 JCL. Now listen to "Job Control Language."
"WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME GOING OVER THINGS WE'VE GONE OVER BEFORE AND I DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT THEY WARRANT GOING OVER ANYMORE..."
Now. What am I trying to prove here? Does something have to be proven in order to be so? Is there even such a thing as proof? What do numbers have to do with anything? Do numbers really exist, or are they just symbols?
"WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME GOING OVER THINGS WE'VE GONE OVER BEFORE AND I DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT THEY WARRANT GOING OVER ANYMORE..."
--Interrupt your reading and listen to Live at the Edge!
Now. What does the number 4 have to do with anything? Is the number 4 more desirable than the numbers 3, 7, 14 1/2, 123, or pi? Is undesirability desirable? And speaking of numbers, symbols and labels: if I were to inform you that Live at the Edge! was intended to be rock 'n' roll music, would the audio signals eminating from your speakers sound any different (worse, better, less desirable, etc.) than if I maintained that it was just supposed to be noise? How about if I said it was religious music? Would it still sound the same? Would you be embarrassed to play this music for your friends? How about a perfect stranger? Why? Can I borrow $20? Will you give me your car? Will Ronald Reagan give me his? Are you still reading this? Why? Don't you have anything better to do? THEN DO IT! "WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME GOING OVER THINGS WE'VE GONE OVER BEFORE AND I DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT THEY WARRANT GOING OVER ANYMORE..."
"WE'RE TASTING OUR WINE GOING OVER THINGS WE'VE GONE OVER BEFORE AND I DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT THEY WARRANT GOING OVER ANYMORE..."
Mr. Dink also wrote about Local Labels.
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