Sunday, August 22, 2010

Glockenspiel Sex Appeal

What the heck is the deal with every indie band having Glockenspiel now? And I use the term loosely- "indie band" not "Glockenspiel"- to include everything from Maps and Atlases to Andrew Bird to Vampire Weekend. I feel like I haven't been to a show in the past year that didn't involve somebody breaking out the Glockenspiel at some point.



Now, I can understand the musical need for the Glockenspiel. Sometimes the sublime natural beauty of the instrument is called for, in order to heighten the power of the musical moment. Though I frown on on indie-artists using the instrument as a cheap emotional gimmick- I worry that producers, fearful that their album has failed to pull the correct emotional strings, often fallback on the Glockenspiel to try and save a sinking ship. No amount of Glockenspiel- no matter how beautiful and alluring it can be- can save mediocre music. However, used right, I think these artists have discovered the instrument's awesome and versatile emotional power. In skilled hands, it's like some greater musical soul rises out of the high-octane instrument's shrill, metallic piercings, elevating the listener to a greater level of musical experience.

It's the only explanation I can come up with. However, despite the Glockenspiel's ubiquity, for some reason your average Glockenspielist still gets little respect on the streets. Well, in order to highlight the much deserved sex appeal of the instrument, I've began compiling a compendium of Glockenspiel uses in modern pop and indie-rock.



By the way, you should watch the whole thing to see what Bird can do with a Glockenspiel and loop pedal.

More to come...

5 comments:

  1. Thank you for another great Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information. (new song audio)

    ReplyDelete
  2. This blog is precisely what I was searching for.
    portable turntable reviews

    ReplyDelete
  3. A shockingly normal impact detailed by numerous accomplices - after the stun of revelation - is the sentiment of losing one's brain. Fixating on the subtle elements of the sex fiend's selling out, over and again standing up to her join forces with "prove" of disloyalty and being told she's "insane" or "simply desirous" results in lost concentration and a powerlessness to think.หนังโป๊เกาหลี

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your blog is really a good platform to get informative posts. It is really a helpful platform. This is nice site piknu about instagram, please visit

    ReplyDelete