Categorizing via iTunes
I don’t care too much about how a corporate service classifies the art and culture I partake of — much of it’s too difficult to classify anyway, so it’s only mildly annoying that someone at iTunes would classify, say, “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” by Wilco as “Country” (a classification that no one who had actually listened to the disc would ever make).
Looking at how my iTunes folder is automatically categorized by the system, it would seem that almost everything I listen to is “alternative.” Alternative to what, I don’t know. Frank Zappa is “rock,” and the Brian Wilson version of “Smile” is “pop,” while the Beach Boys versions of the same songs are “rock.” Huh?
But what I really enjoyed — and what propelled this line of thought — was how the system classified the Brian Eno tracks I’m listening to: “unclassifiable.” That one they got right.
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Now playing: Brian Eno – No One Receiving
via FoxyTunes
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Perhaps iTunes should create a new catagory with a title like ‘eccentric’ or ‘outsider’ or somesuch term. A person like myself could go directly to that catagory to find all the bizarre music. And then proceed directly to jazz.
August 30th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Once again Roesberg pulls into the fast lane of popular culture and leaves everyone in his dust. Is i-Tunes ready for that kind of cutting edge? I was talking to someone today about how I miss LPs and Record Stores, and I know you do too Rich….but it is the smells of an old dusty record store that always newly/fresly restored my interest in bizarre music EVERY TIME…but I go directly to 1968 Bubble Gum. i.e. The Foundations…which sends me right to i-Tunes to make my nostalgia purchases.
All of this has me thinking about one of your Sci-Fi plays, Lee, and not Anapest…it was filled with some nifty technology items, that are now only 18months away.
So are you getting this, Mr. Jobs??? (every keystroke goes directly to the insides of his eyeglasses if you type on a mac)
And thanks for the bumpersticker Lee I love it.