I have heard from many, that I am closed minded about music. I say yes and no. It is no surprise to anyone who knows me that I despise 99.9% of mainstream music. When I say mainstream, I am talking about the mindless (my opinion) tripe that is pumped out into the airwave or rocketed through a piece of wire into our living rooms. A festive colorful flavor of the week smorgasborg. Sometimes, I wonder why people don't overdose on this mediocrity. Am I cynical? Yes

What do I like? Everything But how can this be? Simple

I am a huge supporter of independent music. When an artist or band releases an album with no holds barred, I am impressed. Major label companies do not allow this artistic freedom because it is not a guaranteed sale. Everything an artist knows is left on shore when they jump on board a giant record company's ship. I could rant all day but it would just be that. So to start with I call upon a legend: Miles Davis.

Miles Davis, as pretty much everyone knows, was a jazz musician. He released several truckloads of records from the 40's untill his death in the early 90's. While hardly an independent musician, he didn't need a flashy package and wardrobe department to sell records. He instead played from the gut and opened a door for jazz to exist on a pop level. Other great jazz musicians I admire are: John Coltrane, Max Roach, Charles Mingus, and Ornette Coleman.

On the other end of the spectrum comes the band Spazz. Spazz was a trio of musicians who followed the D.I.Y. ethic. D.I.Y. is Do It Yourself. Record the music yourself, book your own shows, promote the band yourself, and for god's sake even release and distribute the records yourself. Spazz was comparable to humanity in a blender on frapee. Playing a million miles an hour and stopping on a dime to thrown down a twisted groove funky enough to move your feet. How many bands can record 20+ songs lasting just over eleven minutes, then squeeze it all on to a seven inch piece of vinyl, and sell it for less then the cost of a Big Mac? Not many and still maintain a prolific style. All I can say is rest in peace my dear Spazz.

I'd also like to mention a musician who in my humble opinion stands miles ahead of most, Nick Cave. Nick Cave embarked on a solo career after the demise of The Birthday Party, an australian band too weird for most. Mixing blues, jazz, folk, and extreme originality Mr. Cave kicks the dust into your eyes and blinds you with strange emotions. He sings or rather croons tales of murder, deprevity, and an unfaltering obsession to find the truth to life. Vivid and beautiful one minute, dark and macabre the next. Having released a dozen or so albums over the past twenty years he has remained very elusive in music. Once he even refused an award from MTV. He tours the United States irregularly and not much is said about him until he releases a new record. Go figure I don't get it.

These are just a few musicians I would like to highlight to maybe lessen the cynical harsh nature of my opening words. I am a huge music fan sometimes listening to as mush as 18 hours of it a day. If only I could write my own. Oh well.

Slap-a-ham Records This record company is run by former Spazz bassist Chris Dodge. He has released a large number of records from a wide variety of break-neck tempo bands.
Mordam Records Huge independent music distribution company. Do yourself a favor buy independent.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds This is the official site of Nick Cave. It also has information about his band the Bad Seeds.
Nick Cave Online A site put together by his fans worldwide. It is more informative then his official site.
Miles Davis His offical site put out by $ony. For the most part it is boring, but has an indispensible listing of his back catalog of music.