Cue The Music - Installment #2: Kick Ass

Let's talk about kicking ass - specifically, music that kicks ass. In the literal sense, kicking ass is only good if you're the one doing the kicking. Metaphorically speaking, kicking ass, or getting your ass kicked, can be much more favorable. Is that new burger joint any good? Hells yes, it kicks ass. Have you heard the new album by Radiohead? Dude, it kicks ass. The new burger joint would be a most favorable assault on the taste buds - all things good to eat. The new Radiohead, a pleasing listening experience that I'm likely to want a lot more of - Y'know, as opposed to walking in the new burger joint, listening to Radiohead and getting punched out. Who wants that? Nobody, that's who.

These days there's quite a bit of talk about ass kicking in a good way. It can mean a heightened enjoyment factor, or it could mean you learned something that you may have been afraid to even try for fear of failure, degree of difficulty, potential for embarrassment - any number of negative things that if you let them, can get the best of you and stop you from even attempting something that could seriously enrich your life, even if just a little. I say full speed ahead in such matters - at least in terms of anything creative and artistic that you want to try. Get your ass kicked by new things that will expand your horizons and boost your enjoyment levels in as many ways as you can - and don't be afraid to try new things - particularly with new music! There's a Sean Penn quote that I have kind of adopted and I love using it when I motivate myself to try anything outside of my comfort zone:  Fail all you want - but fucking TRY. Try. Give new things a fucking chance.

I'll never understand why so many people are so unwilling to try new things and give them an honest chance - particularly when it comes to new music in different genres, by different artists than the mainstream popular stuff. My opinion is that there is just so much more out there that's enjoyable - so why close your mind off to it? Everything I like is a favorite - the only time one is better than another, is during the time I'm in the mood to experience it and appreciate it. You've gotta be in the moment, and the moment kicks ass - if you let it. I'm all for the letting it when it comes to listening to music. Why limit yourself?

A friend once asked me a series of questions that were A/B comparisons - one over the other, which did I prefer? Questions like, Chocolate ice cream or vanilla ice cream?, Which do you like better - red or blue? - and she got a little frustrated with me when I answered, apparently my answers weren't playing along. For the ice cream question, I told her it depends - if it's just vanilla, then I'd probably go with chocolate, but if it's vanilla with fresh strawberries that have been mixed with a bit of sugar and balsamic vinegar, I'ma say vanilla. For the color question, I asked her what the color was on - and I think I might have said it depended on what I felt like. She got slightly irritated with me, and I couldn't seem to explain to her that I'm the type of person who celebrates differences and appreciates what I like about something, rather than an a/b comparison that results in one being better than the other. Something is wonderful when I'm in the mood for it, and nothing illustrates this better than my love of a good song. I love good songs. I love kick ass songs - and lots of em.

So what makes a song a kick ass song? I suppose the simple fact that I like it and I'm in the mood to hear it. A song so good that I want the whole flippin' world to hear it, yet at the same time, I don't give a flying fuck if anyone else doesn't like it. I'm perfectly willing to share any given tune with someone who hasn't heard it before, and in doing so, there's probably at least some hope that they'll dig it too - but I couldn't care less if they write it off. I'm not going to cram it down their throat. I'm still going to like it, I'm not going to think less of them for not sharing my opinion, and I'm going to keep my enjoyment of the song - even if I don't listen to it when I'm around someone who doesn't like it.

I've said this before, but it bears repeating - nothing works for me all the time, and I don't think it should, but when it does work for me, it's wonderful. It satisfies a craving for it and when I've had my fill, I can put it down and pick up something else that I'm in the mood for. It's being in the moment I guess, and having an appreciation for what that particular moment has to offer. With music, I'm not interested in talking - or even thinking about a how or why Lyle Lovett's newer album does, or doesn't appeal to me as much as one of his earlier efforts. I'd much rather focus on the simple fact that he's an artist that I enjoy listening to and that I'm glad he's still putting out music. In other words, he still kicks ass. Most of his work kicks ass, to me - when I'm in the mood for it. When I'm not? Something else kicks ass. Duh, right?

The fact that I'm specifically mentioning any artist here doesn't mean I like one more than the other - except for when I'm in the mood to enjoy one over the other. Bob Dylan is a musical wizard when it comes to writing lyrics, and maybe his best spells cast are behind him, maybe they're not - the fact remains, he's still that wizard. Joe Jackson is another artist I enjoy listening to, the majority of his work I love, but there's a thing or two that doesn't do much for me - and I'm okay with that. Overall, I have enough admiration and respect for his work that I do enjoy to say that the likelihood of him getting my attention for his future works is pretty high. Because he still kicks ass.

I once dated a woman who said she "probably would like" my music - she just "needs to listen to it." - well, yeah - it's going to take listening to find out one way or another. But then there was the time she scrolled through my iPod and said, "Your music is all slow." - and without even thinking, I knew there were tons of songs on the device that were anything but slow. The sarcastic and smart ass Chris thought "Hmmm - what level are you reading at sweetheart?" - and I realized that her remark was based on the fact that she was simply unfamiliar with the majority of the stuff that I had on there. I was a little bugged by the fact that she instantly closed her mind off to the possibility that she might enjoy any of what she was unfamiliar with, but to each their own and I'm not about to let anyone else's narrow-mindedness influence what I enjoy. For me, I want to leave the door of possibility open as often as I can. I love sharing music that I enjoy with anyone and everyone - I love talking about it, I love basking in it - and I'm more than a little proud of the taste in music I walk around with. But it's not for everyone, and I can't expect it to be. If hearing the same song over and over again works for you, then I guess that's what you should do - I just feel that if I always go for the same things, then I'm probably always limiting my overall enjoyment on my journey. Maximum enjoyment of, and on the journey kicks ass.

Music that kicks ass is timeless - at least to me. There's very little in my music collection that has played out and become something that I don't, or won't want to hear again. That's a subject for another post though. There's some stuff in my collection that doesn't get much play and is more for amusement - but even things like that kick ass when I'm in the mood for it. It's all good when it's good. Songs kick ass, and Lord knows, I love a lot of songs. I'll share 'em with anyone who wants to listen, because they kick ass.