First, you should know the context in which that essay was written. I was in the middle of several ongoing discussions and debates with friends, colleagues and academians. As a result, while there is a great deal of truth in that article, there is also a bit of humor in the style in which it is presented.

Originally Posted by: RickBlackerI will admit, I'm probably one of the guys who helps fuel crap music.[/quote]

LOL. I am not sure how you arrived at that judgment. The people that are "responsible" for any "crap music" are the people that created it.

[QUOTE=RickBlacker]
However, I have to ask your opinion on two bands that I really enjoy. Well.. Three...

My objective assessment is different from my personal opinion. So here is both.

The guys in Rush are a little more skilled than your average rock band. Their music is likewise a little more complex and involved than the average rock band. I personally enjoy some of their music. I admire thier work ethic a great deal.

Def Leppard is a rock band of average skill. I think they accomplished a great deal with very little actual talent; and that is admirable. I don't enjoy much of thier music.

I don't know anything about 311 so I can't offer any info on them.

Also, I think there is a lot of confusion by the general public between actual musical skill and successful entertaining. For example, Elvis Presely, the Beatles, and Britteny Spears are wonderful entertainers that have earned all the success they have won. But none of them have much in the way of actual musical skill. Which is not a problem. Until people conflate the two different things as the same.

Same for any given list of "greatest guitarists". People get all bent because some magazine listed their favorite entertainer lower in the list than some other entertainer. While everyone that reads the magazine is blissfully unaware of that fact that the entire list is comprised of people that are marginally competent compared to people like Eliot Fisk, Shawn Lane, and Joe Pass.

Anyway, I think there is a case to be made for objective assessment of any given music or musicians. This resulted in my assessment of Beethoven as far and away the best composer of music in history to date. My assessment is based on careful consideration of his craftsmanship versus any and all other composers of which I am aware. My consideration was based upon my own understanding of how music is built and functions.

For example, if you are a carpenter and you see a house that is poorly built, you can say, "That house is poorly built". This is usually acceptable to most people even though it might "hurt the feelings" of the shoddy builder. But in the field of music, where emotions are unfortunately divorced from reason, some people view my assessment as an order to only listen to and like Beethoven's music. :rolleyes:

I view it like this. Listening to Beethoven (and many other serious classical and romantic composers) is like having a huge, satifying 5 course meal. On the other hand, listening to an old Van Halen song is a quick snack; a candy bar! There is a time and a place for each.

I think there is an objective case to be made for Beethoven being the best musical craftsman in the same sense that a rocket ship is by far the most impressive mode of transportation that man has yet conceived and built. A rocket ship kicks a car to the curb! But when you are only trying to get to the store to get groceries, a car will do nicely. :)