We are truly living in new territory! This past week saw the first ever symphony conducted by a robot. The very cute Honda Asimo conducted the Detroit Symphony to a warm response from both the audience and the musicians. This kind of thing really excites me and I am not absolutely sure why. A few years ago I heard Kevin Kelly, futurist and editor at Wired Magazine, speaking about spiritual issues facing the church. He said the most important issue we need to wrestle with is "What are we going to say when robots ask us 'am I human?'". This really stimulated me into new areas of thinking about what it means to be human. If robots acquire all the external dimensions that we tend to think of as human then it might force us to look further within to find our identity as human beings. If a robot can play or conduct music in a way that moves our hearts and spirits then what does that say about where that emotion and inspiration come from? Maybe that emotional response to music is not being communicated by the soulfulness of the musician, as we tend to think, maybe it is coming purely from within us as a response to the external sounds. It is possible that music is not carrying any emotional resonance but is simply being used (by the listener) to unlock inner realities that normally lay dormant. All of this requires more thought than I have given it so far but one thing is certain, I want my own musical robot!!
For so many years the church has been behind the curve on scientific issues: gravity, the solar system, etc. This time it seems that they want to be way ahead on the Extraterrestrial issue. Today the Vatican's top astronomer announced that "the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones." He even went on to say that it is important that, if aliens exist, we see them as children of God just like human beings. This shocked me on several levels. Who knew that the Vatican had an official astronomer and more than one! Also that the Vatican would comment or speculate on such a strange issue seems odd to me when there are so many other things to have a position on.
Momofuku Ando created instant noodles and Elvis Costello titled his instant album, momofuku, as a verbal tribute. I think 2008 is shaping up to be a great year for music. Dig! Lazarus Dig! hasn't worn out its welcome after a month of listening and along comes a new album by the bratty Brit that is often too smart for his own good. This time out he rocks through a number of songs that sounds like retro nods to his former glory and mixes in a few odds numbers that seem to take the album way off the standard rock/pop landscape. Elvis' voice and song-writing seem as strong as ever but his lyrics are beginning to show cracks in the armor that has established itself over the last 30 years of lyrical gems. Some of the songs sound great but lack the extra wit that many would expect from EC. He sings some very nice vocal harmonies and occasionally wants to enter into Burt Bacharach territory but that isn't a bad thing.
I read an interview with EC recently where he said he misses the times when people sat down and put on a record and listened to the whole album in one sitting. He said that he was still making albums to be listened to in that fashion but no body did it anymore with the Ipod and it's shuffle features. So I listened to the whole thing in one (iPod) sitting and decided that he has a point. After only browsing a few songs previously none of them really grabbed me: however, during the complete listen the songs seems more well developed and even complemented one another in both arrangements and pacing. If you are an EC fan and want to here some new tunes from the best pop star with the worst teeth, even before Madonna, give this album a chance.
The above video is from last New Years Eve at the Ichiban Steakhouse. The entertainment for the evening was the wonderful band SWAY who are not only great friends but also the subject of my newest website design project. Click here to see the site and listen to some demos that I recorded and produced as well!
There are more than a few things that amazed me about Iron Man. 1) This movie has been in production with three different studios with almost 12 writers since 1990. 2) Director John Favreau allowed the actors to write their own dialogue for 90% of the film. 3) One of my favorite guitarists, Tom Morello from AudioSlave and Rage Against the Machine, has a cameo as the first person that Iron Man tosses into the side of a very dark cave.
This movie is so well done on all levels from technical aspects to the brilliant casting choices. I am already excited about the two sequels that are planned but until then I will have to wait for Tony Stark's role in the upcoming Incredible Hulk (Written by and Starring Edward Norton). Comic book films are really beginning to pull some serious talent and dollars judging from the box office returns that Iron man is already showing! It must feel great to Marvel that they are finding such success with the first movie that they fully financed themselves. So maybe with all that new cash they will hurry up and make an epic Avengers movie.
