Ask Geir Hongro

He was the worst thing to happen to music since Arnold Schönberg.

Geir: Name the top ten heavy metal albums of all time, please.

Depends on your definition, but if you count Van Halen, Def Leppard, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppeling and Deep Pruple as heavy metal, it would be fairly easy :)

I feel the great Hongro question that has loomed for over a decade internationally is why do you not believe in the "apples shouldn't be compared to oranges" theory?

Can't you just say you don't like apples while rating oranges? Or saying "if an apple is sweet enough, I can eat it, but I'm no real fan of apples"?

Seems you do that for Jazz, but can't for Funk/Rap/Techno/et al, which I believe is what has made you the punching bag.


I think this is the key question to be answered/addressed.

-- Rock Hardy, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 17:03 (2 hours ago)

geir, who's better: george martin or nigel godrich?

Will you marry me?

be careful what you wish for

Which is worse: 2 tone or 12 tone?

Did John Lennon's more "avant-garde" compositions (the ones without clear harmonic and melodic movement) indirectly affect the early stages of global warming and/or peak oil production?

"A Day in the Life of (Osama bin Laden)"

Too bad about "The Long and Winding Pipeline" being a McCartney tune.

He did write "Well Well Well" however

geir, who's better: george martin or nigel godrich?

Mitchell Froom. :)

Which is worse: 2 tone or 12 tone?

I hate 12 tone music and love a lot of 2 Tone stuff. Does that answer your question? :)

Did John Lennon's more "avant-garde" compositions (the ones without clear harmonic and melodic movement) indirectly affect the early stages of global warming and/or peak oil production?

I guess the production of those vinyl albums led to some CO2 being unneccessarily wasted, not to mention all the trees that were wasted on the sleeves. So the answer is yes.

Are there any major Britpop bands you don't like, or even loathe, Geir?

Are there any major Britpop bands you don't like, or even loathe, Geir?

I wouldn't say I loathe them, but I am certainly no fan of Stereophonics, Cast nor Starsailor.

Why you so crazy, baby?

So what is it that you don't like about his music/influence?
> Minimalism, repetitiveness, way too few chords, way too little melody.

how many chords should a song have?
The more the better, as long as they keep it tonal.

-- Geir Hongro, Monday, 30 April 2007 23:14 (4 months ago) Link

Well, I take it you're not much of a Spacemen 3 fan...

What's your favourite mode, Geir?

Herr Hongro, can you tell us about your favorite concert that you ever attended…

Herr Hongro, can you tell us about your favorite concert that you ever attended…

Not really. I am not into live music.

geir hongro = patrick bateman?

Only if he's able to write a heartfelt two-page defence of the merits of 'Sports' by Huey Lewis & The News.

Huey Lewis and The News were more fun than most Britpop acts, I guess.

"I am not into live music."

With respect, Mr. Hongro, I would like to suggest that that is rather odd. Would you be interested in saying why you do not like live music?

As you know, until early in the last century, music was something that (generally speaking) people experienced in a social atmosphere. Is it that live music is less of a controlled and more of a spontaneous activity? Is there a sense in which you feel live music is unfinished? Or do you (and I admit the following is a query of a personal nature, which you may not like) not particularly like being around other people while experiencing music? Does social interaction via live music not interest you?

Thanks…

Which is worse: 2 tone or 12 tone?

I hate 12 tone music and love a lot of 2 Tone stuff. Does that answer your question? :)

What is this 2 tone?

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/146/PP0162~Ska-Posters.jpg

Ah, I see what you did there.

Geir - TS: California Love vs Horst Wessel Lied?

Would you be interested in saying why you do not like live music?

Because I prefer music as something absolutely perfect that is recorded once and for all in the definite and undisputable original version, that should benefit a lot from perfect production with no mistakes, and as little so-called "soul" as possible. And I see music not as a social activity, but rather as a brain thing. Something you use a perfect artistic mind to create, preferrably all of your own if possible.

More precicely: In the days of classical music, music was notated, with every single note strictly notated into notes that should be followed completely without any kind of interpretation. And I see studio recorded music the same way.

I take it you don't like jazz then?

music was notated, with every single note strictly notated into notes that should be followed completely without any kind of interpretation.

Er, this is an "in your opinion" thing again, as opposed to "the composers' opinion", right?

Apart from that, I pretty much agree with the vague classical:pop::score:recording analogy as to what constitutes the ahem Platonic-type ideal identity of the work.

I take it you don't like jazz then?

With jazz, I dislike the supposed improvisasion part, while I like the entire intellectuality, the advanced harmonies, the way-above-average musicianship and the entire "head music" thinking of it all.

(or, more precicly, I dislike the folksy roots of jazz while I like its flirtation with classical music ideals)

More precicely: In the days of classical music, music was notated, with every single note strictly notated into notes that should be followed completely without any kind of interpretation. And I see studio recorded music the same way.

That's totally false.

And I see music not as a social activity, but rather as a brain thing

This is also a howler. Music is always already a social activity. Read 'Noise' by Jacques Attali.

does music make you lose control, lose control, lose control?

that's very interesting, Mr. Hongro. However, it still seems improbable that you cannot cite one concert that achieved or came close to the ideals stated above. Genesis or Crowded House, for instance, seem to be artists that try or even achieve rather scrupulous fidelity to the source recordings when playing live.

So, in what I assume is thirty-plus years of loving music very much, can you not cite a single example of a time where artists, onstage, played music in a manner pleasurable to you? maybe when you were younger, when your aesthetic was not quite as developed as it is now?

Yo, why is Jadakiss as hard as it gets
Why is the industry designed to keep the artist in debt
And why them dudes ain't ridin' if there part of your set
And why they never get it poppin' but they party to death
Yea, and why they gon give you life for a murder
Turn around only give you eight months for a burner, it's goin down
Why they sellin' niggaz CD's for under a dime
If it's all love daddy why you come wit your nine
Why my niggaz ain't get that cake
Why is a brother up North better than Jordan
That ain't get that break
Why you ain't stackin' instead of tryin' to be fly
Why is rattin' at an all time high
Why are you even alive
Why they kill Tupac n' Chris
Why at the bar you ain't take straight shots instead of poppin' Criss
Why them bullets have to hit that door
Why did Kobe have to hit that raw
Why he kiss that whore
Why

That's totally false.

otm. bach and mozart wouldn't recognize their own work today if they heard it played by any contemporary symphony orchestra.

So, in what I assume is thirty-plus years of loving music very much, can you not cite a single example of a time where artists, onstage, played music in a manner pleasurable to you?

Obviously several cases. I have been to Dire Straits and Peter Gabriel gigs, for instance, where the sound was almost identical to the album versions. But then, I guess the point for those who like live music is gone. And I have the album versions to enjoy, they are superior after all.

Geir,

What are the chances of Manchester United retaining their title this season?

Also, what do you think is Norway's long-term economic strategy to cope with the inevitable rundown of its oil production?

thank you, mr Hongro!

who do you prefer as a bass player: John Illsley or Tony Levin?

What are the chances of Manchester United retaining their title this season?

Pretty good, particularly now that Chelsea has serious trouble and even lose points at home against mediocre Norwegian clubs in the Champions League. :)

Also, what do you think is Norway's long-term economic strategy to cope with the inevitable rundown of its oil production?

Well, there is a certain fund that is much discussed in Norwegian politics. :)

who do you prefer as a bass player: John Illsley or Tony Levin?

Who is Tony Levin?

Who is Tony Levin?

YO WTF?

Tony Levin has played, I believe, on every single Peter Gabriel record.

Gier,

During the Battle of Okinawa, do you think that General Buckner was correct to follow his strategy of attrition by frontal assault, or should he have taken the advice of General Geiger, and tried to outflank Ushijima by an amphibious assault on the southern beaches?

You mean a European or an African swallow?

Mr. Hongro…

I see on the Under pressure thread that you like a lot of David Bowie's music.

Do you dislike his songs "Boys Keep Swinging" and "Fashion," due to the rhythm sections dominating the tune's melodic qualities? And do you also dislike the guitar solos (played by Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp) since both are not in the song's tonalities?

No, I don't dislike those although they aren't among my favourite Bowie picks either. And as for Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp, I can tolerate guitar solos not being particularly tonal - they are just solos after all. I prefer the considerably more melodic guitar work of Steve Hackett though.

Dear G. Hongro,

What is your opinion on the music from Kid Icarus? link here
I know it's just a video game, but there is some lovely melody and counterpoint to be found within these compositions, no?

SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK

Actually thanks for showing me there's a lot of old gaming nostalgia on Youtube. I didn't know.

(And as for "Smell Yo Dick", there are at least a billion other recent popular songs that sound completely alike)

And "Bombjack" rules:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eer6CSb2mOY

Geir, my question was sincere -- do you have an opinion on Kid Icarus?

I tried listening to it, but you know those game tunes have a tendency to stick in your ears after a while after playing the game. Probably a nice tune, but in the case of computer games, a really sucky and old-fashioned sound tended to put me off anwyay. :)

And by 1986, Rob Hubbard, Martin Galway and Ben Daglish had revolutionized 64 music to such an extent that Nintendo music sounded dated by comparision

what authors do you like to read?

beecher stowe?

oh snap

Geir, which of these dances is the most poular in Norwayland: The Twist, The Macarena or The Mashed Potato? If you were to invent a dance, how would it go?

Geir, which of these dances is the most poular in Norwayland: The Twist, The Macarena or The Mashed Potato?

No idea, but The Macarena is surely the most unpopular. :)

If you were to invent a dance, how would it go?

Sitting in a chair in front of the stereo in a dark room without moving, listening to music at a moderate loud volume and taking in all of the details of the music while still not moving a muscle. Called the "listening dance" or the "hi-fi-dance". Music: Preferrably prog, but also works with slightly sophisticated pop or even classical music.

And "Smell Yo Dick"

xpost
I thought the moves may be something like that. Have you ever 'cut a rug' when accidentally visiting a club or a wedding reception for example?

There´s a new sensation
A fabulous creation
A danceable solution
To teenage revolution
Do the Hongro
When you feel love
It´s the new way
That´s why we say
Do the Hongro
Do it on the tables
Quaglino´s place or mabel´s
Slow and gentle
Sentimental
All styles served here
Louis seize he prefer
Laissez-faire le strand
Tired of the tango
Fed up with fandango
Dance on moonbeams
Slide on rainbows
In furs or blue jeans
You know what I mean
Do the Hong

Had your fill of quadrilles
The madison and cheap thrills
Bored with the beguine
The samba isn´t your scene
They´re playing our tune
By the pale moon
We´re incognito
Down the lido
And we like the strand
Arabs at oasis
Eskimos and chinese
If you feel blue
Look through who´s who
See la goulue
And nijinsky
Do the strandsky
Weary of the waltz
And mashed potato schmaltz
Rhododendron
Is a nice flower
Evergreen
It lasts forever
But it can´t beat Hongro
The sphynx and mona lisa
Lolita and guernica
Did the Hong

Geir, are you a fan of the more melodic strains of symphonic and folk black metal from your fine country?

Sitting in a chair in front of the stereo in a dark room without moving, listening to music at a moderate loud volume and taking in all of the details of the music while still not moving a muscle. Called the "listening dance" or the "hi-fi-dance".

Geir,

SUP?

http://www.totalmedia.com/images/maxell.jpg

Geirs of War

Metal Geir Solid

What books do you like to read?

How do you feel about Koji Kondo?

Geir, are you a fan of the more melodic strains of symphonic and folk black metal from your fine country?

No. I cannot stand music that features screaming or grinding vocals.

What books do you like to read?

Books about music, I guess. :) I don't read a lot of fiction really.

What are your favorite books about music?

Surely you can cite some non-music books that mean a lot to you, mr Hongro!

Is there anything specific about music that you enjoy that you don't in other arts?

You don't like it when they scream and shout, when they work it on out?

Who are your favorite rhythm section?

The thread that never gets old.

Sitting in a chair in front of the stereo in a dark room without moving, listening to music at a moderate loud volume and taking in all of the details of the music while still not moving a muscle. Called the "listening dance" or the "hi-fi-dance". Music: Preferrably prog classic rock, but also works with slightly sophisticated pop singer-songwriters or even classical heavy metal music.

This was me...when I was a bored 15-year-old.

How do you pronounce "Geir Hongro"?

Is there anything specific about music that you enjoy that you don't in other arts?

Given that I am heavily into music and not that much into anything else: Lots. Cannot really compare though.

Who are your favorite rhythm section?

Probably Bill Bruford and Chris Squire.

How do you pronounce "Geir Hongro"?

Gair Hongru.
with the "a" pronounced as in "jam" rather than as in "bar". And the "u" roughly as in "Blur" (really a nonexistant sound in the English language though). Also, the "r" is of course the Norwegian one - like in Spanish or Italian.

the answer to rev's question kinda ruined my night because "geer hongroh" >>> "gair hongru"

Geir, What James Brown tracks do you like? I'm sure there must be something you like.

Geir, you always claim percussion is unimportant, what were the key decisions you made when programming the drum track for Talking To A Computer?

Geir, What James Brown tracks do you like?

"Living In America" is OK. And that's about it, I think. "It's a Man's Man's World" has some interesting chords, but is dragged down by an extremely pointless and repetitive melody.

Geir, you always claim percussion is unimportant, what were the key decisions you made when programming the drum track for Talking To A Computer?

I was actually kind of into stuff like Break Machine, Rocksteady Crew etc (well, even Video Kids ;) ) at 14, which was when I originally made the song. And the drum track in the current version is based upon the drum track I programmed on my rather primitive Korg drum machine in 1985, which was meant to sound like a "breakdance" rhythm. (very influenced by Paul Hardcastle's "19" if you listen cloesr to it) It wasn't originally programmed for that song, I just ended up using it for it, and it probably would have been a more straight 4/4 had I composed the song now.

At this time, virtually everything in the hitlists (also included the hip-hop stuff) had a melody, so I hadn't developed a hatred for all things non-melodic yet, as they just didn't exist to me at all, other than some weird "blip blop" music that modern "classical" composers made and nobody liked. It wasn't until "Walk This Way" that I started hating rap with a passion (the electro had always been my reason for liking some early hip-hop and "Walk This Way" wasn't electro anymore), and it wasn't until "Pump Up The Volume", "Dig This" and "Theme S-Express" (all of which I weirdly kind of like by now) that I decided I hated all things non-melodic.

It wasn't until "Walk This Way" that I started hating rap with a passion

http://www.dynamicforces.com/images/Origins2signedbyStanLee.jpg

i love talking to a computer

what is soul?

Which song of yours was the one that got played twice on Nowegian national radio?

That one.

What advice would you give a young music enthusiast who is coming to understand more clearly that the rhythmic aspects of music are incapable of affecting him in the nearly the same way as melody or harmony does?

ok wow @ "walk this way" as the origin of geir

geirthink?

geirmind?

hongrobrane

What advice would you give a young music enthusiast who is coming to understand more clearly that the rhythmic aspects of music are incapable of affecting him in the nearly the same way as melody or harmony does?

Oh, there's so much great music to discover out there that has been more or less "underground" for the past 20 years ;)

Don't ask Geir (fuck me!)

Geir, the year is 1958, rock and roll is in it's first flush of youth. Strange and interesting things are happening in jazz and classical music. Phil Spector and Marvin Gaye have just begun their careers. What would 1958 era Geir listen to?

Dear Geir,

Why does Kayne West say "We want hen fap" in "Golddigger"?

Geir, the year is 1958, rock and roll is in it's first flush of youth. Strange and interesting things are happening in jazz and classical music. Phil Spector and Marvin Gaye have just begun their careers. What would 1958 era Geir listen to

Probably Frank Sinatra. I cannot see myself possibly getting into "rock" music until around "Yesterday", or maybe "And I Love Her".

Geir, what was your last karaoke song?

*My question wasn't supposed to be entirely sardonic by the way, as I was more or less referring to myself.

Geir, I'm curious to know how you define "melody". Do you just mean tonal or conjunct melodies or melodies that are traditionally consonant with their accompaniment? Or just easy-to-follow melodies? Because it would seem to me that a piece like Schoenberg's "Erwartung" does have a very clear and prominent melodic line. It's just a more complex and non-tonal melody. I wonder when you say this:

when it comes to prog I like all things melodic while I dislike all things non-melodic.

because a band like, say, Thinking Plague does place a high emphasis on melody, as I see it.

These threads sometimes feel like a dogpile but I was wondering since you'd made a number of comments that seemed to beg the question to me.

I enjoy Porcupine Tree's Fear of a Blank Planet. What other good albums do they have?

Have you heard any of Liam Finn's music? If so did you enjoy it and how do you rate it against the work of other musical progeny such as.. erm... Sean Lennon or Rufus Wainwright?

I don't think the "wedding" question upthread was ever answered so I'll reask it:

1. Geir, have you ever danced at a wedding or similar social function to music you didn't like? If so, what was the song(s)?

2. If you were at a wedding or similar social function and a relative or close friend tried to drag you to the dancefloor to boogie to, oh let's say, The Gap Band's "You Dropped a Bomb On Me" (or any song you find particularly melody-deficient), what exactly would you do?

3. I'm mildly surprised to learn that you're not a big Fleetwood Mac fan. Isn't at least the Nicks-Buckingham era choked with indelible melodies?

In case you've never heard "You Dropped a Bomb On Me":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmbmPalsRi4

In case you've never heard "You Dropped a Bomb On Me":

If he hasn't, Norway is further away than I thought.

Geir, I'm curious to know how you define "melody". Do you just mean tonal or conjunct melodies or melodies that are traditionally consonant with their accompaniment? Or just easy-to-follow melodies?

A melody is a tonal melody. It need not be tonal in a full-tempered way, modal tonality is OK. (and not Locrian), but it must be tonal.

I enjoy Porcupine Tree's Fear of a Blank Planet. What other good albums do they have?

Have you heard any of Liam Finn's music?

I actually don't think I have yet, but his dad is a genius :)
Out of the others, Sean Lennon obviously isn't up there with his dad, althogh I like "Saltwater", "Too Late For Goodbyes" and "Valotte". The Wainrights I haven't really gotten into, but Rufus is the only one of these who is better than his dad.

Just getting into them myself, but "In Absentia" is my fave.

1. Geir, have you ever danced at a wedding or similar social function to music you didn't like? If so, what was the song(s)?

Yes, but it was ages ago, and I have no idea what it was.

2. If you were at a wedding or similar social function and a relative or close friend tried to drag you to the dancefloor to boogie to, oh let's say, The Gap Band's "You Dropped a Bomb On Me" (or any song you find particularly melody-deficient), what exactly would you do?

Depends how drunk that person was. :)
It isn't completely out of the question that I would do it though.

3. I'm mildly surprised to learn that you're not a big Fleetwood Mac fan. Isn't at least the Nicks-Buckingham era choked with indelible melodies?

Ace Of Base are too, but I still don't like Ace Of Base. Fleetwood Mac's melodies in the 70s were a bit too simply, in a three chord/country music way. I love "Little Lies" and several of the "Tango In The Night" tracks though, as they have a little more minor chords and are moving a bit more away from country. My other problem with Fleetwood Mac is I cannot stand Stevie Nicks' voice.

Geir, what was your last karaoke song?

It's been some time since the last time I did karaoke. It may have been "Everytime You Go Away". Or maybe "What's Goin' On". I kind of like to do those melodic soul songs at karaoke. :)

i could totally see geir digging the future games/bare trees fleetwood mac - after the blooz period, before the the stevie years. danny kirwan = highly melodic

Geir: do you ever hear something that doesn't adhere to your rigid rules of what makes 'good' music and find yourself thinking, unbidden, that it sounds quite good before you have a chance to analyse it?

In other words, do you react to music on a visceral level at all, or is it entirely cerebral?

Geir: do you ever hear something that doesn't adhere to your rigid rules of what makes 'good' music and find yourself thinking, unbidden, that it sounds quite good before you have a chance to analyse it?

This is not about analysing. The first thing I hear is always the melody and its belonging harmonies. With no exception. And that is also the first thing I judge: Is this a good melody or not (And if there is no melody, it is sorted as a bad melody, along with those boring three chord ones)

Sorry if this has been asked before but:

In your advocation of melody/harmony, if I'm remembering it right, you said that rhythm is just mental, while melody is emotional, and those who are tone deaf can't get anything out of it.

so. . .
1)Couldn't it just be the other way around, that you might just be arrhythmic?

2)if a song is written with a time signature that is totally awkward, or non existent, is that alone possible to mangle a decent melody?

A non existent time signature makes no sense, but a weird time signature such as 11/8 or similar may often be interesting.

Well, I mean if the music just wasn't in time, not following any sort of time signature.

Then it would just be floating away and completely meaningless as a song.

Geir, is Per Pettersen very famous in Norway? Have you ever read his books?

Where have all the cowboys gone?

Not sure if I have even heard of Per Pettersen. And all the cowboys are at various country festivals here in Norway :)

"Theme From Harry's Game" to thread.

Ok, well another question - is Norway's resistance to the Nazis still a strong part of national mythology and self-image? Also, do people still call each other Quislings?

Dear Geir,
Who is the bestestest N'wegian footballer of all time?

Was Tore Andre Flo worth the £12m that Rangers paid for him? Or was it sheer stupidity by a desperate manager/chairman?

Sir,

I need the following guess papers:

Norwegian III
Business II
Physics II

What is the most melodic "Crank Dat" parody?

1. Do you predict a promising future for star child Liam Finn?
2. How come you no longer update Geirology?
3. Are you a fan of the English prog group Family? How highly would you rate their debut album Music in a Doll's House?
4. Please explain this:
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/9586/ilfue8.png

1. I haven't really been able to check out his music yet, but I understand he isn't totally different from his dad, so I guess I should.
2. Laziness
3. "Music In a Doll's House" is a great album from a generally great music year. What I've heard of their later material I haven't enjoyed quite as much though.
4. Oh, just a fun way to try to create boards, I guess ;)

What do you think of All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes?

Do you mean a European or an African swallow?

I thought you'd love it....

Geir, will you go vote and comment on my Best Shoegaze Band poll?

Done

Geir, is it true that you eat dolphins, or were your alt.animals.dolphins posts just a bit of lighthearted flaming? What are your three favorite dolphin recipes?

Who is the best female bass player of the 80s???

Geir, is it true that you eat dolphins, or were your alt.animals.dolphins posts just a bit of lighthearted flaming? What are your three favorite dolphin recipes?

― aruba (unregistered), Wednesday, December 31, 2008 10:29 PM (Yesterday)

Geir do you have a last.fm account?

Geir, is it true that you eat dolphins, or were your alt.animals.dolphins posts just a bit of lighthearted flaming? What are your three favorite dolphin recipes?

I am really sorry, but I never tasted it. I have eaten whale though :)

And, hmm. I believe I have one, but not even sure what it's called. Hardly ever using it.

That thread is hilarious btw. You get some really surrealistic dialogue when the inhabitants of various alt.flame-groups started mixing with deeply serious animals rights activists ;)

Yeah, that thread is chock full of brilliant prose, like...

I was looking at a Dolphin down at the shore today just before I went to
school and he was just laying there lazy on the beach LAUGHTING AT ME!!!
It could be read all over his face, "hahah, sucker!" See? They're just
making fun of us and our government, the lazy fishes are just commin' up
here, layin' lazy on their back and stealing from our welfare! So, if we
don't stop them now, we'll have Dolphins all over our costlines..

wegies whas hapning. why u so wrapped up about eating whales. U
hungry.cafe. Huh? N my country we hunt humans in subways. Leave em for
the cock roaches . Plenty to eat.

Hey Paaaaaaaaaaaaal, Sounds like you're into big harpoons with
explosive tips! You a HOMO or what?

Yeah! Or else Amerika will come and puke bad Hamburger breath down your
neck!

Discussion subject changed to "Amerikans are murderers (Was: I love dolphins - for dinner)" by cholo

My greatest regret in life is that I was never able to witness Usenet at the peak of its flamebait glory.

Oh, if you have any whale recipes, feel free to pass them along for our edification.

Geir, which do you hate more... hip-hop/rap, or metal?

Geir do you have a last.fm account?

Also, this.

Geir, which do you hate more... hip-hop/rap, or metal?

This is kind of puzzling, because it depends on whether I am subjective or objective. I take it you mean extreme metal (death, speed, doom, black etc.) or the answer would easily be Hip-hop/rap.

But as for extreme metal Vs. hip-hop/rap:
I would say if I have to listen to either, I'd much rather go for hip-hop/rap. It isn't like I suffer that much listening to that stuff, and although there is some stuff I absolutely miss (melodies, often also harmonies), there is still some interesting stuff going on. Extreme metal, on the other hand, I just cannot listen to at all. 2 minutes of screaming and growling singers, restlessly banging drummers and extremely heavy Marshall riffs will just cause me to give up and turn off the entire thing - I just cannot listen to anymore or it.

On the other hand, I respect metal musicians a lot. There are obviously some extremely talented people out there, some fantastic instrumentalists, and also some rather talented and complex composers. And there may often be some really interesting and sophisticated musical stuff buried behind the wall of noise that I just cannot manage to break through.
My main beef with rap is in this area. I feel like they lack the talent - the skills that I prefer in music. It's a bit like punk, in that I despise punk's musical values, even though some of it may be nice to listen to. Hip-hop, in a lot of ways, is the punk of today's mainstream music scene, only the three chords and simple guitar riffs have been replaced by production, programming, sampling and looping. Nevertheless, I want music to be a bit elitist, something that you have to stick out a bit - be more of a musical genius than the man on the street - to ever be able to do - at least on a level where lots people actually get to hear your work. And that is my main problem about hip-hop - I feel hip-hop doesn't have those elements. I requires too little of its musicians (and "composers" not least), in terms of actual musical skills and musical schooling.

Because this last thing is important to me, I guess I prefer extreme metal in terms of those very important classical values that mean a lot to me. But I'd much rather listen to rap than extreme metal any way.

And I believe I made a last.fm account once, but I don't even think I remember it. They played way too much stuff that I felt didn't fit into the very narrow profile I tried to create, so I kind of gave up, having AOR played when I wanted sophisticated and musically complex melodic pop.

Geir, what do you think of OK Computer by Radiohead?

Geir, what do you think of OK Computer by Radiohead?

Does this answer your question? :)

Hmm well I was hoping for a longer post, but thank you.

Well, I do find it brilliant obv. The first half is really amazing, with "Exit (Music For Films)" being an obvious highlight for me. Thom's vocal performance and those synths creating the unrest in the chorus. Really great stuff.

What are your views of the direction modern music should be progressing in, in regards to its history?

Thank you.

Geir, since you're someone who makes synth/electronic music, I'm curious about two things:

1. Do you get interested in and excited about production, when working on stuff? Apart from the actual song you're playing, do you find it fun to play with or think about interesting sounds or interesting ways of arranging them in space?

2. I know that with a lot of popular r&b or hip-hop you often don't like the songs, but do you ever just think the production is interesting? Do you ever listen to stuff and decide that even though you don't like the song, you think it sounds pretty cool?

I just ask because I've heard one of your songs, which I assume you pretty much produced yourself, and I wonder if you ever listen to modern electronic-type pop and just think about the production aspects of them.

Well, I do find it brilliant obv. The first half is really amazing, with "Exit (Music For Films)" being an obvious highlight for me. Thom's vocal performance and those synths creating the unrest in the chorus. Really great stuff.

Which are your least favorite tracks on OK Computer, and why?

"Fitter Happier" aside, obviously.

Geir, Manchester United have just won eight in a row, three of which were at some point unlikely comebacks, to more or less seal the title. It's a great achievement no doubt, but in your view was this the last gasp of a team running on empty, or typical of great champions who will now go onto even better things?

1. Do you get interested in and excited about production, when working on stuff? Apart from the actual song you're playing, do you find it fun to play with or think about interesting sounds or interesting ways of arranging them in space?

Definitely. A good tune is most important of all, but I a good production makes it even better.

2. I know that with a lot of popular r&b or hip-hop you often don't like the songs, but do you ever just think the production is interesting? Do you ever listen to stuff and decide that even though you don't like the song, you think it sounds pretty cool?

Indeed, yes. Absolutely.

Geir, Manchester United have just won eight in a row, three of which were at some point unlikely comebacks, to more or less seal the title. It's a great achievement no doubt, but in your view was this the last gasp of a team running on empty, or typical of great champions who will now go onto even better things?

Depends whether Ronaldo will remain with the team ;)

Which are your least favorite tracks on OK Computer, and why?

"Electioneering" is a bit repetitive and boring. A bit like the guitar rockers on "The Bends", only without as strong a tune. "Climbing Up The Walls" I don't really have anything against, but it isn't quite as amazing as the rest either.

What are your views of the direction modern music should be progressing in, in regards to its history?

It may progress in any direction it wants to, as long as it remains rather conservative in terms of melody and harmony. Technology develops all the time, and using new technology is positive. As long as the songs and chords are composed in the traditional way at first, and the new technology is only used to "spice up" that afterwards.

:(

i know, only a month...

i take it this means dude is temporarily banned?

the not-even-crypto racism was certainly fucked but i can't help but admit that part of me feels sad tbh

finally the SB system does something right

It is you guys who are trying to make music into something else than just music. Music is all about how it sounds and nothing else. There is no quota for certain genders or skin colours, just sound and nothing but sound. Music is strictly music, and shouldn't be judged from any other criteria than strictly (head) musical ones. The world neeeds to get back to the values of German classical music in the 18th and 19th century.

Music sounds best when being melody/harmony oriented rather than rhythm oriented and performed by male voices. Now, it's easy for black people to make the former, and they probably well before or since to a larger extent than today. But no hope for female voices, sorry.

are we positive geir's a real person?

Do you reckon he'd pass the Turing test?

lol no

oh wow i didn't know about the female voices thing.

Wow.

lol, never saw the female voice thing before either, what a shame it'll never be explained

The female voice is the female voice and only the female voice. True complex harmonics can only be performed by the resonance of an adam's apple. Of course some female voices can be appealing in certain ways, with the right melodic structure :)

SB'd u for reposting

let's pour one out for our buddy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZE6HfWbg1E

this you, Geir?

geirbot

that is not a question iirc

Geir, what are your favorite albums that can be described as lo-fi? if you heard a record that was extremely well written (I'm talkin Pet Sounds quality) but rather shoddily produced, how highly would you rate it?

Geir, what are your favorite albums that can be described as lo-fi?

A lot of 60s albums would apply. "Face To Face" by The Kinks is horribly low fi, as in very very very badly produced. But it's still a great album because it contains great songs.

(Needless to say, I would have liked it way better with a state of the art production a la "Revolver" or "Pet Sounds" though)

that's funny, because Face to Face is the last album of theirs that Ray didn't produce. it's pretty flat and tinny-sounding, which is less of a problem on the garagey songs than on the more delicate stuff like "Too Much on My Mind" and "Rainy Day in June". I think Something Else was a pretty big leap in sound quality in terms of stereo effects and the sense of space surrounding each instrument, but I don't know if that has more to do with Ray's creative input than with improved recording technology. both, maybe.

Probably some kind of demand that even they would get access to better equipment. Pye was a small label with a small budget, and Kinks had to put up with really bad recording conditions for longer than most major acts.

Geir, are there any more recent albums (say, last 10 years) of which you're a huge fan, but would consider the production "lo-fi"?

Geir, what breakfast cereal do you eat?

Frosted mini wheats but only the white side

thanks geir

what is your favorite record sleeve?

Geir, are there any more recent albums (say, last 10 years) of which you're a huge fan, but would consider the production "lo-fi"?

Depends on the definition of low-fi and "huge fan". But "Phantom Power" is one of my definite favourite albums by Super Furry Animals. I don't know if it was low-fi per se, but it was a considerably cheaper and rougher production than the ones before and after it. Still sounds great though.

what is your favorite record sleeve?

Probably "Tales From Topographic Oceans".

As for acts I am not necessarily a great fan of musically, I absolutely adore this recent sleeve by Danish postrockers Efterklang:
http://onethirtybpm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Efterklang-Magic-Chairs.jpg

who is your favourite painter

who is your favourite painter

Not very into painting, but I guess it might be Dali or Margritte or somebody from that age.

Weird and absurd, but strictly figurative.
Which sort of parallells my taste in prog and 60s psych pop: Weird and absurd, but strictly tonal.

Geir, what breakfast cereal do you eat?

― glumdalclitch, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 04:51

LOL We usually don't eat cerals for breakfast in Norway. More like slices of bread. :)

oh.

Who is your favourite 19th century German classical composer?

Good name for your putative record label: Strictly Tonal.

Who is your favourite 19th century German classical composer?

Either Schubert or Brahms. Would be Brahms if you count Schubert as an Austrian.

In the last 5 years where have you been on vacation and which would you say was the place you find the most relaxing?

Good name for your putative record label: Strictly Tonal.

omg <3

geir, being married to a norwegian we eat ribba (sp?) every year for christmas. Do you?

geir, being married to a norwegian we eat ribba (sp?) every year for christmas. Do you?

Yes.

In the last 5 years where have you been on vacation and which would you say was the place you find the most relaxing?

Several places, most of which were big cities and great but not particularly "relaxing". :)

(using other superlatives than "relaxing", I loved Rome, I loved Venice, I loved Barcelona, and - in spite of the weather - I always love London and Copenhagen. Hard to pick, really)

do you like the sound of birdsong or other natural 'non-musical' sounds?

Ever fancied visiting Scotland, Geir? If so, what would you most like to see?

are you a side sleeper? back sleeper? stomach??

tmi

How big is your 'record collection'? The exact size in inches.

Geir, have you heard Ron Sexsmith? I get the impression he may be better known in Europe than here in America. I saw him the other night and thought his voice and songwriting (somewhere between McCartney and Costello) would be right up your alley.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4X_l8PIobc&feature=related

Ever fancied visiting Scotland, Geir? If so, what would you most like to see?

I am a city guy, and I am sure Glasgow, Dundee or Edinburgh would all be nice. In spite of the weather. :)

Actually not too familiar with Ron Sexsmith other than the name. The cut above there sounds OK, but something about it sounds a lot more obviously American than McCartney/MacManus.

do you like the sound of birdsong or other natural 'non-musical' sounds?

I love birdsong this time of year because it means spring or summer. Otherwise not thinking so much of it. :)

geir are you single?

when did Elton John get off the bus?

when did Elton John get off the bus?

No idea, but his last touch of greatness was the "Too Low For Zero" album in 1983.

Ron Sexsmith is Canadian. And right up Geir's alley.

Yeah, Ron's definitely "melodic" above all else.

Escargot my hongro

Geir, have you seen this movie?:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9a/Lasse_og_Geir.jpg

should he have?

Geir, what is the earliest song or album that you would classify as Britpop?

Geir, which part of "Good Vibrations" do you prefer: choruses or verses?

geir you're in a large courtyard. to your left is a castle surrounded by a moat. a path leads north towards mountains. a fountain in the centre of the courtyard contains a skeleton. what do you do?

need to get geir on hard talk w/ stephen sackur

s sackur cracks me up

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8f/Hardtalkstudio.jpg

Geir, how do you pronounce gyros?

hongroes

Feeling very hongroes.

Geir Do you think this band would interest you?

Swedish band Ginger Trees is influenced by Porcupine Tree to Uriah Heep, Kula Shaker and Pink Floyd. Great melodies, especially in the vocals

Geir, why don't you like the more avant-garde end of prog like King Crimson, Van der Graaf Generator and Henry Cow?

when are you coming back?

http://abcnotation.com/getResource/downloads/image/will-ye-no-come-back-again.png?a=membres.multimania.fr/corneymusers/dl/ABCTUNES.zip/WILLYENO.ABC/0000

hah? and i just had a question for geir. well, almost.

best poster

Geir, what is your favorite situational comedy (sitcom) theme song?

geir not being around anymore is one of the best lings about nu-nu-nu-nu-nu-nu-nu-nu-nu-nu-nu-nu-nu-nu-nu-ILM. don't bait him.

he still posts her occasionally, and he's way more chill than he was in 2003

*here

He hasn't posted in over a year. Sorry, but he's gone.

he posted a few days ago!

Where? I missed that!

Search For Threads or Posts Written By a Given User

The GeirBot (Geir Hongro) wrote this on thread Britpop : Time For Reevaluation? on board I Love Music on Apr 26, 2014

Ah, the Britpop thread. No wonder I didn't see it. Wasn't there any fanfare about his sudden return?

what are your favorite US/UK hit songs of the past 3 (or so) years? in your opinion, is the chartpop of 2010-2015 better or worse than the chartpop of 2005-2009?

are there a lot of 9/11 truthers in Norway?

I stopped posting on ILX for like five years, and within days of coming back I see this. It's almost touching!

what are your favorite US/UK hit songs of the past 3 (or so) years? in your opinion, is the chartpop of 2010-2015 better or worse than the chartpop of 2005-2009?

The last first, I probably prefer 2005-2009 chartpop. Preferring electropop to that annoying put-your-hands-in-the-air-EDM

Been checking out chartpop way too little the past years, except noticing very much all that Avicii etc. stuff. The easy option would be "Where Are We Now?" by Bowie which was very, very, very good and also became a hit of sorts, but I guess picking old Bowie would almost be cheating. :)
That Daft Punk song is of course hard not to like, Lorde's "Royals" is sort of sticking. I always like whatever Coldplay put out, but they were still better in the 00s. Stretching it back to 2012 would also include Adele's "Skyfall". But kinda hard.

Would have been easier had "Flying in the Face of Love" by Neil Finn or "The Best Jewel Thief in the World" by Prefab Sprout had been chart hits. Which of course they weren't. :P

Obviously not the most famous Norwegian ones. The Nico & Vinz one was OK, I guess, but Kygo is quite annoying.

<i>are there a lot of 9/11 truthers in Norway?</i>

Probably not, but they are on the Net 24/7 discussing on Facebook whenever they are not "studiying" watching 4 hour-long home made videos on YouTube which "prove" Queen Elizabeth is secrectly a Jewish Catholic alien reptile from Naboo's Freemason society. Annoying people.

<i>Geir, why don't you like the more avant-garde end of prog like King Crimson, Van der Graaf Generator and Henry Cow?</i>

Too dissonant, you know.

Geir Do you think this band would interest you?

<i>Swedish band Ginger Trees is influenced by Porcupine Tree to Uriah Heep, Kula Shaker and Pink Floyd. Great melodies, especially in the vocals</i>

Could be. I largely use the "related acts" feature on Spotify to discover new music these days.

<i>geir you're in a large courtyard. to your left is a castle surrounded by a moat. a path leads north towards mountains. a fountain in the centre of the courtyard contains a skeleton. what do you do?</i>

Kill the goblin

<i>Geir, which part of "Good Vibrations" do you prefer: choruses or verses?</i>

Chorus and bridge.

<i>Geir, have you seen this movie?:</i>

No. Probably horrible like all movies directed by Wam & Vennerød. :P

<i>Geir, what is the earliest song or album that you would classify as Britpop?</i>

Probably the La's, give that The Stone Roses were really not, not entirely.

As for earliest proto-Britpop song, "Please Please Me"

good to see you back, geir

Been a while. Didn't remember the formatting even. :P

do conspiracy theorists in norway have any theories related to anders breivik?

do conspiracy theorists in norway have any theories related to anders breivik?

There are a few who tend to believe that Mossad was behind. One needs to be an extreme mentalist to actually blame the Labour Party, but there are a few crackpost there as well.

Those people who believe there was no camp at all I think don't exist at all in Norway. I know they exist in the US (I mean, I used to spend every summer at that exact camp for the entire 90s)

Hi Geir—

What is your favorite Curtis Mayfield song?

What is your favorite Curtis Mayfield song?

I probably don't really know more than, say, 3-4. :) Out of those, probably "Move on Up", but I mean... Not my thing. :)

geir, do you have any thoughts about progressive rock finally getting its own chart?

progressive rock finally gets its own chart

why do i have "talking to a computer" in my head on christmas night 2025?

Why exactly christmas night I cannot answer, but it does pop into my head now and then as well, say once every two years. Idk maybe because it's a reasonably righteous song, and very very catchy? I tried to reconstruct the chorus in my head now, before trying to find it (not heard it for ~15 years I guess): it's on spotify and I think I was about 70% right.