Never before has it been so easy to record and distribute deeply mediocre music.


Lots of people are doing it, and hardly anyone's saying anything about it. We're all busy marveling at the technology, but the musical emperor here isn't wearing any clothes.

I'm here, however, to let you know that the internet may be jammed full of free songs to download, but the overwhelming (like, REALLY overwhelming) majority of them are songs you simply do not want to listen to.

The place to witness this phenomenon in all its disconcerting glory is on a type of web site I call an "upload free-for-all"--a site that seeks to collect songs from anyone and everyone with a song to sing and a computer to capture it on.

The whole thing is not very easy on the ears.

Think of it as the difference between someone's home movies and a really good film. Most people, given a video camera, make home movies. It takes a lot of talent and vision to make a good film.

Similarly, most people, given recording equipment and a way to distribute the end result, make aural home movies. Like home movies, these songs are interesting to other members of their families, only (or if even).

I don't mean to be harsh, but if nothing else, life is too short, really, to go picking through upload free-for-all sites for your music. You can check them out if you'd like; but don't say I didn't warn you.





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