Favorite music blogs.

The other day for class we were asked to come up with a list of 2-3 musicians blogs that we loved. I poked around the internet for awhile, searching for some of my favorite artists' musings, but to little avail. Then I realized-I already read music blogs!
A few years ago, back when I was really, really, now I mean really, really into Radiohead I checked the band blog every day. I still love them, but am no longer devoted to reading the blog. I checked back on it, and came to discover that it was largely the same. Each member post a blurb or two every so often, and Thom will regularly say something mysterious. I do remember him saying something four years ago before I saw him at Bonarroo along the lines of, "Bonarroo tomorrow! So excited!" I died.
That's kind of the nifty thing about some of this blogs, is you get to feel closer to the manufacturers of the heavenly sound. It was mentioned in class the idea that sometimes, when listening to music you can forget that an actual human created it. Reading their words, learning that they do human things can be inspiring and awesome. It also ties you to the music in a new way. (see NYT a few months ago http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/29/arts/dance/29ballet.html?scp=1&sq=ballet%20twitter&st=cse).
The article talks about how twitter allows laypeople to access dancers like never before. Ballet and music are clearly different, but I think a similar concept still emerges. Something strange happens when you can access and artist through a unique media than what you are used to. In my mind, musicians are more individually expressive that ballet dancers (obviously I know nothing about ballet), so you can arguably gain insight into their person, but not in the private way that the internet provides.

At least, in most cases.

By far, one of my favorite bloggers (and absolute favorite Twitterers) is Kanye West. In contrast to with Radiohead and the ballerinas, where the reader gains new insight, Kanye West's blog (and especially Twitter) reflects exactly what I would assume about him. I do think that this phenomenon is a function of his visibility and pop personality, however. This persona may force him to blog and tweet in a certain voice, but I like to think that he really is what he tweets. For example, the ego that took the microphone from Taylor Swift, "I might bless the city today with an all white suit ... why not." He also dispenses knowledge and advice on the live of being Kanye West. "You can't look at a glass half full or empty if it's overflowing." His blog is more often than not in all caps chalk full of run-on sentences. And I love it. He often says things that make know sense such as "Tell everyone at the label only use Gothic or Helvetic fonts for email blast unless I otherwise approve." From his comments it is visible what the life of such a crazy person/superstar entails. As far as his music is concerned, not much is revealed as far as where he gets his inspiration or ideas, but I would argue that his music is commensurate to the quality and characterisitics of his blog and twitter. Not that he cares what I think anyway, his blog is titled KANYE UNIVERSE CITY.

Also, sort of unrelated, but hilarious. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/03/kanye-west-new-yorker_n_668894.html