Tolkien would surely have been horrified at the idea of a great engine generating his world: "whereas it had once been green and fair, it was now filled with pits and forges." I imagine ents demolishing a wall of clustered machines.
But then Tolkien was a little bit uncomfortable with the world-creating industry embodied in his own works as well. The root of Melkor's evil in the Silmarillion is his desire to create his own world (when really all he can do is warp the existing one--changing elves into orcs). The conflict between Tolkien's utter devotion to his desire for unreal worlds and his willingness to look at the dark side of that desire makes for both interesting reading and interesting viewing. (It's a particularly relevant theme for geeks, I think.)
'"White!" [Saruman] sneered. "It serves as a beginning. White cloth may be dyed. The white page can be overwritten; and the white light can be broken."'
With all the Miles listed here, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Miles Davis Quintet sessions preserved on the 4 records Cookin', Workin', Steamin', and Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet. You get not only Miles but also early Coltrane, and they're incredibly fun and listenable. Whenever I put one of these on as background music for a party, someone inevitably remarks on it and asks who it is. My favorite is Steamin'.
If Miles is too cool for you, try the following live fire: --John Coltrane Live at the Village Vanguard (the Master Takes) --Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot (vol. 1)
Jazz is its history (can you really call it jazz if it isn't blues-based?), but some contemporary jazz musicians recognize this fact and play with it. Of all the jazz historians among the "young lions," my favorite is Marcus Roberts. Try "Deep in the Shed" or his recent CD of Cole Porter reinterpretations.
It might not hurt to put pressure on the artists to take a principled stand on this issue. In any case, the time seems ripe for a formal boycott. A boycott on all RIAA music probably would not work, however. Who's going to be willing to stop buying music? It might be helpful to identify RIAA members who stood for something other than mindless aggression and then to try to funnel sales their way (and away from the big bads).
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But then Tolkien was a little bit uncomfortable with the world-creating industry embodied in his own works as well. The root of Melkor's evil in the Silmarillion is his desire to create his own world (when really all he can do is warp the existing one--changing elves into orcs). The conflict between Tolkien's utter devotion to his desire for unreal worlds and his willingness to look at the dark side of that desire makes for both interesting reading and interesting viewing. (It's a particularly relevant theme for geeks, I think.)
With all the Miles listed here, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Miles Davis Quintet sessions preserved on the 4 records Cookin', Workin', Steamin', and Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet. You get not only Miles but also early Coltrane, and they're incredibly fun and listenable. Whenever I put one of these on as background music for a party, someone inevitably remarks on it and asks who it is. My favorite is Steamin'.
If Miles is too cool for you, try the following live fire:
--John Coltrane Live at the Village Vanguard (the Master Takes)
--Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot (vol. 1)
Jazz is its history (can you really call it jazz if it isn't blues-based?), but some contemporary jazz musicians recognize this fact and play with it. Of all the jazz historians among the "young lions," my favorite is Marcus Roberts. Try "Deep in the Shed" or his recent CD of Cole Porter reinterpretations.
It might not hurt to put pressure on the artists to take a principled stand on this issue. In any case, the time seems ripe for a formal boycott. A boycott on all RIAA music probably would not work, however. Who's going to be willing to stop buying music? It might be helpful to identify RIAA members who stood for something other than mindless aggression and then to try to funnel sales their way (and away from the big bads).