I'm reading this article the other day about the sad state of radio. The guy's complaining about this station playing stuff by "'no-talent' mooks like Mudvayne"...and it got me to thinking (again!) about why any of us enjoys the music we listen to.

This is obviously a very complex issue. Ever think about it? When I hear a new song that gets me going I'll later wonder what exactly it was about it that made me latch on.

For some of the "cats-walking-on-piano" jazz stuff that I'm into the reasons can be quite complex. Maybe it's the way the bass is following the ride cymbal pattern. Or the way the two horns split off and create just the right "shreeeeeek!". But hell, even then...why do I like that "shreeeeeek!"?

Pop and rock-oriented material is a little easier to figure. A cool guitar riff. Maybe a really catchy chorus (I have to admit here that I own a coy of Avril Lavigne's Let Go because I couldn't get "Sk8er Boi" out of my head....so sue me!). Great drumming can do it as well.

Which brings me back to Mudvayne. While I have a hard time getting through an entire recording of that style of metal, the rhythm section of Mudvayne (and and while I think of it, Slipknot as well) is fricken' great. The guy's snare technique is monsterous. And the way it's locked onto the bass is pretty damned athletic. Just listen to the beginning of "Dig" from L.D. 50. It's like riding a danged rock roller-coaster.

So do a little thinking the next time a tune "lights you up".

(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)