earpick

Have you noticed how a lot of pop tracks seem relatively simple, but are hardly boring, and always end before you want them to? It is quite interesting to analyze those overplayed pop records, from last year and from 40 years ago. What makes them work?

All the Neumann U67 mics and huge ProTools consoles, of course!

Not really. There is plenty of great music recorded on budget gear.

What struck me as odd is that, after playing through the Anthology, the compilation of Beatles’ early demos, takes, and the band laughing after getting high, is that a lot of earlier takes, while sounding pretty much the same as the final product, lack something.

Let me light one up. You see, it’s not like you’re not just floating on top of the track in these songs, there is something missing. It’s like a bumpy road in one of those SUV commercials. The reason? It’s the little details.

It seems like the musicians and [really, mostly] the producer, by the means of short drum rolls, pops, synth sounds, and weird FX, smooth the listening experience out. When we listen to a song, we don’t just hear the vocals - we’re guided from one part to another. These little sounds are just like transitions and adjectives in a language that make a piece of writing flow. They make a difference between “Her presence warmed the air” and “She farted”.

Go ahead, listen to a pop track. As soon as a line of lyrics ends, there is that short guitar slide, or a crash, or a breath. Or a sneeze. I don’t know what you listen to.

The point is, the songs are arranged to keep the bored and spoilt listener’s attention at all times, and to not leave it (the listener) until the end. Now that I listen through the deliciously overproduced Garbage and Madonna, the songs only let go at the end, and when it’s over, you feel like the track flew by so fast that you didn’t even notice. So you listen again. And again. And with careful listening, you keep noticing new details and little effects every time.

Try it. It trains attention to detail, but keep in mind - after learning all the tricks, the songs will probably stop exciting you. Not listening to the album for a month or two usually helps, but not too much. Like with sex.

Take your time to listen once more through A Night at the Opera. Notice how all these little sounds, harmonies, and instruments create a mental picture? They are timed so right, and, like in a good film, every word and sound has its purpose.

That is certainly something to strive for.