computer as music critic

[alocispepraluger102]

NYT LINK

"THANKS to advances in computing power, we can analyze music in radically new and different ways. Computers are still far from grasping some of the deep and often unexpected nuances that release our most intimate emotions. However, by processing vast amounts of raw data and performing unprecedented large-scale analyses beyond the reach of teams of human experts, they can provide valuable insight into some of the most basic aspects of musical discourse, including the evolution of popular music over the years. Has there been an evolution? Can we measure it? And if so, what do we observe?

In a recent article published in the journal Scientific Reports, we and our co-authors used computers to analyze 464,411 Western popular music recordings released between 1955 and 2010, including pop, rock, hip-hop, folk and funk. We first looked for static patterns characterizing the generic use of primary musical elements like pitch, timbre and loudness. We then measured a number of general trends for these elements over the years."

Edited September 17, 2012 by alocispepraluger102

[A Lark Ascending]

So the definitive 100 best saxophonists can't be far off.

[alocispepraluger102]

So the definitive 100 best saxophonists can't be far off.

.....AND DEFINITIVE 100 LISTENERS.

I, LIKE YOURSELF, GAVE UP WATCHING AND COMPILING BEST LISTS DECADES AGO, EXCEPT FOR, IN MY CASE, BEERS.

Edited September 17, 2012 by alocispepraluger102