Turning the Vernacular Academic?

On one hand, the pop industry has been under the influence of the free-market since the first commercial recording. Is it so far out of bounds, then, to consider institutionalizing pop music in academia, too?

On the other hand, what might fall under the rubric “classical music” has always been taught in academic settings (for better or worse, one could argue, I suppose). If worse, however—that is, if its institutionalization stunted its growth, or even drained it of life (and I remind everyone that “academia” is almost always used in the pejorative these days?)—then why this:

USC's Thornton School of Music will make room starting next year for singers and instrumentalists who play pop music, breaking a long-standing tradition in higher education that requires students to dedicate themselves either to classical music or jazz.

Today the school is announcing its new bachelor of music degree in pop music performance, said to be the first of its kind at a major university.

"Why shouldn't a program like this start in Los Angeles?" said Robert Cutietta, dean of the Thornton School. "I've been in higher education for 20-some years, and it's been talked about, but everyone has been afraid to do it. No one wanted to be first."

Sure, there have been successful programs, like the Berklee College of Music, in Boston. But...

I guess my question is this: What happens when the vernacular is systematized, dissected? Does it lose its identity? Is this a good thing or a potentially bad thing?

I’m not so sure I’m willing to take a stance on this one. You?

And really, they consulted Randy Newman and Steve Miller?


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Ever hear of the Polish augmented-sixth chord? It's a minor triad. Pah-dum. Tss!

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If good argument follows, I might be willing to think USC's idea might be the best thing ever.

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The Detritus Review: Off-Topic! (Sort of.)

Detritus’ first ever, and perhaps only, pop-related post! Apologies, but I could not let this shit go.

A critic for Maxim magazine (they have music criticism? Jesus!) has been taken to task for his review of the new Black Crowes album.

I wonder why? Surely Maxim upholds the highest standards of journalistic integrity (in between pages of soft-core porn). Who gets their music reviews from a crappy frat-boy skin rag, anyway? (From Yahoo!):

The review in Maxim's March issue gives the Crowes' "Warpaint" a rating of two-and-a-half stars out of five. The band posted an exasperated statement on its Web site last week saying the Maxim writer hadn't heard the entire album because advance copies weren't available.

He…could not have listened to the whole album. Because he didn’t have it. And yet, he published a review? What was he thinking?

The Crowes' manager, Pete Angelus, said the magazine explained that its review was an "educated guess."

Wow. I…wow. That is some fucked up shit right there.

Maxim editorial director James Kaminsky responded Tuesday with this statement: "It is Maxim's editorial policy to assign star ratings only to those albums that have been heard in their entirety.”

Really? That’s your policy? Because it kind of seems like common fucking sense to me.

“Unfortunately, that policy was not followed in the March 2008 issue of our magazine and we apologize to our readers."

That is unfortunate. Perhaps “readers” is also a mischaracterization.

Maybe we in the "classical" music world don't have it so bad after all.