So Long For Now

Category Archives: The General Specific

So Long For Now

Written on April 2, 2012 by Dave in The General Specific

And with this post, tympanogram will be going (relatively) dark. We don’t want to go all Hipster Runoff and say we’re quitting and then come back the next Monday like nothing happened, so we may appear every so often if something really strikes our fancy, but there isn’t going to be regular posting here anymore.

We’ve loved doing this for the past three years, but the blog has come to a point where it’s more of a frustration than it is a joy to do, and since it’s no longer fun, we’re not going to keep it up. I have kids, Andy just bought a house, and the demands on our time are only going to increase from here on out. It seems like now is the best time to step back, say thanks, and move on down the line.

We’re not going to delve too deeply into the reasons it’s no longer fun, but the turnout for two shows this past week in Rochester had a lot to do with our personal frustration level, and were a stark realization of our lack of impact. The resulting existential crises are not brand new, but they’ve come to a head and it seems better to take a break from the whole thing. We still love music, and hopefully this time away will reinvigorate those passions and allow us to return to the frame of mind in which we decided to start this damn thing.

There are many, many people to thank for their help over the past few years, and a complete rehashing of all those who we’re indebted to would ultimately be incomplete, but please know that if you’ve taken the time to read our posts, follow us on Twitter, friend us on Facebook, interact with us at all, you’re appreciated. Thanks to the bands who have sent us their stuff. Thanks to the blogs who accepted us into their ranks without question. Thanks to our local friends who have let us try our hand at actually creating concerts, records, etc. We’ll see you around for sure.

And lastly, thanks to the group of writers we assembled for all of their hard work. We appreciate that you shared your love of music through us, and we’re sorry we couldn’t ever pay you all in anything more than free tunes. Out of all of this, the actual friends we made through our virtual ramblings will be more important than anything else.

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[news] …On Turning Three

Written on February 4, 2012 by Andy in News, The General Specific

As of today, our blog is three years old. We’ve grown from just Dave and I writing about whatever we wanted (and probably should have accumulated more DMCA notices for) into a team of ten writers, each with different tastes and backgrounds. And even though we’ve grown in size and scope and posting frequency, there are some things that haven’t changed since we started. We continue to want to provide our readers with music that we believe is worth their time and money, and not simply what has buzz around it or what will bring us hits. (Although we don’t shy away from what’s buzzy if it’s good.)

We’ve never thought that bands were privileged to let us hear their music; in fact, it’s completely the opposite. We’re supremely lucky that artists want to share their creative endeavors with us, and we give each email that comes our way a read, and we listen to (most) everything that we get sent, even if it doesn’t find a place on the blog. (Although we don’t bother with mash-ups, because they’re not really our thing.) That fact in and of itself is not anything special, although with the advent of Ad Hoc and their championing of it as something different when it comes to music blogs, it seems like it might be. If you’re an artist, please keep sending us your music. Even if we don’t write back, know that each email is appreciated and your music doesn’t go unheard.

We’ve come in contact with a lot of like-minded individuals throughout the world that have their own blogs, and that’s been great. Thanks to all of those blogs who have supported us, whether it’s helping out with website problems or simply putting us on your blogroll. The sense of community involved in blogging is staggering, and I know that if it weren’t for your help and support and friendly competition we wouldn’t still be doing this. Also, selfishly, I’ve started my own PR thing over here to help bands to get their music out. If you’re a blogger and you see something from Flour City, don’t automatically delete it. My work there is done with the same care that my work on the blog is done with, so I hope you’ll find something new for you and your readers to love.

Lastly, if you’re a reader, thanks for sticking with us for this long. We hope that you have been able to find something that you love through us, and if you have, we hope that you support the hell out of the artist(s) that created it. Your support of us has allowed us to do things like put on concerts and put out some vinyl for local bands we love, and that’s something we never dreamed of when we started. Thank you.

(And if you’re in, or going to be in Rochester on March 30th, come out to the party we’re throwing in celebration of turning three. You can see the details of that show here.)

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[stream/mix] Andy’s 1000th Post

Written on October 6, 2011 by Andy in Music, The General Specific

This post marks my 1000^th for this blog. It’s a large number for me to wrap my head around; it represents nearly three years of work, averaging out to slightly more than one post per day, and representing more than fifty percent of the content available on this site. Not bad for a blog that was started with no real direction or goal beyond writing about music we liked.

To some extent, that mission hasn’t changed. We still primarily write about what we like, although there is now space for what is simply relevant, or what our writers like – whether or not we like it. That need for content is the nature of the music blogging beast.

But while that initial spark remains the same, we certainly have added on to our charge. We put together concerts when it’s been feasible, although I can tell you all that it’s really more of a pain in the ass than it is fun. We’ll put together a show around our blog’s birthday, and help bands we truly like with shows here in town, but for the most part, booking bands is a hopeless morass of one sentence emails and needless jerking around.

We’ve also started a small label thing. We’re working out the kinks in that process, and learning who’s best to work with, but we’re proud to have helped further a couple of great local bands in Joywave and Old Tapes, albeit in a relatively small way. Their music speaks for itself; we’re simply another avenue for them to get it out to people, and we’re proud that they’ve allowed us to be a part of their growth.

I don’t know what we’re going to be up to next. We’ll probably continue with the whole record thing, maybe step up the inches on the next release. Who knows? Maybe that’s our problem – we don’t have a plan for blog/world domination. What I do know is this: I wouldn’t have written this much if I didn’t think it was worthwhile, and our readership is what makes it that way. So if you’re reading this – whether it’s the first time you’ve been here or you’ve been reading every day – you have my heartfelt thanks.

With that, here’s a quick little mix of some of my favorite songs of this year. It’s 16 minutes and 40 seconds, or 1000 seconds – one for every single post I’ve been lucky enough to write. Cheers.

1000 Posts Mini-Mix by Tympanogram

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Howdy all…

Written on January 9, 2011 by Will in Music, The General Specific

And for the last of our new contributor introductions for the time being…

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My name is Will. I am new here. I like music, especially the type of “good” music featured on blogs such as this one. Here are some random facts about me:

1. The first cassette tape I purchased was George Harrison’s “Cloud Nine.”

2. The first concert I attended was The Pietasters featuring Skavoovie and the Epitones (I went through an ill-advised ska phase early in high school and I still sometimes find myself reverting back to some of those old favorites…like Spring Heeled Jack or Mustard Plug).

3. I have an addiction to Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi and Twizzlers. This was really the fuel I used to get through grad school.

4. I am a huge fan of The Wire and sports in general. I might have a mental illness when it comes to sports. I root religiously for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Portland Trail Blazers. I am accustomed to losing.

5. After high school in Irondequoit, I grew tired of Rochester and moved across the country to attend the University of Montana. I studied Journalism there. Then I moved to Maine to obtain my master’s in English.

6. Five years away from Rochester can do funny things to a person. I missed this crazy place. I moved back after grad school and started working in journalism again. It’s been a fun ride. I like the newspaper business, but I need more of a creative outlet.

6. This is where tympanogram comes in. I have a passion for music. My current favorites include Odd Future, Wye Oak, Titus Andronicus, Future Islands, Grinderman…(this can really go on and on and on). I am excited for this opportunity. I am psyched to begin a dialogue about music and I think this presents the perfect opportunity to do so.

Cheers,

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Hi, I’m Jake.

Written on January 9, 2011 by Andy in Music, The General Specific, Vinyl

The introductions continue with something from our second new contributor…

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The first time I met Andy, I was interviewing for my job. He was possibly the most easy going interviewer I have -or will ever- meet. I was wearing a shirt and tie, and the first thing he says to me is, “What are you dressed up for?” From there we became good friends, and he soon told me about Tympanogram. At the time I was decidedly against new music–I had become obsessed with vinyl after moving to Rochester and firmly stuck in the 1970s, but then Andy introduced me to Japandroids. The rest, as they say, is history. Fast forward two years and I am still collecting vinyl, but more than 50% of it is from new artists I find on Tympanogram.

When Andy and Dave posted the help wanted sign, I was stoked to have an opportunity to add my voice. However, I thought that there was no way I could keep up to date. I simply do not have the same kind of appetite for new music that they do. I realized that I can share some of the oddities and great bands that have slipped into the mists of time. I plan to review mostly old records that I have collected over the years (around 700 at this point) and turn you guys and gals on to some stuff you might never find unless you rummage through dad’s old vinyl collection.

On that point, I encourage everyone that reads this site to check out garage sales, the Volunteers of America, estate sales, etc. I have found some fantastic stuff (and also a lot of crap) rummaging through these various places for generally 50 cents-5 bucks an album. I don’t know anywhere you can find music that cheap, except for on the interwebs. The cool thing, for me, is the physical sensations that go along with vinyl. It has weight–it reminds you that blood, sweat and tears went into the production of a great album, something I think is lost when you never actually touch the music you own. I’ll leave you to ponder that one, and start on reviewing an album some dead guy made.

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