Adorno 2 - Kanye West, Life of Pablo

Adorno, in the first chapter of Prisms, says that in jazz music, "nothing is permitted to remain what it intrinsically is. Everything must be fixed up, must bear the traces of a preparation which brings it closer to the sphere of the well known, thus rendering it more easily comprehensible... the process of preparation indicates to the listener that the music is made for him."

This passage reminds me of Kanye's release of The Life of Pablo, an album that Kanye continued to change even after it had been released. The confusion of his audience, the media, and music fans was everywhere. Many thought Kanye's indecision was ridiculous, a publicity stunt, a result of insecurity, and so on. Why release something if it wasn't finished?

I don't think Kanye makes music for his listeners, nor do I think he wants to make his music more comprehensible. (I think he does whatever he wants, regardless of what people think.) Where I see the connection between Adorno and Kanye is that the release of The Life of Pablo brought attention to the process of preparation. It reminded us that music is produced (to "perfection") and that music is changed during this process. As listeners, we typically just see and listen to finished products, oblivious to the processes behind it. In this case we did get exposed to the process, and it frustrated us. A lot. We don't want to see imperfection or uncertainty. We want finished products that are clean, fixed up, and bear no direct evidence of the artistic work behind it. (This is assuming that Kanye's indecision is a mark of artistry.)

While I'm posting, I also want to direct some attention to the poem by Keats that Adorno includes before the Schoenberg chapter in Prisms. I think it summarizes how impossible Adorno's taste is, in a way only poetry can.

Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard
Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;
Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd
Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone.

(This post is late, it's intended for Thurs 4/21.)