That's a strange dichotomy of choices. Another post in this thread backs up entirely my point that this is music to be played in the background, not thoroughly consumed and heard. [0]
> I think to this day its great background music for programming work
This article was nothing more than sponsored content for a contemporary artist who already has all of the success, publicity, and fandom he could ever need. By leveling him to a tier much closer to reality, and throwing out the names of much more accomplished and more musically-important 20th century composers, I hope to provide a counter-point to The Guardian, which is neither an authority on music nor the broader culture.
> Another post in this thread backs up entirely my point that this is music to be played in the background, not thoroughly consumed and heard
Those two are not necessarily exclusive. I enjoy some kinds of
songs as background music as well as by itself. Why would I
listen to background music that I wouldn't like otherwise?
> I hope to provide a counter-point to The Guardian, which is neither an authority on music nor the broader culture.
Neither are you. Or anyone else except the individual person
deciding what they want to listen to.
Is your point that the music is bad because it can function as background music and doesn’t require active listening to enjoy? Or that the music is good but the listeners are bad as they play it in the background?
Would your opinion of his music be any different if you were alive when it came out? He is so influential that when you listen all you hear is a tired old style, which would never exist without him.
> I think to this day its great background music for programming work
This article was nothing more than sponsored content for a contemporary artist who already has all of the success, publicity, and fandom he could ever need. By leveling him to a tier much closer to reality, and throwing out the names of much more accomplished and more musically-important 20th century composers, I hope to provide a counter-point to The Guardian, which is neither an authority on music nor the broader culture.
[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25345602