Look with more than your eyes

The Hollywood 48-hour slim fast diet, lose 10 pounds in 48 hours …" "Ten hot ways to make him want you …" "Want abs of steal? Try the Ab Roller …" \nI know that at one time or another, our eyes catch a glimpse of these headlines. Doesn't a little part of you for even a fleeting second, after repeated exposure to the same ad, think it just might be true? Come on, admit it. \nAmerican culture packages its subjects from dieting to music in a way that is alluring to the fetishes of a public audience. Just think about it. You're in line to check out of Kroger. You put each item on the conveyer belt. Then like a bolt of lightening, you look up and see JLo on the cover of some well-established magazine. Her third engagement ring and enchanting look are the main attractions, and next to them, in three-inch print, are the words, "True love at last -- third time's a charm …" Your eyes shift and refocus on Rolling Stone to see "Britney Spears -- 'Popped Out' Princess" lying across the front cover of this "Rock" magazine.\nIn truth, all of these trendy headlines and celebrity profiles don't really bother me all that much, but the problem is so many people just don't get to hear enough incredible music. Lately, I feel we have been relegated to musical celebrities that are "appearance packaged" instead of "talent packaged."\nIt was about a year ago when I was introduced to the voices of amazing musicians that have received little recognition by the public -- musicians such as Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake, Ed Harcourt, Sigur Ros, Fiona Apple, Coldplay, Alana Davis … \nIn a letter from Joan Jett to Rolling Stone, she "expresses her disgust with their 'Women in Rock' issue." She states, "A magazine like Rolling Stone has the power to shine important light on groups like these -- instead they are afterthoughts, and that valuable spotlight is wasted on the same overexposed pop princesses … By Rolling Stone standards, 'Rock' is no longer a style of music, but a trendy costume to be whipped up by expensive stylists and slapped onto the latest pop tart Barbie [or Ken] doll." \nI used to be someone who didn't delve very deep into music; i.e. past the top forty shelves. That was my loss. I admit, begrudgingly, that my CD collection was "musically challenged." But now I have ventured out into a whole new world -- a world where unknown artists, like Jason Mraz, will soon take the stage. A world where unrecognized artists are recognized. I consider this world to be the undiscovered world of music.\nI'm not encouraging you to throw away all of your Britney Spears, 'NSync and Justin Timberlake CDs. Instead, take a deeper look into music. Discover artists that you've never heard of before. Allow their music to enter your world. Don't do this just with music, but with everything. Experience something a little less ordinary and a little more extraordinary.