The Noise That Binds: How a Teen’s Merzbow Marathon Challenges Our Listening Habits
There’s something profoundly absurd—and yet, oddly inspiring—about an 18-year-old deciding to listen to all 400 of Merzbow’s albums. Personally, I think it’s more than just a viral stunt; it’s a rebellion against the way we consume music today. Sam Andrews, the teen in question, isn’t just enduring ear-splitting noise—he’s making a statement about attention, endurance, and the value of art that doesn’t play nice.
Why Merzbow? Why Now?
Merzbow, the brainchild of Masami Akita, is the kind of artist who makes you question whether what you’re hearing is music or a sonic assault. What makes this particularly fascinating is how Andrews, a self-described regular teenager, has turned this into a mission. He’s not just listening; he’s documenting, rating, and sharing his journey on Instagram. It’s like watching someone voluntarily run a marathon through a minefield—and loving every step.
From my perspective, this isn’t just about noise music. It’s about the act of deep listening in an era where algorithms dictate our tastes and attention spans are measured in seconds. Andrews’ project feels like a middle finger to the streaming age, where music is often reduced to background noise or a mood enhancer. What many people don’t realize is that Merzbow’s music demands something from you—time, patience, and a willingness to confront the uncomfortable.
The Absurdity of It All
One thing that immediately stands out is the sheer absurdity of the endeavor. Who listens to 400 albums of noise? And yet, Andrews’ videos have gone viral, drawing in hundreds of thousands of viewers. What this really suggests is that there’s a hunger for something different—something that breaks the monotony of curated playlists and TikTok trends.
I find it especially interesting that Andrews compares Merzbow’s music to the mind-numbing nature of short-form content. He argues that deep listening, even to something as abrasive as noise, can “do wonders for your attention span.” If you take a step back and think about it, he’s onto something. In a world where we’re constantly bombarded with bite-sized entertainment, there’s value in sitting with something that doesn’t immediately reward you.
The Changing Face of Music Criticism
Andrews’ project is also a testament to how music criticism is evolving online. He’s not just a listener; he’s a curator, a reviewer, and a provocateur. His color-coded spreadsheets and Instagram ratings feel like a throwback to an older, more obsessive era of music fandom. But they’re also a product of the digital age, where anyone with a smartphone can become a critic.
What’s striking is how his approach mirrors Merzbow’s own ethos. Akita’s music is unpredictable, experimental, and often unapologetically harsh. Andrews’ videos, with their humor and absurdity, capture that same spirit. It’s like they’re speaking the same language—one that values authenticity over accessibility.
The Broader Implications
This raises a deeper question: What does it mean for music to be “valuable” in 2023? Merzbow has a modest 23,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, but as Andrews points out, those numbers don’t reflect his cultural relevance. Challenging music like Merzbow forces us to rethink how we measure worth in art. Is it about popularity? Consumption? Or is it about the impact it has on those who engage with it?
A detail that I find especially interesting is how Andrews’ project has sparked conversations among people who wouldn’t normally touch experimental music. He’s not just preaching to the choir; he’s bringing noise to the masses. And what’s surprising is how much people have to say about it. Even his friends, who initially dismissed Merzbow as “just noise,” found themselves reflecting on the experience.
The Future of Listening
If there’s one takeaway from Andrews’ marathon, it’s this: music doesn’t have to be easy to be meaningful. In fact, the most rewarding art often demands something from us. Personally, I think we’ve lost sight of that in the age of streaming, where convenience and accessibility reign supreme.
Andrews’ project is a reminder that there’s still room for the weird, the difficult, and the uncompromising. It’s a call to slow down, to listen deeply, and to embrace the chaos. Fifty years from now, people might still be talking about Merzbow—not because his music is easy to love, but because it’s impossible to ignore.
So, the next time you find yourself skipping through a playlist or scrolling through TikTok, take a moment to consider what you’re missing. As Andrews would probably tell you, sometimes the most rewarding journeys are the ones that hurt the most.
