[Gregg Sartiano]

I agree 100%. Really. Art IS what the artist SAYS it is -- the song's the king, etc., etc.

BUT -- the general audience may not be able to tell the difference between kicks, snares, pre's, etc, but even somewhat 'musically aware' audience members know "polished" sound (i.e.: major label master quality sounds, production, mixing, and mastering) when they hear it. In songs for which the lo-fi (or medium-fi) nature is not serving the purpose of the song, lack of polished sound will distract the listener -- after all, we can't quantify why people push the channel changer on their remotes or radios, they just do.

Also, If your duties go anywhere near the vast realm of commercial (i.e.: sellable) music, it's your job to put the music's best foot forward. A great kick drum or guitar sound or synth hook, well-recorded and well-mixed, can take a song from mundane to sublime in no time. Don't fool yourself -- sounds matter. If it was all "melody" and "song," then there would still be a Brill Building or a Tin Pan Alley. It's sound, music, attitude, groove, melody, vibe, song...all of this and more within a greater cultural context, which, don't fool yourself, is a HUGE part of it -- like the frame on a picture.