Music you know everybody seems to like except you
Posted by: Guido Fawkes on 07 June 2008
On the Coldplay thread I remarked that there are certain bands that everybody seems to like, but I just don't see the appeal of. I remarked that Coldplay along with Radiohead and New Order were in that category for me; I could also add Frank Sinatra, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Neil Young, the Eagles and Dire Straits. There is no implication in my statement that these artists are bad - in fact they are highly competent musicians producing very well respected material. It is simply that I personally don't like their music.
Dean (Whizzkid) replied
quote:
Now I am actually the complete opposite to your preferences in music and Blue Monday is such a mammoth piece of music in my circles you have to bow down before you play it, in certain clubs I used to go to it would bring the house down within the first bar being played.
When reading the "what are you listening to now" thread most of the music listened to on there is to safe for my tastes and people who have met me at Naim days can vouch for my, to them, unusual taste in music. I do not like to be soothed by music I want it to challenge my sensibilities I want it to make me go through all aspects of feelings and emotions from being uncomfortable (Squarepusher) to down right thrilling (Beethovens 9th) and funnily mainstream Folk music is the one genre (well Country as well) that does the same to me as The Bunnymen does to you. Though its the same with sixties music I'm definitely more Cream, Hendrix, Small Faces than G&PM and the Searchers. Maybe its the rebel in me I always look for the subversiveness in the music not whether its got a nice tune to whistle to. When I go to others to listen to their systems I do like them to play their stuff because maybe I'll be surprised by it and the other day at such an event I heard Bellowhead and thought this is big band Folk that's pretty cool but then it was ruined by the next track being a Christie Moore style Folkie thing that had me reaching for a bucket. Coldplay are also another band too safe for me whereas Radiohead are just fantastic well anything with Synth's in it gets me going.
Maybe we should start a thread on its own with these to two posts to start it off.
The assertion is I like music that is safe. I have admit there is some truth in this. Some late 70s/80s groups seem to inhabit the darker murky club scene, whereas my musical choice often seems to be in those hazy days of summer in the idyllic countryside. I am, of course, a member of the village green preservation society.
Unsurprisingly, Christy Moore, an artist that has Dean reaching for bucket, is artist who, for me, has seldom put a foot wrong. Christy was a member of Planxty who I regard as the best live act I have ever seen. Christy's
Live At The Point is one of the finest live albums ever made and his studio album
Ride On is a classic. How can anybody not like
Wish I Was Back Home In Derry ?
So do you have pet hates among the records that forum members like me continually rave about?
Do you agree that I like safe music: Shirley Collins, HMHB, Kate Rusby, Incredible String Band, Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, Ray Davies, Basia Bulat, Sandy Denny, Martha & the Muffins, Frank Zappa, Melanie Safka, Kevin Ayres, Syd Barrett, George Formby, ELO, Kevin Coyne, ELP/Nice, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tom Rapp, Karine Polwart and Christy Moore plus the Beatles and a whole host of female singers from Gracie Fields and Marie Lloyd to Polly Jean Harvey and Kate Walsh as well as the electronica of Delia Derbyshire and Kraftwerk.
It is that moment when you put on
Eldorado and believe earnestly that this is popular music at its very best and the person you're playing it to says
I don't think much of that.
Of course, I was recently nearly in position where I was going to have to listen to Fleetwood Mac's
Rumours, but I was taken pity on and saved from this fate.
So, other than just being different, is there any pattern within the music that makes us love some things - like the timeless Kirsty MacColl and traditional folk music and detest others - such as all forms of rap and hip-hop in my case (I think it all sounds so dated, but people still enjoy it and why not).
Your views would be of interest.
ATB Rotf
Posted on: 10 June 2008 by Whizzkid
Hi Blythe,
Now I haven't heard the new Stereo Mc's album I have their first album and a couple of 12's but have not really got into them much. Hip Hop or Rap if you like was my way into alternative music but I was more an Electro Funk boy and thus moved on to its spiritual successor House music in 1986 and though I stll listen to good underground Rap where I can though its not as important to me as House, Techno & Drum 'n' Bass.
Dean..
Posted on: 10 June 2008 by Steve S1
quote:
There is only one band that I have ever bought every LP they made and that was "City Boy" - the Birmingham band who had a big hit with 5-7-0-5. Sadly, they were never well known and remain relatively unknown.....
Not by me. "Young Men Gone West" - great album. Worked at a place where they came along as support for Smokie of all people.
They were superb.
Mind you I also remember Queen circa 1974ish, being blown off stage by a band, I think called "Nutz". The rest is ....as they say, history.
Steve
Posted on: 11 June 2008 by Noye's Fludde
quote:
Originally posted by ROTF:
I could also add Frank Sinatra, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Neil Young, the Eagles and Dire Straits.
The only one that really disturbs me here is Neil Young. You don't like Neil Young ?? and consider yourself a folkie ?? Then I remembered that you were the guy who liked the freebie Paul McCartney CD.
Have you listened to Decade ? After the Gold Rush ? You really should give ole Neil another shake....
Just shows you how different music tastes can be. I might not like HMHB, but if they offer it as a freebie in the papers, I'll give it a whirl...
Posted on: 11 June 2008 by Steve S1
quote:
The only one that really disturbs me here is Neil Young. You don't like Neil Young ?? and consider yourself a folkie ??
Having enjoyed some of ROTF's recommendations (OK, not Basia) I'm also amazed that JT and Jackson Browne feature as subjects of his ire.
I would have thought many of ROTF's fav artists would have messrs Browne, Taylor & Young in their top influences list, hey ho.
Steve
Posted on: 11 June 2008 by Noye's Fludde
quote:
Originally posted by Steve S1:
I would have thought many of ROTF's fav artists would have [James]Taylor in their top influences list.
Absolutely. In some circles it is fashionable to denigrate popular artists like James Taylor. Truth is, a whole generation of singer song writers (as well as a big segment of the current crop of indie artists) owe Taylor a huge debt. I was surprised to learn recently that a big fan of Taylor is none other than Chuck D of Public Enemy (!!)
Noyes
Posted on: 11 June 2008 by Chillkram
quote:
Originally posted by blythe:
quote:
Originally posted by Chillkram:
The Who. I just don't get them. And yet I love so many of the other big groups of the same era. I'm also not really that moved by the Stones, U2, Bruce Springsteen or Bucks Fizz.
Mark
The Who are amazing! I only recently bought Whos Next - basically because one of my all time favourite songs is "Won't Get Fooled Again" and I realised I didn't have it.... I LOVE the whole album.
The Stones, again, I LOVED some of the their songs but only rcently actually bought one of their albums.
U2 I sort of got into after waking up every morning in the late 70's/early 80's to "New Years Day" on the radio alarm which I thought was the best thing ever, then when I saw U2 on a Midsummer Nights Tube on Channel 4 shortly followed by seeing them live, I really enjoyed them - they kicked my arse and I loved those gigs! I then "went off them" after the first 2 or 3 albums
Springsteen I have never "got" and I guess I never will.........
Bucks Fizz were one of those anoying Eurovision "bands" but I have to confess that when they released "New Beginning" towards the end of their career, I bought the re-mix 12" which was regularly played at the nightclubs I went to at that time and I still think is a classic dance/club track.
Exactly..."Music you know everybody seems to like except you".
Mark
Posted on: 11 June 2008 by Whizzkid
Guys,
Anyone have any thoughts on WHY certain bands don't float your boat and do others. Was it that one of their songs was played endlessly by your sisters until you nearly broke the record and shoved it up the proverbial? Was it because that you were not cool enough in your youth to be into a certain band? Was it because you were too cool to be into anything "popular" it had to be music only heard by you a few mates on limited 10 copies type of obscure for you to like it? C'mon the threads about Why not What.
Dean..The REBEL with a cause
Posted on: 11 June 2008 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by Steve S1:
quote:
The only one that really disturbs me here is Neil Young. You don't like Neil Young ?? and consider yourself a folkie ??
Having enjoyed some of ROTF's recommendations (OK, not Basia) I'm also amazed that JT and Jackson Browne feature as subjects of his ire.
I would have thought many of ROTF's fav artists would have messrs Browne, Taylor & Young in their top influences list, hey ho.
Steve
No ire involved - just don't like their singing or songs that much. I wrote at the beginning of the thread, it doesn't imply they are not good artists. I think they have all recently had sessions on BBC4 and I did try to listen for a bit, but found myself wandering off as they just didn't hold my attention - can't explain why.
I've never really liked James Taylor since I first heard him and friends at school used to rave about
Sweet Baby James when I much preferred
Baby James Harvest. My view hasn't really changed. Possibly
Fire and Rain was OK - sorry,
Neil Young I first heard on those Graham Nash albums, the ones he made with Crosby Stills after he left the Hollies. For me, and I know I'm the only one the world who thinks this, it didn't have the magic of
King Midas In Reverse or those Hollies' gems like
Butterfly and
Evolution.
As for Jackson Browne and the Eagles (was he ever in the Eagles?), I was probably the only one at University who didn't really understand what they were all about. Whilst others clambered to play them on the juke box - I was happily selecting
Urban Guerilla and
Devil's Answer.
For folk music is Shirley Collins and the music she inspired from The Incredible String Band, Fairport Convention, Trees, Steeleye Span and all thing Albion. It is revival that has carried on through Jackie Oates, Kate Rusby, Lisa Knapp, Jenna Witts and top of the shop, Karine Polwart. My favourite newish folk group are Waking The Witch (
please click for more info). If were a choice between a CSN&Y re-union concert or WTW then I'd be listening the band singing songs from
Boys from the Abattoir.
I'm not convinced any of my favourite artists would have been influenced by Browne, Taylor & Young, but I could be wrong and discover Basia, Martha and Chas n Dave are all big fans.
I'm not that keen on Roxy Music either.
But I do think
Oh My Darling! by Basia Bulat is the most compelling debut album I have heard for years: probably since
Faultlines by Karine.
What a diverse world we live in.
ATB Rotf
Posted on: 11 June 2008 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
In some circles it is fashionable to denigrate popular artists like James Taylor
I'm not denigrating him - I just don't like his singing or music.
I don't think I simply follow fashion - you won't find any Paul Weller solo albums in my collection, and I'm still happy to admit that I think ELP and ELO are wonderful.
The thread is
Music you know everybody seems to like except you and I know everybody likes James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Dean Friedman and thanks their lucky stars they have all their elpees, but as the great Ray Davies once sang
I'm not like everybody else.
ATB Rotf
Posted on: 11 June 2008 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by munch:
I cant stand this bloke.
Munch
But munch - check his web site, he says your a great bloke
Posted on: 11 June 2008 by Guido Fawkes
from Letters Sent (Achtung Bono)
Keeper you just made a decent save
So why do you feel the need to rant and rave
Screaming at defenders makes you look dead stupid
Especially when they haven't done much wrong
Please cease the trait
Thank you to who ever found my purse
Also when I fell the passing nurse
And when in my coma as I try to bludgeon
Chartist demonstrators in the square
Those on the ward
Yours much restored
I disagree entirely with your choice
Peetie Wheatstraw had a better voice
I'd like to warn your readers
Stapeley Water Gardens
A nice day out but best to take a flask
Dear Miss McVeigh
It pains me to say
The school choir was dull
And the blame lies with you
Sewage farm an absolute disgrace
Picnic tables somewhat out of place
Leisure Centre cash-point always out of order
And there's too much chlorine in the pool
Thirteen across
Where was the clue
Bird on the wire
Len you're the dogsOnly goes to show how tastes differ - and we're probably all the better for it.
Posted on: 12 June 2008 by Steve S1
Your are the lyrics man, ROTF.
But if you were to do the same for Jackson Browne, you would find some incredibly profound and insightful lyrics, (OK not the rib-tickling play on words that you get with people like HMHB). But, some of his best and most profound were written when he was hardly out of his teens.
Basia produced a nice debut album, OK I didn't personally think it that strong but I'm glad people like it. If you are being at all objective though, the debut albums of both Browne and JT are legendary for a reason - so lets try and enjoy as much as there is on offer.
Best,
Steve
As you say, good job we don't all like the same thing.
Posted on: 12 June 2008 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
the debut albums of both Browne and JT are legendary for a reason - so lets try and enjoy as much as there is on offer
That's fine I'm not disputing that they are albums many folks enjoy and that they are worthy.
Is it possible to be objective when discussing what we like in popular music? Not sure it is or that it matters. We like what we like.
I think Dean was looking for a pattern, whereby we could we could predict what music a particular person might like. OK, it can be easy at the extremes if you play me a hip-hop artists and a folk artist then it is obvious which I'll choose.
However, Steve, is it a surprise that I like Lenoard Cohen, but not Neil Young? I can't explain the logic of why I do - it may just be Neil's voice that doesn't appeal. Why I like Grace Slick and Janis Joplin, but not Amy Winehouse. Perhaps, there is no rationale ......
Anyway, two men in white coats have arrived to take me back to the farm .....
Enjoy your music
ATB Rotf
Posted on: 12 June 2008 by Steve S1
quote:
Anyway, two men in white coats have arrived to take me back to the farm .....
Oh heck, not them again. Tell them you are a doctor - works for me.
Steve
Posted on: 12 June 2008 by JWM
I agree with Howard in a couple of his posts on this thread.
Firstly, it does seem amazing/odd that when you have so much shared music taste with an/other person/people there are some things you just can't abide, but the other/s love.
Secondly, does your childhood music affect your later musical choices?
I do find myself increasingly listening again to music of my childhood/teenage years.
e.g. The Dennis Brain Mozart Horn Concertos (the first music I am conscious of hearing, at my uncle's), JMJ Oxygene (the first LP I bought), ELP, The Jam, Siouxsie, The Cure, and especially Rory Gallagher - all of whom from the age of about 20 to 30 I almost completely ignored, having had a near-obsession during growing up years. After a more recent 10 year lull, I am now really getting back into opera.
It's odd - but great fun - this ebb and flow like the tide on the shore.
James
Posted on: 12 June 2008 by JohanR
quote:
I, too, had a strange music teacher at school. We had to sit silently and listen to classical music and if we didn't seem to enjoy it, got hit over the knuckles with a violin bow. Fortunately, he left the school quite suddenly and his replacement was far more tolerant. We were allowed to play music during lunch breaks.
The ninth and last compulsive year in school, this was in the 1970's, we had a young and cool music teacher who had long hair (as I said, this was in the 1970's) and played rock music. We even did some kind of recording that was sent to a well known independent record company!
Music I don't get:
- Gensesis, The Smiths, Frank Zappa (I held high regards for his view on life on a whole, it was just the music never understood), Beethoven.
JohanR
Posted on: 12 June 2008 by Guido Fawkes
Posted on: 12 June 2008 by Whizzkid
quote:
Originally posted by ROTF:
quote:
the debut albums of both Browne and JT are legendary for a reason - so lets try and enjoy as much as there is on offer
That's fine I'm not disputing that they are albums many folks enjoy and that they are worthy.
Is it possible to be objective when discussing what we like in popular music? Not sure it is or that it matters. We like what we like.
I think Dean was looking for a pattern, whereby we could we could predict what music a particular person might like. OK, it can be easy at the extremes if you play me a hip-hop artists and a folk artist then it is obvious which I'll choose.
Enjoy your music
ATB Rotf
Yes I am looking for a pattern but not many people have put forward why they feel they got into certain music in the first place and why they might be trying out new stuff in their 40's that they would have never listened to in the teens. I feel I have a handle on my core musical loves though and I have not lost the rebel and curious person in me who at age 16 was listening to South London pirate radio and going to Reggae/Soundsystem Blues parties and now is exploring genre's like Classical and Improvisational music. It was not always the case though in the 90's I did just listen to a limited selection of 12" and LP's and became a little blinkered to newer music. So I could say are there many people on here suffering the same malaise and just got themselves into a musical rut? and are not giving the diversity of music out there a chance to win them over?
Dean..
Posted on: 12 June 2008 by Patrick F
The Bug and Massive Attack are some that i have been listening to on regular basis. Also a little bit of Amon tobin, also like you said squarepusher is top notch when it comes to bass. His production work beats alot of other stuff that is mainstream crap.
Posted on: 12 June 2008 by u5227470736789439
Dear Dean,
The answer lies in Radio broadcasting for me. I am avid listener to a lot of music I would never want to buy in recordings, and indeed I am "reducing" the number of recordings on a continuing basis. I think this is a very healthy situation, as there is "core" of music centred round the great Viennese classics, and also round two German Baroque Masters - Bach and Handel - where I suspect that I can never learn enough!
The project for me is to become acquainted ever more deeply with this music till I die. I have no reason at all to want to diffuse my focus to take in a larger range, but I enjoy allsorts of music outside this "core" repertoire. But I have no ambition to deepen my acquaintance with it via recordings. The Radio provides chance encounters that are in themselves the greatest pleasure.
Recently there has been discussion of the carrying capacity of the new server devices, and all I can say is that the HD in the HDX is going to prove more than large enough for me!
But the abolition of good radio broadcasting would be an utter catastrophe! Fortunately the UK is not the only country in the world offering fine Radio broadcasts ...
________
As an aside, when I used to play orchestral bass, if not entirely for a living, certainly enough to make my living more comfortable than it would otherwise have been, I once asked our orchestral leader [first violin] if he could tell when I loved the music being performed, or was doing a professional job only. He said that in performance there was no difference, but once the music ended I would beam uncontrollably if I loved what we had just played! But musically the playing was indistinguishable when I played Bach [loved] or Britten [to say I disliked I would be an understatement - my honest view would require un-Forum-worthy words to be added], and so I was pleased that my discrimination never peeped through. But there is nothing to make you dislike music more than performing it! And the reverse!
_________
It is interesting to see what appear inconsistencies in peoples' taste, where two seemingly similar, to me, artists are not both enjoyed or disliked, but I understand this well enough in the field of orchestral music. I love Sibelius but not Nielsen, which two composers might be thought quite close in some respects, but they could hardly be more different in their emotional effects on me.
ATB from George
Posted on: 15 June 2008 by The Strat (Fender)
"There are 2 types of music, blues and zippedy doo dah" Townes Van Zandt
Any Townes fans around here?
Fender (Strat)
Posted on: 15 June 2008 by Whizzkid
Lindsay,
I've seen that quote before is he serious about it or is it just a joke quote. If he is serious isn't that a bit on pretentious side?
Dean..
Posted on: 15 June 2008 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
isn't that a bit on pretentious side?
This is
pretentious for the sake of it and all the better for it IMHO, the stupendous Gentle Giant.
Posted on: 15 June 2008 by Sandy8
I have Townes Van Zandt's "Live at the old quarter" and think it's great!
Tried OK Computer recently and wonder what all the fuss was about...
Posted on: 15 June 2008 by JohanR
quote:
why they might be trying out new stuff in their 40's that they would have never listened to in the teens.
Funny you should ask. At the tender age of 48 I suddenly started enjoying Jazz after hating it all my life. I don't knew why! It's great fun discovering a new music genre with lot's of unknown stuff.
TVZ is great, btw. I have a strange but very good live with him, Steve Earle and ... well, don't remember his name right now.
JohanR
