Music you just don't get

karaokeman

Everyone has their bands/artists who are held by many in high esteem, or have become hugely successful/influential, but they just don't get their appeal.

So what (if any) particular bands/artists have you listened to, but not completely understood their appeal/popularity.

As time goes on, I go back to a particular bands catalogue and try to give them more chances.

Right now, for me it would be;

The Pixies - have listened to their entire back catalogue once or twice and didn't understand their popularity

The Monks - listened to their only album once, liked one song and haven't gotten back to the whole record since

Kanye West - while I've learned to appreciate certain rap artists, like Chuck D, P.O.S etc I still don't understand Kanye's appeal, a mate calls him a genius, I don't get it

Orbital - like some songs, but not as much as I'd like Kratwerk, Aphex Twin etc.

Moghead

I don't get the music of Tom Waits. Got a lend of a few albums of a friend and couldn't get into them. I actually prefer his acting roles to his music.

Rothko

Led Zeppelin
Queen
AC/DC
U2
Talking Heads (to a lesser extent. I like them but I don't see why they're held so highly)

Justin10

Dubstep :mad:

Cunning Alias

Nirvana. Never got it. Sounds like a dude half singing half mumbling over generic rock.

SubBusted

I don't get Tony Conrad's music?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gma2MJBCXZ4

The_Gatsby

Most indie music. It all sounds pretty much the same with lead guitar being played by one of those singers with the whiny voice, drums, bass and a rhythm guitar. Just don't get the appeal

Dante

Morrissey. I genuinely don't understand how people swear by him.

nocoverart

Rochey18 wrote: »

Dubstep :mad:

If by Dubstep you actually mean that nonsense that is known as "brostep" well yeah I agree. but on the other hand the likes of Burial and Zomby make beautiful and real Dubstep IMO.

I'm not trying to be some kind of music snob, but I find nearly everything that's mainstream quite repulsive. I mean that crap they play on the feckin radio day in and day out, it's brutal! I personally don't trust the general publics taste in music. Like when I click on a video on YouTube with a million clicks, which is totally generic muck compared to a video with about a thousand clicks that is totally original and creative.

zyanya

You will all want to throw a lynching mob at me, but yesterday, as I listened to, I thought of how immune I seem to be to the charms of "Stairway to Heaven". 'haps I need to be stoned.

mike65

So called R 'n B which is now so far from its roots as to be something else these days.
Shoe-gaze type stuff and what tends to be passed off as "indie".

Oh and Michael Buble of course!

/loads machine gun

Da Shins Kelly

Honestly don't get Led Zeppelin either. Just find it difficult to sit through their music.
AC/DC and Guns n' Roses - I will never understand how either of them became so popular.
I could take or leave Pink Floyd, don't hate them, don't love them.
I'm a bit meh on Springsteen too.
Most metal, to be honest. Not that I think they're bad musicians or anything. It's just a type of music that I can't get into.

NegativeCreep

AC/DC
U2
Elvis
Bob Dylan
Sex Pistols
Rolling Stones

I know ther's loads more but I can't think of them right now.

SilverScreen

Probably ska-punk. Bands like Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish make me cringe. Even the old-school bands like Operation Ivy do nothing for me. It would probably appeal more to me if I grew up in sunny Florida but it's not something I can relate to.

Lukebray wrote: »

Most indie music. It all sounds pretty much the same with lead guitar being played by one of those singers with the whiny voice, drums, bass and a rhythm guitar. Just don't get the appeal

What a well thought-out post. So you're saying that The Jesus & Mary Chain sound like Fleet Foxes. Right...

Gillian1

Anything that raps about b*tches n hoes & All that yo yo motherfcuker in the house sh*t



And the Smiths

Emz93

Flo-Rida and Nicki Minaj.

Laois_Man

The Doors

The_Gatsby

Zero1986 wrote: »

Probably ska-punk. Bands like Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish make me cringe. Even the old-school bands like Operation Ivy do nothing for me. It would probably appeal more to me if I grew up in sunny Florida but it's not something I can relate to.


What a well thought-out post. So you're saying that The Jesus & Mary Chain sound like Fleet Foxes. Right...

no, I'm not saying they sound alike. MOST indie bands sound alike though. Those such as KOL, Oasis and The Script have very similar sounds/markets that they appeal to.

The point still stands though, I don't like indie music even though most do. And however different the bands you mentioned above sound, I still don't like them because it's not really a different sound at the end of the day. There's nothing groundbreaking or different about them.

Go listen to some Skrillex and you'll see what I'm talking about...................................

SilverScreen

Lukebray wrote: »

no, I'm not saying they sound alike. MOST indie bands sound alike though. Those such as KOL, Oasis and The Script have very similar sounds/markets that they appeal to.

The point still stands though, I don't like indie music even though most do. And however different the bands you mentioned above sound, I still don't like them because it's not really a different sound at the end of the day. There's nothing groundbreaking or different about them.

But Kings Of Leon, Oasis and The Script aren't indie bands, they're pop bands (okay perhaps Oasis were in the beginning).

Saying that all indie music sounds the same is the same as saying that all electronic music sounds the same or that all metal sounds the same, which of course is certainly not true and I've listened to enough music in those genres to know this. The term 'indie' is a really loose term anyway that covers a huge range of musical styles, so there's no way that most indie bands can sound the same. If you're saying there's never been anything groundbreaking in the 30+ years of indie music history then you haven't heard anything.

Birneybau

Lukebray wrote: »

no, I'm not saying they sound alike. MOST indie bands sound alike though. Those such as KOL, Oasis and The Script have very similar sounds/markets that they appeal to.

The point still stands though, I don't like indie music even though most do. And however different the bands you mentioned above sound, I still don't like them because it's not really a different sound at the end of the day. There's nothing groundbreaking or different about them.

Go listen to some Skrillex and you'll see what I'm talking about...................................

The Script indie? GTFO!

Kings of Leon first 2 albums, Oasis first album, I'll give you that.

holystungun9

On Kanye, yes, he really is a fantastic producer. He is very musically talented and just 'has it'. I've watched some videos of him in the studio on Youtube making beats and recording parts on the keyboard and he is that good. I view him as a producer first and foremost but he is a pretty decent rapper too.

I watched past interviews of him when he was blowing up and about his hype etc. and he came across as a complete up his own a55 dude but if you are that talented it's not really being boastful, it's just telling it how it is.

Despite his talent he definitely isn't everyone's cup of tea and that's fair enough.

Da Shins Kelly

holystungun9 wrote: »

On Kanye, yes, he really is a fantastic producer. He is very musically talented and just 'has it'. I've watched some videos of him in the studio on Youtube making beats and recording parts on the keyboard and he is that good. I view him as a producer first and foremost but he is a pretty decent rapper too.

I watched past interviews of him when he was blowing up and about his hype etc. and he came across as a complete up his own a55 dude but if you are that talented it's not really being boastful, it's just telling it how it is.

Despite his talent he definitely isn't everyone's cup of tea and that's fair enough.

He's a complete asshole, but he's definitely got talent.

kunst nugget

Zero1986 wrote: »

But Kings Of Leon, Oasis and The Script aren't indie bands, they're pop bands (okay perhaps Oasis were in the beginning).

Saying that all indie music sounds the same is the same as saying that all electronic music sounds the same or that all metal sounds the same, which of course is certainly not true and I've listened to enough music in those genres to know this. The term 'indie' is a really loose term anyway that covers a huge range of musical styles, so there's no way that most indie bands can sound the same. If you're saying there's never been anything groundbreaking in the 30+ years of indie music history then you haven't heard anything.

There's no denying that there is a lot of bands out there with a homogenised, generic 'indie' sound: The Kooks, Razorlight and the likes who commandeer the middle ground, just as the same can be said about electronic music, rap music, etc… Just like anything, a bit of research will uncover the gems but sometimes that barrier of blandness can stop you bothering to brush up on your knowledge of a genre. Tbh, I was an avid indie listener when I was younger but I'm not really hearing a lot out there that I'm finding that terribly interesting. That said, I'm not really keeping as active a lookout for what I considered good indie music as I was.

kunst nugget

karaokeman wrote: »

Orbital - like some songs, but not as much as I'd like Kratwerk, Aphex Twin etc.

Point of entry is important with Orbital, It think. Start off with the 'Brown' album and you can't go wrong. Then on to Snivilisation, Insides, The 'Green' Album and The Middle of Nowhere. The Altogether and the 'Blue' Album never really done anything for me and the new album Wonky is just terrible. So start with the 'Brown' album which I'd rate as one of the greatest techno albums ever made.

SilverScreen

kunst nugget wrote: »

There's no denying that there is a lot of bands out there with a homogenised, generic 'indie' sound: The Kooks, Razorlight and the likes who commandeer the middle ground, just as the same can be said about electronic music, rap music, etc… Just like anything, a bit of research will uncover the gems but sometimes that barrier of blandness can stop you bothering to brush up on your knowledge of a genre. Tbh, I was an avid indie listener when I was younger but I'm not really hiring a lot out there that I'm finding that terribly interesting. That said, I'm not really keeping as active a lookout for what I considered good indie music as I was.

You've made some good points here. But then again bands with a generic 'indie' sound like The Kooks etc. are still only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the indie spectrum, it's just a matter of getting the passive listener to realise this. This is one of the main reasons why I really hate commercial radio as it doesn't do any genre of music justice and gives people the wrong impression of what that genre really is. I'm still a bit old-school when it comes to indie and alternative music but there's no denying that there's some good stuff around at the moment.

Declan A Walsh

With the exception of one or two songs, I just don't get Muse at all. I find their stuff underwhelming.

Modern R & B - if there's one thing that makes me listen to Muse, that genre is it! Not only do I not get this kind of stuff which is so prevalent I just find it plain irritating.

The Script is another example. I fail to find what is appealing about their sound - some bizarre mix of bland pop and bland indie.

Rothko

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

Modern R & B - if there's one thing that makes me listen to Muse, that genre is it! Not only do I not get this kind of stuff which is so prevalent I just find it plain irritating

Have you tried Frank Ocean's Channel Orange album? I usually don't like modern R&B either but I think that's a great album.

Da Shins Kelly

Suas11 wrote: »

Have you tried Frank Ocean's Channel Orange album? I usually don't like modern R&B either but I think that's a great album.

Frank Ocean is one of the best artists to come out in a long time.

karaokeman

I have nothing against The Script, but I can't agree with them being an indie band, primarily because indie bands are those who start off on underground labels and The Script (at that time titled Mytown) released their first album on Universal.

holystungun9

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

He's a complete asshole, but he's definitely got talent.

I think I win the diplomacy test. :pac::pac:

Da Shins Kelly

holystungun9 wrote: »

I think I win the diplomacy test. :pac::pac:

Well it's true! He's got to be one of the most inappropriate public figures out there. Some of the stuff he does and says is just completely lacking in any sense of decency. Some of his own output, I could take or leave, but he's a great producer, probably one of the best in music at the moment.

Lawrence1895

Nu Metal, Crossover and Hip Hop or Rap...not my piece of cake, so to speak

henryporter

Any of that easy-listening sh1t (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin etc. ), Irish Country Music (all of it), current R & B, and 99.9% of current pop music (Gaga, Perry, etc.)

Other than that I could listen to anything - can't understand why anyone wouldn't like the Pixies though

Da Shins Kelly

henryporter wrote: »

Any of that easy-listening sh1t (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin etc. ), Irish Country Music (all of it), current R & B, and 99.9% of current pop music (Gaga, Perry, etc.)

Other than that I could listen to anything - can't understand why anyone wouldn't like the Pixies though

Irish country music is a weird phenomenon. It's like fake country music. They all act and sound like they're from Texas or some place, but they're actually from Knock. Strange market, that.

Sl!mCharles

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

Irish country music is a weird phenomenon. It's like fake country music. They all act and sound like they're from Texas or some place, but they're actually from Knock. Strange market, that.

What are you talking about? And which artists?

Rothko

Sl!mCharles wrote: »

What are you talking about? And which artists?

TR Dallas would be one example

Da Shins Kelly

Sl!mCharles wrote: »

What are you talking about? And which artists?

kunst nugget

Sl!mCharles wrote: »

What are you talking about? And which artists?

Big Tom, Mike Denver and any of that crowd that peddle their wares to the blue rinse, incontinence brigade that flock to the local halls at the weekend. I have to hand it to them, if you have the same lack of shame that they have you can make a fortune from that crowd. How many contemporary bands in Ireland can you see being able to charge €30 and upwards for tickets to their concerts?

Sl!mCharles

kunst nugget wrote: »

Big Tom, Mike Denver and any of that crowd that peddle their wares to the blue rinse, incontinence brigade that flock to the local halls at the weekend. I have to hand it to them, if you have the same lack of shame that they have you can make a fortune from that crowd. How many contemporary bands in Ireland can you see being able to charge €30 and upwards for tickets to their concerts?

Thanks. Wasn't aware of these fellas at all. Not too upset about it, kind of bizarre

Da Shins Kelly

Sl!mCharles wrote: »

Thanks. Wasn't aware of these fellas at all. Not too upset about it, kind of bizarre

There's definitely a market for it. My friend's grandmother loves it. It is odd how it's taken off here though.

joydivision

I dont get rap for the most part . I know there are some decent rappers out there with an ear for music and something to say but most of them are people who wanted to get into music and learned the easiest instrument there is . The one string vocal .

karaokeman

joydivision wrote: »

I dont get rap for the most part . I know there are some decent rappers out there with an ear for music and something to say but most of them are people who wanted to get into music and learned the easiest instrument there is . The one string vocal .

I went through a period of 5 years not liking anything rap, that was until I delved further.

Most of the chart rappers nowadays are just used as a marketable device in dance songs, or are too engulfed in the melodic process to make their songs radio-friendly, its a very safe format and it doesn't offer a lot of variety for the listeners.

The best hip hop are the artists who have pushed the boundaries, and ventured into more styles than simplistic pop melodies. Check out some of what Public Enemy (the Sex Pistols of their genre) have done with The Bomb Squad in terms of sampling, and mixing numerous elements from other music in one song.

Yo! Bum Rush The Show is one of the best acclaimed hip hop albums, and this is a personal favourite of mine.

joydivision

Yep if you take the vocalsalone though . And think of it as one string on a guitar . All they do is go from fret lets call it 1 to fret 3 and back .
Do do do do do di . Do do do do do di .
When you couple that in with it just being done over somebody elses disco track from the 70s it makes it a pretty remedial instrument . Up there with the marraccas and the triangle .

SilverScreen

joydivision wrote: »

Yep if you take the vocalsalone though . And think of it as one string on a guitar . All they do is go from fret lets call it 1 to fret 3 and back .
Do do do do do di . Do do do do do di .
When you couple that in with it just being done over somebody elses disco track from the 70s it makes it a pretty remedial instrument . Up there with the marraccas and the triangle .

You're completely missing the point here. You can't compare rapping with playing guitar, both require a completely different talent. The delivery is more rhythmic than melodic. You need to focus on what they're saying rather than how they say it. Think of them as poets or commentators rather than opera singers.

flyswatter

Probably Bob Dylan, haven't investigated him but don't really have much desire to.

I think Snow Patrols music is very safe let's just say. They don't really push themselves to sound different or fresh. Pretty bland stuff.

Supermensch

Lou Reed. To me it's just someone saying lyrics (sarcastically?) in a monotonous voice.
Led Zeppelin. They register as Good Music to me, technically, but I've never actually had any song by them I've had to listen to.
The National. For the same reason as Lou Reed, essentially, except I can't hear the words as well.
Ella Fitzgerald. You have a version of a song by Billie Holiday, sung with passion and feeling that you'd almost cry, and then you hear Ella Fitzgerald do the same song and completely butcher it with her scat singing.
The Pixies. Bar the odd song, they just do nothing for me.

joydivision

Zero1986 wrote: »

You're completely missing the point here. You can't compare rapping with playing guitar, both require a completely different talent. The delivery is more rhythmic than melodic. You need to focus on what they're saying rather than how they say it. Think of them as poets or commentators rather than opera singers.

Ah but they never usually say anything of signifigance do they ?
Therefore just a rythematic cha cha cha over a 70s groove .

Kinda like a tambourine .

flyswatter

joydivision wrote: »

Ah but they never usually say anything of signifigance do they ?
Therefore just a rythematic cha cha cha over a 70s groove .

Kinda like a tambourine .

How do you yourself define significance?

I would say social commentary about urban life, drugs, racism/oppression/revolution, peace and war are very significant issues and always will be.

joydivision

Hmm okay its a social commentary .

SilverScreen

joydivision wrote: »

Ah but they never usually say anything of signifigance do they ?
Therefore just a rythematic cha cha cha over a 70s groove .

Kinda like a tambourine .

A lot of hip-hop acts are very politically and socially aware, I don't see how that's not significant. Compare that with bands like Dream Theater who might know how to play their instruments, but are pointless show-offs with nothing to say about our lives.

I don't know why you keep mentioning 70s grove and disco. The earliest hip-hop acts in the early-80s sampled 70s disco for their backing tracks, but from around the mid-80s onwards they tended to use more electronic and techno-based backing tracks.

BrendaN_f

the lyrical subjects really aren't that important in my opinion. i love listening to all kinds of rap, from conscious to straight up drugs/women/fighting/depravity. there's no need to rely on music for intellectual stimulation, well not the type that can easily be found elsewhere. if it sounds good, it's good music