Obnoxious Listeners - Latest Comments in What Do We Know?

Re: What Do We Know?

Ashmud — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:23:50 -0000

Amika, this sort of cognitive dissonance is a strange predicament to be in. Why do we always evaluate music in terms of so many things other than the music itself? I believe I my own musical tastes are impeccable, relative to me, and I feel like that's the healthiest way to look at music objectively. You're right on in saying that when that trust in your own tastes deteriorates, when you start looking to outside factors -- is it mainstream? is it underground? is she hot? -- we're on the road that's taken music to where it is now.

Re: What Do We Know?

Amika — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:12:01 -0000

that was awsome!! it feels like music is going downhill but at the same time there are those pockets of interesting and progressive talent out there...but people do seem to have stepped away from appreciating their own taste. there is a pressure by the rest of mainstream listeners to be almost embarrassed to have your own taste and appreciation for different kinds of music. =(
you're article was beautifully written

Re: What Do We Know?

Ashmud — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:20:21 -0000

I dig what both of you are saying, and that's sort of the paradox I was having trouble with. There's a difference between the music I listen to for music's sake -- artists whose compositions are pure gestalt -- and music that takes on new form because of those we share it with. I mean, at least in origin, wasn't music meant to be a shared experience? (Think several stinky cavemen boogie-ing around a fire to the prehistoric equivalent of Sepultura.)

Re: What Do We Know?

blank — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:04:40 -0000

Yes, I understand your point and agree with it mostly. My point, however, is that many pop fans seem to have a new "favorite song of all time" every other month or so, yet several years later these songs seem to be barely played and hardly missed. It's difficult for me to accept something as being quality when it has such a short shelf life. Although on the opposite end of the spectrum, I'm aware of the plethora of "classics" from the 80's which apparently will never die yet I find detestable. So like you said, this scale which some of us wish had areas of black and white is in fact just a huge swath of grey.

Re: What Do We Know?

orbtrip — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:28:43 -0000

And how do you define "quality music"? Isn't the in the ear of the beholder? That was my point, you can't define "quality music" for me; nor can I for you.

Re: What Do We Know?

blank — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:50:02 -0000

Yes, but I think the point is that quality music will sound good today, next month, and next decade... I'm pretty sure I'll still be rocking out to much of the music covered on this site in 2020 but I doubt you can say the same about Clarkson

Re: What Do We Know?

Stacy — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:27:20 -0000

awww i just watched dev patel on the daily show. what a great guy and an amazing movie :)

Re: What Do We Know?

orbtrip — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:20:45 -0000

You hit the mark on this one Ashwin! I've always felt that you don't need to have any musical talent to make good and/or popular music. To be good, it just has to be good...to you, the listener. I never understood why so many of us (including me) put a stigma on music where the artists are required to have some mystical level of talent or we automatically push that switch in our brains to make ourselves think it's crap. Or when you hear a song that you are really grooving to - then you hear it on your local pop station (i.e. Delaware's WSTW) two days later and all the sudden sub-consciously decide that it sucks...because "they" are playing it! Shouldn't it be okay to allow yourself to be that spineless lemming every once and a while?? (Damn you Kelly Clarkson, get off my 'Top 25 Most Played' before anyone one sees it and thinks I'm uncool)