When u choose new music is it all about personal taste? What is it about "popular" music that may turn u off? I have heard people say how can u listen to that shit or that isn't even music. I'm just curious why someone would tell someone else that what they like in music is not valid.....(hope I'm in the right forum)

I really don't care what other people listen to (as far as criticizing them for it), that's their problem.

As far as what I pick, it's got to do one (or a combination) of the following things.

1) Make the hairs stand up on my arm
2) Show a certain skill level (writing/playing/singing)
3) Make me smile/laugh

It's that simple for me.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Welcome Duckie ~~~~~ thought provoking question. Many times, friends will recommend something because they know what I like. A lot of the time listening to an artist will lead to another (Bjork to Tricky to Massive Attack as just a quick example). I agree with you ~ our musical choices are so intimate and important that it is our own private territory to decide what speaks to us and what doesn't. Friends that share on the org are fabulous and very knowledgable ~~~ just click on threads about unfamiliar (and very familiar) artists and you will learn so much and meet some wonderful people!

feelings.

I've pretty much figured out what kinds of qualities I like in music at this point in my life: repetition and ugliness are the main ones. I just try to keep my eyes open for things that sound like they would lift my skirt. I follow this message board, a few others, and some magazines and sites (pitchfork, metacritic, the British magazines and some amateur review sites).

At one point in my life, I really tried to expand my tastes to more sophisticated sounds - Jazz, classical and the like - but I've made my peace with the fact that I mostly like crudely-played and ugly-sounding rock music. That might expose a deficiency in taste on my part, but life is fleeting, and I don't see any point in trying to pursue some standard of sophistication when it probably wouldn't give me the satisfaction I get out of a Fall record.

damosuzuki said:

Love the honesty.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Most of my favorites are legends, so it's getting harder & harder to get me to really listen to someone.

Occasionally someone new will break through, like The White Stripes did a few years ago. I kept hearing their stuff, and it just got better & better in my mind.

I mostly avoid the radio, so it will take a strong recommendation, major media prescence, or confirmed legendary status--like when I bought a bunch of Kinks records a couple years ago.

My tastes crave great songwriting, great singing, something catchy but not cliche, simple & weird, technically proficient, or funky as hell.

I like music that is it's own genre, or at least genre-defining. I like trend setters, but I don't like to follow trends.


I try not to get on someone else for what they listen to, but it bothers me that people listen to music for reasons other than the music--ie sexy singers, rappers/metal that make you feel cool to blast out your window, or stuff that is completely materialistic & trendy, again to make the listener feel like it enhances their image.

There are plenty of cool or sexy artists that have artistic merit. I wish everyone would choose them instead.
[Edited 1/28/07 13:17pm]

.

One word: Mood

my energy level

PricelessHo said:

Thats it.

I can't really decide wha should I buy/listen to in the "next".

theAudience said:

same here.
And also, if it inspires me... I'll love it.


[Edited 1/28/07 14:35pm]

I usually only buy music of someone I am already a fan of or someone that has been recommended to me by people here. I do not listen to the radio. My next quest to replace my stereo system and start building back up my collection of vinyl.

I used to be a music snob but not anymore. I realize what fools people are when they dog others because of what music they enjoy. If you like it, you like it.

Its all about what makes you feel something. Its no different than other artforms. You like what you like and you dont need anyone elses approval.

Its all about what the music makes ME feel.

dreamfactory313 said:

I don't bother much about what other folks listen to; when it's something I'm not feeling I'll just laugh, nod my head and move on. I know my tastes blot out a lot of pop artists and I'm fine with it.

Most established artists are linked through a tradition or spirit of playing with someone I already dig. In the event of new artists, it's a consistency with what I already know and like.

I like my music to be

Like portable fantasies.

It has to match. If it's country, it's gotta be Dixie Chicks or Johnny Cash, not Tracy Byrd or Keith Urban. If it's old alternative, it's The Smiths,The Cure or Depeche Mode, not Flock of Seagulls or Ned's Atomic Dustbin. If it's heavy industrial, it's gotta be Ministry or Nine Inch Nails, not Psychotica or a majority of this nu metal crud. If it's soul, it's Teddy P, not Bilal.

Mara said:

wow!

CHIC0 said:

That's how I like my porn.

Scrapluv said:

Also, I'll check out new music, (which doesn't even have to be "new", just new to me) if it relates somehow to an artist I already like. I've gotten into a lot of artists because of people in this forum actually. People whose music opinion I really respect, therefore I look into whoever they might be suggesting. Sometimes, I end up not really liking it, but most times they end up being "right" and I become a fan.

Other times, I can't really say. Which bring me back to feelings.

I do have a tendency to choose certain genres though of course, and that determines alot of what I get into. It doesn't limit me though since I feel like I love a lot of different types of music anyway. But I do tend to obsess over certain bands and artists and just really immerse myself in them, and anything related, until everything starts to boil over in a frenzy and then I just have to put them down for a while and get into something else. That's just how I listen to music.


[Edited 1/29/07 8:19am]

well for me what attracts me to an artist or a cd and i know this will sound strange to a lot of you but it has to sound 80's in some way. i'm obsessed with 80's music. i love everything about it so that's where i'm at right now however this could change but it's been this way for a while now. there are some accpetions to the rule of course but mostly i look for hot beats first and cool vocals second.
[Edited 1/29/07 11:49am]

CinisterCee said:

...


I try to keep my ears open to everything--I couldn't dismiss a style or genre because I really think I've heard something that I like in all types of music...

I've noticed that the stuff that I'm attracted to most usually has something to do with composition and arrangement, whether it's a 3-minute Pop song, or a Funk jam, Hip Hop or Jazz piece, or a Classical suite...but it's also about the freedom and imagination of a piece, or maybe there's something about how those spaces are put between the notes that I like,

If I'm negative about a lot of current Radio and Video, it's because for me, it seems to have such a narrow, unimaginative scope, or severly limited subject matter (but even here, there's exceptions to the rule). There has always been fluff, but it's seems now as if Most of the Emphasis is on STYLE and LOOK, rather than sound, and when there is singing, a lot of it seems to be based on vocal tricks rather than feel---But I am pleasantly surprised whenever a D'Angelo, Anthony Hamilton, Jill Scott or Van Hunt manages to make it to radio---that always gives me a glimmer of hope---but the best stuff still seems to always fly well below the radar of the mainstream...

...But I could never tell someone else what to like or not like. Basically, something either connects with you, or it doesn't. Love of Music is about the ability of those sounds to transcend into something a listener can feel, something that speaks to them, which has very little to do with how much technique an artist has....If I don't happen to get it, that's just me...maybe I'll get it later.....






...
[Edited 1/29/07 14:59pm]

I also like music created by artists. I'll explain.

There might be a decent song on a Justin Timberlake album (relax, I only said might be!) I am turned off by the fact that it took a committee of people to create it. Ditto Simpson sisters, Britney, and...

Janet! I might actually buy a Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis album, but one that gives credit to Janet as the artist seems like a lie to me.

I like to listen to artists who, for better or worse, are actually responsible for what I'm hearing.

That's why Grammy recognizes Prince, even though the 3121 wasn't a huge hit. He's an artist who created the music on his album all by his lonesome! It's part of his legacy, not just a "sign of the times"

If it's his weakest album, it's still comparable to a quick sketch by Picasso; worth more than 100000 Bob Ross paintings.

Mara said:

Perfect description!

To me the artist needs to have a good involvement in their music, be it playing their instrument or writing some if not all of their songs and too me its also about their influences in music and what they are saying in a song. To me i need longevity, at this point with new music i dont "buy into" artists unless they show me something that makes me think they will get to 5 albums in their career, and Im not talking sales, because i could care less about sales,units,gold,platnum and all that stuff. To me i need that, i need to feel a part of that artists world and songs and that we are both growing and searching together.

lastdecember said:

I'm feeling U

my mind