posted
Folks, I'm a musician. Many of us are musicians or play or love or admire all kinds of music. My itunes library attests to my awareness if not my love of several genres, as well as a ton of free floating refuse that I like even if I have no good reason why.
I know we all have those songs or pieces or bands we sit up late listening to and googling and planning to see in concert, and that's great. But let's seperate ourselves from other people a little bit. Let's remember that we have done things, have opinions and experiences and preferences that other people either do not have, or have not discovered yet.
I would say one of the more revealing things about living in another country for a little while, is the realization that people are so alike. The difference is that when people start talking about music here, a whole new set of names escapes their lips, and I'm familiar with none of the artists, or groups, they're talking about. I cringe at these exchanges, because though I did not initiate them or ask for personal advice, I find myself beseiged with demands that I listen to this artist, this band, do I know this name? Do I listen to this type of music, why I should, what about it is great, and so on.
Usually this line of conversation ends with me just kind of standing there and trying to absorb a deluge of unfamiliar names and promising to look them up just as soon as get home, and I never do. Ever. Not ever. In fact I think the only way to get someone to listen to something is to play it for them one time. You get that one chance, and if they like it, it's all up to them. Send a utube link, and maybe someone will want to see the vid and appreciate the music, but you only get eyes and ears once.
I can't tell you of a social situation worse than having to say, over and over again, "no I'm not familiar with that" to another music lover. Invariably people are incredulous, that I, an accomplished guitarist, could not have heard of their favorite acoustic player or rocker or whomever. Of course I haven't heard of them, there must be thousands of guitarists who have appeared on top 100 guitar players of all time lists since the instrument was invented. There is room for all of them, and there is no essential guitar. None. There is not one player or composer who defines the instrument, with the slightly possible exception of Fernando Sor, who's studies and teaching literature is as popular as the music of many superior composers. Still even he is barely a household name even among musicians.
There was a time, I must admit, when I was probably guilty of believing I had found the best things in music and that it was my duty and responsibility to proliferate those chosen morsels to the rest of the world, starting by annoying the crap out of my own closest friends. Truth is though, that there's nothing that is going to make anyone listen to anything they don't want to. An Early music professor of mine once related that younger faculty members, upon speaking to graduating students about their tastes in music and their familiarity with certain works and genres, were often horrified by the lack of knowledge the students demonstrated. The professor told me that in his experience, the same students would come back ten years later and have learned either twice as much as they had in college about the literature, or nothing more at all. You cannot make people listen, you can only take the time you have to encourage learning.
I personally think that "indie" scene people are the worst of all in this problem. They know more names that you don't know, and are generally very excited to share the feeling that they know more with you. For them this baffling recommendation game is part of the allure.
So how do people feel? Recommend music? If so how do you do it? The only recommending I do, if I am thinking, is to respond to interest from people, and usually about classical music, which is rather more about defining periods for people and painting a picture of the genre as a whole. In popular music I will recommend one song from one band, and that will be my limit per person, per day.
Posts: 9912 | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
I am perplexed that this is something that bothers you. I am never irritated or stressed by people recommending art and entertainment they are passionate about, no matter how foreign it may be to me. Of course I am a little bit older now than most of the people that are trying to eek out an identity, often out of their likes and dislikes. I knew a lot of "list people," or "profile people." (ie; who has the largest list of barely there bands on their myspace profile.) That is a lot of where that "obscure band knowledge competition" comes from, I think - a desire to carve out an identity, ironically within a scene.
I enjoy both receiving and giving recommendations. I think it is really fun to go exploring, not just music, but the tastes and experiences of people you are getting to know.
Posts: 3936 | Registered: Jul 2000
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posted
Some may classify me as within the "indie" scene as far as tastes go, but I assure you I don't try to be. Some of the most powerful music I find just happens to be obscure stuff. If extremely popular stuff connected with me the same way, I wouldn't shun it just because it was popular, I'd embrace it. But most of the time, that's just not the case. Bottom line is, where the music I like goes, I follow, even to the scenes of obscurity
As far as people recommending music: Yes and No. I think if it starts to become an ego competition over who knows more than the other, or if people really press their tastes onto you too often, that's annoying. On the other hand, I think friendly recommendations, or preferably having someone play one song for you really quick, benefit everyone. There's the chance you might find something you'll love and later can't believe you ever did without. It also helps those artists who can barely pay their dues because no one knows about them. And if you don't take a liking to the song, then that's fine. As long as people don't try to force it down your throat.
So, kept friendly and not obnoxious, sharing musical tastes is a good thing for everyone in my opinion.
Posts: 349 | Registered: Jul 2006
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quote:There was a time, I must admit, when I was probably guilty of believing I had found the best things in music and that it was my duty and responsibility to proliferate those chosen morsels to the rest of the world, starting by annoying the crap out of my own closest friends.
Wasn't this, like, last week?
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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posted
I have no problem with people recommending music. I just dislike it when they tell me what music I'm NOT supposed to like.
Posts: 8120 | Registered: Jul 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Tresopax: I have no problem with people recommending music. I just dislike it when they tell me what music I'm NOT supposed to like.
This moment is the most I have ever agreed with Tresopax about anything. I agree so hard!
posted
I like to pick people's brains for musical recommendations, particularly outside of genres I'm most familiar with. I like to have my brain picked in a similar way.
Posts: 10886 | Registered: Feb 2000
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posted
I like checking out a new band on someone's recommendation. I don't like feeling obligated to like the band, though. The problem is, people tend to recommend their favorite bands to you and have their hearts on their sleeves about it. You can't come back and say you hated what they recommended. It's uncomfortable sometimes.
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
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quote:Originally posted by advice for robots: I like checking out a new band on someone's recommendation. I don't like feeling obligated to like the band, though. The problem is, people tend to recommend their favorite bands to you and have their hearts on their sleeves about it. You can't come back and say you hated what they recommended. It's uncomfortable sometimes.
So true it's sad lol.
Anyways Orincoro, you should just get used to the fact that some of the best music comes from relatively obscure names, and that you can't be familiar with every single band. Discovering new music is one of the greatest pleasures in life.
Posts: 1158 | Registered: Feb 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Tresopax: I have no problem with people recommending music. I just dislike it when they tell me what music I'm NOT supposed to like.
You are not supposed to like gabber techno.
Posts: 15421 | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
I like it when people make suggestions to me (for music or authors) because I'm frequently at a loss as to "what I should try next." That's how I found OSC and Shakira. (That second was from Annie.)
Posts: 6367 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
I don't know, I love discovering new music and there's some musicians you just can't listen to one song by and judge. Dir en grey comes to mind. They are as hard for most folks to get into as sushi, especially the creepy sort with tentacles and suction cups. If you listened to a song from their Indie period, it's entirely different from something on Gauze or Macabre. Then by the time you get to Vulgar or Marrow of the Bone, it's like you're dealing with a different band. Listening to one song from each era might help, but again, these guys go from sweet soft song with Japanese flute to aggressive metally growly sort of music. But they are a band I love so much I am torn. Should I try to get other people into them, only to have them scorn my favourite band in the world (and it's not easy to pick a favourite band in the world, it takes a lot of thought) because of a picture of them from '99 or an off-coloured lyric or too? Or should I just keep them to myself and realize that folks don't know what they are missing and that's another ticket for me to go to another show and that is good. I just like anything that moves me and anything that is not too generic or boring.
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I'm with you on the frustration, Lloyd. Especially with the genres I've heard plenty (and enough) of to know I have little interest.
It's funny--I've noticed that many of the people who do LOTS of recommending--tend to have listened to a WHOLE lot of their one niche of music, while being completely ignorant to volumes of other types. It's this big validation game we play--hoping that other people like our music--and in certain cliques--only SOME people can like our music (indie elitists).
However...
The idea of NEVER recommending music is absurd. How else would we disseminate what we like and support our favorite artists? What you say is true--I had about 10 people say "Regina Spektor" to me before finally listening to it. They thought something was wrong with me for being a pianist and not having her at the top of my favorites list. It's like I have a reaction AGAINST listening to music that's been recommended, because the person doing the recommendation will often take ownership of the band as in "oh yeah--I introduced you to that band".
So, while I don't go looking to throw music in people's faces, I do have friends who regularly ask me about what's new in my music library. I also like matching certain bands with certain people, though always in an "unassuming" way. I never try to "talk up" a band and it's greatness for the very reason that they might not like it.
I also don't do the "look this band up" any more. I always have my ipod and if someone's curious, I'll give them a song right there--or a link to a song. So they have to put in zero effort.
Posts: 1314 | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
I get a lot of people who ask me about my favorite bands/new bands I like because of my involvement in the music industry. They're usually extremely disappointed if what I recommend doesn't fit exactly into a genre they like...which is what usually happens because honestly, I'll listen to just about any kind of music, and depending on my mood, I could recommend a huge variety of bands. I also have to be in a certain mood to listen to new music, which means people often get frustrated with me because I don't jump on their suggestions immediately, but ah well. Most indie types think I'm a sellout, anyway.
quote:There was a time, I must admit, when I was probably guilty of believing I had found the best things in music and that it was my duty and responsibility to proliferate those chosen morsels to the rest of the world, starting by annoying the crap out of my own closest friends.
Wasn't this, like, last week?
Please. It was months ago.
But yes, noted. Thank you Tom.
There is the agressive aspect of personally demanding that you must know something you don't. But I'd say the worst part is the unwanted deluge of names you won't remember. It happens in every genre, but just seems to happen so much more in indie music than anywhere else. It also happens with guitarists, and I think that's one of the most vexing areas.
I had a conversation with a friends recently about a guitarist on youtube. I did send him to the link to get his opinion. He commented that there being so many of these "super percussive acoustic guitarists" and people of that ilk was a good and bad thing. Some of the music is good but the technique and showy style is highlighted and praised in the youtube community, even when the actual quality of the music is often questionable. Jazz fusion comes unbidden to mind in connection with this part of youtube.
Then there was a good friend of mine that couldn't stop talking about Autechre and Eliot Carter, because "their just crazy," gesticulating wildly with his hands. LW makes a good point saying that at a certain point advocacy for a group can become hostile. It's like at a certain point when the childish insolence in me tells me NOT to see a movie that too many people have recommended. Which, given my track record, has proved sometimes silly, and sometimes spot on. I loved Children of Men but didn't enjoy Napoleon Dynamite.
Posts: 9912 | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Oh and you will notice, Tom, that I have always spoken very strongly against the idea of absolute values in music.
That's not entirely true. I have said that there is a point at which some music has absolutely no value- but I've made it clear I don't think there is one great work or one definitive genre. I have just said that we CAN know what is not good. I still think that's true, and I would refer to Kant and Horace as the basis for my conclusion on that. I can go into further detail on it if you want.
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