View Full Version : Maybe in time you'll grow to love it
The Grand Wazoo
23-03-2011, 11:03
What are the albums which you bought because of their reputation, mega sales figures and perhaps the importance of the artist. But no matter how hard you try, you can't see what all the fuss is about. You know you should love it, but no matter how many times you listen to it, you just can't seem to enjoy it as much as the rest of the world so obviously does?
The big one for me is Marvin Gaye - 'What's Going On?'
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSBav7yXqqg/TQLxaMvVGlI/AAAAAAAAAPo/XrzjH_9ZZRo/S374/marvin%2Bgaye.jpg
This was a landmark album by any standard:
It got rave reviews right from the word go.
Three massive hit singles came from it.
In 2003 it was placed at no. 6 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
In 2004, the title track was no. 4 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
A 1999 critics poll conducted by the Guardian/Observer named it the "Greatest Album of the 20th Century".
In 1997, it was named the 17th greatest album of all time in a Music of the Millennium poll by HMV Group, Channel 4, The Guardian and Classic FM.
In 1998 Q magazine readers placed it at number 97.
In 2001 VH1 placed it at number 4.
In 2003, it was one of 50 recordings chosen by the US Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry.
........but despite all of that, I just plain don't like it. No matter how hard I try (& God knows I've tried!) I can't grow to love it.
ourdogmax
23-03-2011, 11:44
One of my favourite albums, it does take a few listens to get into you psyche though.
Meatloaf - Bat Out of Hell
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/00/Bat_out_of_Hell.jpg/220px-Bat_out_of_Hell.jpg
No need for introductions, mega-selling album that is well known and has won all kinds of awards. I just can't get on with it no matter how hard I try.
Thing Fish
23-03-2011, 12:28
Anything by Madonna. Her voice just grates on me. I don't know why it just does?
ourdogmax
23-03-2011, 12:30
Meatloaf - Bat Out of Hell
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/00/Bat_out_of_Hell.jpg/220px-Bat_out_of_Hell.jpg
No need for introductions, mega-selling album that is well known and has won all kinds of awards. I just can't get on with it no matter how hard I try.
I have this on vinyl, it's so bad it's unplayable, thin, shrill, crap.
Don’t worry Chris, the taste police won’t come for you :eyebrows:
Interesting though because I used to have a few albums that a great many people say are something special that I think are total crap and they’re not obscure albums either.
I don’t “try” with music anymore. If I don’t like it that’s it. Listening to music is supposed to be a pleasure, not some ordeal where someone else has to point out the finer aspects of a particular track or artist. Its bit like Hi Fi reviews and recommendations. I think a lot of the recommended stuff is crap as well. Guess I’m deaf with no taste.
I’ve got the re-mastered version of Marvin Gaye’s What’s going on and I like it although I wouldn’t say it would feature in my top 500 albums.
I totally agree with you regarding Meat Loaf though, one or two half decent tracks in an otherwise mediocre album.
The thing is, these days, there is no need to buy an album on recommendation, a little time spent on utube or Spotify gives you a chance to listen to most music before you part with your cash. Even Amazon allows a short preview of some of the albums they sell.
The Grand Wazoo
23-03-2011, 13:08
John,
I'm not in the slightest bit worried, just interested.
That's why I want you to tell us about this bit:
Interesting though because I used to have a few albums that a great many people say are something special that I think are total crap and they’re not obscure albums either
Some things are worth persevering with though - see Howard's thread about 'difficult' music:
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=10258
Rare Bird
23-03-2011, 13:11
Virtually everything i listern to people deem crap so i don't know what to say really on this topic.
Hmm, don’t agree with Howard either.
Why persevere with something you don’t appreciate at the outset? I have this nagging suspicion its one of those English middle class snobbery things, a bit like wine tasting and fine art appreciation. You either do or you don’t like something and just because a particular group of so called experts or connoisseur’s opinions have it that it’s something is in some way special doesn’t make any difference.
This was an ongoing argument I used to have over English literature at college; Shakespeares plays were in fact the East Enders of the period, popular, easily digestible plays for the ill educated unwashed and still are. Charles Dickens on the other hand was a gifted and insightful writer with a great grasp of the English language :ner:
I’ll work on my list of dire albums.
The Grand Wazoo
23-03-2011, 13:31
Yes but there are other reasons for listening to music than just for pure, simple musical entertainment.
For example, I got into pre-war blues because I had a deep interest in the social history of a particular time and place.
“For example, I got into pre-war blues because I had a deep interest in the social history of a particular time and place.”
Rather different though isn’t it. You’re involved in an academic study if you like and that is not necessarily an enjoyable process in any discipline.
If you’re studying music for example and have the wish to talk knowledgably on the subject with peers or for the purpose of examination then sure, there may be a case for perseverance. However, having such knowledge and coming on a forum such as this with the intention to impress with your knowledge and by inference superior taste is something entirely different.
Neil McCauley
23-03-2011, 16:12
What are the albums which you bought because of their reputation, mega sales figures and perhaps the importance of the artist. But no matter how hard you try, you can't see what all the fuss is about. You know you should love it, but no matter how many times you listen to it, you just can't seem to enjoy it as much as the rest of the world so obviously does?
The big one for me is Marvin Gaye - 'What's Going On?'
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSBav7yXqqg/TQLxaMvVGlI/AAAAAAAAAPo/XrzjH_9ZZRo/S374/marvin%2Bgaye.jpg
This was a landmark album by any standard:
It got rave reviews right from the word go.
Three massive hit singles came from it.
In 2003 it was placed at no. 6 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
In 2004, the title track was no. 4 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
A 1999 critics poll conducted by the Guardian/Observer named it the "Greatest Album of the 20th Century".
In 1997, it was named the 17th greatest album of all time in a Music of the Millennium poll by HMV Group, Channel 4, The Guardian and Classic FM.
In 1998 Q magazine readers placed it at number 97.
In 2001 VH1 placed it at number 4.
In 2003, it was one of 50 recordings chosen by the US Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry.
........but despite all of that, I just plain don't like it. No matter how hard I try (& God knows I've tried!) I can't grow to love it.
Well .... knock me down with whatever is to hand. I had identical conclusions for identical reasons. So I got a refund from FOPP and bought something decent from The Temptations instead. Phew.
I just see music as very subjective, what I like someone else might hate.
Years ago I tried to get into the Smiths, it just did not work for me, yet many people love them.
I sometimes wonder how do you define good and bad music if its a subjective experience.
We like music for many reasons, for me its important that I stay fresh and keep searching and discovering. I like how music, can bring back home to myself no matter what happening.
magiccarpetride
23-03-2011, 16:45
What are the albums which you bought because of their reputation, mega sales figures and perhaps the importance of the artist. But no matter how hard you try, you can't see what all the fuss is about. You know you should love it, but no matter how many times you listen to it, you just can't seem to enjoy it as much as the rest of the world so obviously does?
The big one for me is Marvin Gaye - 'What's Going On?'
"Pet Sounds" by the Beach Boys. I adore Paul McCartney and his contribution to the Beatles, I'm in awe whenever I put Sgt. Peppers on (allegedly directly inspired by "Pet Sounds"), but, for the life of me, I could never bring myself to find anything remotely likeable in that music. It sounds so pale and anemic. The exact opposite of the Beatles.
I would nominate Donald Fagan's 'The Nightfly'... Decent enough, but in my opinion it doesn't warrant the status of 'genius' afforded to it by some.
Marco.
Would agree with you regarding the Marvin Gaye title, but then I've only ever heard a couple of tracks from it.
In general there are several artists who I do not like, and as such, have none of their work. There are a couple of exceptions: for a long time I just could not get on with Neil Young - I found his voice thin and weedy. For whatever reason, I had a Damscene conversion a few years ago and did a complete volte face, and now have about a half dozen titles. Similarly it took me a long time to appreciate ska, rock steady and soul music: Motown and Atlantic label (Silly me!).
But to cite an example of a work by someone who I normally enjoy, but cannot make head nor tail of a specific title - it would have to be Troutmask Replica by Captain Beefheart. Try as I might, I find it simply unlistenable, yet it received rave reviews. I suspect that others felt the same as me, but thought "Well it's by Beefheart. He's always at least ten years ahead of everyone else - so it must be good and groundbreaking; we had better give it 5 stars." Can someone enlighten me?
Regards
"Pet Sounds" by the Beach Boys. I adore Paul McCartney and his contribution to the Beatles, I'm in awe whenever I put Sgt. Peppers on (allegedly directly inspired by "Pet Sounds"), but, for the life of me, I could never bring myself to find anything remotely likeable in that music. It sounds so pale and anemic. The exact opposite of the Beatles.
Clearly you were never a teenager wrestling with burgeoning hormones, confusing emotions and experiencing first love. :scratch:
Regards
Yes Fragile.
Jeff Buckley Grace
U2 Joshua Tree
Dire Straights Brothers In Arms
Ron Sexsmith. (didn’t even last long enough to get the name of the album)
Norah Jones Come Away With Me
I had about 25 candidate albums, not necessarily all albums by these artists are unpalatable imo.
There are artists I just don’t like Dire Straights for example and other, U2, Emerson Lake and Palmer and Bob Marely, who I think are vastly over rated.
No accounting for peoples tastes in music. No doubt I have stuff that would send fans of the above rushing to the bathroom.
The Grand Wazoo
23-03-2011, 19:03
Rather different though isn’t it. You’re involved in an academic study if you like and that is not necessarily an enjoyable process in any discipline.
If you’re studying music for example and have the wish to talk knowledgably on the subject with peers or for the purpose of examination then sure, there may be a case for perseverance. However, having such knowledge and coming on a forum such as this with the intention to impress with your knowledge and by inference superior taste is something entirely different.
Well, that's told me hasn't it?
From now on, I promise not to listen to any new music in case I don't like it & I won't read anything other than The Beano, in case it turns into an academic exercise that I might not enjoy.
Why are you being so confrontational? I don't profess, or try to infer that I have superior knowledge about anything, but I can't help knowing what I know. If a relevant subject comes up in a discussion, then I'll discuss it - that's the point isn't it?
I wasn’t being intentionally confrontational Chris.
I just have problems with the notion that appreciation of music requires working at :)
They do not have to go together but some of my all time favourite albums have taken time to fully appreciate, we all just have different ways to appreciate music none right or wrong
They do not have to go together but some of my all time favourite albums have taken time to fully appreciate, we all just have different ways to appreciate music none right or wrong
Bang on, very personal this love of music obsession :) I am often disappointed when I hear new albums from my favourite bands, especially if they go in a different direction. But I now have albums that have become firm favourites after persevering with them after first disliking them. A lot can depend on the mood I am in too?
BUT, I have never liked Bat Out of Hell and never will :(
Ergoline
23-03-2011, 23:52
"Pet Sounds" by the Beach Boys. I adore Paul McCartney and his contribution to the Beatles, I'm in awe whenever I put Sgt. Peppers on (allegedly directly inspired by "Pet Sounds"), but, for the life of me, I could never bring myself to find anything remotely likeable in that music. It sounds so pale and anemic. The exact opposite of the Beatles.
I can relate to this, minus the pale and anemic part. I think there's power to the music, and there are some good songs, but I just don't get it. And I really like the Beach Boys. :scratch:
The Grand Wazoo
23-03-2011, 23:56
Barry,
I'm completely in accord with your view of 'Troutmask Replica'. I've been thinking about starting this thread for a long time (well over a year!) & it was your comment about the Beefheart abomination on Howard's 'Difficult Music' thread that made me get around to it.
I often wonder what the album would have sounded like without Zappa's influence - better, I suspect.
Barry,
I'm completely in accord with your view of 'Troutmask Replica'. I've been thinking about starting this thread for a long time (well over a year!) & it was your comment about the Beefheart abomination on Howard's 'Difficult Music' thread that made me get around to it.
I often wonder what the album would have sounded like without Zappa's influence - better, I suspect.
I have heard an anechdote to the effect that Beefheart had just found himself a stovepipe hat, of which he was immensely proud. So proud in fact that he refused to remove it whilst laying down the vocal track in the studio. He couldn't wear headphones, as these would not fit over the hat, so he sang the vocals without any reference to the music tracks - and hence was not in synch.
No doubt the reviewers thought "Hey, far out - this is really significant and groundbreaking". Hence my comment "Emporer's new clothes?"
I just have problems with the notion that appreciation of music requires working at...
I have to agree with that statement, although I know where Chris was coming from (and also Howard).
I respect and admire people like Chris, Nick, Barry, and many others here, who have such a wide knowledge of, let's call it, 'musical statistics'. I love music; it is a very big part of my life, and rarely does a day go by when I don't listen to part of my collection for at least a couple of hours.
However, I enjoy it on a much more superficial level, in terms of digesting its lyrical and/or historical or political content, than does certainly the likes of Chris, and so my appreciation of it is rather different.
I just can't get deep or intellectualise about music in the way some here can and obviously enjoy doing - and full respect to them!
For me, music is simply about tunes and rhythms, about chilling me out, or putting me in a good mood, so anything that does that, or that I can bop along to, will hit the spot, regardless of how clever or poignant the lyrics are, or what 'statement', politically or otherwise, the musicians are making.
I'm also not the type to particularly absorb statistical or historical musical information, as in who used to be in what band, or what connection, a particular song has with another one, as that sort of stuff just doesn't interest me, hence why I don't contribute to the (excellent for those who have the requisite desire and knowledge) 'Degrees of Separation' thread.
We also have to guard against being seen as 'snobby' or 'elitist' in our knowledge of music or our individual preferences, something I personally deplore, especially when it comes to the appreciation of classical music. I detest the snobbery and intellectual one-upmanship I see all too often elsewhere.
And so with music, I keep it 'simple stupid', and am quite happy just to spin my favourite tunes, enjoy them for what they are to me, and just let the music do its stuff, rather than attribute any deeper meaning to the experience than that. I guess, as always therefore, it's each to his or her own :)
Marco.
So you wouldn’t be interested in anything by Lutosławski, such as
NTKR9fWRWM8
or
3EPJv7su9Wo&NR=1 and 7AL3Ip8lfrk&feature=related
How about something by Gyorgy Ligeti?
aI0P1NnUFxc
These might be thought of as being difficult or requiring some appreciation beforehand – the sort of thing beloved by musical ‘snobs’. Nonsense, either you like it or you don’t. I approach all new music as I would on meeting a stranger – I take it on face value and am not distracted by stereotype.
People who avoid ‘classical’ music simply because it is perceived as elitist, difficult, old-fashioned, or ‘not for the likes of us’, are greatly missing out.
Music is a great unifier, a common denominator for Mankind. If you attend a classical concert you will notice the audience comprises a large cross-section of people, from all backgrounds and of all ages. What you have is a coming together of a couple of thousand people, who for a couple of hours enjoy a peace and a shared joy of music.
I listen to as much classical music as I do jazz, folk, R&B, rock and pop; so they are mentioned in the ‘Spinning Today..’ thread. When I list classical recordings, I usually provide details of the performers, date and record label information. This is because there is no one definitive version or performance.
Regards
The Grand Wazoo
24-03-2011, 18:26
People who avoid ‘classical’ music simply because it is perceived as elitist, difficult, old-fashioned, or ‘not for the likes of us’, are greatly missing out.
Music is a great unifier, a common denominator for Mankind. If you attend a classical concert you will notice the audience comprises a large cross-section of people, from all backgrounds and of all ages. What you have is a coming together of a couple of thousand people, who for a couple of hours enjoy a peace and a shared joy of music.
Agreed with all the above. But there is a certain snobbery inherent in the other direction from some lovers of classical music. This type of person usually refers to it as 'serious music' implying that it is the only music that matters.
I think this may be what Marco is referring to.
We are with them in the concert hall, enjoying 'their' serious music alongside them, but they're not with us at the other concerts.
Barry - the emotional power of Ligeti's music is astonishing. Ever tried listeing to his Requiem in the dark?
Chris - I'm with you. There is a certain type who is very snobby about only classical being 'proper' music. I'm very happy to listen to and attend a mix of classical and rock concerts.
Good thread, Chris - I've thought about a similar one often, especially this week when I was remarking about Joanna Newsome...
I'm working on my list! It will be quite long, and I suspect will trample over a few favourites on here, but it would be dull old world if we all loved the same stuff, wouldn't it?
The Grand Wazoo
24-03-2011, 23:05
John mentioned The Smiths & they exemplify this thread for me rather well. I've gone out of my way to try to understand why they're revered as much as they seem to be. I once took a load of their CD's out of the library with the sole intention of listening to the lyrics as Morrissey was supposed to be some sort of wondrous poet, gifted with the talent of writing incredible lyrics.
All I saw was fairly literate sixth-form poetry & it didn't lead me into enjoying the music. I don't have a problem with sixth-form poetry - I see Jim Morrison's lyrics as pretty sub-standard sixth-form poetry, but despite that I love The Doors' music.
So I took the discs back to the library & forgot about it.
A few years later, I thought, OK well Johnny Marr is supposed to be a pretty good guitarist, let's take a look at that. So I went back to the library & got a few CD's & tried to hear what it was about his playing that might lead me into some sort of positive view of their music.
Nope!
Every now & then (that I have Spotify now makes it a bit easier) I take a listen to one of their albums to see if it might click.
Nope!
Ever tried listeing to his Requiem in the dark?
Yes, and it scared the crap out of me!
On the pop/classical debate, I've found that if anything non-classical is being played that I don't like I can usually block it out or ignore it, but there's a lot of classical that I simply can't stay in the room with. Schoenberg for example, or most of Wagner I cannot bear at any cost. Similarly, although the vast majority of what I listen to is not classical, the real emotional highs that will stay with me for ever are classical. Mozart's Laudate Dominum from Vesperae Solennes will, I hope, accompany me to the Pearly Gates (or wherever else I may end up...)
cwyraTxSuTY&feature
Yes, and it scared the crap out of me!
Me too!
the real emotional highs that will stay with me for ever are classical. Mozart's Laudate Dominum from Vesperae Solennes will, I hope, accompany me to the Pearly Gates (or wherever else I may end up...)
For me, Mozart's Requiem would do the job nicely.
For me it just has to be Radiohead. I know they are supposed to be incredibly cool and God knows I've tried to like them but frankly I just don't understand what all the fuss is about. A mediocre band fronted by a guy who can't sing (IMHO).
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/okmothman/Album%20Art/TheBends.jpg
I'm off now to hide behind the sofa:sofa:
For me it just has to be Radiohead. I know they are supposed to be incredibly cool and God knows I've tried to like them but frankly I just don't understand what all the fuss is about. A mediocre band fronted by a guy who can't sing (IMHO).
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/okmothman/Album%20Art/TheBends.jpg
I'm off now to hide behind the sofa:sofa:
I'll join you Rich!
Regards
Agree.
Have to add Tim Buckley Starsailor. Obviously i get song to a siren but the rest is just wailing nonsense.
Well I haven't had a chance to compile my list, but here's 3 to be going on with...
Arcade Fire... Grammy & BRIT award winners - why? I just don't get it. Bored, bored, bored bored bored...
Badly Drawn Boy... Mercury Music Prize winner... or, turgid dross, in my book. Bored, bored, bored bored bored...
Genesis - the first 12 albums are like going to the dentist for root canal treatment, without anaesthetic... Perhaps a little unfair, but certainly for me listening to them is like pulling teeth... Bored, bored, bored bored bored... Then they released Genesis which should have been their first album, and all was well in the world. :lol:
:sofa:
;)
Jac Hawk
25-03-2011, 22:43
Well i don't know if it's because my folks had it and played it a lot when I was a kid, or that it was just a really good listen, but Elton John "Capan Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" is in my opinion EJ's best ever work and in my top 10 of best albums, not everyones taste but well engineered and produced, and the cover art is superb.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61GdRQPnfDL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
Well I haven't had a chance to compile my list, but here's 3 to be going on with...
Arcade Fire... Grammy & BRIT award winners - why? I just don't get it. Bored, bored, bored bored bored...
Badly Drawn Boy... Mercury Music Prize winner... or, turgid dross, in my book. Bored, bored, bored bored bored...
Genesis - the first 12 albums are like going to the dentist for root canal treatment, without anaesthetic... Perhaps a little unfair, but certainly for me listening to them is like pulling teeth... Bored, bored, bored bored bored... Then they released Genesis which should have been their first album, and all was well in the world. :lol:
:sofa:
;)
Alex
I've already been cursed "to burn in Hell", by some Genesis fans here on AoS, for saying much the same thing. I have never liked them and never will. They make me want to run screaming from the room after hearing about 5 seconds worth.
Obviously, they're not to my taste (and that's putting it mildly). I hope that sofa of yours Alex is flame-proof as well as bullet-proof!
Regards
Jac Hawk
25-03-2011, 22:57
For me it just has to be Radiohead. I know they are supposed to be incredibly cool and God knows I've tried to like them but frankly I just don't understand what all the fuss is about. A mediocre band fronted by a guy who can't sing (IMHO).
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/okmothman/Album%20Art/TheBends.jpg
I'm off now to hide behind the sofa:sofa:
THEY LEAVE ME COLD:eek: i just don't get why they are so popular.
Do any fans just want to kill me now :guns:
Well I'm not dead yet, so here's 3 more... ;)
Boards of Canada - come on chaps, at least tune your instruments before starting to play! I know they have a big following from some people on here, but I just don't get it - bored, bored (etc.) :)
Coldplay - does anyone REALLY like them? Apart from birds, that is?! :lol: Personally I'd rather smack Chris Martin one in the chops than put up with his insipid rubbish. bored...
Duffy - nice legs, shame about the trembly lady warbling voice! bore....
Genesis - the first 12 albums are like going to the dentist for root canal treatment, without anaesthetic :eek:
magiccarpetride
26-03-2011, 01:02
Alex
I've already been cursed "to burn in Hell", by some Genesis fans here on AoS, for saying much the same thing. I have never liked them and never will. They make me want to run screaming from the room after hearing about 5 seconds worth.
Obviously, they're not to my taste (and that's putting it mildly). I hope that sofa of yours Alex is flame-proof as well as bullet-proof!
Regards
We don't take kindly to those who don't like Genesis. Consider yourself forewarned!
Beechwoods
26-03-2011, 07:19
I think it's important to like what you like and not care what other people think. I am 100% with Barry with respect to casting aside preconceptions and greeting music you've not heard (or heard of) before with an open mind. There is very much a herd mentality in music, and often this isn't helped by the artists, particularly in popular music, where the look of the band aligns it with a certain clique, and many people choose not to listen outside of those artists that look like they do. This very much applies to 'alternative' music as it does anything else.
As for the 'musical statistics' thing :lolsign: I can't help it if I remember stuff! The funny thing is whereas I don't have to think about music and who did what when, I can't for the life of me remember anything about the technical aspects of hi-fi, what cartridges go with what arms, impedance matching, speaker sensitivities and the like! It's horses for courses! It used to frustrate me no end when I was revising for exams and could remember everything from last week's NME and nothing about the subject I was supposed to be studying for!
Duffy - nice legs, shame about the trembly lady warbling voice! bore....
Hear hear. For some reason she always reminds me of a duck.
We don't take kindly to those who don't like Genesis. Consider yourself forewarned!
Genesis with Gabriel & Hacket = Good
Genesis with only Hacket = Acceptable
Genesis without either of them = Intolerable turgid rubbish
All IMHO of course ;)
The Grand Wazoo
26-03-2011, 11:03
I think it's important to like what you like and not care what other people think. I am 100% with Barry with respect to casting aside preconceptions and greeting music you've not heard (or heard of) before with an open mind. There is very much a herd mentality in music, and often this isn't helped by the artists, particularly in popular music, where the look of the band aligns it with a certain clique, and many people choose not to listen outside of those artists that look like they do. This very much applies to 'alternative' music as it does anything else.
Well said, that man (or those men!)
..........It used to frustrate me no end when I was revising for exams and could remember everything from last week's NME and nothing about the subject I was supposed to be studying for!
My experience, also Nick, when I think of all the info about music that's stuffed in my brain........and all the actual music. If I'd been able to apply that sort of memory retention to the stuff that I was being taught, well...!
As for the 'musical statistics' thing :lolsign: I can't help it if I remember stuff! The funny thing is whereas I don't have to think about music and who did what when, I can't for the life of me remember anything about the technical aspects of hi-fi, what cartridges go with what arms, impedance matching, speaker sensitivities and the like! It's horses for courses!
Lol - it's amazing what 'sticks' in our nut, innit? For me, it's liable to be the other way round! :lol:
I've got albums in my collection I play all the time, but wouldn't have a scooby-doo what the musicians were called, or if they were once members of another band - and it wouldn't particularly interest me either, so yes, different strokes for different folks :eyebrows:
As for learning at school, I did ok, particularly anything involving languages, which has always been a passion of mine :)
Hated anything to do with maths or science!
Marco.
Canetoad
26-03-2011, 18:50
Well i don't know if it's because my folks had it and played it a lot when I was a kid, or that it was just a really good listen, but Elton John "Capan Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" is in my opinion EJ's best ever work and in my top 10 of best albums, not everyones taste but well engineered and produced, and the cover art is superb.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61GdRQPnfDL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
Yep, I like this album too. I like the artwork for Bitter Fingers. EJ's early stuff is by far his best.:)
We don't take kindly to those who don't like Genesis. Consider yourself forewarned!
And I don't take kindly to threats!
I have just as much right to my tastes in music as you. I also have a right to express my likes and dislikes, as do you.
One of the reasons I joined this forum was I liked what I saw: members disussing equipment and music, and if they had opposing opinions would, if they could not come to a common 'meeting of minds', simply agree to disagree.
If AoS is going to be just like any other audio forum where members can sometime resort to childish playground insults (let alone threats), then maybe it's no longer the place for me!
I think it's important to like what you like and not care what other people think. I am 100% with Barry with respect to casting aside preconceptions and greeting music you've not heard (or heard of) before with an open mind. There is very much a herd mentality in music, and often this isn't helped by the artists, particularly in popular music, where the look of the band aligns it with a certain clique, and many people choose not to listen outside of those artists that look like they do. This very much applies to 'alternative' music as it does anything else.
......
Very well put Nick.
Shame your sentiments are not shared by others.
Reid Malenfant
26-03-2011, 20:53
:lolsign: Don't worry Barry, Alex is the other side of the pond :eyebrows:
Me, well i guess i just don't like the following & no doubt more that i haven't thought of yet...
The Beatles
Genesis
The Rolling Stones
Any heavy metal... I think Saxon - 747 was the closest i ever got to it :eyebrows:
Country & western
Most modern pop post year 2000 from what i have heard...
R&B
I'm sure there is loads more, it eludes my brain right now...
I know i'll never really like any of it, i can listen to some for a while but given the chance i'll put anything else on even if it's Celine Dion :lol:
Hi Barry,
And I don't take kindly to threats!
I have just as much right to my tastes in music as you. I also have a right to express my likes and dislikes, as do you.
One of the reasons I joined this forum was I liked what I saw: members disussing equipment and music, and if they had opposing opinions would, if they could not come to a common 'meeting of minds', simply agree to disagree.
If AoS is going to be just like any other audio forum where members can sometime resort to childish playground insults (let alone threats), then maybe it's no longer the place for me!
You're not wrong to react that way, but I think Alex's remark was intended to be ironic. If I thought it was anything else, he'd be taking a little holiday.....
It just shows how important smilies are sometimes. If he'd put a ' ;) ' at the end of his sentence, the meaning of what he wrote would've been interpreted rather differently!
Marco.
Hi Barry,
You're not wrong to react that way, but I think Alex's remark was intended to be ironic. If I thought it was anything else, he's be taking a little holiday.....
It just shows how important smilies are sometimes. If he'd put a ' ;) ' at the end of his sentence, the meaning of what he wrote would've been interpreted rather differently!
Marco.
Hi Marco,
Yes, I did think Alex was being his usual prevocative, challenging but benign self. My point was, if he really meant what he said (without a defusing smiley) and it was not challenged by the forum, then maybe I should go elsewhere.
Fear not - I'm still here and intend to be so for the indefinite future! :)
I can't remain annoyed: have just consumed a meal of chicken breast in a Madeira and cream sauce, with button and chestnut mushrooms. New potatoes, carrots, steamed asparagus, red pepper, fine beans, mange tout and leeks. Washed down with a 2006 Merlot.
And I've got Nina Simone singing to me right now - and nothing can get me annoyed when Nina sings to me!
Regards
Hehehe... Nice one. I may go and put on 'You Give me Fever', myself! :)
Marco.
I think (hope!) Alex magiccarpetride was just having a laugh, Barry - North American sarcasm not being as easy to spot as the European version! If not, then Houston, we may have a problem... ;)
I think (hope!) Alex magiccarpetride was just having a laugh, Barry - North American sarcasm not being as easy to spot as the European version! If not, then Houston, we may have a problem... ;)
Hi Alex,
I didn't mean to 'grandstand'. Alex caught me at a bad time, and maybe I overreacted. (Will possibly explain the latter at a later date.)
But hey, "its only rock and roll", and what do I care what people think of me?
Regards
As for learning at school, I did ok, particularly anything involving languages, which has always been a passion of mine :)
Hated anything to do with maths or science!
I loved science and maths but I can't for the life of me make any progress with languages. My brain has zero retention for foreign vocabulary :(
Lol - it's the classic left-hand/right-hand side of the brain thing, Martin. I'm very much right-sided (creative/intuitive), whereas you're probably more left-sided (analytical/logical). Here's an interesting site which explains the phenomenon:
http://www.funderstanding.com/content/right-brain-vs-left-brain
I have the same problem you do with languages, with scientific data, as my brain is 'art/language' orientated, so I find it difficult to make head nor tail or graphs, and such like - it just doesn't really 'stick'! :doh:
I still got my maths higher (A-level in England), but it was a major struggle, as it was with chemistry, whereas I breezed through English, French and Italian, going on to do those subjects at SYS level in sixth year.
It's a good job though we're all different, as the world wouldn't function very well otherwise! :)
Marco.
DanJennings
02-04-2011, 18:25
The Doors.... I honestly don't see any merit in their music at all.
Ditto The Stone Roses.
I just don't understand why people see merit in those bands....but I have tried to like them because so many of my friends at various times in my life have loved them.
A few of my friends swear by Disturbed and Rammstein as well, and I can't stand them!
A strange one for me is 'A Perfect Circle'. I love Tool, but really just can't get into APC, It just doesn't seem to have the same magic there....
As far as actually buying records to try and get into them, I'm sure I must've done that at some point, but I can't think of any that have been unsuccessful....
I like What's Going On though!
The Doors.... I honestly don't see any merit in their music at all.
Ditto The Stone Roses.
I just don't understand why people see merit in those bands....but I have tried to like them because so many of my friends at various times in my life have loved them.
A few of my friends swear by Disturbed and Rammstein as well, and I can't stand them!
A strange one for me is 'A Perfect Circle'. I love Tool, but really just can't get into APC, It just doesn't seem to have the same magic there....
As far as actually buying records to try and get into them, I'm sure I must've done that at some point, but I can't think of any that have been unsuccessful....
I like What's Going On though!
:eek::eek::eek: (Suum cuique!)
To each his own indeed - The Doors?..........masterful :)
The Stone Roses?:scratch:
ain't music fun, we have such broad tastes us human folk ;)
The Doors.... I honestly don't see any merit in their music at all.
Ditto The Stone Roses.
Certainly posted similar blasphemy about The Doors, Dan. Tried, I really have...
The Stone Roses are geniuses! Apparently. Personally I can't see it, either...
:sofa:
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