Pinning down your personal taste!

song_of_copper wrote: I'm starting to like it here too.  Of course, I don't know what the hell I'm talking about most of the time, I'm only just dipping my toe into all this music... and I have the suspicion that I confirm my general idiocy in every post... but it's fun nonetheless! Haha, I haven't detected a pinch of idiocy in any of your posts; they seem well-thought out and they're always very interesting to read. I've been on this site unofficially for 2 or 3 years now, easily, and I still know there are grounds I haven't discovered--But I love it that way. I grew to like some more sub-genres since then for sure too--I used to be heavily into Symphonic Prog, but now I have about equal knowledge of alot of them. I never was much of a metalhead either before I found this site... but ironically, I'm listening to Opeth right now, and loving it. I'm happy you hijacked the thread... it's turning into a conversation! Well, thanks! It's about time my music-rambling skills came in handy. [General Descent into Fanaticism update: I now have a picture of Magma on my pinboard at work.   Vander's eyes really do follow you around the room...  I hope the cleaner won't die of fright. ] OMG! That's really awesome! *bows to you since that's one of the most awesome things I've ever heard* I'll need to do something like that.

MovingPictures07 wrote: song_of_copper wrote: darqDean wrote: ...and just hope they're dumb enough to aim for the vest    'Salright, I'll just round up a bunch of really mean Magma fanatics to act as my bodyguards.   Ooooh!! Me first!! Anything for the Almighty Vander!!

Ok, but you must bring your own leather overcoat and Zeuhl medallion.

song_of_copper wrote: darqDean wrote: ...and just hope they're dumb enough to aim for the vest    'Salright, I'll just round up a bunch of really mean Magma fanatics to act as my bodyguards.

Ooooh!! Me first!! Anything for the Almighty Vander!!

song_of_copper wrote: MovingPictures07 wrote: song_of_copper wrote: Haha, well, I shall have to make sure to wear my bullet proof vest in future! I already do. I would wear like 10 though if I also didn't like Genesis or Porcupine Tree. (*cough*Magma > Genesis*cough*) ....I didn't say that!! Er, maybe a suit of armour... (That thing you didn't say... of course I couldn't possibly comment... )

*runs up to attic storage* Now where did I put that armor...?

I love ProgArchives. A place where people actually understand when I make music jokes or references, and especially those who understand the consequence of my "heresies"; it's so wonderful. It's even better when I find someone who agrees with me on them.

(Like how I don't like Pink Floyd, think Magma is the greatest thing ever--yes, better than Yes or Genesis, *gasp*--, or absolutely love Rush's and King Crimson's 1980s stuff to death )

EDIT: Maybe I should stop hijacking your thread now.


Edited by MovingPictures07 - June 24 2008 at 16:33

darqDean wrote: ^ I guess I'm one of those rare people who has never fallen out of love... If I've loved something (or someone) at sometime in my life then I still do in someway or other.

I hardly ever "grow out" of something, but in the case of some music, my tastes have rapidly developed in the last 4 years. Because of that, there will be artists I like more or less than I used to, but I'll still love them.

However, I do have that occasional band that I liked but then after a certain time just don't hit me the same. I suppose I never did truly "love" their music, or else it would have stayed with me. That's my theory anyway.

darqDean wrote:   it's okay not to like Floyd, or any band - all tastes are different.

Haha, never were there more true words, but I sometimes wonder if people realize that...

I'm generally pretty open-minded to any type/sub-genre of progressive music, but PF doesn't do it for me anymore. I had the same thing happen with The Moody Blues... And also, when I first heard Spock's Beard I liked them alot too, but that wore off pretty quickly. The Flower Kings are more my type for that kind of stuff, but I always recognize the impact and position of the bands, despite that they just aren't as much to my taste.

But being a huge Porcupine Tree fan, whenever I find someone else who is as well, they'll ask me if I like Pink Floyd. I'll say that "I used to, but don't really listen to them anymore", and they'll give me the most bizarre looks. It's great.

EDIT: Typo. I'm way too perfectionist about these things.


Edited by MovingPictures07 - June 24 2008 at 15:54

...and just hope they're dumb enough to aim for the vest

Edited by darqDean - June 24 2008 at 15:12

song_of_copper wrote: MovingPictures07 wrote: Very interesting thread. I think it's about time I weighed in my 2 cents. Thanks, your cents (both of 'em) are much appreciated! No problem. My father showed me Rush roughly four years ago; before that I always liked music but wasn't heavily involved with it. After I got into Rush (through their 80s albums and 2112, actually), it's been quite a roller coaster ever since, and music is definitely my passion. Over time I've increasingly become more and more open to different kinds of music, but I'd say music has to have some sort of recognizable substance (many others here would agree), or else I won't enjoy it. 'Substance': that's an interesting word.  And quite open to interpretation.  But I guess you mean that 'disposable' music - half-hearted music, indeed - is not for you.  I have to say I agree. Yes, entirely. I will not listen to music that I think was half-hearted or music that simply copies what has been done before... that being said, I'm really open to anything. More specifically, my top 5 include: Rush, Magma, Frank Zappa, Ozric Tentacles, and King Crimson. So I'd say my all-time favorites are open to quite a spectrum, but the music has to be dynamic. The only two prog bands I've really grown out of (that I used to love) have been Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues, so I'd say once I really did find my taste I like music that is incredibly unique, dynamic, and has some degree of at least substantial musicianship. Other bands I love though range from Meshuggah to 3 to Return to Forever to Kansas to Henry Cow, so I'd say when it comes to an actual "sub-genre" I'm not really biased. Well, we have two of our top five in common.  And they are probably the top two for me.  And the two who most strike a very personal chord with me... Dynamic is a good word also.  Range and drama in music attracts me greatly too. Y'know, I should probably keep my mouth shut on this, but I really don't like Pink Floyd.  Not that I think their music is bad, exactly - but it makes me feel creepy.  I can't stand to hear it, physically or psychologically...  Unfortunately, it's my boyfriend's favourite band.  Meanwhile, he loathes Magma - for exactly the same reason!  It's a happy home... Well, I'm glad I found someone else. I liked them 3 or 4 years ago, but I don't like them at all anymore. Saying that out loud on here though is like going in the middle of a really rough neighbourhood and purposefully picking out fights. You might just get shot. To me, listening to music is like undergoing a completely innovative, pre-constructed "journey" that the composer(s) constructed with certain emotions, thoughts, and structures in mind. It's almost like a process of transposing your current reality and trying to completely immerse yourself in the art. If music is truly worth my time, it will make me feel and think outside of a box that I have before. The more that music strikes me personally, the more that I'll enjoy it. That's a pretty good description.  I don't think it's possible to truly enjoy music without some kind of empathy - you have to care about the 'journey' you're being taken on I suppose - and the best moments in music, for me, are the ones when you feel like the composer read your mind. (nothing to add, perfectly stated) A great example of this is Frank Zappa, of whom I'm definitely an infinitely large fanboy. I love how he put all of his constant soul, thoughts, and emotions into his music and really stretched the pre-conceived idea of what music has to be "contained" in. I love expressing new boundaries of musical expression, and Frank never lets me down. He takes everything in his life incredibly seriously, but he also knew when to have fun, use wonderful satire, and his music is the absolute perfect blend of a great, humorous, yet simultaneously serious and thought-provoking look on life. In summary, the music has to be intellectually stimulating, fresh, and full of emotions and what I call the "soul" of the artist. I'll only enjoy music if I believe I can almost have a conversation with whoever is playing the instruments and created the music. Thankfully, since I came across this site about three years ago, I've found that there are seemingly endless loads of music that can fulfill that. Nuff said.  Frank Zappa made the impossible look easy, whilst never obscuring the sheer effort he put into everything.  And I love that combination of imaginative flights of fancy with practical common sense.  I'm probably a little spoiled by having FZ as my musical yardstick... yet another reason for 'quality over quantity' on my CD and LP shelves!  [Edit... duh... NOT 'quantity over quality'... ] Again I like what you say about 'having a conversation' with the musicians - oh yes, you've got to feel the uniqueness, and the genuineness, coming across!  Absolutely. In fact, I forgot to put in my original post that PERSONALITY is a big deal for me in music.  Not that I can't listen to music made by boring people, but I only ever really get absorbed in music which is made by people who intrigue me.  It helps to have that tangible humanity there, as you say.  And really, nothing bores me more than people taking a kind of pride in their own 'averageness'.  Give me a vain, flamboyant genius any day!  In fact, give me at least two, so I can feel really spoiled! Personality is a huge factor for me too (what the hell, it's almost like you read my freaking mind ), and I love experiencing the wide array of different personalities that I call my favorites. Being a drummer, the fact that my idols are Neil Peart, Christian Vander, and Bill Bruford says that I'm pretty open-minded, but it's also an indication that they all have vibrant personalities when they're playing (for me, anyway, I feel like I can fully connect with them when they're playing their music). If an artist can't "connect" to me with a personal touch in the music, it's not bound to reach my favorites. Well, enough of my rambling; someone make sense of that. I enjoyed your rambling sir!  Well rambled indeed! Thank you. It's what I do.

MovingPictures07 wrote: Very interesting thread. I think it's about time I weighed in my 2 cents. Thanks, your cents (both of 'em) are much appreciated! My father showed me Rush roughly four years ago; before that I always liked music but wasn't heavily involved with it. After I got into Rush (through their 80s albums and 2112, actually), it's been quite a roller coaster ever since, and music is definitely my passion. Over time I've increasingly become more and more open to different kinds of music, but I'd say music has to have some sort of recognizable substance (many others here would agree), or else I won't enjoy it. 'Substance': that's an interesting word.  And quite open to interpretation.  But I guess you mean that 'disposable' music - half-hearted music, indeed - is not for you.  I have to say I agree. More specifically, my top 5 include: Rush, Magma, Frank Zappa, Ozric Tentacles, and King Crimson. So I'd say my all-time favorites are open to quite a spectrum, but the music has to be dynamic. The only two prog bands I've really grown out of (that I used to love) have been Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues, so I'd say once I really did find my taste I like music that is incredibly unique, dynamic, and has some degree of at least substantial musicianship. Other bands I love though range from Meshuggah to 3 to Return to Forever to Kansas to Henry Cow, so I'd say when it comes to an actual "sub-genre" I'm not really biased. Well, we have two of our top five in common.  And they are probably the top two for me.  And the two who most strike a very personal chord with me... Dynamic is a good word also.  Range and drama in music attracts me greatly too. Y'know, I should probably keep my mouth shut on this, but I really don't like Pink Floyd.  Not that I think their music is bad, exactly - but it makes me feel creepy.  I can't stand to hear it, physically or psychologically...  Unfortunately, it's my boyfriend's favourite band.  Meanwhile, he loathes Magma - for exactly the same reason!  It's a happy home... To me, listening to music is like undergoing a completely innovative, pre-constructed "journey" that the composer(s) constructed with certain emotions, thoughts, and structures in mind. It's almost like a process of transposing your current reality and trying to completely immerse yourself in the art. If music is truly worth my time, it will make me feel and think outside of a box that I have before. The more that music strikes me personally, the more that I'll enjoy it. That's a pretty good description.  I don't think it's possible to truly enjoy music without some kind of empathy - you have to care about the 'journey' you're being taken on I suppose - and the best moments in music, for me, are the ones when you feel like the composer read your mind. A great example of this is Frank Zappa, of whom I'm definitely an infinitely large fanboy. I love how he put all of his constant soul, thoughts, and emotions into his music and really stretched the pre-conceived idea of what music has to be "contained" in. I love expressing new boundaries of musical expression, and Frank never lets me down. He takes everything in his life incredibly seriously, but he also knew when to have fun, use wonderful satire, and his music is the absolute perfect blend of a great, humorous, yet simultaneously serious and thought-provoking look on life. In summary, the music has to be intellectually stimulating, fresh, and full of emotions and what I call the "soul" of the artist. I'll only enjoy music if I believe I can almost have a conversation with whoever is playing the instruments and created the music. Thankfully, since I came across this site about three years ago, I've found that there are seemingly endless loads of music that can fulfill that. Nuff said.  Frank Zappa made the impossible look easy, whilst never obscuring the sheer effort he put into everything.  And I love that combination of imaginative flights of fancy with practical common sense.  I'm probably a little spoiled by having FZ as my musical yardstick... yet another reason for 'quality over quantity' on my CD and LP shelves!  [Edit... duh... NOT 'quantity over quality'... ] Again I like what you say about 'having a conversation' with the musicians - oh yes, you've got to feel the uniqueness, and the genuineness, coming across!  Absolutely. In fact, I forgot to put in my original post that PERSONALITY is a big deal for me in music.  Not that I can't listen to music made by boring people, but I only ever really get absorbed in music which is made by people who intrigue me.  It helps to have that tangible humanity there, as you say.  And really, nothing bores me more than people taking a kind of pride in their own 'averageness'.  Give me a vain, flamboyant genius any day!  In fact, give me at least two, so I can feel really spoiled! Well, enough of my rambling; someone make sense of that. I enjoyed your rambling sir!  Well rambled indeed!

Edited by song_of_copper - June 23 2008 at 17:22

Very interesting thread. I think it's about time I weighed in my 2 cents.

My father showed me Rush roughly four years ago; before that I always liked music but wasn't heavily involved with it. After I got into Rush (through their 80s albums and 2112, actually), it's been quite a roller coaster ever since, and music is definitely my passion. Over time I've increasingly become more and more open to different kinds of music, but I'd say music has to have some sort of recognizable substance (many others here would agree), or else I won't enjoy it.

More specifically, my top 5 include: Rush, Magma, Frank Zappa, Ozric Tentacles, and King Crimson. So I'd say my all-time favorites are open to quite a spectrum, but the music has to be dynamic. The only two prog bands I've really grown out of (that I used to love) have been Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues, so I'd say once I really did find my taste I like music that is incredibly unique, dynamic, and has some degree of at least substantial musicianship. Other bands I love though range from Meshuggah to 3 to Return to Forever to Kansas to Henry Cow, so I'd say when it comes to an actual "sub-genre" I'm not really biased.

To me, listening to music is like undergoing a completely innovative, pre-constructed "journey" that the composer(s) constructed with certain emotions, thoughts, and structures in mind. It's almost like a process of transposing your current reality and trying to completely immerse yourself in the art. If music is truly worth my time, it will make me feel and think outside of a box that I have before. The more that music strikes me personally, the more that I'll enjoy it.

A great example of this is Frank Zappa, of whom I'm definitely an infinitely large fanboy. I love how he put all of his constant soul, thoughts, and emotions into his music and really stretched the pre-conceived idea of what music has to be "contained" in. I love expressing new boundaries of musical expression, and Frank never lets me down. He takes everything in his life incredibly seriously, but he also knew when to have fun, use wonderful satire, and his music is the absolute perfect blend of a great, humorous, yet simultaneously serious and thought-provoking look on life. In summary, the music has to be intellectually stimulating, fresh, and full of emotions and what I call the "soul" of the artist. I'll only enjoy music if I believe I can almost have a conversation with whoever is playing the instruments and created the music. Thankfully, since I came across this site about three years ago, I've found that there are seemingly endless loads of music that can fulfill that.

Well, enough of my rambling; someone make sense of that.