MakemineVanilla Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 (edited) ISIS > Kanye West > Kanye West fansWhen Stevo read this post... Below is how VillaTalk forms its opinion on music: Would more than 1% of people on the street have heard of this artist? Yes - utter shite. Bollocks. Worst music ever. No - AMAZING. Genius. Best music ever. So I expect nothing less. Music can't be good if its remotely popular. But by definition, anyone who claims to be a connoisseur of anything, must establish their credentials by eschewing the popular and declaring a preference for what most people can't stand. It's the law. Literati - Finnegans Wake Classical music buff - Beethoven's late quartets, Stockhausen Booze - Bruichladdich Octomore, mezcal with dead insect larva Epicurean - Casu Marzu, kopi luwak Pop music - The Fall By definition it is impossible to be considered a connoisseur, if someone never shows any discernment. In a world of mass marketing, mass consumption, and crushing conformity, you can't blame anyone for trying to stake a claim for a modicum of authenticity by eschewing the popular and embracing the arcane. But things used to be far worse - back in the day, guys used to advertise their elitist taste by walking the streets with a trendy album stuck under their arm and a trendy novel in the pocket of their RAF great coat or combat jacket. These days hipsters excuse themselves for doing the same by pretending they are being ironic. The Greeks have to take the blame for our culture's obsession with individualism, capitalism must be praised for serving that need. Edited September 18, 2014 by blandy mod tidy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted September 18, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted September 18, 2014 I don't get the back lash against people who have gone and sort out an alternative to music that's in the charts. I also don't get why people would think because it's obscure, it would be better. I've heard plenty of obscure music that is dog shit, and I've heard plenty of smash hits that are amazing. I've been told on more than one occasion some of the music I listen to is shit. At times like that, I'm just glad I have the tastes I do, and feel privileged to be able to enjoy it while others can't. Egg-zackly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginko Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 (edited) But by definition, anyone who claims to be a connoisseur of anything, must establish their credentials by eschewing the popular and declaring a preference for what most people can't stand. It's the law. Literati - Finnegans Wake Classical music buff - Beethoven's late quartets, Stockhausen Booze - Bruichladdich Octomore, mezcal with dead insect larva Epicurean - Casu Marzu, kopi luwak Pop music - The Fall By definition it is impossible to be considered a connoisseur, if someone never shows any discernment. In a world of mass marketing, mass consumption, and crushing conformity, you can't blame anyone for trying to stake a claim for a modicum of authenticity by eschewing the popular and embracing the arcane. But things used to be far worse - back in the day, guys used to advertise their elitist taste by walking the streets with a trendy album stuck under their arm and a trendy novel in the pocket of their RAF great coat or combat jacket. These days hipsters excuse themselves for doing the same by pretending they are being ironic. The Greeks have to take the blame for our culture's obsession with individualism, capitalism must be praised for serving that need. God, it must take you forever to post having to scour your Thesaurus every five seconds. Edited September 18, 2014 by Ginko Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B94villa Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 A half-formed idea but, The idea of commercial success is a relatively recent development for music (and all forms of art), it's purpose is to elicit a certain reaction in the listener and to give the artist a vehicle for personal expression. To try and measure that response amongst individuals is impossible because it's totally subjective. Someone might associate a Lady Sovereign track with the first time they fell in love or lost a relative. Every time they hear that particular song it will have a much more profound effect on them than when they listen to one of the "greats", so arguably Lady Sovereign becomes the greatest artist of all time for that person. Now, obviously she isn't, but does anyone really have the right to criticise the listener for having a deep-seated personal response to her song? Equally when I was a teenager I knew a lot of musos who only listened to prog rock, Joe Satriani and classical music who would spend years perfecting a 12 minute epic, only for it to end up sounding totally passionless and soulless. In their obsession for reaching technical perfection, they'd produced the musical equivalent of a thesaurus. Any criticism was invalidated on the grounds that they knew notes and had fast fretwork coming out of their arses, so therefore they were objectively better than anyone else. Just typed a massive block about the changing attitudes to music tribalism and the influence of the ipod before realising I'm off in a massive tangent. Need more coffee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wainy316 Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Why did you remind me of Lady Sovereign's existence!? Dislike. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B94villa Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Why did you remind me of Lady Sovereign's existence!? Dislike. As I typed it, it occurred to me a better example of a negative emotion would be "the first time that person seriously contemplated ending their own life". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Designer1 Posted September 18, 2014 VT Supporter Popular Post Share Posted September 18, 2014 If you pretend to be into a band just because they are 'obscure' and a little off-the-beaten track then you are a far, far bigger word removed in my eyes than someone who genuinely enjoys mainstream chart music. Personally I couldn't give a **** about where is comes from, or if it's popular, if it floats your boat then so be it. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginko Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Went to a university with a very nice (and very pretty) Pakistani girl who was really into urban music. She gave herself a street name, Lady Krucial. She didn't even sing or anything! I couldn't help but hate her a little bit for that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginko Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 If you pretend to be into a band just because they are 'obscure' and a little off-the-beaten track then you are a far, far bigger word removed in my eyes than someone who genuinely enjoys mainstream chart music. Personally I couldn't give a **** about where is comes from, or if it's popular, if it floats your boat then so be it. 100% this. I've met so many arsehole pretentious phonies that only like obscure music because it's obscure. I hate people like that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Designer1 Posted September 18, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted September 18, 2014 If you pretend to be into a band just because they are 'obscure' and a little off-the-beaten track then you are a far, far bigger word removed in my eyes than someone who genuinely enjoys mainstream chart music. Personally I couldn't give a **** about where is comes from, or if it's popular, if it floats your boat then so be it. 100% this. I've met so many arsehole pretentious phonies that only like obscure music because it's obscure. I hate people like that. I think the unfortunate effect of that sort of wanky behaviour is that people who are genuinely into certain non-mainstream bands/genres can be labelled as 'pretentious'. Even when their reasons for liking the bands are musical and nowt to do with how many people have heard of them. I've had the same conversation many times about movies too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginko Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Yup I agree. My brother accuses me of being pretentious because I like some more obscure or alternative music and films but he is a closed-minded prick for the most part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarewsEyebrowDesigner Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I only like bands which hand craft their own vinyl records. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dAVe80 Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I must admit, it's sometimes good to get back in touch with my rebellious teen self, listening to Nevermind at full blast, and knowing full well that my Mom and Dad would be hating every second of it. I still enjoy annoying and confusing people with music I know they can't possibly comprehend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethRDR Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I only like bands which hand craft their own vinyl records. Pfft, I'm still on shellac. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dAVe80 Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I only like bands which hand craft their own vinyl records. Pfft, I'm still on shellac. Sack that off, and start listening to Big Black instead. Steve Albini sold out when he started Shellac. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wainy316 Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Went to a university with a very nice (and very pretty) Pakistani girl who was really into urban music. She gave herself a street name, Lady Krucial. She didn't even sing or anything! I couldn't help but hate her a little bit for that. DHUTWU then run. Very far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blandy Posted September 18, 2014 Moderator Share Posted September 18, 2014 ..by definition, anyone who claims to be a connoisseur of anything, must establish their credentials by eschewing the popular and declaring a preference for what most people can't stand. It's the law. Pop music - The FallI'm not a connoisseur of anything, but I know what I like, and I like the Fall a very great deal (well 90% of their stuff, the other 10% is awful). Most other people I know who like the Fall's music are the same as me - they like it because they like it, not because it's some sign of any discernement.I sometimes wonder why it is that I like it so much. It's like a drug. Sometimes it's only the Fall that hits the spot. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginko Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Went to a university with a very nice (and very pretty) Pakistani girl who was really into urban music. She gave herself a street name, Lady Krucial. She didn't even sing or anything! I couldn't help but hate her a little bit for that. DHUTWU then run. Very far. Nah, she had a major thing for black (or brown, 8pints) (Soz-ard Don) guys. I didn't stand a chance. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dAVe80 Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 ..by definition, anyone who claims to be a connoisseur of anything, must establish their credentials by eschewing the popular and declaring a preference for what most people can't stand. It's the law. Pop music - The Fall I'm not a connoisseur of anything, but I know what I like, and I like the Fall a very great deal (well 90% of their stuff, the other 10% is awful). Most other people I know who like the Fall's music are the same as me - they like it because they like it, not because it's some sign of any discernement. I sometimes wonder why it is that I like it so much. It's like a drug. Sometimes it's only the Fall that hits the spot. A Fall song a day, keeps Bieber away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 My taste in music is very good. Though I do truly have to wonder about some other people. Somebody broke into my car once, went through all my music, leaving it all discarded in the passenger footwell. Didn't take a single damn thing. In its own way, it was quite a slap down. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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