What kind of music listener are you?
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:03 amObviously we all look for different things in music, as we can see by the discussion and debate over the new single "Never Walk Away."
That leads me to ask you all, what do YOU look for in your music, and how do you listen to it and appreciate it? Is it more of an artistic thing for you, or entertainment?
Myself:
I love punchy hooks, soaring melodies, kickin' guitar, and sing-along choruses. However, I get bored with a band easily if alot of their material is similar. I like AC/DC, Aerosmith, Kiss, and The Rolling Stones but can't listen to them for too long for that reason.
I love listening to things that challenge my thoughts, ideas, and tastes. Sometimes I look at a song as a story, or an album as a novel/movie, and look for a story or theme, and all kinds of hidden motifs and meanings. That's why I'm obsessed with alot of "Progressive" rock, because that type of music is more inclined to have these types of epic, building qualities and it's more "rewarding" of a listen, so to speak.
My favorite bands (Rush, Porcupine Tree, Journey, Dream Theater, Toto) all seem to reach a middle ground where the music and the meaning is often very developed and mature, while keeping the music entertaning and accessible. That's why I love them so much more than others.
I try to buy albums as much as possible while abstaining from compilations if at all possible. I love the thrill of crackin' open a brand new CD, viewing the artwork and pictures and lyrics, and listening to it uninterrupted several times, digesting every note, word, and tone within. Not only critically, but artistically as well... sometimes, to me, a badly-played song can be artistically superior to a perfectly-played song.... it's all about the presentation, uniqueness, emotion, vibe, and approach.
These days I listen to everything from A(sia) to Z(Z Top)... including alot of modern indie/alternative bands, some mainstream stuff, and even some rap. However, for some reason I always find myself drawn to melodic and progressive rock, because it's the music that's most likely to make me feel --- whether the music makes me feel raw, untamed emotion or if it makes me feel good and happy... these genres seem to provide it all for me!
HOWEVER, I seem to set high expectations for artists I truly enjoy because they typically have the "full package" of artistic credibility. That's why I may seem a bit too critical of Journey sometimes. They've been absoutely untouchable before and I know they have it in them to produce brilliant music. Let it be known though that this music is who I am, it's the soundtrack to my being... it's special to me. Every song by every artist I love.
Yes, even Open Arms.
That leads me to ask you all, what do YOU look for in your music, and how do you listen to it and appreciate it? Is it more of an artistic thing for you, or entertainment?
Myself:
I love punchy hooks, soaring melodies, kickin' guitar, and sing-along choruses. However, I get bored with a band easily if alot of their material is similar. I like AC/DC, Aerosmith, Kiss, and The Rolling Stones but can't listen to them for too long for that reason.
I love listening to things that challenge my thoughts, ideas, and tastes. Sometimes I look at a song as a story, or an album as a novel/movie, and look for a story or theme, and all kinds of hidden motifs and meanings. That's why I'm obsessed with alot of "Progressive" rock, because that type of music is more inclined to have these types of epic, building qualities and it's more "rewarding" of a listen, so to speak.
My favorite bands (Rush, Porcupine Tree, Journey, Dream Theater, Toto) all seem to reach a middle ground where the music and the meaning is often very developed and mature, while keeping the music entertaning and accessible. That's why I love them so much more than others.
I try to buy albums as much as possible while abstaining from compilations if at all possible. I love the thrill of crackin' open a brand new CD, viewing the artwork and pictures and lyrics, and listening to it uninterrupted several times, digesting every note, word, and tone within. Not only critically, but artistically as well... sometimes, to me, a badly-played song can be artistically superior to a perfectly-played song.... it's all about the presentation, uniqueness, emotion, vibe, and approach.
These days I listen to everything from A(sia) to Z(Z Top)... including alot of modern indie/alternative bands, some mainstream stuff, and even some rap. However, for some reason I always find myself drawn to melodic and progressive rock, because it's the music that's most likely to make me feel --- whether the music makes me feel raw, untamed emotion or if it makes me feel good and happy... these genres seem to provide it all for me!
HOWEVER, I seem to set high expectations for artists I truly enjoy because they typically have the "full package" of artistic credibility. That's why I may seem a bit too critical of Journey sometimes. They've been absoutely untouchable before and I know they have it in them to produce brilliant music. Let it be known though that this music is who I am, it's the soundtrack to my being... it's special to me. Every song by every artist I love.
Yes, even Open Arms.
