What Attracts You To Certain Music?

[Warrior@Heart]

Lyrics for me, hip hop, indie rock is what I like, beats separate the good from the average though, most of Dr. Dre & Kanye West's music is instrumental driven but lyrics come first in my mind.

 

[Eelementary]

Don't care much for vocals or lyrics. For me, drums and guitars are what make the music I listen to worth it. I'll hear a kick-arse kick-drum intro and instantly know it's Lamb Of God, or a brutal guitar intro and know I'm listening to Anaal Nathrakh.

 

[Eelementary]

Can someone answer this one for me. What makes a band good live?

I am sick of hearing ppl say "how amazing were they live" when the band did nothing but play their songs exactly the same as on the albums, walked back and forth across the stage and engaged in some expected banter with the crowd. And this goes for 90% of rock/metal bands out there. No spontaneity or added stimuli. Slipknot and Rammstein stand out like dogs balls because they realize live is audio visual. Where as bands that think jamming on stage is letting feedback ring out for 10 minutes between 3 or 4 randomly strummed notes can kiss my ass.

I understand it can be a kickass experience at a concert going off in the pit etc. But that has little do with whats going on stage. I just dont understand how bands can justify charging $150+ to shows to just rock up and play their albums exactly as they sound on a $15 cd.

Slipknot and Rammstein stand out because they suck and have to resort to theatrics to make their shows interesting IMO.

As for the 90% comment...I've seen (off the top of my head) the following bands live, and they were all different:

Lamb Of God
Opeth
Metallica
Machine Head
Vader
Cradle Of Filth
DragonForce (they botched it a few times, but Herman Li can play)
Katatonia
Dream Theater
Amorphis
Behemoth
The Sword
Soilwork

Not only were they all different, but they were all brilliant because, amongst other reasons:

* they played some of their big hit songs differently;

* they interacted with the crowd;

* they would extend the songs with interludes and instrumentals that actually improved the overall experience.

 

[veggiepatch1959]

Live music is a fickle creature. Some bands just crawl into their shells and become self indulgent. Who wants to listen to a 10 minute drum solo FFS?

My favourite live performances have been where the artist bends their own rules. David Bowie comes to mind.

Other honourable mentions go to:-

Marilyn Manson at the Sydney BDO 1999 - who ever was their sound dude on the day deserves thr highest accolades. At the time, the sound quality made my $35000 sound system sound like something out of KMart.

Nine Inch Nails at Hordern Pavilion 2006 - technically perfect with great variations to crowd favs and an awesome lightshow.

Rammstein at the Sydney BDO 200? - at first I thought "f**king Rammstein!!". How wrong was I!! Totally brilliant.

As many here have said, lyrics come a distance second (or even third), especially in the context of live music.

Whoever mentioned Mike Patton is on the money, Faith No More, Mr Bungle and Peeping Tom show the versatility of the genius.

 

[veggiepatch1959]

Its All About The Riff for me.

A good singer/vocals add to it. Im more a guitar person but I do appreciate a good singer/lyrics.

Im 99% into metal/Hard Rock. Over the years I have given other styles a go, I wont dismiss anything until I have actually listened to it, nothing does for me like Metal though and thats basically because Im into the Riff.

Bring back the riff I say!!!

And boycott the likes of Australian Idol, X Factor, etc, etc.

 

[Mader45]

I was reading about this gig the other day that I cant believe id never heard about before. I would have never expected a ska band to be capable of doing this.


In 1992, the recently reunited ska band Madness held a concert during the Madstock festival in Finsbury Park, London, presumably on a bet with event planners to see if anyone would show up. Around 45,000 people were in attendance, which is a stunning figure for a band that no one under 30 has ever heard of, and the crowd got good and crazy jumping up and down to the frenetic sounds of*the Mighty Mighty Bosstones' old British uncles.

After the performance,*reports began to come in*of tower blocks across Finsbury Park swaying back and forth as the ground beneath them shook, apparently with the force of nearly 50,000 ska fans jumping in unison. This is sort of like standing Jenga on a waterbed while a remedial reading class hops across it, braying incoherently at a DVD sing-along.

The force was enough to move peoples' furniture, as well as make them seriously re-evaluate the advantages of living in tall buildings. Or living close enough to be physically affected by a Madness concert.As it turns out, the earthquake (which registered an astonishing 4.5 on the Richter scale) was only*sort*of caused by Madness.You see, while the crowd's unified jumping certainly had an effect (there are only two ways to dance to ska music, and there simply wasn't enough room for anyone to skank), it was amplified by an underground lake located directly beneath Finsbury Park.

The churning boogie fever of 45,000 people*created huge waves in the subterranean lake, sort of like those tide pools (here meaning "Band-Aid repositories") that you see in water parks.

"The rocking of the waves caused the ground above to move as well, scaring the hell out of everyone in Finsbury Park not currently distracted by a band of middle-aged men wearing sunglasses on a cloudy afternoon. So, technically, Madness caused a mini-tsunami that led to a mini-earthquake, which is still an achievement, considering that those things typically occur in the opposite order.

 

[natheel]

most singers these days (from what i've seen) develop their voice as the progress. I remember early Queens of the Stoneage Josh wasn't a great vocalist but after a while he adapted to the muci he plays and is now a master at it. Same goes for when he started Vultures, his voice had to adapt to the style. I'm sure the likes of Dave Grohl before Foo Fighters wasn't a great singer but he was and is a show man and he develops his voice as he progresses through his career. Most singers are like this i reckon

 

[carcharias]

I am going to say the music that first hooks me in
usually has good lyrics.
The people that play the style of music I like are
probably similar to me and the lyrical content is
based on subjects or written in a way that appeals to me.

 

[woodyk2]

Something that attracts me to certain music is having musical ability.I'm not saying i'm great or anything but I played in the school brass band many years ago and can read music.Later on in life I became ok on the drums and percussion before picking up the guitar.Buggered if i can play piano but understand it and have tried to learn.
What i'm trying to say after that waffle is having experience with different types of music gives you a broader understanding on song/tunes,hence you appreciate actual musical ability in tunes.

 

[Mader45]

What i'm trying to say after that waffle is having experience with different types of music gives you a broader understanding on song/tunes,hence you appreciate actual musical ability in tunes.

Made me realize who the main people are who pay attention to lyrics. Romantic fools and Evangelical Christians.

One of those groups are full of fantasy based delusional fools with their head so far up in the clouds they avoid logic and reason at all costs in the hope for some reciprocated love.

The others listen to girly love songs to much.

 

[Eelementary]

Live music is a fickle creature. Some bands just crawl into their shells and become self indulgent. Who wants to listen to a 10 minute drum solo FFS?

My favourite live performances have been where the artist bends their own rules. David Bowie comes to mind.

Other honourable mentions go to:-

Marilyn Manson at the Sydney BDO 1999 - who ever was their sound dude on the day deserves thr highest accolades. At the time, the sound quality made my $35000 sound system sound like something out of KMart.

Nine Inch Nails at Hordern Pavilion 2006 - technically perfect with great variations to crowd favs and an awesome lightshow.

Rammstein at the Sydney BDO 200? - at first I thought "f**king Rammstein!!". How wrong was I!! Totally brilliant.

As many here have said, lyrics come a distance second (or even third), especially in the context of live music.

Whoever mentioned Mike Patton is on the money, Faith No More, Mr Bungle and Peeping Tom show the versatility of the genius.

Totally depends on the drummer and how good he/she is. I saw Lamb Of God, and Chris Adler played a 4-minute intro to "Redneck"...And it kicked arse. He is an excellent drummer.

 

[Eelementary]

Bring back the riff I say!!!

And boycott the likes of Australian Idol, X Factor, etc, etc.

If only they did a version of those shows for bands. They could audition playing one cover song and then one original song. Also, no restriction on genre - as long as they're a band (a real band), then they get a shot.

 

[Mader45]

That a show like that hasnt happened would have to do with the demographic being the major downloaders. As the tv show is fully paid for by the label they make their money back on the presales of the singles alone. Thus why they dump so many of the acts.

If someone set up a web based show though, with a label like roadrunner, thatd be pretty cool to check out.

 

[snoozer]

Made me realize who the main people are who pay attention to lyrics. Romantic fools and Evangelical Christians.

One of those groups are full of fantasy based delusional fools with their head so far up in the clouds they avoid logic and reason at all costs in the hope for some reciprocated love.

The others listen to girly love songs to much.

laughing hard at this!

so true.

 

[carcharias]

If only they did a version of those shows for bands. They could audition playing one cover song and then one original song. Also, no restriction on genre - as long as they're a band (a real band), then they get a shot.

I'd watch it

 

[Manurewa_Marlins]

Hip Hop...

It's edgy, lyrically and production wise, as well as live performances go. There's NOTHING like hearing a DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Scram Jones etc cut and scratch records, it really is something else.

When emcees like Slum Village, RA The Rugged Man (and insert other names here) can hold down a crowd whislt at the sametime maintain mic control, spitting crazy amounts of syllables, concepts and metaphors in the space of 16 bars...it really is an art.

 

[franklin2323]

While punk is my favourite genre. Coldplay and Kings of Leon aside. I can handle most real music. Can't stand anything with autotune or pop garbage we have now.

If I like a band. If the cd says no computers used. I buy it. The thing for me the most is how they are live. I have even watched some average to awful bands with the missus (Matchbox 20, Nickelback) surprisinly decent shows actually have heavy songs and great solo's.

 

[Eelementary]

While punk is my favourite genre. Coldplay and Kings of Leon aside. I can handle most real music. Can't stand anything with autotune or pop garbage we have now.

If I like a band. If the cd says no computers used. I buy it. The thing for me the most is how they are live. I have even watched some average to awful bands with the missus (Matchbox 20, Nickelback) surprisinly decent shows actually have heavy songs and great solo's.

I can't say I understand the Nickelback hate. I don't see why it's cool to hate them. They're far from my favourite band, but there are much, much worse bands out there IMO.

 

[GC_Gladiator]

Because of years of listening to the same genre I am drawn by the style of music. The lyrics are what keep me interested though, and what will make me want to persist with a band. I can think of numerous bands that I have disregarded because of shoddy lyrics. I love protest the hero, but the lyrics in their last album were terrible when compared with Fortress.

I like lyrics written by Brian Fallon of the Gaslight Anthem and Claudio Sanchez of Coheed and Cambria.

 

[Flapper]

I can't say I understand the Nickelback hate. I don't see why it's cool to hate them. They're far from my favourite band, but there are much, much worse bands out there IMO.

There is just something so phony about them, singing songs like "Rock Star" whilst producing the least dangerous form of rock music known to man.

I tend to like lyrics where it's about someone, all that confessional shit. Especially if it contains the type of spite Elvis Costello or Dylan at his most toxic specialised in. Not to mention "Rumours", which is just Fleetwood Mac trying to get under each others skin in lyrical form.

For the harder stuff, a driving drum beat and a melodic riff (not TOO distorted, but distorted all the same) is essential.