quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
Just go ahead and love what you love. The only thing I want to say is that just because it's old doesn't make it good; just because it's new doesn't make it good; just because it's different or original doesn't make it good; just because it's sad doesn't make it good; just because it's happy doesn't make it good; and just because it's comfortably catchy doesn't make it good. It shouldn't make any of those "music types" bad either. Art is something else, and very personal, obviously.

You forgot one thing, Mark. Just because I like it doesn't make it good, either

droid, I'm 51 and getting back into new music after a 20- year break. What I'm discovering is that the music of my youth, which fills up most of the spots on my "top 53" list (see appropriate topic) is no "better" than the new stuff I'm digging now. I've got this site to thank for rekindling my passion for music.

I have to go now, they've got a two-for-one special on walking frames

I'm 33 which puts me around the middle. I'm sure I'm considered young to the 40-50 year olds, but a complete geezer to the high school and college kids.

I love keeping up with great, new music. I hate the radio other than NPR. The web has certainly allowed me to keep current, since nobody I work with would have ever heard of the music and bands I love. Most music lovers my age that I run into seem to be of the ex-hippie type and still keep up with Widespread Panic, Trey Anastasio and similar artists (which I can't stand). So Pitchfork and this site are invaluable to me.

quote:

Originally posted by Chamberk:
Hey, the 'sticking to old stuff' thing isn't limited to just older people. My friend's my age and she will not listen to anything that's under 30 years old. She thinks that time filters out the bad stuff and thus whatever's left over is golden.

I'm not sure about that. I'm 38, and time hasn't necessarily boiled the fat away from the music of my youth, leaving only the "lean meat," i.e., the "golden" classics. To the contrary, I'd say that what's played from my era tends to be popular songs, which trigger nostalgia or can create fleeting connections between people my age (e.g., "Oh, yeah, I remember that one! It's a great song!"). Nothing wrong with that, mind you.

Also, for what it's worth, I don't think that the music of today is disposable or inferior. I think the instant availability of music today -- e.g., satellite radio, blogs, streaming radio stations -- has made people more fickle and shortened attention spans. I’m embarrassed to say this, but many times I'll listen to a song just long enough to get a sense of the hook or melody, and then hastily move on the next song, just to keep up with the sheer volume of new music I'm exposed to. (n.1) Later, in a quieter moment, I'll return to that same song I gave only a moment's attention to, and realize it's special. On the other hand, sometimes I’ll play a favorite song or album so often that I burn out on it, and have to set it aside for a week, a month, a year or longer. When I return to it, I discover something new and realize how wonderful it really is.

This is a great question, incidentally. I’ve been meaning to ask it, and to ask what people here do for a living (I was just interested in getting a better sense about the folks who regularly post here, since I think it’s – on the whole -- such a thoughtful, intelligent group).


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(n.1) I'm an eMusic subscriber, so I download 90 new songs every month, plus discs I buy and songs I sample from blogs and so forth.

23.

If I ever stop liking new music and start listening to easy listening, I'll have to blow up my CD player in a final blaze of glory.

I think the major difference between the approach to music decades ago and the approach now is, back then they tried to make all music accessible to as much of the record buying public as possible, and now they usually make music with a specific demographic in mind.

It's the same with TV. It would NEVER be possible for a show to get a 60 share nowadays, like the finales of MASH and Fugitive did.

quote:

Originally posted by Pulque:
You forgot one thing, Mark. Just because I like it doesn't make it good, either

I thought I left out hundreds of the "just because" goodies, so you guys could add some, but yours is terrific, Mate!

Just because it drives your dog crazy doesn't mean it's good. ; )

I'm 28

I'm 26. For the record.

37 years. buying music for 23 of those.
At times, and mostly lately, I stare at the music I have and wonder why I collect so much, when I haven't listened to about 75% of it in the last 5 years. I may be in that faze where I'm not caring so much about new stuff, which makes my interest for what I have a little less too. But at least I'll read about it and not skip a beat if my interest starts again in 10 more years....there's just too much out there sometimes!!
I think my tastes are becoming more simple. Less NIN and more indie. I mean, I did buy the new Tool when it came out, but I ain't listening to it...anyone know what I mean?? Maybe I think I still like some of my old tastes, but I don't...and so I feel I am lost in not liking it, until I find that something to fill the spot (like Yo La Tengo...always a fan, but great comeback....or Tapes N Tapes).

quote:

Originally posted by m.leland:

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
Possibly true, but just because music is forgotten doesn't mean it's not good. Nick Drake was an obscure figure for a long time and could have very well stayed that way.

Gaining fans posthumously is nothing new to the art world. I don't think your example has any legs under it.

Uh, what you say seems to further confirm my point, which is that very good art can sometimes go unacknowledged for a long time, suggesting that other very good art, perhaps most of it, goes completely (or almost completely) unrecognized forever.

I'm old enough to know better, and young enough to not give a flying f*** I'm just joking.

I just turned 22 last week.

I'm a minority here in this board with my musical tastes, but I'm awright with that, it's cool to be different sometimes. But even then, I keep an open mind to other genres and not keep myself restricted to hiphop. If anyone sorted through my iPod playlists they'll know what I mean.

When it comes to new music, it's really important for me to know the latest. I like listening to really cool stuff that nobody has heard yet. Sometimes some people catch on, but when they do, I usually have gotten sick of it and have moved on in search of newer joints.

(points to sig).

My mom refuses to listen to anything that she doesn't already know. I mean there's something nice to be said of familiarity and nostalgia, but common! Some people aren't really interested in music. I know EVERYONE claims to <3 music, but I think that for the most part it means enjoying hearing fun songs on the radio (and nothing else).

Except for at M/C Forums, right?

I've appreciated all of the replies to my message. Based on what I've read, participants in this forum seem to range from very young to fairly old, which is the category I currently occupy. But most of you are fairly young.

I think that living on planet Earth tends to pressure us to gravitate towards the familiar, because it looks safer. But some people manage to avoid sleep-walking right up until the end. I'm going to try to to stay completely awake as long as I can.

Thanks for starting this thread, and to confirm your recent pledge, keep posting away!! Thanks in advance.

quote:

Originally posted by Art Vandelay:

I think the major difference between the approach to music decades ago and the approach now is, back then they tried to make all music accessible to as much of the record buying public as possible, and now they usually make music with a specific demographic in mind.

I don't think that's true Art. I'd say there are roughly the same number of genres going on in music now as there were in the 60s and 70s.

I think what's probably changed the most is radio (and/or MTV). There's such a narrow selection of music that gets any kind of airplay any more. I'm old enough to remember the early days of MTV, and it was really quite impressive. At any given point during the day, almost any genre of music could be heard. People who watched a lot of it could be exposed to everything from the Talking Heads and the Ramones to Cindy Lauper and Michael Jackson. Herbie Hancock had a video on MTV!

I turn on mainstream radio now, and I hear the same handful songs on repeat. I don't think the Top 40 station has 40 different songs they play. People aren't as exposed to the variety of music that they used to be exposed to. As a result, I see more and more people with a limited palette of types of music they're willing to listen to.

quote:

I think that living on planet Earth tends to pressure us to gravitate towards the familiar, because it looks safer. But some people manage to avoid sleep-walking right up until the end. I'm going to try to to stay completely awake as long as I can.

hey, that sounds great...

quote:

Originally posted by m.leland:
A lot of new music is overvalued. In 10 years we'll look back and say, "Hey, what was the name of that guy who sang 'Casimir Pulaski Day'? Stuffed Jam something?"

I thought it was Surfin' Jan Stevens. You know, from Jan and Dean?

I'm 32, 33 in March. I probably still see more cool rock and roll shows that most of the people who write for Pitchfork. Suck on that, hipsters.

quote:

Originally posted by BContrat:
(points to sig).

Some people aren't really interested in music. I know EVERYONE claims to <3 music, but I think that for the most part it means enjoying hearing fun songs on the radio (and nothing else).

Good point, B. I've often thought that a lot of people view music as a social accessory, essentially a soundtrack to their adolescence and young adulthood. Once they become "responsible", they cleave to the tried-and-true listening ways of their youth.

IMO, only a small percentage of people is truly passionate about music.

quote:

Originally posted by Pulque:
IMO, only a small percentage of people is truly passionate about music.

I think that depends on the meaning of 'truly passionate.' I buy a lot of music, listen to a lot of music, and go to a lot of shows. I was a college radio DJ, I worked for a record label in the mid 90's, I've booked shows for clubs, and I wrote a music column for a local mag. But, on the other hand, I don't spend hours each day poring through music blogs or in chat rooms, and music serves as the backdrop, not the centerpiece, of my life. But I think I'm passionate enough about music. But I wouldn't give up my comfortable, cushy academic job with health benefits to take a shot as a road manager for a friend's band...

Well your case definitely qualifies as "truly passionate". We're not talking about completely zealous and irrational passion.

P.S. Why does your post count not show up in the 'General Music Forum?