Music Genres

[LoathedVermin72]

From the Now Playing thread:

what's the deal with all these [word]cores?

Nothing new -- emo-core, slow-core, metalcore -- the suffix "-core" has long been shorthand for trendy made-up flavor-of-the-month genres that are characterized primarily by aesthetics rather than distinct musical traits. To be ignored.

This is something I see mentioned from time to time on the board, and I'd love to have more in depth discussion about it. Are ultra-specific genres like this useful? Do they have merit as sonic classifiers? Are genre classifications something you're conscious of? Do they affect they way you listen to or seek out music?

Personally, as someone who listens to a lot of metal, I have found specific subgenres to be very helpful in finding new music. There are lots of subtleties between them that can vastly change my interest in and enjoyment of the music, and genre classifications have helped guide toward things I like and steer clear of things I don't. For example, while it's possible I may enjoy a band known for Death Metal or Melodic Death Metal, it's very unlikely I will enjoy a band known for Brutal Death Metal. I understand that these may seem like minor, mega-specific differences, but there is an actual, demonstrable difference in the sonic traits of these subgenres that can make all the difference.

[bodysnatcher]

I find it useful to an extent, but then once so many microgenres are created, it's impossible for me to keep up with and determine the differences. At some point it just becomes liking what i like and not caring about the labels

I'm still trying to figure out wtf vaporwave is

[LoathedVermin72]

I'm still trying to figure out wtf vaporwave is

DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED

[bodysnatcher]

also, i find that i lump a lot of things together that shouldn't be. for instance, i might have a downtempo playlist called "chill out" that i threw some trip hop in there. and if someone called me out on it, i'd be like, "i dunno man, sounds chill to me"

[LoathedVermin72]

TBH I couldn't tell you the difference between Downtempo and Trip-Hop. But I'm not exactly an expert in that type of music.

[tragabigzanda]

[bodysnatcher]

I rarely pay attention to these sorts of genre classifications, though I admit the differences are there and could be useful to others. But most of my music discovery happens by either personal recommendation from someone based on a conversation we're having, or some indiscernible digital metric wherein Amazon or Spotify or some other platform tells me "Customers who liked X also liked Y."

I'm the same way. I've also wiki'd a particular band, found their subgenre, then gone to that subgenre's wiki to find other bands within that classification

[tragabigzanda]

[LoathedVermin72]

Since I was a teenager, I've found like 90% of the music I listen to through rateyourmusic.com, and that site focuses heavily on genre tags, so that's probably I find them so useful.

[tragabigzanda]

[bodysnatcher]

Sometimes I really miss the monolithic weeding of the wheat from the chaff that terrestrial radio used to deliver. Also the Employee Picks in indie record stores. Those were probably the most reliable sources for discovery.

luckily some of the stores i go to in town have "employees' picks" sections. they are very hit or miss, depending on the person and how cool they are trying to be. but i've found a few that i can trust

maybe one day Vincent will send me a necklace with a record player button on it

[BurtReynolds]

did someone say ＶＡＰＯＲＷＡＶＥ?

[bodysnatcher]

[tragabigzanda]

Top 10 maybe?
Hello Morning
Close Captioned
The Kill
Place/Position
Do You Like Me?
Latest Disgrace
Recap Modotti
Nightshop
Break
Life & Limb

I'd maybe bump Life & Limb for Epic Problem

[bodysnatcher]

Sometimes I really miss the monolithic weeding of the wheat from the chaff that terrestrial radio used to deliver. Also the Employee Picks in indie record stores. Those were probably the most reliable sources for discovery.

luckily some of the stores i go to in town have "employees' picks" sections. they are very hit or miss, depending on the person and how cool they are trying to be. but i've found a few that i can trust

maybe one day Vincent will send me a necklace with a record player button on it

Yes, it's all about finding those one or two employees who have similar tastes. There were a couple at Newbury Comics who seemed to turn me on to like 50% of the great albums I found in the late 90s/early aughts. Rainy Day Music in Olympia, WA, and Jackpot! Records in Portland, OR were both great with their employee picks too.

Oh man I love Jackpot. Great store

Remember those CDs that used to come in the CMJ magazines? Turned me on to a lot bands

[Norah]

Let's be real, most Newbury Comics employees were real fucking douchebags about their music.

[LoathedVermin72]

Let's be real, most Newbury Comics employees wererecord store employees are real fucking douchebags about their music.

[tragabigzanda]

[bodysnatcher]

there's a guy at a store i regularly go to, and all he recommends is just bizarre shit that's like $40 for a record (limited pressing!) and it'll be just some dude moaning for 60 minutes over a single violin note.

[BurtReynolds]

I find the subgenre classifications useful in a "if you like X, you'll like Y" way. The further I go down a particular musical rabbit hole, the more important those "nitpicky" distinctions matter.

However, people who insist that X subgenre is actually Y subgenre and have endless arguments about it in youtube comments should be subjected to torture until dead. Those people are subhuman trash.

Personally, one band with a particular sound seldom fully scratches the itch I have for that sound, so other, similar sounding bands are very welcome. I don't understand why people get so outraged by bands who sound similar to each other. I just don't care.