When people with "Normal Music Taste" ask you what you listen to...

Keith P

draw for the drumstick
I usually just say British hip hop. Try explaining grime to your average american. It's like talking to a republican about multiculturalism or civil liberties.
 

MolexRoots

switch!
I respond with "UKG and dancehall."

9/10 I will get "What's UKG?" followed by "What's dancehall?".

"dark garage", "modern reggae". Usually suffices for the poor uninterested soul trying to make small talk. They don't really care what kind of music you listen to.
 

stelfox

Beast of Burden
"hip hop and reggae - the more violent and morally retrograde the better"

this usually works wonders with women.
 

3underscore

Well-known member
puretokyo said:
i say that i like good music.

A disasterous policy - it immediately comes across as being superior and a music snob. Which, of course, most people on here (self included) are. But you don't really want the world to see you that way... not unless you are sure you are dealing with likeminded folk.

My housemate for one didn't know I had records until I moved in, an I had known him for years. On what music I remember saying "some you might like, a lot you probably won't". Mind, he was helping to carry crates for me at the time.
 

bassnation

the abyss
3underscore said:
A disasterous policy - it immediately comes across as being superior and a music snob. Which, of course, most people on here (self included) are

i'd agree with this. to be honest i find the sentiments in this thread to be more to do with wanting to feel smugly superior to "normal people" than dealing with any kind of problem. for gods sake, just tell them what bands you like without sneering, if you think thats possible.

lots of people like mainstream pop music, thats fine by me. i might not want to listen to it and i feel justified in criticising the hell out of a lot of artists but as for looking down my noses at "normal people", well fuck that, thats not what i'm about at all.
 

matt b

Indexing all opinion
i don't talk about music in the 'real' world, unless its with friends who i know are into music.
 
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Flyboy

Member
bassnation said:
to be honest i find the sentiments in this thread to be more to do with wanting to feel smugly superior to "normal people" than dealing with any kind of problem.

Agreed - surely describing what kind of music you like (unless you have quite narrow tastes) is difficult no matter WHO is asking the question? I've no problem with people expressing the trickiness of that, but do me a favour and leave out the tendency towards "the mundane herd of humatons don't know what to make of my brilliant taste!"

Anyway, sticking to the first bit, lately I talk about the last one or two albums/songs/artists I'm obsessed with, and don't worry too much about covering all areas...
 
S

simon silverdollar

Guest
bassnation said:
i'd agree with this. to be honest i find the sentiments in this thread to be more to do with wanting to feel smugly superior to "normal people" than dealing with any kind of problem. for gods sake, just tell them what bands you like without sneering, if you think thats possible.

lots of people like mainstream pop music, thats fine by me. i might not want to listen to it and i feel justified in criticising the hell out of a lot of artists but as for looking down my noses at "normal people", well fuck that, thats not what i'm about at all.

i guess i do the opposite- i say 'uk garage' partly cuz i really do love it, but partly cuz it puts off all the music-hipsters. so, i'm an inverse-snob or whatever, but still a snob.

bad bad bad.
 

mms

sometimes
bassnation said:
i'd agree with this. to be honest i find the sentiments in this thread to be more to do with wanting to feel smugly superior to "normal people" than dealing with any kind of problem. for gods sake, just tell them what bands you like without sneering, if you think thats possible.

lots of people like mainstream pop music, thats fine by me. i might not want to listen to it and i feel justified in criticising the hell out of a lot of artists but as for looking down my noses at "normal people", well fuck that, thats not what i'm about at all.

i'm just jaded and anxious,
don't worry.
i like pop music and lots of things, lots and lots of things that make people think i'm a weirdo and i'm obsessed with stuff thats not intreresting, strange or a waste of time. i'm inclined to agree but i'll carry on regardless.
 

puretokyo

Mercury Blues
3underscore said:
A disasterous policy - it immediately comes across as being superior and a music snob.

I don't see why - its a subjective statement - and anyone who asks me the question and doesn't appreciate that what is 'good' is subjective, deserves what they get coming to them.
 
S

simon silverdollar

Guest
puretokyo said:
I don't see why - its a subjective statement - and anyone who asks me the question and doesn't appreciate that what is 'good' is subjective, deserves what they get coming to them.

you better hope k-punk didn't hear that! he'll come down on you like a ton of bricks!
;)
 
bassnation said:
i'd agree with this. to be honest i find the sentiments in this thread to be more to do with wanting to feel smugly superior to "normal people" than dealing with any kind of problem. for gods sake, just tell them what bands you like without sneering, if you think thats possible.

lots of people like mainstream pop music, thats fine by me. i might not want to listen to it and i feel justified in criticising the hell out of a lot of artists but as for looking down my noses at "normal people", well fuck that, thats not what i'm about at all.

Yes, this thread is rather like the worrying snobbish media cool thread.

It's not so difficult to conceive of a butcher (FUCK, he works with his HANDS!!!) with an enormous, enviable record collection, a penchant for serrano ham and tapenade and a trendy haircut, is it? Only on Dissensus, where everyone should know their place.
 

bassnation

the abyss
HMGovt said:
Yes, this thread is rather like the worrying snobbish media cool thread.

It's not so difficult to conceive of a butcher (FUCK, he works with his HANDS!!!) with an enormous, enviable record collection, a penchant for serrano ham and tapenade and a trendy haircut, is it? Only on Dissensus, where everyone should know their place.

as i've got older, i realise i've got more in common with people than i have differences. i don't want or need to feel better or superior to anyone else. this doesn't mean that we can't have discourse over whats good and whats shite in music, but it does mean starting from a point where we don't assume that we are special or somehow gifted with taste so impeccable that the average person can't get their heads around it. after all, you are never going to turn someone on to new sounds if you don't respect them.

besides i'm into old skool hardcore which wasn't exactly the province of snobs - at the time it was going, at least.
 

3underscore

Well-known member
puretokyo said:
I don't see why - its a subjective statement - and anyone who asks me the question and doesn't appreciate that what is 'good' is subjective, deserves what they get coming to them.

The whole problem is that when they say some band, and you say "I don't listen to them", you are immediately (by effect) saying it isn't good. I just don't think it is a constructive thing to say, and also suggests you see yourself as the doyenne of taste. Plus, if good is subjective, it would be very weird if you didn't buy things that were good - if your belief is that it is subjective, it would have been better not to answer as the response has no content.
 

Ned

Ruby Tuesday
The whole problem is that when they say some band, and you say "I don't listen to them", you are immediately (by effect) saying it isn't good.

Well but not many people I know listen to classical music but I doubt any of them would be willing to say it was bad.
 

jenks

thread death
allied to this is how do you deal with people, usually coleagues who want to lend you cds for bands you just know you won't like - poliely take them, be honest and risk offense and possible accusations of snobbery, another strategy (in the last week i have been informed athelete, idlewild and others sre'really good, honestly...')
 
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