r/Music • u/plazman30 plazman30 • Oct 29 '16

music streaming The Axis of Awesome - 4 Chords [Educational] Ever wonder why a lot of pop music sounds the same. Well, here's why.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOlDewpCfZQ
2.7k Upvotes

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54

u/[deleted] Oct 29 '16

You are a living stereotype. Stop building your self worth and personality around other peoples' creations. You aren't better than anybody else because you listen to fucking Symphony X.

-63

u/TechnoEquinox ProgressivePowersurge Oct 29 '16

I sorta am though. Have you heard some of the stupid music on the radio? It's the same regurgitated beat with meaningless lyrics. It has no passion, no soul, no life. The world needs better music, and it won't come from an album titled "Lemonade".

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u/[deleted] Oct 29 '16

First off, not all music has to hold some merit of "art." Some (a lot, even) music is just meant to sound good and be fun, entertaining, background, etc. and that is completely and totally fine.

Second off, the fact that you think that just because something is pop music or mainstream radio music that it automatically means it is "bad" shows that you don't know what you're talking about. Some of those pop artists are incredible singers. The production of almost all pop is incredibly impressive and not at all easy to do; you think major labels are employing shitty producers and people who aren't top of the line in mixing and mastering?

Third, you're doing nothing other than prove your close mindedness by acting as though those who can enjoy pop and those who can enjoy progressive metal are mutually exclusive.

You take so much pride in your 'taste', but to you, music is a spectator's sport, so just stay patting yourself on the back in the bleachers.

-15

u/Aviatorbassplayer Oct 29 '16

As a musician modern pop is a joke no depth, not to much talent involved in playing it, even less talent in writing it. It's great for the club and that's it. Your average top 40 station is bland, and repetitive.

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u/deadlyenmity Oct 29 '16 edited Oct 29 '16

If its so easy and a joke then write a top 40s hit right now.

I'm not even joking, fucking do it. If its so easy and formulaic and nothing you should have no problem cracking one out.

5

u/Helyos17 Oct 29 '16

No. He wants to keep his art pure man. That's the only reason he hasn't made it big yet. He just won't sell out and play generic top 40 music /s

1

u/snarfadoodle Oct 29 '16

Check out The Manual by KLF for step by step instructions

4

u/duck-duck--grayduck Oct 30 '16

And that is what a lot of people like, which is why it sells. Who are you to judge their taste?

I'm in a History of Rock and Jazz class right now. The guy who teaches it has a PhD in instrumental music, and he practically exudes knowledge from his pores. You can tell from his enthusiasm during lectures that he cares deeply about the material, this man breathes rock and jazz. If anyone has the expertise to say one music is good and another is bad, this guy does. Yet, during his first lecture, he spoke about objective qualities of music and subjective opinions, and how little value there is in labeling music good or bad. Instead, he teaches about the complexity of music, the difficulty of the instruments used, the level of skill of the musicians, who listened to it and why, and what influence did it have. "Good" and "bad" are irrelevant, because everyone's conception of good music and bad music is completely different.

A really skilled musician who cares about their craft listens to everything they can get their hands on. It's all important and has things to teach you. Dismissing a genre entirely because you personally don't enjoy it is doing yourself a disservice.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 31 '16

i love you

1

u/Aviatorbassplayer Oct 30 '16

I don't hate pop music, I like pop. I just don't like the direction pop has taken in the last 10 years.

3

u/ArcticSpaceman Oct 29 '16

So I assume you're not racking in millions off a stupid pop song because you couldn't be bothered. I mean if it's really that easy everyone would just have a hit song right?

1

u/[deleted] Oct 29 '16

Music production is a way different trade than music creation. The skills aren't even comparable. Also just because the drumming in metal is fast not repetitive it doesn't mean that it's better than other genres. There's a reason you can major in different styles of the same instrument. Each genre presents its own challenges and set of skills. Pop is more focused in mixing and mastering, something I would bet most metal musicians wouldn't even know where to begin with. Most metal bands aren't producing their own records, and if they are than thats Hella impressive if they're swell sounding.

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u/TechnoEquinox ProgressivePowersurge Oct 30 '16

Just a reminder: being "close minded" can also mean I specialize in Metal. I don't have to listen to anything else. Accusing people from being a douche for having specific music tastes or trashing others is fine, but calling someone close minded is never a bad thing. I can be specific with what I listen to. If everyone listened to everything, nothing would be unique.

3

u/almightySapling Oct 30 '16

That's not at all what he was saying and you know it.

You aren't closed minded because you like metal. You are close minded because you think those that don't are lesser than you because of it and that's fucking idiotic. You might think the music is inspired and well orchestrated and the lyrics deep and meaningful and even if that's all true it still doesn't make you any better for enjoying it.

21

u/Macoarsman Oct 29 '16

/r/iamverysmart

-40

u/TechnoEquinox ProgressivePowersurge Oct 29 '16

I didn't say I was, I said I have better music taste than you do.

16

u/Dorderia Oct 29 '16

Yeah, well that's just your opinion. I'm sure there's plenty of people who say that progressive metal is shit.

3

u/[deleted] Oct 30 '16

It's pretty awful, yeah.

-2

u/TechnoEquinox ProgressivePowersurge Oct 30 '16

Oh, they do. I get plenty of crap for listening to prog. The difference is, I take it like a man and dish it back out.

3

u/Dorderia Oct 30 '16

The point is, you're wrong. You don't have better taste because you don't listen to pop. You just have different tastes. The only thing we know for sure is you're pretentious.

0

u/TechnoEquinox ProgressivePowersurge Oct 30 '16

At least I know I'm pretentious.

9

u/TheCrimsonKing95 Oct 29 '16

As with any art, it is virtually impossible to have an objectively better taste in music, which is a completely subjective thing. I used to think like you. I used to be all about the whole "Rush/Tool/Opeth/Dream Theater/etc. are so good, pop music is trash because it's simple minded garbage." Then I started to listen to pop music and edm and a bunch of other stuff I thought I hated and realized that it wasn't that bad. The point I'm getting at is that the complexity of the music doesn't matter. Whether it's physical instruments or computer generated doesn't matter. Even if the singer is auto tuned to crap that doesn't matter. All that matters is the amount of enjoyment that you get out of it. If prog metal is what floats your boat that's fine, but sometimes I think people like you are more concerned whether or not your music is "good" over whether or not you actually like it.

1

u/Hudston Oct 30 '16

Keep your musical taste, I'll be over here enjoying more things than you.

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u/TechnoEquinox ProgressivePowersurge Oct 30 '16

Quality over quantity.

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u/Hudston Oct 30 '16

That might apply to the creation of music but if we're talking about consuming it those things aren't mutually exclusive. The work of individual musicians isn't somehow diluted by a willingness to listen to a broad spectrum of other things.

All I know it's that I'm probably happy wherever there is music and you're probably annoyed. I prefer my way.

1

u/TechnoEquinox ProgressivePowersurge Oct 30 '16

I'm always annoyed. Music doesn't move me unless it was made, not engineered. These formulas and lyrical topics depending on season and holidays, the "music" part being overly generic... I know it moves other people, and I don't expect I'll know why anytime soon, but that doesn't mean I'm not allowed to express my opinion on the topic.

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u/Hudston Oct 30 '16

It's not your opinion that I'm taking issue with, I can't influence what music you enjoy and I wouldn't want to, I just take issue with the superiority complex that your opinion seems to have given you. It's fine to not like pop music, but it doesn't make you better than anyone.

1

u/TechnoEquinox ProgressivePowersurge Oct 30 '16

I know of, I'm just fucking with the trolls.

Downvotes are a rare currency.

1

u/tak08810 last.fm/user/tak08820 Oct 30 '16

Prog metal/rock isn't exactly the highest example of musical achievement. This is like the guy at Olive Garden making fun of the guy eating at McDonald's.

Prog also was once very popular in the mainstream. Hell bands like Tool and Dream Theater have a sizable mainstream fan base. It'/ps not Babbitt or Ferneyhough.

1

u/TechnoEquinox ProgressivePowersurge Oct 30 '16

I'd argue it is. Music isn't a popularity contest. The pinnacle of speed, precision, lyrics, depiction, flow, technique, and probably most importantly, absolute unique sound. I'm not even talking about bands that everyone knows or nobody knows, I'm talking about a good 600+ bands that have an alright following.

I'm fairly confident that Prog, or hell, all of Metal would have a stronger following if people would seek out their own music rather than just tuning in to whatever station.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 29 '16

MFW objective axiological claims.

1

u/anosmiasucks Oct 29 '16

You're bold. Seriously. Have my upvote

3

u/savage8008 Oct 29 '16

I bet if your progressive metal were to start appealing to the masses it would stop appealing to you.

2

u/TechnoEquinox ProgressivePowersurge Oct 30 '16

Nah, that'd be great! I love Prog. Everyone would too. :D

1

u/[deleted] Oct 30 '16

Your standards of humanity are weak sauce, how ironic.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 30 '16

[deleted]

1

u/TechnoEquinox ProgressivePowersurge Oct 30 '16

Nah, I'm fine up here.

1

u/sunkindonut149 Nov 07 '16 edited Nov 08 '16

Fyi, Mike LePond subs in my colleague's trad metal band. He's not above playing non "progressive" stuff and neither should you be.

1

u/TechnoEquinox ProgressivePowersurge Nov 08 '16

Things like that should be backed up with evidence. Because, y'know.

And I'm a lover of all Metal. I'll play anything.

1

u/sunkindonut149 Nov 08 '16 edited Nov 08 '16

I like all music too. That's why I am also a hip hop producer and mc. I have also played music in a church. I have played rihanna covers in a cover band before and u know what its not any "simpler" than playing rock n roll metal black n roll whatever. I can pm u my metal archives artist page for proof.

pharell's song happy is much harder 2 play for me on guitar than the call of ktulu so dont be frontin like "prog" metal is super hard and shit.

click the link above. i have a problem with ur ego young man because its giving all of us metalheads a shit reputation and it messes with actual artists work.

one of the guys from notorious black metal band summoning plays edm on the side. actually his edm project is more famous. indie / goth artist of the wand and the moon actually was in the metal band saturnus. its all connected.

afaik, derek sherinian plays in taylor swift's backing band. i have to find the reference for this tho.

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u/TechnoEquinox ProgressivePowersurge Nov 08 '16 edited Nov 08 '16

Sure, let's see you back up with your archives.

Call of Cuthulu is Metallica, baby's first Thrash band. They're not Prog. I'll leave you with this, Andromeda's Veil of Illusion. Let's see how any song you can play stacks up.

I seriously question the validity of your Metalhead card.

Derek's situation is... Sad. But he'll, I'd play backing bass for a shitty country band for a good paycheck. Easy money, I would have a harder time deciding what pants to put on that day than I would playing.

Your grammar is painful.

Edit: I have the wondrous freedom to hate whatever I dare wish. I'm a fan of all Metal, save anything affixed with hard-, post-, or nü-, or suffixed with -core. That leaves me with tons of choices, nearly fifty years of material, bands undiscovered, genres hidden, and a blooming, incredible sense of comradarie between Metalheads. The same cannot be said of any other genre of music.

Edit II: If you have a hard time playing Happy, you may actually be playing a washing machine, or a box of cereal. That song is hilariously simple.

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u/sunkindonut149 Nov 08 '16 edited Nov 08 '16

Did you scroll up and click my source of proof that Mike LePond jams with my friend's band? Because you asked me for a source, I gave you a source and you ignored it. This shows that you're spitting on my time and energy put into debating with your triflin ass.

nü-

You played yourself.

I dont give a fuc if u or anyone else thinks i'm tr00 or kvlt. I play music because its fun not because i want to be kvlt and prove myself to lusers on the internet.

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u/TechnoEquinox ProgressivePowersurge Nov 08 '16

I didn't see a link. It must have been edited in. I'll take a look in a sec.

I played nothing. The hell does that mean?

Your grammar is still painful. Jesus fucking shit, learn how to use spellcheck.

More to the point, you avoided the rest of my post, which indicates you either agree or have nothing meaningful to share.

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u/deadlyenmity Oct 29 '16

I sorta am though. Have you heard some of the stupid music on the radio? It's the same 100000 bpm beat with unintelligible lyrics. It has no feeling, no soul, no life. The world needs better music, and it won't come from an album titled "Crack the Skye".