Music Help (A Rant)

[TuneinTokyo]

I spent much of my youth being fascinated with music, Rock in particular. I have been to hundreds of concerts/shows over the last 25 years, I have seen most of the greats that were alive when I was going to shows all the time. My last rock concert was Iron Maiden last year or maybe 2008. A great show indeed.

I spent much of the last 15 years studying music in the quest to have a deeper understanding of what was actually happening.

I currently teach public school music for a great bunch of kids.

My problem. I can't imagine:

1. paying for a ticket to see a concert these days. Nothing turns me on musically, at least nothing that is currently touring.

2. Has studying music jaded my taste for rock music? I still listen to and would go see a good classical or choral performance.

3. I am fast approaching 40. Screamo bands just seem annoying vocally and somewhat instrumentally. Am I missing something? I probably just don't get it. The same with most rap. It seems every once in a while I hear a catchy tune or a song I think is valid but other than that I can't stand it. I just don't think I can understand it being old and somewhat crotchity.

4. I am 5'5" and when I go to clubs I am constantly trying to avoid looking at someone's shoulders.

5. Have I just lost appreciation for what's happening on stage? Everyone else is having rock n roll orgasms while I sit and wonder how will I get out of the parking lot in a timely manner.

6. I am generally interested in good songs, yet with the amount of music that is available these days I don't know where to even look anymore. That started about ten years ago when all my friends where listening to new music and downloading weeks worth of music they could'nt possibly have time to listen to, let alone hear more than once.

7. Please recommend something that will inspire me. At this point I don't care what genre or era. I just need something that will get the juices flowing.



I didn't mean to rant but I have been feeling this since the Iron Maiden concert.

Please inspire me with something. If you post a song or work I will honestly listen with a non critical ear and post a repsonse. I will not offend but will hopefully give reason to why this works for me or doesn't.

Part of the reason for this is some of my friends are still into rock shows or some other style of music while I sit home and play piano (badly, I got my degree in percussion), or waste time on the computer. Musically I have performed and listened to a wide range of stuff and ask now....

What should I listen to? Help!

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

You shouldn't listen to anything but what appeals to you.

To me, music is the #1 most subjective art form there is, so I don't take the usual "essential" claims by critics seriously. A lot of stuff I like could be labelled as disposable pop, but I've heard many a silly pop song that's spoken to me more than what the rock press will rave over.

As long as you're happy, don't worry about looking like an outsider.

[AFN: Judge Shred]

I would try bands like Streetlight Manifesto or the Decemberists, there is a lot of musicianship and tons of instruments, but it also has story telling and the Decemberists even make albums that have movements and such things. Their album "The Hazards of Love" is pretty out of this world for being cohesive all the way through, telling a story and returning to pieces of music used in prior parts of the album.

Both bands also have big sounds, but aren't exactly rock, they draw influences from all over.

[Orange]

A couple of years ago it seemed like I couldn't find anybody I really liked until I started listening heavily to Guns N' Roses outside of the singles (which are no where near their best stuff IMO). The way I see it is you can listen to what critics have raved about, you can listen to songs that have the most praise among people, and you can buy the most heavily downloaded or highest rated albums, but eventually you will stumble upon something that will pull you back in. I had never really listened to the Beatles (I know, I know) up until their Rock Band was about to come out, and Beatlemania 2 was in effect. After I bought most of their albums something just clicked and gave me a greater appreciation of music. I can recommend you a bunch of different bands, but a band or an artist will come along and will pull you back in and you'll find yourself appreciating all types of music again, I know it'll happen for ya Music is as important in people's lives as oxygen in my eyes, so something will get you and pull you back in ;D

EDIT - You said that you have been to a bunch of concerts, have you ever been to KISS? I am a huge KISS fan and hope to see them live myself someday

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Classic Rock Magazine. Each magazine comes with a CD of music, either of a particular genre or theme (covers, tributes, etc.) or lost classics.

Because of CRM (and Metal Hammer, and Classic Rock: Prog), I've bought dozens of CDs of bands I had never heard of a few years ago... Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater, Devin Townsend/Strapping Young Lad, Opeth, Coheed & Cambria, Black Bonzo, Bigelf, Meshuggah... the list goes on.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

At least you saw a lot of your favs. I was on a date and girl asked me what music and such I was into....After pretty much every name I had to add, "He's dead now.".

She's younger than me, so the stuff I was into, most of which is beyond my time anyway, she never, ever even heard of. She faked knowing who Warren Zevon was because Kid Rocks single was hot a year or so ago and I explained Kid Rock used "Werewolves of London" in it.

[TuneinTokyo]

Thanks for the advice guys keep em coming I will begin the research this weekend.

[Ultimo Chocula]

Congratulations, you are now a jaded cynic. Don't worry, this happens to everyone and it's not a bad thing. All this means is that you have now developed a very developed and refined ear to what you consider good music these days. The thing is that you've been exposed to so much music over the years that you now have a higher standard as to what you enjoy. The reason you can't get into the newer bands? You've heard it already. It's been done. The kids who really dig those bands are just now getting into the scene, whatever it may be. You've been through it all and it's going to take something special to get you out of the house, fight for a parking spot, and be crammed in with a bunch of stinky people to see the show. This is perfectly normal. I'm going through the same thing right now and kids, it will happen to you too.

My advice? Take a band you really like, a band you've really been into for years. Now follow these steps.

1. Find out what other bands the members have played in. Give 'em a listen.

2. Find out who that band has toured with. Give 'em a listen.

3. Find out what bands inspired that band to give music a whirl in the first place. Give 'em a listen.

4. Find out what other bands share the same label. Give 'em a listen.

5. For each new band that you really dig, repeat 1-4.

You're going to find a lot of duds but with any luck there will be a few winners in the pile. Don't give up. Good music is out there, it's just really hard to find.