Annoying music sub-genres

[flynsk]

* and hope that wasn't too self indulgent or boring to read!

Not at all. It's always interesting to get different perspectives.

No doubt, the UK's electronic scene took a big departure from what was going on in the US in the 90's. zeitgeist i guess.

I've never been into trance/techno scene much, but the goth\industrial\ebm ( i could go on) scene here shares a lot parallels with punk. The trouble here is, there are all-ages punk shows every weekend (maybe not anymore), but live electronic music is rare, and usually only at 21+ venues, so there's less opportunity for people to get introduced to new music in those genres at a young age, and take up the reigns. If a venue is going to book a gig, they're usually a big touring lineup that will draw a crowd, and they're all over the radio already. I expect it works differently in the UK because there's so much evolution so fast.

[flynsk]

The thing is, each of these names and subnames means something very specific to an equally specific group of people knowing exactly what to look for - genres and subgenres make all the sense in the world! It's like eskimo words for snow*.

Even if you were to abolish subgenre names by lay you'd still get people describing their music of choice at 'that particular kind of metal band XYZ from Andorra makes, you know, with the rubber chicken samples?'

This is spot on, I think.

From a distance it looks like a lot of these things are micro-niches within micro-niches, but then you look at some of the bigger online record shops and find out that at least 964 death-prog-garage records have been released in the last month...

Yeah, but it will betray you at some point. As soon as you name it, somebody wants in who doesn't belong there.

I guess it depends on who's in control. At least one of those 964 was probably coded by some 3rd party and would never call themselves "prog." and 10 or more uploaded themselves are are actually bro-step

[nixnutz]

The thing is, each of these names and subnames means something very specific to an equally specific group of people knowing exactly what to look for - genres and subgenres make all the sense in the world! It's like eskimo words for snow*.

Even if you were to abolish subgenre names by lay you'd still get people describing their music of choice at 'that particular kind of metal band XYZ from Andorra makes, you know, with the rubber chicken samples?'

This is spot on, I think.

From a distance it looks like a lot of these things are micro-niches within micro-niches, but then you look at some of the bigger online record shops and find out that at least 964 death-prog-garage records have been released in the last month...

I can track the argument but I tend to see the other side of it. I think it limits creativity, and specifically accelerates the process whereby new innovations solidify into genre conventions.

Like the way grunge went from being a mostly meaningless term describing a range of rock music made by former hardcore kids to a formula of Nirvana riffs and Pearl Jam vocals in just a couple of years.

So you start a project inspired by your love of IDM and shoegaze and when you're tagged "witch house" you now have to deal with the expectations and prejudices of that fan base. I'm sure there are better examples, that one isn't even exactly a real thing but you get the idea.

At the same time, some of the terms are clever and make a lot of sense, I really like "screw gaze" for similar artists, it's just so apt. And I've sort of been toying with some doomstep stuff largely because the name compels someone to do it. Although with guitars instead of wubwubwubs it would really just be some form of illbient anyway.

[mumpcake]

At the same time, some of the terms are clever and make a lot of sense, I really like "screw gaze" for similar artists, it's just so apt. And I've sort of been toying with some doomstep stuff largely because the name compels someone to do it. Although with guitars instead of wubwubwubs it would really just be some form of illbient anyway.

Guitars + wubwub = wubmetal

[deathwish]

shoegaze is another stupid genre name that makes no sense.

[Chuck E. Jesus]

shoegaze is another stupid genre name that makes no sense.

it makes perfect sense...all rock, no roll, grow some hair, stare at your shoes...

[Chuck E. Jesus]

The thing is, each of these names and subnames means something very specific to an equally specific group of people knowing exactly what to look for - genres and subgenres make all the sense in the world! It's like eskimo words for snow*.

Even if you were to abolish subgenre names by lay you'd still get people describing their music of choice at 'that particular kind of metal band XYZ from Andorra makes, you know, with the rubber chicken samples?'

This is spot on, I think.

From a distance it looks like a lot of these things are micro-niches within micro-niches, but then you look at some of the bigger online record shops and find out that at least 964 death-prog-garage records have been released in the last month...

I can track the argument but I tend to see the other side of it. I think it limits creativity, and specifically accelerates the process whereby new innovations solidify into genre conventions.

Like the way grunge went from being a mostly meaningless term describing a range of rock music made by former hardcore kids to a formula of Nirvana riffs and Pearl Jam vocals in just a couple of years.

So you start a project inspired by your love of IDM and shoegaze and when you're tagged "witch house" you now have to deal with the expectations and prejudices of that fan base. I'm sure there are better examples, that one isn't even exactly a real thing but you get the idea.

At the same time, some of the terms are clever and make a lot of sense, I really like "screw gaze" for similar artists, it's just so apt. And I've sort of been toying with some doomstep stuff largely because the name compels someone to do it. Although with guitars instead of wubwubwubs it would really just be some form of illbient anyway.

it's just so awesome you've been a member of KVR for 10 years and only posted 64 times...that is very impressive

[SadPuppyBlues]

Most of the real genres mentioned in this thread make sense and are useful. Most of the joke genres totally miss the mark.

Are you guys really incapable of telling the difference between standard Brit-Pop and Shoegaze? Really?

Like, really?

[debra1rlo]

nah, just completely incapable of caring there's a difference. :hihi:

[quayquay17]

I'm sure its been hashed over but here's why they exist and why they are nice.

WORLD WITHOUT SUB GENRES
You ask your co-worker to put on some rock. You get 80's metal. You wanted adult alternative.

It's like if people complained about having names for cheesesteaks, burgers, butties, subs, reubens, etc. Sure, they are all stuff between two pieces of bread that you eat so who cares right? But when i'm in the mood for a burger, you better not bring me a salad sandwhich on rye.

Similarly, you don't want to have to explain the specific type of music completely, just have a name for it. Imagine if you could only ask for a sandwhich, and then had to ask for them to put it on a sesame bun, and instead of deli meat use a barbecued circular patty of beef, with lettuce and tomato...
ayayaye

For those that consume (read enjoy) listening to different types of music, and talk about that music with others, it's a vital tool. Otherwise that cool trip-hop group i found last night would become an exhausting list of their techniques and style.

[SadPuppyBlues]

nah, just completely incapable of caring there's a difference. :hihi:

+1 upvote this to the top

[deathwish]

nah, just completely incapable of caring there's a difference. :hihi:

nope

[SadPuppyBlues]

Sometimes I get the impression that a lot of people here listen to more product demos than actual new artists.

[debra1rlo]

nah, just completely incapable of caring there's a difference. :hihi:

nope

those are the jokes, son, I don't dance.


actually, though, to reply to your earlier post, shoegaze actually has a reason it was called that, not just vaguely meaningful words thrown together like "happy house" or "dubstep" appear to be...

The British music press—particularly NME and Melody Maker—named this style shoegazing because the musicians in these bands stood relatively still during live performances in a detached, introspective, non-confrontational state, hence the idea that they were gazing at their shoes.[1][2] The heavy use of effects pedals also contributed to the image of performers looking down at their feet during concerts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoegazing

[robogone]

The heavy use of effects pedals also contributed to the image of performers looking down at their feet during concerts.

Well that and the heavy use of powerful narcotics...