Oh no, that's not good...
 

I tend to be a little too... judgmental... about peoples' taste in music. I'm not socially awkward enough to say what I'm thinking or anything, but in my head I'm a total jerk about it. That probably stems from the time I spent on LJ in various "ratings communities." For those who are unaware of this phenomena, it's pretty much the way it sounds: bored fools make a list of their top 10 or 20 favorite artists or albums of all time, and the members of the community critique their taste. More often than not this means ripping them a new one. Cue the backlash from said person, further trolling from said community, and the eventual ban-boot out of the front door.
 
Some of these communities were neigh impossible to get into. Which made people want to be part of it all the more. Which insured there was a never-ending stream of victims.
 
Anyway, the Internet is such an awesome tool for discovering new music. It's also the only context in which I can really geek out about music short of visiting local record shops. Which is still a lot better, but a lot less convenient.

Quote:

muppetface said:

I tend to be a little too... judgmental... about peoples' taste in music. I'm not socially awkward enough to say what I'm thinking or anything, but in my head I'm a total jerk about it.

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Oh oh.  Thus begins the story of how I became uncool in Mupps's ears.    S'okay, would've happened eventually when the playlist thing started up.  I'd like to point out that I also enjoy Flying Lotus's new album.  So surely that would save my behind? 

Quote:

warrenpchi said:

Oh oh.  Thus begins the story of how I became uncool in Mupps's ears. 

  S'okay, would've happened eventually when the playlist thing started up.  I'd like to point out that I also enjoy Flying Lotus's new album.  So surely that would save my behind? 

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I wasn't talking about you. Besides I can't very well make an assessment based on one or two tracks. Even if it's something like totally horrendous, we've all got guilty pleasures. There's value in kitsch. 
 
My post mainly stems from my thinking about music discussion and sharing in general.
 
I've also been thinking about the concepts of tough love and complacency. I know a lot of people will recoil in horror at the suggestion that some people have better taste than others and that the "I like what I like" view is kind of a crock. It comes from a very relativistic, individualistic mindset. And there's definitely legitimacy to that when you consider the inherent difficulties in determining a standard reference, qualifications for judging others, etc. Being comfortable with yourself is good. However! I think it can often lead to stagnation. Sometimes we need a swift kick in the ass to broaden our horizons.
 
I'm reminded of something Chesterton said regarding this modern notion of "believing in yourself." It's often the hacks that believe in themselves most. Also if you want to find a place where a lot of folks believe in themselves unconditionally, just look to the nearest insane asylum.
 
Getting back to music, I'm also reminded of our old pal music_4321 who would always say being obscure doesn't automatically make something good. That's something I strongly agree with, too. Having "good taste" isn't just about knowing the most obscure bands or subgenres no one has ever heard of outside of a chosen few. I do think it has a lot to do with diversifying one's pallet however. One should have broad horizons. In that sense it's not so much about fixating on what to include or what to exclude at present, but rather continual exploration and consumption. It's that tired but relevant cliche of stepping outside one's comfort zone.
 
In that sense I think those LJ ratings communities had value. Plus the people who submitted lists did so willingly knowing full well what the nature of the game was in advance. When I was a freshman in college I thought I was hot stuff because I liked a lot of obscure music and films, and I felt I was provocative as a result. I needed someone to take me down a few pegs for my own good.

PSA: MP4Nations is moving to a new, larger HQ, so apparently they are clearing stock and doing sales.

Wait now that I think about it, I sound like a shill. I'm not of course, and this is just from an email I got from them informing me of the sale.

jgray91 said:

PSA: MP4Nations is moving to a new, larger HQ, so apparently they are clearing stock and doing sales.

Wait now that I think about it, I sound like a shill. I'm not of course, and this is just from an email I got from them informing me of the sale.

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I got the same email. I was tempted to buy their headphone stands but the huge Brainwaves branding all over is a turnoff for me. There's already enough advertisement being thrown at me everywhere I go. I don't want it around me when I'm trying to enjoy my music. I'm trying to escape from that when I have my tunes playing

lee730 said:

Really loving the Sui Muppet. Sounds very good out of the iphone4 and on my Triad setup. How much of an improvement do you feel the Kaede offers over the Sui and what are the nuances of these differences . I'm very tempted now lol. I consider this IEM to be a great value for its price range. Seriously.

 

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Nice. Now I gotta go to work while the phones sit at home all day unlistened. Least someone will be able to sign for them :rolleyes:

Quote:

muppetface said:

I tend to be a little too... judgmental... about peoples' taste in music. I'm not socially awkward enough to say what I'm thinking or anything, but in my head I'm a total jerk about it.
 
Anyway, the Internet is such an awesome tool for discovering new music. It's also the only context in which I can really geek out about music short of visiting local record shops. Which is still a lot better, but a lot less convenient.

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Totally fair, I think.  Everyone does that at some level.
 
In the last year, my commute time has more than doubled.  I've made a very deliberate attempt to broaden my horizons, musically.  I've sampled everything from death metal to electronica to country to prog rock.  It has paid off immensely, as I have discovered a lot of acts/music that I adore, but I'm also trying not to stay static in my new love affairs, but to continue to expand my horizons.
 
...and yes, the internet has been an awesome tool for this.

I like my comfort zone. The only broadening of my horizons that I've done in recent years is pickup some j-rock/j-pop that I came across in anime. Interestingly, it was an anime that got me into jazz. Funny how things work out like that.

Flying Lotus' latest is indeed very good.

warrenpchi said:

Oh oh.  Thus begins the story of how I became uncool in Mupps's ears.    S'okay, would've happened eventually when the playlist thing started up.  I'd like to point out that I also enjoy Flying Lotus's new album.  So surely that would save my behind? 

Click to expand...

333jeffery said:

I like my comfort zone. The only broadening of my horizons that I've done in recent years is pickup some j-rock/j-pop that I came across in anime. Interestingly, it was an anime that got me into jazz. Funny how things work out like that.

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I'm the same way with jazz too. But most of the jazz that I now have mostly came from Japan, and most of the ones I like are quite upbeat. IMO that's the influence from most the songs I get from anime though. IDK most songs that are not upbeat in some way I like less, although I can still appreciate it regardless.

^Yep, Soil&Pimp Sessions and Ego Wrappin are some good Japanese jazz bands. Pimp Sessions' version of the Lupin theme is awesome:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkqR_Bgeogo
Great stuff!

To any and all old school gamers, Planescape: Torment is getting a spiritual legacy in the form of Torment: Tides of Numenara. So if you believe in KickStarter, go fund this already-funded-in-less-than-a-day game. Never heard of Torment, but after looking at the kickstarter, now I kind of want to play it.

Jesus, 5 people actually pledged $10,000...

Planescape is much beloved game. Doesn't surprise me at all. I'm also over the moon in regards to the Dreamfall Chapters announcement