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.
