Conference napalm::heavy_metal

    
    there is no such thing as heavy metal anymore!
    
    corporate bands.....take yer pick there's a million of them!
    
    does music suck now a days?....dunno,I think I've always been really
    picky about what I listen to.
    
    
    					Ian
    
    

    Mike-
    
    I've just attributed today's s*cky music to getting old?  ;-)
    
    Think back to when you were in high school.. at least for me I heard
    over and over again how terrible our *rock music* was.
    
    When I talk to the "yutes" of today, they *love* this ummm *new 
    sound*!  It "reflects" their feelings!   God, we're in trouble!  ;-)
    
    CJ, who thinks maybe we're getting old?

I have to agree with you Mike.  I don't buy nearly as many cds as I used to. 
Some of the last things I've bought are from the early 70s.


I think part of the problem is that spontanaeity is gone.  Concerts start on
time and go 1 hour 45 minutes and do 2 encores.  The opening act plays 35
minutes and 8 songs.  This is the era of corporate bands with Web pages and
logo stuff for sale on the Web page.

Radio falls into this category as well.  They all play similar stuff and try to
say outrageous things so you'll listen to them instead of the "other station".

MTV certainly sucks now.  I used to watch it regularly, now I just check to see
if Jenny McCarthy's on.  They've gotten away from broadcasting concerts and
festivals and gone more to a we're a cool place to hang out.  We'll broadcast
Spring Break and Singled Out all night.

I was watching Woodstock on VH1 last night.  That was an amazing time.  The town
had to rally to collect food because so many people were there.  Interesting
watching the townies fight.  Some thought the kids were all potheads and others
said they were very well behaved and causing no trouble - so what's the beef?
there was definitely an undercurrent of Vietnam throughout this movie.  The guy
who was cleaning the portolets saying how great this festival was.  He had one
boy at the concert and on in the DMZ in Vietnam you know he'd prefer both to be
at Woodstock...

I've added a station in my car that seems to play more offpeak stuff.  I mean,
even if you like Aerosmith you don't always want to hear Sweet Emotion.  U2 is
bigger than ever but not really interesting to me anymore.  I've got a soft spot
for a couple of 60's/70's bands that are hanging in there but it's mostly to
hear them do songs that are 25 years old, not their new stuff.  

Maybe as you get older, you get more jaded.  Who knows?

Tim

because the note it's been put under is not related to the posting's intent.

    I do not think the situation is that bad for heavy metal these days.
    But it is true that some of the (previous) big names have faded or 
    disapeared. There are a lot of newer bands (at least in Europe) which
    still do things out of the current 'grundge' and 'alternative' trends.
    Here in Europe, progressive metal continues to evoluate quite well.
    Heavier than usual metal is also doing well. I have discovered many
    bands these last years in both genres and I enjoy listening my CDs
    which I bought since. Actually from my CD collection (I only keep CDs
    which I like to relisten), I listen the most recent ones, the CDs of
    Uriah Heep (being a big fan) and classical music CDs. It's very long
    time since I bought a CD which is not progressive metal or very heavy
    (but only the best of very heavy). My last pop buyings were some
    copilations (70ies) or some Beatles (well I like also Abba ;-) ).
    If you want some good and more recent bands just check for:
    Stratovarius, Conception, Superior, Leviathan, Blind Guardian, Iced
    Earth, Therion (their last one CD only), The Gathering and the list
    goes on and on for more melodic and quite progressive stuff.
    If you want heavier stuff just check for Dominus, Grip Inc, Opeth, Edge
    of Sanity, Ever Eve, Paradise Lost, Samael, Tiamat (although their last
    goes into the first list) to name few of the best bands.
    I don't think I have these days less music to enjoy. I think HM is
    better without the commercial pressure and influence.
    I was also quite deceived by Queensryche's latest but this is another
    story (Stratovarius and Conception are releasing both new CDs).
    Long live heavy metal !
    
    Sorin
     

I have been told that, for instance, Belgium is a hot place for new metal,
and I think you're right, perhaps music is less packaged and spoon fed
there. I'm not into your "type" of music right now, but it sounds like
there's more excitement and innovation, at least within the genres you
mention, where you live.

That's what I miss. The last time I was truly blown away from NEW music,
from new bands I could see live, was when "Mountain Song" was released by
Jane's Addiction in, what, 1988? That, and to a lesser extent, "Head Like
a Hole" by NIN, around the same time I guess. What friggin innovation has
there been since those superbursts of creativity and disregard for 
commercial formulas? I guess "Smells Like Teen Spirit" also ranks up there.

I'm lookin' for the next 1980's Boston scene, the early 1990's Seattle
scene... what's next? Electronica?

Our local "alternative" radio is really top-40 "alternative" like freaking
Fiona Apple. There's no late show like "Nocturnal Emissions" here where you
can hear something new and exciting. I stay up late to watch 120 Minutes, and
see videos from exciting new bands like Bush or Dave Matthews and the 
commercials are for lipstick and feminine hygiene products. My god... where
is the sub-culture (or subbacultcha, as Frank would say), ie. the GOOD STUFF?

As far as being a fogey... I don't think so, unless liking rap makes me a fogey,
then I wave the fogey flag proudly. I wish I coudl turn the clock back to the
1980's and make myself listen to other music which I've only recently
discovered, kick-ass stuff from bands I COULD have seen live and who are
now probably loading trucks for a living.

I'm venting... but I know it's true... otherwise H_M and radio_radio wouldn't
be the sedatives that they now are, with few exceptions no one's really
excited by what they're hearing. 

    
    
    I have evolved my listening tastes over the past few years, getting
    into the more harder/underground metal scene, ie Death and Doom Metal.
    This is a genre that is still underground for the most part as MOST
    radio stations will NOT play these bands, politically correct crap, and
    religious whining (well, can't think of a better term here folks). I am
    a Roman Catholic, I listen to some stuff that would curl a lot of hairs
    on those more stalwart, but I don't let the lyrics affect me. Some I
    shrug off, it could be a "in thing" with the type of bands with what
    they sing about (Black Metal bands for instance with Satanity, etc..),
    but some of the doomier stuff is very moving, Anathema and My Dying
    Bride for instance (with the clean vocals). 
    
    Then you have Death Metal, some bands could be termed shock metal with
    the titles of these songs and the lyrics. Do they ALL preach and think
    this way? I don't think so. I also love Tangerine Dream (who have some
    very moving pieces of music as well), the Blues, modern Jazz, *some*
    new age, I REALLY like Catherine Wheel, they get *some* airplay, but
    what, maybe one song, possibly two, three at MOST on some radio
    stations. The Corporate ones stink as far as force feeding the same
    crap formula that sold for a while, and possibly constraining
    innovation from some of these newer talented bands. Look at The
    Offspring or Collective Soul (I like some of their tunes, but won't buy
    any of their stuff since I don't get into it as much now) for sounding
    the same album after album....lots of others do too. Enough of that
    rant.
    
    Now, Progressive Metal is by far more active over near Sorin, but what
    really s*cks about it is the fact that we can't get the discs in our
    local stores without paying big bucks for them MOST of the time.....too
    bad they don't get better distribution, the wider the spread the bigger
    their fan base can become. I like Stratovarius (thanks sorin) even
    though I've heard only the one tune (from 1994 no less!), and
    Conception is very good. Others I haven't gotten yet due to having to
    special order them, wait a month or more, money, etc....Eventually I
    will get some more Prog. stuff, for now, MORE Death Metal underground
    stuff (and I am picky about this also, I like to be able to understand
    the singer even if he sounds like the cookie monster from hell!) and I
    want to get some more Doom metal to expand my limited collection.
    Anathema and MDB are both quite good musicianship-wise and
    production-wise. Lyrical content isn't too bad either, dependant on
    each person as an individual, etc....I am glad the *grunge* scene has
    slackened a tad, I was getting pretty sick of hearing Nirvana daily!
    ;-)
    
    Have a nice weekend folks (even though it'll rain tomorrow and sunday
    somewhat)....and spin some tunes you ain't heard in awhile! Me, I am
    gonna sip some cold malt beverages or mixed beverages this weekend,
    spend time with the girlfriend, get my PC back into shape again and
    play some Diablo on it! I need my Diablo fix!
    
    

    
    	Note moved, but it sure could use a different title.  8^)
    

    The answer is, no, music today does not suck.
    
    It just takes a little "getting used to", that's all.

    To Me....
     ToDays Music that Is Pushed_And_Allowed to be Play on
    The"Big"Radio_Staions..is Pretty_Much Basic.But The Loud Guitars and
    Easy To Beat_The_Feet_Or_Bang_The_Head_To are Catchy(If you Allow 
    Yer_Self To Be Brain_awashed and Listen to The Same Station Alot)
      As We All Know...Theres ALot of Good New Shite Out There(Insert
       yer Own Opinion Here)..Great Bands Not Gettin Played Except on
        Colledge_Or_Community_Radio_Stations.But Thats Nothin New..
          Been That Wayz AllWays.I Don't Have to Tell You People..
           You Know and do It Naturally....You Seek_And_Purches_And
            Listen to What Appeals to Yer Ears_And_Craniam.
    
    
              Crazy_Every_Thang_Changes_But_It_ALLways_Comes_Back_To
                             Be_The_Same_Al

    Does today's music suck?
    
    Broad topic this one..
    
    Does heavy_metal suck?   
    
    Broad topic this one..
    
      Nowadays music has spread itself Sooooo thin, labels are irrelevant.
    
    Personally, I'm really into what's going down with music
    today...especially the scene in Europe, more especially London, in
    relation to the hyper-techno thing that's going down.  
    
    As for metal...nope, I'm looking for something that I'm afraid is
    _long gone_.
    
    Kev --
    

    
     Does today's music suck?   Depends on were you get you source of music
    from, if talkin about the radio then YES.
    
    mainstream music-SUCKS
    progressive metal- better than ever
    Alternative-has become too broad, but YES
    rap/country -more than sucks
    rock- basically SUCKS now-a-days
    
       Does music overall suck, I will have to say no, I love music, and
    love to discover new bands, I have a wide varitey of musical taste,
    from 60's rock through the 90's, classical, heavy, alternative, techno,
    punk, thrash, piano to harmonica solo's, to a girl and a guitar.
     
     
    
                                              Mike

    
     -1 
    
    makes you think.. where exactly is the main source of musical
    communication?  For me, IT IS DEFINTELY not the radio...pretty much
    everything I'm into is 'word of mouth' stuff...some of the new
    Brittish dancy-thangs I can seriously thank Mtv for, 'cause I 
    would have never got turned on there otherwise..
    
    I've got into a couple bands via ::HEAVY_METAL, but again, never
    the radio.
    
    Kev --
    

re: "It just takes a little "getting used to", that's all."

Kinda like a bad odor?

    Um, no, not exactly.  

    
    	What are you still doing up??
    

    Hey, at least I wasn't up until 7:00.  And I had a nap too.
    
    8p

    
    	OK, you've got me there.  8^)
    

    As far as Radio stations go...
    
    	I listen to the BEAR 106.9 in Ottawa and they mix it up pretty good
    during the peak office hours.  From Aerosmith, Alanis, Soundgarden to
    Clapton.  But as soon as the evening falls upon the city, the music
    tends to get heavier and even more so the later it gets.
    
    	They also have special times/days for different music.  The
    schedule that I'm aware of is...
    
    	*each day we have the "501 Blues" - where they play a Bluzzy tune.
    	*"Heart attack" - Friday nights at midnight where they play death,
    doom, and other really Heavy stuff.
    	*Sundays for two hours around 7pm we tune into the Bear Blues with
    Dan Akroyd and the House of Blues.
    	*And every night at around 11:35pm we have "Local Licks" which are
    groups trying to get a break around our area.
    	*And we "Get the Lead out" every 8:20pm, this is where they play
    Led Zep tunes for about 15 minutes (2 songs).
    
    	I think it's a great way of runnin' things cause it keeps my music
    intrest on guard.  Half the bands I listen to are because of this
    station.  
    
    	As far as the "does music today suck?" question?  It's all
    personal preference.  I think of bands from the early 80's like Poison,
    Ratt, Bon Jovi (sorry ladies) and I think what the hell, these groups
    sucked now that I think about it.  It was all flair!  I was glad to see
    bands like Soundgarden, TOOL and AIC bring back a more "hearty" style
    of metal.  Even though, it still isn't the "Metal" of old.
    
    	J 

    Does today's music suck?
    
    Well, frankly I think those that answer "yes" are more than likely just
    translating "different than what I'm used to" into "suck".
    
    Truth is (as far as I'm concerned) all this whole note means that you
    you'all are just getting OLD!
    
    There are people who listen to today's music, and they don't think it
    sucks.   
    
    Your parents almost certainly thought YOUR music sucked right?  And you
    are just doing exactly what they were doing then.
    
    I'll end with a quote:
    
    	"Those that do not learn from history, are doomed to repeat it."
    
    Regards,
    
    	db

    I agree, if you're talking about music in the same category.

    most people who liked rock in the 70's hated disco, thus the phrase
    "Disco Sucks". Most people who like rock in the 90's think rap sucks,
    or at least this is my impression. I liked both rock and disco in the
    70's, I don't care much for rap because you can't sing it, I love to
    sing and you could sing disco.

    The complexity of some of the rock now is really quite amazing. and
    it's great. There is a lot of garbage at there too, noise that
    generates a mood more than it imparts music. To me, alone in my car,
    it's garbage, but perhaps I haven't been in the right place to really
    experience it.

    The kind of rock that I like has improved over the years in my opinion
    as complex chords and rhythms have become more common place.

re db.   Nah. I don't think so. Good example of irresponsible generalization,
	though. ;^)

	Actually, you are kinda right... my kid's three, and I f***ing hate
	Barney's music.

	btw... it's what I'm used to that I'm sick of.

    
    Music definitely DOES NOT SUCK today.
    
    I am amazed at what really really fine *new* music I am finding every
    day.  
    
    Music marketing definitely sucks.  When didn't it?  The wrong bands are 
    getting all the hype.  Since it's always been like that, it doesn't
    really bother me all so much.
    
    What worries me is the people who are giving up based on what the
    industry is promoting.  Folks used to rise above things, and find
    the good music anyway.
    
    Anyway, I've bought more new music that I've loved this year than
    I have in a long, long time, in some cases, introducing me to
    bands that I never heard of, but who had a lot of older stuff that
    I had to go out and get...
    
      o Widespread Panic
      o Darlahood
      o Phish (so sue me - I never started listening till this year!)
     
    And a lot of other CD's from groups that are just starting.  The
    Blues just keeps getting better and better.  Steely Dan has
    been touring!  Kiss is back.  Soundgarden broke up!  More groups
    are using the Hammond B3!  What are y'all complaining 
    about!?!?!??  :^)
    
    - Sean
    
    
        

>     The  Blues just keeps getting better and better.  
    
    Boy, you really had me going there for a moment... 
    
    ;-)
    
    	db

Okay, so if you're not into going out to see bands, or can't, where are you 
supposed to get a taste for what's new?

To say that today's music sucks...well, I agree... it all depends on where
you're getting it from. 

For me, it would be radio...and we all know how abysmal that is, for the most 
part. I've given up on it in the car...

College radio...sure fine, if I can pull it in.

Should I just start buying CD's of anything and everything and hope for the 
best?

Inquiring minds want to know...

-Bob

    
    re: -1
    
    That is where inquiring minds listen to friends stuff at their place,
    in their car. Read the newsgroups if you have internet access. Access
    some of the sites that have actual audio files of cuts off of their
    releases, etc...
    
    I hear about bands from people in here, reading the a.r-n-r.*
    newsgroups (mainly the .heavy/.death/.doom/.progressive ones),
    sometimes on radio stations that play death/doom metal (again as you
    said, if I can pull it in), and from other people in general. I feel I
    have a pretty damn wide range of music I listen to/have listened to,
    but that is my nature. I can be just as happy listening to a cool new
    age, or jazz, or blues disc as I can hearing some ripping death metal
    or some good doom metal!
    
    It's too bad that a lot of music places can't afford to have a machine
    in-store that has select cuts from a HUGE selection of music to get a
    sampling of. Newbury Comics has some tunes, mostly what is HOT for them
    that week and they also have a rack with employee's picks, etc...
    
    But mainstream radio sucks, except for the idiot Opie and Anthony on
    AAF as they do some stupid/funny/sick/wild things. Too bad BCN had to
    go down the toilet from its heyday back in the 70's when AAF and BCN
    were the best to listen to. In california there were 2 stations I liked
    to listen to (northern calif.), KSJO and KOME (don't touch that dial!
    its got KOME on it!) and Dennis Erectus! He is/was as bad as the two at
    AAF!  "I've got nancy reagan inflatible dolls with french and greek
    features", and stuff like that. The guy was a howl! That was the day.
    
    later