Post by jaredthrob on Nov 19, 2006 15:36:55 GMT -5
I thought I'd start this thread so we'd all have a place to discuss music in general. What music you like, dislike, worship, etc. What are your fave bands and why, who has influenced you, how your musical tastes have changed or are changing, etc, etc, etc.
So to start things off, I'll go ahead and deliver my "Emo? What the fuck!?" rant. Goes a little something like this:
Not to sound like a grouchy old man, but it really brings a bitter tear to my eye when I see kids these days who have clearly made a huge effort to "be emo". They get their parents to buy them some black clothes and eyeliner, go pick up the latest CD's from "emo" bands they saw on MTV, and BAM! They have arrived. The scene is theirs! They "ARE" emo. This makes me cringe not only because I dislike "holier-than-thou" scenesters, but also because most of these kids have never even heard of the bands that essentially STARTED what is now known as "emo".
Back in the late '80's and early '90's, some changes were taking place in the hardcore punk scene. Hardcore veterans such as Guy Piccioto and Ian McKay started forming bands that were basically "hardcore" but sang about things that seemed more meaningful than "fuck the man" or "lets get drunk". Songs about feelings, if you will. Eventually people started to take notice, and they observed with some amazement, the emotional response given by the crowds who watched these bands play. Sooner or later someone had to tag a label on it all. Several of them floated around: "emotional hardcore", "post-hardcore", and finally the condensed version: "emo". Funny thing is, most of the fans of this music as well as the bands that played it HATED the term. You have to admit, it does sound just a little dumb. Nonetheless the term eventually stuck, and the scene progressed on into the 90's, comfortable in the relative underground, and well off the mainstream charts. If you asked me, I would say it was At The Drive In that pushed "emo" into the mainstream music world in the late '90's. I could be wrong. But they were the first obviously "emo" band to get into heavy radio and MTV circulation. And of course the rest is history. Now rather than shy away from the "emo" label, bands go out of their way to fit the mold. Write some poppy punk songs about breaking up with your girlfriend or nobody loves you, throw in some harmonies and screaming, and you've got a hit. Unfortunately this has sort of turned "emo" into another music fad like the rap-metal scene of the late '90's. It'll have it's moment in the spotlight, then sometime in the not-too-distant future it'll go overnight from being all the rage to being the dumbest thing in the world, and "oh my god you like EMO? that is SO last week". Now I'm not hating on any emo fans or any emo bands. I say listen to whatever music you like. Whatever moves you. Just remember that things aren't always what they seem, and things change. So if you really like "emo", then like it no matter what; whether it's cool or not. And if you don't really like it and are just trying to make "the scene", well, I think there's a new Justin Timberlake album that you might want to check out. And to the curious ones who love discovering great music, please check out some of the following "pre-emo" bands: Rights Of Spring, Fugazi, Sunny Day Real Estate, Jawbox, Jawbreaker, and... many more!
Thanks for listening to the rant. I'm done now. Emo?? What the fuck?!?
So to start things off, I'll go ahead and deliver my "Emo? What the fuck!?" rant. Goes a little something like this:
Not to sound like a grouchy old man, but it really brings a bitter tear to my eye when I see kids these days who have clearly made a huge effort to "be emo". They get their parents to buy them some black clothes and eyeliner, go pick up the latest CD's from "emo" bands they saw on MTV, and BAM! They have arrived. The scene is theirs! They "ARE" emo. This makes me cringe not only because I dislike "holier-than-thou" scenesters, but also because most of these kids have never even heard of the bands that essentially STARTED what is now known as "emo".
Back in the late '80's and early '90's, some changes were taking place in the hardcore punk scene. Hardcore veterans such as Guy Piccioto and Ian McKay started forming bands that were basically "hardcore" but sang about things that seemed more meaningful than "fuck the man" or "lets get drunk". Songs about feelings, if you will. Eventually people started to take notice, and they observed with some amazement, the emotional response given by the crowds who watched these bands play. Sooner or later someone had to tag a label on it all. Several of them floated around: "emotional hardcore", "post-hardcore", and finally the condensed version: "emo". Funny thing is, most of the fans of this music as well as the bands that played it HATED the term. You have to admit, it does sound just a little dumb. Nonetheless the term eventually stuck, and the scene progressed on into the 90's, comfortable in the relative underground, and well off the mainstream charts. If you asked me, I would say it was At The Drive In that pushed "emo" into the mainstream music world in the late '90's. I could be wrong. But they were the first obviously "emo" band to get into heavy radio and MTV circulation. And of course the rest is history. Now rather than shy away from the "emo" label, bands go out of their way to fit the mold. Write some poppy punk songs about breaking up with your girlfriend or nobody loves you, throw in some harmonies and screaming, and you've got a hit. Unfortunately this has sort of turned "emo" into another music fad like the rap-metal scene of the late '90's. It'll have it's moment in the spotlight, then sometime in the not-too-distant future it'll go overnight from being all the rage to being the dumbest thing in the world, and "oh my god you like EMO? that is SO last week". Now I'm not hating on any emo fans or any emo bands. I say listen to whatever music you like. Whatever moves you. Just remember that things aren't always what they seem, and things change. So if you really like "emo", then like it no matter what; whether it's cool or not. And if you don't really like it and are just trying to make "the scene", well, I think there's a new Justin Timberlake album that you might want to check out. And to the curious ones who love discovering great music, please check out some of the following "pre-emo" bands: Rights Of Spring, Fugazi, Sunny Day Real Estate, Jawbox, Jawbreaker, and... many more!
Thanks for listening to the rant. I'm done now. Emo?? What the fuck?!?
), Thrice, Our Lady Peace.... theres a bunch more... but that's just my main setup for right now... in a little while I'm sure it will change completely... but that's pretty much me for right now... 
