A recent commentary from [url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/...]PASTE magazine [/url] editor Josh Jackson reflected on this very question, stating that when he asked people what kind of music they liked, the majority of responses fell into one of the following three categories:
a. All kinds. b. Anything but rap. c. Anything but rap and/or country.
If only it were so simple.
Consider for a moment your own answer to this question. Whatever it might be, I would have to argue that it's in complete. Think about it. The sheer number of musical genres out there these days is simply staggering... which is a wee bit odd when you consider the fact that when asked what genre their music falls into, most musicians reply with a glib response about not wanting to be categorized. Indeed, it's definitely not cool to have your music defined and yet the number of genres out there for that very purpose just keeps on growing.
In addition to the mainstays such as rock, country, R&B, pop, etc... here are just a few of the other "legitimate" musical genres that have become buzzwords in music journalism:
House
Trance
Anthem
Psy Trance
Ambient
Dark Ambient
Electronica
Sombient
Progressive House
Happy Hardcore
Deep House
Horrorcore
Hard House
Trancecore
Acid Trance
Punk
Punkcore
Metal
Death Metal
Hair Metal
Goth Metal
Speed Metal
Doom Metal
Black
Thrash Metal
Alternative Metal
Neo Classical Metal
Emo
Symphonic Metal
Avante Garde
Space Rock
White Metal
Decandent Metal
Rapcore
Hip Hop
Chicago House
Garage
Speed Garage
Hip House Old School
Industrial
Tribal
Lo-Fi
Organic Ambient
Isolationist
Trip Hop (aka the "Bristol Sound")
Electro
Ghettotech
Gabba
Electronic body music (EBM)
Futurepop
Old-school EBM
Noise
Intelligent dance music (IDM)
Britpop
Chip music Glitch
Musique Concrète
New Age
Nortec (electronic style from Tijuana, Mexico)
Synth pop
Synthpunk
Death techno
Freetekno
Vocal trance
Age Ambient
Alt-Country
Alt-Country Americana
Gothic
Darkwave
Ethereal
NeoClassical
Japanoise
New Romanticism
Sadcore
Twee
Cuddle Core
Slowcore
Goth Pop
Dream Pop
ShoeGaze
New Wave
Goth-Folk
Apocalyptic Folk
Celtic
Chill
Insurgent Country
Cowpunk
Rural Contemporary
Roots Country
No Depression
Indie
Piano Rock
Ethereal Electronic
Ethereal Synthpop
Jangly Twee Synthpop
Orchestral Synthpop
Orchestral Piano Pop
Orchestral Guitar Pop
Swirly Ethereal Guitar Pop
Jangly Twee Guitar Pop
Jangly Guitar Pop
Surf Rock
Shag
Funk Guitar Pop
Classic Guitar Rock
Power-Pop
Pop-Punk
Big Beat
Post Industrial
Ok... so after all that, the one thing I [i]know[/i] to be true about this list is that it is grossly incomplete. There are probably (literally) hundreds more that I could list here (given enough time, motivation and alcoholic beverages). But even from this slice of the pie, we can see that music classification has become quite popular ~ despite all claims to the contrary.
As someone who is [i][b]very, very fortunate [/b][/i]to be able to write about music from time to time, I find all of these genres a bit.... well... daunting ~ not to mention superfluous. I suppose there's a part of me that feels like [url=http://reborn.tblog.com]ReBorn[/url] who said, (when he commented on this post the FIRST time I tried to post it), "listening to music shouldn't be this hard."
And the truth is, for most people, it probably isn't that hard. Unless of course, you're a "detail person" like me... who listens to a song and struggles to classify it within the giant html table of music genres that floats around in my head. (I know... I'm a sick, sick person). Luckily, I have [url=http://shadowmusic.tblog.com]good friends [/url] and [url=http://www.geocities.com/dhou...] the candy store [/url]to help me out in those situation. In the end, I think most people just listen without all the science. They just listen... which must be pretty nice indeed. :) One more thing... go back and take a look at that list again. Seriously. Some of those genre names are hilarious. I think my favorite is "y'allternative." C'mon... admit it. That's funny!
And special thanks to [url=http://cmaze.tblog.com]cmaze[/url] , without whom I could never have gotten this table posted. (You'll never believe how easy it was to fix our "problem"). Thanks buddy!
I always hate when someone asks what type of music I listen to. Most of the bands I like are multi genre. Or, say if they are considered "alt country", but I don't want to explain what alt country is. Can I just say they are good... or I would be listening to them? How do I know where to look in record stores for them? *gack*
Sorry I forgot to come back and post on my most hated songs.... the topic overwhelmed me.
#1 I understand completely. The other day I was driving someplace with a friend of mine, and I had to get out of the car for something. When I returned, she had turned on the CD player and was listening to a CD by Azure Ray... of course I had to go through this entire explanation of what kind of music they are, where I found them... on and on and on. It was a little embarrassing to be honest. I knew music was *personal* for me... but I'm not sure I realized how much.
# 2 I think from now on, I am going to answer that question the way SheSpecies suggestion. "I like anything by crap!" :)
#3 Finally... I was just teasing about not coming back. I was grateful for the comments you left... just as I am now! :)
Trance, Ambient, Celtic, I like but I mean there's a lot of my music, and I mean the majority of it that I wouldn't know for sure which of these quite detailed genres to place them in. Most of mine on Windows Media Player just say pop, rock, alternative, etc.
posted by: SheSpecies (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (11:30 am)
Reply to: juniperflux
LOL Okay, I gotta see the completed blog.
posted by: shadowmusic (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (12:27 pm)
That's a great table of genres you've listed.... I may try building upon that later. :-)
Personally, I try to listen to *good* music irrespective of the genre (and I'll add: I thought Rolling Stone magazine's recent "top 500 albums" issue was a good source of musical ideas), but the reality is that there are some genres (goth/ethereal, synthpop, twee-pop, neo-classical, dreampop) that I listen to much more than others (jug bands,boy bands,dixieland bands,etc.).
As far as your options of A/B/C: I've bought CD's by both Public Enemy & Johnny Cash during the past 6 months (and would recommend "It Takes a Nation of Millions..." and "At Folsom Prison" to anyone reading this).
posted by: jenxer (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (12:35 pm)
What is Twee? That is the difference between Punk and Punkcore? Or for that matter between Hair metal, Death Metal and Doom Metal? I feel completely out of the know.
I'll listen to almost anything once. Besides, you can always turn it off, right?
As always, I appreciate your insight. As I said, the only thing I KNOW to be true about the table is that it is incomplete. YOU of all people can probalby come up with additional genres! :)
Speaking of which... feel free to add to my reply to jenxer. Your knowledge of such things far exceeds mine, you know! :)
Twee, as I understand it, is a musical movement that grew in the late 80's early 90's as a reaction(rebellion) to punk. Twee music is often characterized as emasculated rock and roll. Another way to describe twee would be that it is exactly like punk -- only without the sex, drugs or sharp edges of any kind. :) Bands that are often called twee (whether or not they would subscribe to this label mind you, I have no idea) are Belle and Sebastian, Marine Girls, The Softies, Evening Lights, etc. Another genre name that is pretty much synonymous with twee, but that I left off the table (see, I told you it was incomplete) is Kindercore which also the name of the predominent Twee label (in the US at least). Twee is sometimes called "Twee Pop" ~ and for good reason. The music, as I know it, is sugary and benign... or as another label (TweeKitten) bills itself "insanely cute." Believe it or not, I sometimes find this to be quite good and there are several bands I enjoy who fit the bill. But it's a delicate balance to strike. A lot of twee acts cross the line from being delicate and sweet to being downright cavity causing. :)
Ok... onto Punk and Punkcore: My understanding here, although my knowlege in this situation is far more limited, is that Punkcore represents a punk/heavy metal crossover genre. I've heard it used interchangeably with ska -- another genre I left of the list! :)
Metal, Metal, Metal...
Hair Metal is often used to describe the spandex clad, heavily made up pop-metal neophites of the 1980's but can also refer to metal that is heavily influenced by glam rock -- also known as glam metal (again, left off the list). Bands like Poison, Motley Crue, Ratt, and Dokken might fit into this catagory.
Doom Metal, on the other hand, supposedly focuses on lumbering dirges and creating a mood rather than an image. Doom Metal is thematic and inspired by middle age sensibilities with a little Black Sabbath thrown in for good measure. Bands like Cathedral and Anathema would be consider Doom Metal bands.
And finally Death Metal: characterized by low-pitched guitars and growling (almost always male) vocals. Despite the name, there is really no common theme in the lyrics. Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, Bolt Thrower (I love these names) and Entombed are widely accepted as Death Metal bands.
Whew! Sorry for the long reply... but you asked. :)
posted by: Shark99 (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (1:57 pm)
Hair Metal, Neo Classical Metal. Alternative Metal, Space Rock, Britpop, Alt-Country, Alt-Country Americana, Gothic, NeoClassical, New Wave, Celtic, Roots Country, Piano Rock, Classic Guitar Rock, Pop-Punk...
Wow, I didn't know I was so eclectic!
I think a lot of this among the majority of people is because we are getting exposed to so many different kinds of people and, thus, their music. Our world has become a little smaller and our ties to eachother and eachother's music a little stronger.
Well, if nerdy is being an incredibly smart cookie, then I guess that's wut u are. ;P
posted by: lynne (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (2:15 pm)
Gosh, I just listen to what I like. What really cracks me up though is that sometimes when I am at a party or something, someone will ask me about my musical tastes as if that will tell them something about me as a person. I usually just say that I like what I like and then give them some examples. Sometimes I tell them that I always thought that a concert with the Grateful Dead and the Butthole Surfers would have been cool. :)
That's a very good point, RT. The internet has certainly added to my ability access new and different music (and I'm NOT referring to file sharing here, folks!)
Ha... again, I must refer back to SheSpecies. "I listen to anything but crap!" I just love that!
Thanks for the comment!
posted by: brogonzo (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (2:24 pm)
Reply to: juniperflux
A little more on the difference between "punk" and "punkcore"...
Punk has a bunch of definitions, both socially and musically. My own take on punk music is that it's the representation of a social attitude favoring anarchy, or at the very least, social change. This comes across in different ways -- but the thing that makes it all hang together is ideally a basic disdain for all things conventional and aquiescent. That's why you had folks like The Ramones... ugly guys who never really bothered to learn how to play their instruments, but with a slightly retro sound... it was different, which was the important thing. And you had the Sex Pistols, who were even uglier guys who never learned how to play their instruments. They were from England, though.
As punk music aged, you found it branching out into several varieties of "second generation" punk. There's "ska," which, musically has more to do with Reggae than the straight 4/4 of the Ramones, but still shares the idealistic roots, and "Hardcore," or "Punkcore." Really, punkcore is for the seriously demented... it looses the nihilistic charm of the Ramones and infuses pure rage into the simple, power-chord riffs. Screaming, growling, terrifying, and barely-understandable vocals are characteristics. Early punkcore bands included Heny Rollins Black Flag, who used to bill themselves as a Fleetwood Mac cover band, and then horrify the socks off family picnic-goers.
You won't hear punkcore on the radio, since the bands usually keep to local and indie scenes, and have names like "Pile of Heads."
Punk, of course, has developed in other ways, too.... there's "Pop punk" (Blink 182 and Simple Plan, who suck), "Corporate Punk" (also called "sell-outs") and "Emo" (Dashboard Confessional and the like, who spend more time crying in their beer and getting sentimental tattoos than making decent music).
Ok... just for the record THESE comments are exactly why I started this blog. I absolutely LOVE this kind of dialogue about music. I can think of nothing more wonderful then writing down my thoughts, having people ask questions, and then finding that other readers contribute answers in addition to my own. How perfectly lovely! Not only do I find this kind of discussion incredibly interesting, but I have learned so much too in the process. Wow!
Thanks so much for contributing to this discussion. Your insight is most appreciated!
j
posted by: TAXI (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (2:39 pm)
when i liste to music, i dont ask myself "uh oh what gener is it?"
I ask my heart "Do you like it?" and if it says "YESS" i know i am listening to a piece of music that makes sense. whatever its name may be.
i thank you for providing this platform for my 2 cents.
Not only is that very cool, TAXI, but I think that is the way most people look at music as well. Some of us, however, just happen to have a neuron misfiring in our brains such that we listen to music and think... hrmmmm... is this dark folk or apocalyptic folk.... I'm telling you, it's a curse. :)
posted by: TAXI (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (3:21 pm)
Reply to: juniperflux
curses are there to be broken, methinks music is there to be enjoyed and not categorized, it's only when someone or some entity is planning to capitalize on emotions than they start giving it a false identity and a meaningless title, but what do i know? :o)
I'm with you... and believe me, music provides a haven for me emotionally. I can define major impasses in my life through the music that has meant the most to me. On the other hand, there's also a part of me that finds the classification fascinating... albeit entirely ridiculous as well. Admittedly, it's not for everyone. Although, gosh... I never thought of capitalizing on it. You mean... I can be a nerd AND get filthy stinking rich too!!?!?! Whoa! :)
As always, thanks for the comment!
posted by: brogonzo (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (3:28 pm)
Reply to: juniperflux
Hey, look what happened to Cameron Crowe.
posted by: TAXI (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (3:28 pm)
Reply to: juniperflux
.. and also i just thought of something (you made me spent my annual 10 mintes brain time in one go) have you ever heard of the term "Divide and conqure" its like we live in ONE worldand we managed to break it up to a billion pieces and then give each piece an individual identity only to arise a pointless sense of pride and allow that price to make us chew at each others throats.
One World, One Music, One life, lets throw away titles, prejudices and enjoy it in its entirity :o)
now i need to go back to being me again :o)
Ok... NOW who's putting too much thought into this?? :)
posted by: TAXI (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (3:39 pm)
Reply to: juniperflux
lool No i didnt mean you are capitalizing, i meant record companies who try to devide people and have their own little armies bashing each other up.
you know what i mean? anyone who listens to country must be a redneck and heavy metal is only a high-aid and stuff like that :o)
Well... what you and I might call stereotyping they call "marketing."
posted by: TAXI (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (3:46 pm)
Reply to: juniperflux
and what they call marketing is nothing but finding the quickest way to make the most money, ie; tell them what they need and then sell it to them for a price
not "ask them" but "tell them".
Keep them as naive about other things as possible so their choices are limited to our products alone, in the other hand "KILL THAIR WILL TO GROW"
:o)
Seriously, I've written on this topic before. I'm no friend of the corporate monster. On the other hand, I think most people are smart enough to see beyond the machine and find what works for them... hence the recent drop in record sales.
Again... thanks for the comments!
posted by: TAXI (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (4:13 pm)
Reply to: juniperflux
i am not bitter at all, in fact if anything i am so happy that i have finally found a second place (soonbev and now yours too) that i enjoy leaving comments in, your blog made me think and that is like wowwww to me.
I thank you for your blog and your penmanship :)
posted by: Daisymae (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (7:47 pm)
That is a staggering list of genre's, I myself listen to just about everything except Country and Rap. On a typical day I'm listening to either Disturbed or Incubus. But every now and then I like to listen to DJ Skribble or Crystal Method. It's a mood thing...
I LOVE it , music is want unites us all, I love any music that has a clean msg, and yes that does mean some of every catigory you mentioned and some you didn't. I think God gave us music, I have a post called Divine DJ about it. Thanks for this post =)SB
I think most music is a mood thing. I know I certainly don't get up and think... "today I shall listen to only lo-fi alt-country." Hehe... for me, and most people I think, music choice are both influenced by and sometimes can even influence, the person's mood.
Music is certainly powerful and in many instances healing. I'm glad you've found a special meaning in the music you love and listen to. Thanks so much for your comments!
posted by: JustJo (reply)
post date: 06.10.04 (9:01 am)
Why try to clasify music when all you need to enjoy it?
As for me, I ccould say my kind of music is music that "makes sense" :)
I had no idea so many people would feel so much angst towards musical classification. Is it threatening in some way? Why can't a person love music and love to classify it. Why must it be one or the other?
posted by: cmaze (reply)
post date: 06.10.04 (12:54 pm)
lol, i knew it was going to be a no shitter problem. dammit, always are. lol ;-)
posted by: olygirl71 (reply)
post date: 06.11.04 (12:52 pm)
I just always say "I'm eclectic" I have a rainbow of gendres in my collection. I like what I like. And, honestly, I wouldn't be able to categorize most of what I listen to, not because it doesn't fit into a specific gendre, but because I tend to ignore categorization, therefore I have no clue what 99% of the gendres are. SIGH* non-conformity again leads me in all directions--but I'm happy that way. So be it!
Japanoise is funny, and so is ShoeGaze! What the heck is that?!!!
Now, if you were REALLY ambitious and had absolutely nothing better to do, you could link each box in your table to an explanatory page with examples!
I enjoy many types of music, and rarely take my genre labeling more specific than techno, folk, bluegrass, celtic, alt-country, or the like. If it's music, I pretty much love it! Unless it's crap.
posted by: Dubby (reply)
post date: 06.28.04 (3:34 pm)
NICE BLOG VISITMY BLOG SOON AND LEAVE A MESSAGE
posted by: sascha84 (reply)
post date: 11.30.04 (5:20 pm)
How did you get this htmltable to work? I am having a nightmare of a time trying to put tables in my blogs.
