Expanding my musical tastes

So I'm trying to expand my musical tastes. At total random, I tried a Gorillaz song, "Feel Good Inc." I had no quibbles with the song whatsoever, and the animation was just as enjoyable.

The problem is, I don't know why I liked it. I followed the lyrics on a lyrics site, but couldn't really tell what they meant — what's all this stuff about windmills, chocolate attacks, etc.? I wasn't 100% sure if I was genuinely liking the arrangement, since my limited musical tastes left with me little points of reference, and I kept wondering "am I genuinely liking how this sounds, or only saying that I like this only because it's popular?"

I have the same problem with lots of new media whenever I try it. Just kind of a "fish out of water" feel, that often leaves me thinking "well, I liked this, I think" because I just don't know how to handle it.

Hmm... I think, with music, that the only thing that matters is what sounds good to the person listening. Lyrics don't make sense? Doesn't matter, as long as they sound good. I can't explain why I enjoy listening to this, and yet don't enjoy listening to this, but ultimately it doesn't matter. What matters is that I enjoy what I enjoy.

Sounds like you enjoyed the novelty.

With novelty comes a kernel of affinity. Try more of the same band, and see where you get.

What says. If you want to try more of Gorillaz, "Clint Eastwood" and "Superfast Jellyfish" are somewhat in the same vein as Feel Good Inc.

I was raised on one of the most lyrical-driven genres in the world, so it's pretty much hardcoded in me to expect some sense and meaning out of the lyrics. Same thing with "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Sonically, I liked the song because it wasn't too "angry" sounding (I don't like "angry" music, which is why I dislike most forms of metal) and I liked the rawness of it, but even with the lyrics in front of me, I was like "what is this song trying to tell me?" And I still don't really have an answer, but I like SLTS for how it sounds at the least.

I guess I should realize that some country songs get pretty "out there" lyrically and don't really try to say anything, so any other genre should be no different. If a song sounds good, and I can at least follow something in the lyrics, then it worked for me. And by that standard, "Feel Good Inc." and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" both worked. But there's still part of me that feels like I'm missing something in my enjoyment of the song. Is it just that I'm not used to the newness, or what?

I had figured that might be part of it. Liked one song by artist X? Try more, and see if I like those too.

edited 2nd Feb '14 10:28:13 AM by Twentington

Maybe the fact that you're missing some enjoyment is because you like songs in the respective genre, but just not really that song (of course, not every song in the same genre sounds the same). If that's the case I suggest you listen to some slightly musically related songs by other artist. For me, the genre of Gorillaz is a bit hard to pinpoint, but with Nirvana, maybe you should give some songs by Soundgarden and Pearl Jam a listen.

"Clint Eastwood" is a Gorillaz song with somewhat more cohesive lyrics.

Personally, I prefer listening to songs in languages I don't speak so that the lyrics don't distract me and I can just focus on the music. This would be a good example:

I'd say some of the more restrained grunge is the best when you're starting from country.

Try Fell on Black Days, No Excuses and Betterman should be a good place to work from.