Let's be honest here, people...(music taste question)

Who here thinks that there's a such thing as "good" taste in music? And who here thinks they have better taste in music than most people/friends/etc?

I think that for one to have "good" taste in music, they have to actually look for bands outside what's mainstream. Example: Person A has Lady Ga Ga, Coldplay, Nickelback, and Beyonce on his iPod, Person B has Porcupine Tree, Miles Davis, Coil and Nujabes on his iPod. If I went by my standard, Person B has the better taste, because said music requires one to actually look around and try to find good music, while Person A could've turned on a radio station (or TV) and found all of those artists/bands very quickly.

Granted, my example is a bit biased, but I'm sure you get the gist of what I'm saying. I think. Thoughts?

For a person to have good taste in music they have to like music that doesn't suck. And your Person A fails that so hard.

What you're saying makes a certain amount of sense, because yeah, if you ask someone their favorite music and they list off a handful of acts that are on the charts right now, I generally get the impression that they don't know a lot about music. But if someone said their favorite artists were Lady Gaga, Miles Davis, and Porcupine Tree, it could actually come off better to me than just listing off obscure bands; I'd think that while they do dig deeper into music, they also just like what they like, regardless of how popular it is.

A side note that this has made me think of for some reason: You know the whole I Am I Who Am I thing? For a while people were convinced it was Christina Aguilera, and while I didn't buy it at all, it was kind of interesting to me that her fans seemed to be digging it as a creative new direction, and made me wonder if the whole thing might lead some mainstream music fans to broaden their music tastes. Then once they decided it wasn't her after all, they all stopped giving a crap, so I guess not.

edited 30th Jun '10 1:15:07 PM by MikeK

At first, I would say that there's no such thing as good or bad taste in music, it's all subjective, etc.

Since you want an honest answer, however, I have to say that sometimes (very rarely) I get embarassed by people's taste in music. I have a friend who thought that Dope and DragonForce were the best bands ever, and I thought of him as having bad taste because of this, even though I'm meant to be a lot more open-minded and mature than that. I don't judge them as people because of their taste, of course, because that would be very assholish of me; but I honestly can't avoid judging their taste in itself.

To vaguely tie in with your example: I would probably respect the musical taste of someone who dug for non-mainstream stuff more than someone who just liked Top 40 hits, but there's a chance that I'd consider the taste of the non-mainstream person to be even worse. Both the best and worst of music resides in the underground.

But if someone said their favorite artists were Lady Gaga, Miles Davis, and Porcupine Tree, it could actually come off better to me than just listing off just obscure bands; I'd think that while they do dig deeper into music, they also just like what they like, regardless of how popular it is.

QFT. Although, the presence of Lady Gaga specifically might make me think that they're just being "ironic" about it, even though it's most likely that they genuinely enjoy her work. This is a problem I have with trying to admit that I like Village People, aside from the whole "they-suck-and-you're-gay-for-liking-them" aspect.

There is no such thing as good taste in music.

That attitude is what lets "mainstream" musicians be the only ones with any exposure.

Although, in my personal, subjective opinion, I do consider myself to have better taste than say, Cannibal Corpse fans.

edited 30th Jun '10 3:35:13 PM by SpainSun

I judge a person's taste based on how much they seem to legitimately care about what they're listening to.

And while I agree that Cannibal Corpse is crude, death metal as a genre isn't. It's almost always creepy and unsettling, but sometimes it invokes atmosphere akin to something like Alien more than anything else.

Not a metalhead in the slightest, so forgive me if I disagree with you there.

What I find is that most people who listen to only top 40 acts aren't really "music people" so to speak, they don't know much about music and usually only listen to it while doing something else.

^^

I judge a person's taste based on how much they seem to legitimately care about what they're listening to.

Leading on from this, I'd suggest that a 'good' taste in music is not based on what genre of music is being listened to, but on the ability of the music to get the listener emotionally involved and interested, and the ability of the listener to engage with it on a deeper level than "it's a fun, catchy tune" or "I like dancing to this". Whether Metal, Hip-Hop, Alternative, Jazz, Soul or whatever else, the important thing is that the listener takes something from the music, that it transports them. A 'good' taste in music should be, for the listener, transcendental.

I would however say (and I'm going to be controversial for a moment here) that most mainstream music is too shallow and soulless to ever elicit such a response.

And of course, being a pretentious hipster indie-boy, I am obliged to say that my taste in music is amazing .

edited 30th Jun '10 4:19:26 PM by Saeglopur

Music as it stands nowadays is a means to an end; namely, dancing.

Admiration n. Our polite recognition of another's resemblance to ourselves. - The Devil's Dictionary

"Not a metalhead in the slightest, so forgive me if I disagree with you there."

Fair 'nuff. While I'm not out to convert anyone, the following link is a pretty good example of what I mean when I imply that death metal can be more subtle than what's commonly believed. It's an instrumental, by the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efZYXIkHztM

The first two or two-and-a-half minutes are a pretty good description of what I'm talking about.

No, I've listened to quite a bit of death metal, it's just not my thing.

I would however say (and I'm going to be controversial for a moment here) that most mainstream music is too shallow and soulless to ever elicit such a response.

Queen?

edited 30th Jun '10 5:34:13 PM by SpainSun

^ Okay, current mainstream music. I would be wary of applying the concept of 'mainstream' as we understand it today to anything pre-MTV, or even pre-internet... but that's a whole different topic.

edited 30th Jun '10 5:43:26 PM by Saeglopur

There is definitely 'good' and 'bad' taste, as there is definitely 'good' and 'bad' songwriting. I have hipster instincts of the highest caliber where music is concerned, and yet I enjoy Crawling because it is one of the best rock songs ever written. Ditto Everlong, and somewhat less mainstream, Aces High.

There are many, MANY obscure bands who are obscure because they just don't understand how to write a good song. Unter Null is probably the best example I have on hand - she uses the same chord progression with the same rhythms for every song, and they only work with one specific song because of the way it was layered and organized. Compare Zombie Boy, the song where it works, to Martyr, where it doesn't.

I have a low standard for what a "good" taste in music is.

But once I voice said opinion I'll be yelled out for being a Straw Rap/Hip-Hop Loather.

So I'll simply state that putting effort into finding music you like, paying attention to what it sounds like and it's lyrics, being moved by it, and occasionally analyzing it makes what your listening to "good" in taste.

Dope and Dragon Force

Dope is awesome though.

taste

More seriously, when it comes to music I find almost everything "listenable". I rarely actively dislike music. I mean it's created to sound good (most of it, anyway), so yeah. And I rarely dislike types of music just because.

Obviously I have my preferences, but I also happen to enjoy things like Telephone and Tik Tok.

Oh well.

No groundbreaking opinion from me - I don't like to think in terms of "good" or "bad" when it comes to questions of taste. But I think in order to be anything worth even talking about, it has to be informed and reflected to some extent. If someone just listens to whatever's on the radio, then they don't have much of a taste to talk about, they just listen to music and that's it.

Beyond that, I don't want to judge anything, in part because I can't help feeling bad when I compare my taste in music to someone like my "roommate" who's so experienced that he listens to music mostly in order to be surprised, while I like listening to the same song over and over simply because a part of it sounds really pleasant to me. There was a song I liked a lot and found really powerful, but I haven't listened to it since I showed it to him and he was bored out of his mind. I don't think you have to be elitist or anything to have good taste, though. My tastes are very broad, I basically just listen to anything that touches my feelings in some way, which can range anywhere from cheesy 90s pop to classical to hip-hop, et cetera.

PS: Digging the Cosmic Sea song.

I have horrible taste in music. I get exited by extremely simple things - catchy melody, powerful and clear harmony and interesting enough of a beat to tap along to.

I get exited over beautiful landscapes in sound, dynamic alterations - all quite blatant and cliche. Damn if one were to start listing music tropes from a musicians and composers viewpoint - you'd get as long of a list as this whole wiki. And I buy into almost all of those cliches.

Well... good taste is extremely subjective. But I think the one who actively pursues to expand his horizon, then this person has good taste. or rather... is aspiring towards it and that is what matters. Pop music gets extremely tedious after a while, when you apply this mentality.

And you end up... dunoo...

Here? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XfeWp2y1Lk

I do think that some music is more demanding in terms of thought on the part of the listener (e.g. experimental music, most classical music, some progressive rock) than others (e.g. the vast majority of mainstream pop), but that's not to say that less complex music is worse, it's just more accessible, which is no bad thing.

Never got the whole attitude of classical music being more complex or less accessible as a general thing, personally.

Perhaps it's because I grew up with it, but I've always found it really easy to listen to and most of it is not really very complex. There are exceptions, but the difference between simple classical and complex classical is sort of like the difference between pop music and heavy metal.

Don't get me wrong, a lot of classical music is very easy to listen to, but I think it requires you to use your ears a bit more to fully appreciate it, compared to, say, dance pop, which is driven by the beat.

I do think that most experimental classical music is very inaccessible.

edited 1st Jul '10 2:54:08 PM by BobbyG

For me, I can say that like some others who have posted I have very very broad tastes in music. Generally I believe that every piece of music is good for what it is. When I want to go dance anything with a catchy beat will do. When I need to have some music calm me down I go for anything with seriously metal guitar. -I listen to more music but that's the general idea-

Sometimes I listen to music and go, "This is okay but not something that I like." or "This song is a bit boring for me."

I tend to not like things if they are played too much, so a lot of music that is currently popular or repetitively played irritates me. There are only two artists that I actually DO NOT like, and it is mostly repetition that caused my hatred.  ^*

edited 3rd Jul '10 12:31:46 PM by Undersol

as mentioned before, I think it just depends on how much the person listening cares about what they're listening to.

sure, I may hate some bands, I may think someone really needs better music, but that's my own opinion. if you asked me to define "good" music I'd just tell you bands I like.

people who care about what they listening to usually go check out similar artists, and from there others, etc etc. they broaden their tastes because they enjoy their music. to me that is a sign of good taste, even if the bands aren't my favorite. music is a lot about the discovery, and then the subsequent enjoyment. not just vapid listening on the radio.

edited 3rd Jul '10 7:08:53 PM by DrVox

The first step to having a "good" taste in music, I think, is the same as having a "good" taste in movies, literature, video games, etc., and that's being experimental and willing to try new things. I used to be a huge classic rock junkie, and anything beyond The Black Crowes or before The Beatles had no place on my iPod. Then I found out that I actually liked some more contemporary songs like Jason Mraz's "The Remedy," and soon after I discovered The White Stripes and Passion Pit. I branched back into the 50's with Elvis, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard, and started incorporating jazz, big band, and classical. Now, the only two genres I don't really listen to are death metal and hip-hop, though I've skirted them recently by listening to System of a Down and Gorillaz.

I don't mean to flaunt my musical taste as better than others, but I've just found that branching out my music has allowed for a more enriching experience, personally. I can enjoy the thumping bass and beats of disco / techno just as much as the crunchy guitar of the blues, and maybe if more people tried to be open to a little bit of everything, they'd have something similar.

Now, a "bad" taste in music? Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers...basically, the manufactured, corporate groups that are trimmed to a mirror sheen, with similarly bland, shiny songs designed to take a backstage to the singer's looks. I take their music as a personal affront against the actual artistry and ambitions of other, better songwriters, who struggle while Auto-tuned teens sit comfortably on top thanks to good looks and executive-backing. Their music means nothing to me, and when people praise them for their groundbreaking appeal and sound, I feel offended...

Which is not to say that I hate commercial music or musicians who also benefit from good looks. I like the Spice Girl's "Wannabe," for example, but that's a fun song where it's clear the group's heart is in what they're singing, and they're having a good time. I get none of that energy or vibe from any song by Miley Cyrus, all of which I find soulless and contrived. Maybe that's my opinion, but I stand by it pretty strongly.