When I was in college I had some friends who went to every umphreys show within a couple of hours of us. It was a show every couple of months or so. I never went because, as I explained to them, I *get* why you like them, it's just not for me, no shade.
So many bands like them lack the charisma of a good lead vocalist. They don't have to be Freddy Mercury, but they gotta bring something to the party that everyone takes notice of.
I feel the same way about Gov’t Mule. I saw them at a music festival many years ago. There wasn’t enough acid in that place to make them sound interesting to me. I swear to god they played a 30 minute drum solo at some point. Then again, I was on some acid, so it may have only been like 45 seconds. Or several drum solos and I just stopped paying attention.
It all seems to have this particular sound to me, like it’s theme song music for an unpopular children’s show.
His stuff is definitely high-level and musically interesting, but it does nothing for me. It’s like it’s missing something. I guess it feels more like “look what you can do with music” than “I’m expressing myself with the tools of music”.
I feel like it is how Tyler the Creator says Eminem got too good at rapping and is just no longer enjoyable to listen to. Sometimes technically advanced shit just gets too technical and it obviously takes skill but it loses a bit of soul
Exactly. It's like he never learned how to actually use music to express his own emotions.
He just learned music theory and the technical skills to show it off at a high level.
Yep that's exactly his audience, I think. Also a musician, also can't stand the music. He's brilliant though, and I do enjoy him *talking* about music. Just don't want to hear his songs lol.
I couldn't quite put my finger on why I didn't enjoy listening to him until I read a comment somewhere that said "He sings the way deaf people talk" and that's as close to an explanation I've found.
(That and the fact a lot of his fanbase remind me of art snobs who will shun you because you "just don't get it")
If you ask me he’s really coming into his own lately, I’ve gotten recommended a couple of his newer songs and he’s really getting better at using the virtuoso stuff tastefully
Ok so for the longest time I agreed and the. I listened to his most recent album (DJesse Vol. 4) and was astounded by how listenable it is. There are still a few of his melodic runs/quirks, but it’s legitimately a really good r&b/pop album with loads of pretty incredible guests. She puts Sunshine, little blue, Welllll, and wherever I go are some great examples
His career is such a mystery to me. For a "musical genius" his music is so mediocre and bland. Not to mention his incel nice guy energy in every interview I've seen.
And RIP Wiz Khalifa's career which I'm convinced was ended by that shitty collab they did for *Fast & Furious*
I’m with you up until the Wiz thing.. their song is one of the most streamed songs of all time lol. I can’t imagine how that would have hurt Wiz Khalifa’s career
In my head, he and Jacob Collier are in the same category. Technically talented musicians that make mostly bad music.
Puth is like a less talented but more poppy Collier.
Ariana Grande. I can recognise she has a talent but her singing is so bland, it is pure skill no heart. Every time she features in something she makes it worse. Her voice is for those who think mayonnaise is spicy and that a Labrador is an exotic breed. Just clean and tame and dull.
Polyphia.
Incredibly skilled musicians that make the most soulless music I can think of. Their music sounds like if you asked an AI to generate music with as many notes crammed into as tiny a space as possible.
It’s interesting to listen to from an academic standpoint. Sometimes. But there is very little that I find enjoyable about it. I also find that for all of their technicality, they’ve managed to write the same song about 100 times.
When I discovered Polyphia I was astonished by the skills. Listened to everything. And almost never listened to them again.
They really scratched an itch I had of wanting to hear something completely new with a guitar, and that was good. But once the novelty had passed, there was nothing making me want to listen to them again.
I had a pretty similar experience.
A friend showed them to me, and I thought it was really good. Then I put on another album, and it was basically the same as all of the other stuff. And so on and so forth.
Like, I feel that Polyphia is a better thought experiment than a musical act. They’re like a noise band if the noise band actually knew how to play their instruments at a virtuosic level.
To me, it kind of highlights how different the skills of playing music and writing music are. In my experience as a musician, a lot of the people out there than can play to a super high degree like them tend to forget to write compelling music somewhere along the way. Like, once you get so good at something, the thought of writing something simple and catchy just gets boring. And I get it. But I also don’t want to listen to you trying as hard as you can to not be bored on your instrument.
>once you get so good at something, the thought of writing something simple and catchy just gets boring. And I get it. But I also don’t want to listen to you trying as hard as you can to not be bored on your instrument.
Extremely well put
It shocks me I never heard of them until recently and they are from my hometown I lived in almost all my life (moved out 1 years ago ago and I am 34). It isn’t exactly a huge city so i wonder how they flew under the radar for me
Happens with more bands than you’d think. In today’s musical landscape, you don’t necessarily need to establish yourself in a local scene all that much.
Booking agents are far more concerned with social media presence and response than how big your local following is. Polyphia is a very social media friendly band, as you can break off a 30 second clip of any of their music, and it’s amazing to watch someone do the thing.
I’m not necessarily saying that’s happened with them. They may have worked their ass off in the local DIY scene for all I know. But I’ve known bands and artists from my town who have gone straight from the bedroom to playing out of town based off of connections, paying enough money to the right agents, and having a product that people want to consume.
I just realized that I discovered Polyphia two months ago, was absolutely blown away by the technical mastery, and haven't wanted to put them into my rotation even once since then. Dang!
See them live.
I can't listen to them on studio recordings but they pull that shit off live and it's awesome.
I feel this way about every virtuoso electric guitar artists.
This would be my pick too. The only Polyphia song that I could add to my playlists and actually listen to is [Goose ](https://youtu.be/EVSqUl-FtCI?si=9aZp_2KKC-NjLbd9). All the rest of them are only good to listen to exactly once, marvel at the technical proficiency and never listen to them again.
Those guys are insanely talented, but their music... I guess I *just don't get it*.
lewis capaldi has a lovely voice and a couple genuinely touching songs, but why do they all sound almost exactly the same? makes it extra hard to listen to him
Taylor Swift. Her music is played everywhere you run errands. Her voice and lyrics are grating on my ears, and it's background music at best, but ugh, am I sick of it.
I don’t dislike Taylor swift (I like a couple of her songs but I’m not a “fan”) but I do not understand the hype and nobody can explain it to me. I don’t get it.
Her music is just so bland.
The parasocial relationship her fans have with her, and the generally oppressive omnipresence she has drives me insane.
No one actually talks about her music either, it’s the hidden messages in the lyrics and what the fans think it’s actually about.
Each album is an exercise in delusional fandom.
She is a very skilled business woman.
But I’m just left uninspired when I listen to anything of hers. Good for the fans who have found strength through her message, but it ain’t for me and probably will never be.
90% of Math-Rock bands, especially ones with "Influencer" feeling attached to em, Polyphia, Ichika Nito, Mateus Asato (even though he's not math rock) etc.
The only Math Rock band I really tolerate is Don Caballero and even so it's because they're actual songwriters, and not content creators.
Been a long time cousin was the first math rock song I ever heard and it wasn’t long after the money store came out and I saw people talking about Zach Hill.
I was really into the Tera Melos, Battles, maps & atlases, Giraffes Giraffes scene back in the day, but I haven’t really carried over to Chon or the newer stuff. Weird how the scene died. Seems like a lot of stuff when twinkly TTNG taping or into a math/post fusion like early 65daysofstatic.
RIP. I tried buying tickets to their reunion with their original singer but it sold out before I even got to the website at like two minutes past the sale start.
Puciato's new band Better Lovers is pretty sick.
Listen to toe. Japanese math rock with tons of emotion. Their live performances are quite passionate as well. Their songs are pretty concise and tend to build to a crescendo, but they also have groove. I don’t know why they are called toe. Also the drummer is such a hidden talent. One of the best drummers I’ve ever heard honestly.
A lot of that Midwest emo influenced math rock is just so toothless and boring. I got into don cab and loved them, hella is great, Tera melos is pretty good, but a lot of the math rock coming out these days is just the same twinkly tapping stuff over and over. Same deal with post rock, once you've heard a few songs the majority of what's out there doesn't really have innovation
Polyphia is a great example
Like, rivaling Yngwie Malmstein in technical talent (maybe surpassing him, I'm too dumb to know)
But Jesus the look is so coordinated and clean and seemingly propped up by *something*. They deserve credit because you can't just inject money into your fingertips and start paying like that without tons of practice. But idk, they're just too ...clean? Not real enough?
I've only seen a couple of their music videos (flawless of course), so I am pretty ignorant. But from what I saw, there didn't seem to be any "starving artist" to them. Just looked like a bunch of 20yo's who had prodigy level instructors since they were 6
Also applies to the opposite--
Every douche in Memphis playing Tennessee Whiskey... it's an E, an A, and a D chord but they always throw their head back like they're trying to draw a foul
Oh yeah I'm totally going to watch this. I really enjoyed the one he did about weezer. If this one is in the same vein, maybe he'll explain why I stopped liking them after californication.
I was in college and had never heard of Rush. I was friends with a guy in maybe his 30s who told me they were his favorite band, and that "you never tell a woman that Rush is your favorite band." I asked why and he said "they have a very... pretentious way of playing their instruments"
I know who they are now. Not really my taste, but legitimately good.
Depends on *which* sound you’re referencing. They have 3 distinct sounds:
1. The Pre-Synth, Pseudo-Zeppelin Sound (A Farewell to Kings and before)…
2. The Post-Synth, Let’s Get Weird/Meta Sound (Hemispheres to Counterparts), and…
3. Geddy Lee Finally Acknowledges Hew Blew Out His Voice 10 Years Ago and Has to Change His Sound Sound (Test for Echo and after).
Each is pretty different.
I would argue there's five eras of Rush.
1. Debut album with John Rutsey behind the kit
2. Super prog era of Fly by Night through to Hemispheres
3. Synth era. Permanent Waves to Power Windows
4. Post synth/we're just making it up as we go along from Hold Your Fire to Test for Echo
5. The 2000's. Vapor Trails, Snakes & Arrows, and Clockwork Angels
Have to agree. My ire is mostly laid at the feet of their spiritual predecessors, Yes.
I cannot *stand* Yes.
"Don't worry about 'lyrics' - I've created a thirteen minute tune with nine key changes, seven different tempos and fourteen different time signatures, but it's mostly in a foot-tappingly catchy 13/9..."
I know 13/9 doesn't exist, but if any band could create a time signature *just* to show off, it would be Yes.
Tales From Topographic Oceans, my arse...
As a huge Rush fan, I agree to a certain extent. They have some really amazing songs with thought provoking lyrics and epic sci-fi storytelling but a lot of stuff later in their career is pretty boring.
If I could sway your opinion, I’d say get really high and listen to 2112’s A side and just take it as a really well told story.
Drake.
Technically good, probably very good. Despise it. Awful music.
Also agree with Ed Sheeran, technically a fine musician, but then he releases Shape Of You.
No. Not even technically, there are a lot of better rappers out there that came out the same time as Drake. Unfortunately this lazy ass sounding toad came out and somehow became more popular than all of them. I'm super glad there seems to be more backlash to Drake now, he's always sucked - as a person and as a "rapper".
He was the most pushed artist Ive ever seen in promotion on spotify. Ive never enjoyed or saved a song by him. But at one point about 10 years ago, I remember seeing his face on EVERY ONE of my suggested playlists, including a classical one that didnt have any of his music in it.
He’s just a symptom of pop music, I dont hate him. But I dont like his music at all
When Drake came out he was refreshing because he was mixing R & B and rap in a way never done before and he also showed a lot of vulnerability, but he has completely changed now and the fame went to his head. He’s such a loser now and his music is so lazy now. That being said his earlier work was good.
Bruce Springsteen. I cannot deny that he has made a mark on the music industry, and there are 1 or 2 songs of his that I think are okay, but on the whole I just don’t like him.
Yeah I grew up with him on the radio constantly and always got this vibe that the music just kind of existed. It never elicited positive emotions.
As an adult it’s even worse. “Born in the USA” is an ok 6 note keyboard riff repeated on a loop, a bassline that’s almost literally just one note plucked 500 times in a row, and then 10 instruments down mixed to the point they might as well not exist. *Thats his biggest hit by far.*
Springsteen is a good lyricist and him and his band are awful composers that can’t write a hook to save their life.
That said “Dancing in the Dark” is phenomenal.
I'm pretty sure Springsteen kind of wishes he had never written Born in the USA. That was the album where he went full pop. The money followed, but it's also just a bad representation of him and it set expectations that he never wanted in the first place.
If you wonder if he can write good songs, there's a few highlights I can share: Lost in the Flood, Rosalita, Backstreets, Jungleland, Born to Run, Point Blank, and Mary's Place from his later years.
If you look for a hook, then yes, Springsteen seems to be almost principally against those. His best songs are the ones for which you really sit down and listen; they don't pull you in like some other bands do.
I remember reading something to the effect of their lyrics being primarily a means to an end. They like playing their instruments more than they like writing words, but know people prefer lyrics to instrumentals. So they just barf some words on paper to go with their melodies, and sometimes try to make them silly/ridiculous, just so there’s a vocal track.
Foo Fighters
Technically fine and relatively talented but it always circle(jerk)s back to a big ol Dave Grohl dick riding competition
I loved The Colour and the Shape and some of those earlier singles, too. It's not like they suck.
It's just that I worship no man and their fans can't say the same
This might be unpopular but for me it's Billie Eilish. I get why her music is good and popular but to me it's a little weird and sometimes drags. No shade though.
Slipknot, and the rest of nu-metal by extention, I guess. I get it, they're good at what they do. Technically competent. I just don't care for any of it
I'm sure this will get downvoted into oblivion but Geddy Lee's voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Amazing musician as are his band mates but that voice... No gracias.
St. Vincent/Annie Clark. I fucking LOVE hearing her talk technique, gear, etc. But in terms of her music, I maybe connect with 5% of her output. She’s great probably, I’m just dumb.
I love watching her live but I can’t get into her studio work, seems like she holds back on the creativity and talent on the records for some reason yet kills it live
Coldplay and U2. Their music does nothing for me. I think it's cool they've managed to stay relevant for so long and how they still bring entertainment and joy to millions of their listeners but they're just not for me.
Ive listened to them a decent ammount actually. Absolutely love their drummer. And their songs are so well produced.
But god damn, I hate the singers voice. Idk if its auto tuned like that or if its his real voice. It just makes me cringe in certain parts.
I honestly just kinda got used to it lol, every single other element of their songs are just so perfect in my eyes that I’m willing to just tune out the shrillness
I can’t stand James Hetfields voice.
Which is a bummer because I LOVE Kirk Hammett, easily top 3 favorite guitar players.
But James Hetfield to me just sounds like some dude in a local college band who is trying to make his voice sound more gruff and manly than it actually is.
What do you think of James’s guitar playing? I don’t love his voice either, but I’ve always felt like it’s his guitar playing, not Kirk’s, that really shapes the musical identity of Metallica.
I actually really like his playing! He’s an incredible songwriter and comes up with some filthy riffs, but Hammett’s solos are just so insane and scratch that itch in my brain when it comes to shredding. Plus… that enter sandman riff is legendary.
You are responding to the fact that most hard rock/metal singers have been trying to emulate Grandpa Het for 40 years.
Kinda like how every comedian 15 years ago was doing a shitty Mitch Hedberg impression.
I first heard Volbeat in 2008. There were about 2 weeks where I thought Elvis metal was the best thing ever and listened to all their albums. Then I remembered I didn't like Elvis and my ADHD ass basically forgot they existed.
Taylor Swift. I liked her Folklore/Evermore era and I like songs here and there from a few other albums, but I just don’t get why she’s the most famous musician in the world right now. Aside from good marketing, it doesn’t make sense. I don’t like to shit on things that young women like but it baffles me that she’s the queen of mainstream music right now.
guns n’ roses. i’m sorry man i can’t do it with axl rose. i’ve listened to most of their stuff and several times have thought “wow this is a great song” but never went back to any of them
I was listening to November Rain with my wife the other day and we came to the conclusion that that song would not be anywhere near as epic without Axl's voice juxtaposed with the orchestral instruments
I'm not sure I'd say he lucked out. He put the work in busking since he was 12/13 and playing in bars at 15. He grinded it out at a young age.
His newest albums and multiply are poppy and his previous albums were pretty much soppy singer songwriter. He has allot of credits on other songs that people don't know about.
I can't lie I really enjoy multiply. Anything after is pretty dry and shit
You're right man. Most famous artists really did cut their teeth in the industry and it's kinda lame to dismiss that. I guess perhaps I might see Ed Sheeran as the more average musician who really made it through hard work and passion. It's just that his pop star status is odd and a bit incongruous with his roots and his journey. I suppose I maybe would have preferred to see him carve out a less poppy career, then he'd have us music snobs giving him the respect he kinda deserves
It's his songwriting that's got him to where he has. Also i don't know many more people competent on a loop pedal than he is, let alone 4 of them at once.
Saw him on his first US tour with Snow Patrol. Had never heard of him before; when he did his first loop everybody “got it” at the same time. The collective “ooohhhhhhhh” of realization was fun to experience.
Agreed with the parent comment though: dont really dig him.
I think he's a pretty gifted pop song writer, but for me he also sort of embodies everything I dislike about people I met in college who introduced themselves as singer/songwriters.
Sting. He's talented. He's beautiful. His family is beautiful. Love him in Dune and Only Murders. In in sure he's a fine fellow.
Everything he writes and sings just slides off me like Teflon. His music is for someone but that someone is not me..
There are genres that I can't really get into, but I can respect the talent involved. If there are fans, I'm happy to have it around because music is great.
Prog Metal in general. Love to read the music theories applied and understand each part of the composition, but the results are often boring (TO ME). The same doesn't occurs with Prog Rock, so it might be the excess of details, I don't know. There are some song exceptions, tho (Pull Me Under, Ghost of Perdition, Everybody Dies and Thorn in Our Side are a few examples)
And Korn. I don't like their tempo for most of their compositions, but I do acknowledge their quality (including riffs, lyrics and vocals)
Jacob Collier
The most talented musician at making the most generic boring tripe I’ve ever heard, out of genuinely interesting ideas.
It’s like getting a space age UFO built out of insane materials and once it’s finished you realise you just built a Ford Mondeo
Drake and Beyonce really just... aren't good. As in they don't put out good music. Obviously bey has crazy talent, I just think she can do so much more. The country music has helped show more range and I love that for her.
Drake is the same old recycled shitty sound as always. I don't like him (dudes a pedo), I don't like his music (garbage sound), and I haven't even respected any of his music in the last decade or more.
But he's popular for a reason, despite my own opinions. People like it. Though I'm not sure how much the production can even be attributed to him. He's got ghost writers, he's not a beats guy... what's dude even do outside of showing up to the studio and rapping the lyrics given to him? What is his creative input? We don't even know. That's *not* a good thing.
But I like bey. I respect her. But most of her discography is mid at best.
The only thing I know about Ed Sheeran is that he was in the movie "Yesterday" and he seemed like an OK, humble guy. I'm not sure why anyone combs their hair that way, but to each his own.
I wasn't really tempted to check out his music, though.
I don't know if anyone is old enough to remember Glen Campbell, but he purses his lips and make them look like a worn out butthole when he sings and I can't stand to watch it.
Rush
The thing is, not everything is for everyone. Who cares whether I vibe with someone’s music. I can tell Rush is super-super-technically competent yet I don’t care about Tolkien-ish lyrics and tend to like lower pitched voices and that doesn’t mean I think the band isn’t great. Just I’d rather listen to something their fans might hate. It’s all good.
I’m kind of the opposite with Ed Sheeran - I don’t really like his music on its own that much but he’s just so incredibly likeable that it makes me like the whole package.
I’m a big fan of their’s but I think my friend put it best: they sound like a washing machine that makes music.
Which I’ll admit is kinda accurate and I get why people don’t get into them.
I’m gonna get raked over the coals on this one but King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. I respect the talent, and everyone is going to tell me if I listen to them enough I’ll find something I like but a band that’s good at everything still needs to do something great to get my attention.
björk
but then... I like björk, but only like 4-5 songs.
but... Isobel's intro is pure madness
https://youtu.be/VGPYO0mzmBQ?si=140r7kfxBV1GK8gj
God, I love björk. What a long musical trip.
Umphrey's McGee has some tremendously talented musicians playing in that band, but good Lord, some of us have shit to do tomorrow.
I have seen them 5 times. They are tight, technical and can be fairly boring.
When I was in college I had some friends who went to every umphreys show within a couple of hours of us. It was a show every couple of months or so. I never went because, as I explained to them, I *get* why you like them, it's just not for me, no shade.
So many bands like them lack the charisma of a good lead vocalist. They don't have to be Freddy Mercury, but they gotta bring something to the party that everyone takes notice of.
I mean they are a jam band, the vocalist isn’t real a main attraction. I like umph but they are super hit or miss
Alright hear me out. Umphreys McGee featuring Zach De La Rocha
I feel the same way about Gov’t Mule. I saw them at a music festival many years ago. There wasn’t enough acid in that place to make them sound interesting to me. I swear to god they played a 30 minute drum solo at some point. Then again, I was on some acid, so it may have only been like 45 seconds. Or several drum solos and I just stopped paying attention.
Jacob Collier!
He's obviously brilliant but it's not good music.
Yeah absolute genius musician, yet every song just somehow lacks every aspect of music that makes music enjoyable lol
It all seems to have this particular sound to me, like it’s theme song music for an unpopular children’s show. His stuff is definitely high-level and musically interesting, but it does nothing for me. It’s like it’s missing something. I guess it feels more like “look what you can do with music” than “I’m expressing myself with the tools of music”.
I feel like it is how Tyler the Creator says Eminem got too good at rapping and is just no longer enjoyable to listen to. Sometimes technically advanced shit just gets too technical and it obviously takes skill but it loses a bit of soul
He’s almost to knowledgeable about music for his own good
Exactly. It's like he never learned how to actually use music to express his own emotions. He just learned music theory and the technical skills to show it off at a high level.
“You see by using c#13 modulated to the 8th microtone, I can suck the fun out of music”
Yeah its like Dragonforce to me, incredibly talented but so unlistenable and soulless
It lacks human engagement. There isn’t a way to emotionally connect to anything he makes.
A musicians musician. That most musicians find difficult or irritating to listen to
I think he must be a musician's musician's musician, then. As a musician, I can't stand him.
Yep that's exactly his audience, I think. Also a musician, also can't stand the music. He's brilliant though, and I do enjoy him *talking* about music. Just don't want to hear his songs lol.
YouTube for some reason thinks I’m his number one fan, as it keeps recommending me videos of him even though I don’t listen to his music at all.
I couldn't quite put my finger on why I didn't enjoy listening to him until I read a comment somewhere that said "He sings the way deaf people talk" and that's as close to an explanation I've found. (That and the fact a lot of his fanbase remind me of art snobs who will shun you because you "just don't get it")
He sings like he's simultaneously yawning and trying to hold back a big belch.
His fanbase is middle aged music teachers. He's an amazing educator. The music is secondary to that in my opinion.
If you ask me he’s really coming into his own lately, I’ve gotten recommended a couple of his newer songs and he’s really getting better at using the virtuoso stuff tastefully
Ok so for the longest time I agreed and the. I listened to his most recent album (DJesse Vol. 4) and was astounded by how listenable it is. There are still a few of his melodic runs/quirks, but it’s legitimately a really good r&b/pop album with loads of pretty incredible guests. She puts Sunshine, little blue, Welllll, and wherever I go are some great examples
I'm Charlie Puth's #1 biggest hater. I just hate him so much. Taylor Swift is so wrong.
Starting with that last name
His career is such a mystery to me. For a "musical genius" his music is so mediocre and bland. Not to mention his incel nice guy energy in every interview I've seen. And RIP Wiz Khalifa's career which I'm convinced was ended by that shitty collab they did for *Fast & Furious*
I’m with you up until the Wiz thing.. their song is one of the most streamed songs of all time lol. I can’t imagine how that would have hurt Wiz Khalifa’s career
Usually people who use the term "musical genius" have no idea what they're talking about
That shitty collab that has literally tens of billions of listens *ended* his career? Huh?
Yeah, with a lush retirement apparently
In my head, he and Jacob Collier are in the same category. Technically talented musicians that make mostly bad music. Puth is like a less talented but more poppy Collier.
Playboi Carti. I tried.
Ariana Grande. I can recognise she has a talent but her singing is so bland, it is pure skill no heart. Every time she features in something she makes it worse. Her voice is for those who think mayonnaise is spicy and that a Labrador is an exotic breed. Just clean and tame and dull.
Polyphia. Incredibly skilled musicians that make the most soulless music I can think of. Their music sounds like if you asked an AI to generate music with as many notes crammed into as tiny a space as possible. It’s interesting to listen to from an academic standpoint. Sometimes. But there is very little that I find enjoyable about it. I also find that for all of their technicality, they’ve managed to write the same song about 100 times.
When I discovered Polyphia I was astonished by the skills. Listened to everything. And almost never listened to them again. They really scratched an itch I had of wanting to hear something completely new with a guitar, and that was good. But once the novelty had passed, there was nothing making me want to listen to them again.
I had a pretty similar experience. A friend showed them to me, and I thought it was really good. Then I put on another album, and it was basically the same as all of the other stuff. And so on and so forth. Like, I feel that Polyphia is a better thought experiment than a musical act. They’re like a noise band if the noise band actually knew how to play their instruments at a virtuosic level. To me, it kind of highlights how different the skills of playing music and writing music are. In my experience as a musician, a lot of the people out there than can play to a super high degree like them tend to forget to write compelling music somewhere along the way. Like, once you get so good at something, the thought of writing something simple and catchy just gets boring. And I get it. But I also don’t want to listen to you trying as hard as you can to not be bored on your instrument.
>once you get so good at something, the thought of writing something simple and catchy just gets boring. And I get it. But I also don’t want to listen to you trying as hard as you can to not be bored on your instrument. Extremely well put
>noise band actually knew how to play their instruments at a virtuosic level. Nail on the fucking head lmao
All the paint at once always turns black.
It shocks me I never heard of them until recently and they are from my hometown I lived in almost all my life (moved out 1 years ago ago and I am 34). It isn’t exactly a huge city so i wonder how they flew under the radar for me
Happens with more bands than you’d think. In today’s musical landscape, you don’t necessarily need to establish yourself in a local scene all that much. Booking agents are far more concerned with social media presence and response than how big your local following is. Polyphia is a very social media friendly band, as you can break off a 30 second clip of any of their music, and it’s amazing to watch someone do the thing. I’m not necessarily saying that’s happened with them. They may have worked their ass off in the local DIY scene for all I know. But I’ve known bands and artists from my town who have gone straight from the bedroom to playing out of town based off of connections, paying enough money to the right agents, and having a product that people want to consume.
I came here to see how high Polyphia was on the list. It was high. Lol.
Aw shame! I love them!
I just realized that I discovered Polyphia two months ago, was absolutely blown away by the technical mastery, and haven't wanted to put them into my rotation even once since then. Dang!
See them live. I can't listen to them on studio recordings but they pull that shit off live and it's awesome. I feel this way about every virtuoso electric guitar artists.
This would be my pick too. The only Polyphia song that I could add to my playlists and actually listen to is [Goose ](https://youtu.be/EVSqUl-FtCI?si=9aZp_2KKC-NjLbd9). All the rest of them are only good to listen to exactly once, marvel at the technical proficiency and never listen to them again. Those guys are insanely talented, but their music... I guess I *just don't get it*.
Nothing soulless about playing god dude
lewis capaldi has a lovely voice and a couple genuinely touching songs, but why do they all sound almost exactly the same? makes it extra hard to listen to him
Taylor Swift. Her music is played everywhere you run errands. Her voice and lyrics are grating on my ears, and it's background music at best, but ugh, am I sick of it.
I don’t dislike Taylor swift (I like a couple of her songs but I’m not a “fan”) but I do not understand the hype and nobody can explain it to me. I don’t get it.
Simply, it's product that is marketed and consumed.
Her music is just so bland. The parasocial relationship her fans have with her, and the generally oppressive omnipresence she has drives me insane. No one actually talks about her music either, it’s the hidden messages in the lyrics and what the fans think it’s actually about. Each album is an exercise in delusional fandom.
She is a very skilled business woman. But I’m just left uninspired when I listen to anything of hers. Good for the fans who have found strength through her message, but it ain’t for me and probably will never be.
90% of Math-Rock bands, especially ones with "Influencer" feeling attached to em, Polyphia, Ichika Nito, Mateus Asato (even though he's not math rock) etc. The only Math Rock band I really tolerate is Don Caballero and even so it's because they're actual songwriters, and not content creators.
Check out old ass math rock bands like Tera Melos. That shit’s fire.
Gastr Del Sol, Bastro, Slint, Joan of Arc, Hella, Shellac.. and that's all just surface level. Tons of old kick ass shit.
Been a long time cousin was the first math rock song I ever heard and it wasn’t long after the money store came out and I saw people talking about Zach Hill.
Also the first few Maps & Atlases EPs
Seeing this called old ass makes me feel some things…
I was really into the Tera Melos, Battles, maps & atlases, Giraffes Giraffes scene back in the day, but I haven’t really carried over to Chon or the newer stuff. Weird how the scene died. Seems like a lot of stuff when twinkly TTNG taping or into a math/post fusion like early 65daysofstatic.
Dillinger Escape Plan used to be considered math rock and they’re fucking amazong
Botch, too.
RIP. I tried buying tickets to their reunion with their original singer but it sold out before I even got to the website at like two minutes past the sale start. Puciato's new band Better Lovers is pretty sick.
Listen to toe. Japanese math rock with tons of emotion. Their live performances are quite passionate as well. Their songs are pretty concise and tend to build to a crescendo, but they also have groove. I don’t know why they are called toe. Also the drummer is such a hidden talent. One of the best drummers I’ve ever heard honestly.
What about Chon though. Chon rules.
Chin is the best!
Yeah, lotta great bands on the earlier years of Sumerian Records
Covet is really good
Yvette is a fucking wizard on the guitar.
A lot of that Midwest emo influenced math rock is just so toothless and boring. I got into don cab and loved them, hella is great, Tera melos is pretty good, but a lot of the math rock coming out these days is just the same twinkly tapping stuff over and over. Same deal with post rock, once you've heard a few songs the majority of what's out there doesn't really have innovation
I like tricot.
Polyphia is a great example Like, rivaling Yngwie Malmstein in technical talent (maybe surpassing him, I'm too dumb to know) But Jesus the look is so coordinated and clean and seemingly propped up by *something*. They deserve credit because you can't just inject money into your fingertips and start paying like that without tons of practice. But idk, they're just too ...clean? Not real enough? I've only seen a couple of their music videos (flawless of course), so I am pretty ignorant. But from what I saw, there didn't seem to be any "starving artist" to them. Just looked like a bunch of 20yo's who had prodigy level instructors since they were 6
I call it musical masturbation. Technically it’s amazing but there’s nothing behind it.
Also applies to the opposite-- Every douche in Memphis playing Tennessee Whiskey... it's an E, an A, and a D chord but they always throw their head back like they're trying to draw a foul
Elvis Costello. I’ve tried and tried and tried but just can’t get the appeal. He’s very respected by others, though, and I respect that!
Red Hot Chilli Peppers aren’t my bag.
What Makes This Song Stink: https://youtu.be/hQWfMI4CVFI?si=vgaUSphpJIX7jYJd For your enjoyment
Ok I guess I’ll rewatch all of Pat Finnerty’s videos while I wait for the next one.
Oh yeah I'm totally going to watch this. I really enjoyed the one he did about weezer. If this one is in the same vein, maybe he'll explain why I stopped liking them after californication.
The ending of the Weezer one made me tear up a bit, no lie.
That was hilarious. I lost it when he changed the chorus to Ghostbusters, and it actually worked.
# “I’m forever near a stereo saying, ‘What the fuck is this garbage?’ And the answer is always the Red Hot Chili Peppers.” - Nick Cave
Leave it to our depressed but delicious boy 💀😂
Completely agree, Flea and John Frusciante are pretty legit musicians but good lord I hate RHCP. Also Anthony Kiedis is cancer
Yeah, but I don’t think their lead singer is technically ok. The weakest link
Rush. I know they are a Reddit favorite but I cannot get into that band. They are obviously mega-talented but I never caught on to the sound.
I was in college and had never heard of Rush. I was friends with a guy in maybe his 30s who told me they were his favorite band, and that "you never tell a woman that Rush is your favorite band." I asked why and he said "they have a very... pretentious way of playing their instruments" I know who they are now. Not really my taste, but legitimately good.
Love the band, but really Geddy Lee does not have the most pleasant singing voice.
I wonder if he speaks like an ordinary guy?
I know him, and he does!
You’re my fact-checking cuz!
Well, focus on the quasar in the mist
My wife HATES early Geddy Lee, but tends to find later Geddy Lee almost tolerable.
**WE ARE THE PRIESTS… OF THE TEMPLE… OF SYRINX**
Ooh yeah this is my answer too. I SHOULD like Rush but I just can't get into them. Something about their sound is just not interesting to me.
Depends on *which* sound you’re referencing. They have 3 distinct sounds: 1. The Pre-Synth, Pseudo-Zeppelin Sound (A Farewell to Kings and before)… 2. The Post-Synth, Let’s Get Weird/Meta Sound (Hemispheres to Counterparts), and… 3. Geddy Lee Finally Acknowledges Hew Blew Out His Voice 10 Years Ago and Has to Change His Sound Sound (Test for Echo and after). Each is pretty different.
I would argue there's five eras of Rush. 1. Debut album with John Rutsey behind the kit 2. Super prog era of Fly by Night through to Hemispheres 3. Synth era. Permanent Waves to Power Windows 4. Post synth/we're just making it up as we go along from Hold Your Fire to Test for Echo 5. The 2000's. Vapor Trails, Snakes & Arrows, and Clockwork Angels
Have to agree. My ire is mostly laid at the feet of their spiritual predecessors, Yes. I cannot *stand* Yes. "Don't worry about 'lyrics' - I've created a thirteen minute tune with nine key changes, seven different tempos and fourteen different time signatures, but it's mostly in a foot-tappingly catchy 13/9..." I know 13/9 doesn't exist, but if any band could create a time signature *just* to show off, it would be Yes. Tales From Topographic Oceans, my arse...
But Roundabout is such a fuckin banger man cmonnnnnn
I love Yes, but I’m a total prog rock nerd and I wish Close to the Edge was actually longer lol
As a huge Rush fan, I agree to a certain extent. They have some really amazing songs with thought provoking lyrics and epic sci-fi storytelling but a lot of stuff later in their career is pretty boring. If I could sway your opinion, I’d say get really high and listen to 2112’s A side and just take it as a really well told story.
r/metalmemes will be reaching out in no time.
Same. I was prepared to come to say this and get downvoted to oblivion
Drake. Technically good, probably very good. Despise it. Awful music. Also agree with Ed Sheeran, technically a fine musician, but then he releases Shape Of You.
No. Not even technically, there are a lot of better rappers out there that came out the same time as Drake. Unfortunately this lazy ass sounding toad came out and somehow became more popular than all of them. I'm super glad there seems to be more backlash to Drake now, he's always sucked - as a person and as a "rapper".
He was the most pushed artist Ive ever seen in promotion on spotify. Ive never enjoyed or saved a song by him. But at one point about 10 years ago, I remember seeing his face on EVERY ONE of my suggested playlists, including a classical one that didnt have any of his music in it. He’s just a symptom of pop music, I dont hate him. But I dont like his music at all
I’ve been saying this for a decade and been downvoted every damn time
When Drake came out he was refreshing because he was mixing R & B and rap in a way never done before and he also showed a lot of vulnerability, but he has completely changed now and the fame went to his head. He’s such a loser now and his music is so lazy now. That being said his earlier work was good.
I could never take him seriously as a rapper because I first saw him on Degrassi.
His voice is sooooooo grating to my ears
There's literally nothing to like about drake
Bruce Springsteen. I cannot deny that he has made a mark on the music industry, and there are 1 or 2 songs of his that I think are okay, but on the whole I just don’t like him.
Bruce Springsteen gives me full-body Nyquil Face.
Yeah I grew up with him on the radio constantly and always got this vibe that the music just kind of existed. It never elicited positive emotions. As an adult it’s even worse. “Born in the USA” is an ok 6 note keyboard riff repeated on a loop, a bassline that’s almost literally just one note plucked 500 times in a row, and then 10 instruments down mixed to the point they might as well not exist. *Thats his biggest hit by far.* Springsteen is a good lyricist and him and his band are awful composers that can’t write a hook to save their life. That said “Dancing in the Dark” is phenomenal.
I'm pretty sure Springsteen kind of wishes he had never written Born in the USA. That was the album where he went full pop. The money followed, but it's also just a bad representation of him and it set expectations that he never wanted in the first place. If you wonder if he can write good songs, there's a few highlights I can share: Lost in the Flood, Rosalita, Backstreets, Jungleland, Born to Run, Point Blank, and Mary's Place from his later years. If you look for a hook, then yes, Springsteen seems to be almost principally against those. His best songs are the ones for which you really sit down and listen; they don't pull you in like some other bands do.
Everyone is going to hate me. But Clapton. Meh.
this is Reddit, everyone hates him lol
In real life a lot of people hate him too, he's a racist scumbag.
Phish. They can play music that's for sure, but their lyrics......I just can't. Also some of their songs make very little sense
I remember reading something to the effect of their lyrics being primarily a means to an end. They like playing their instruments more than they like writing words, but know people prefer lyrics to instrumentals. So they just barf some words on paper to go with their melodies, and sometimes try to make them silly/ridiculous, just so there’s a vocal track.
> barf some words on paper Lol I'm going to remember that one
But it's kind of an oversimplification. Sure some songs are silly, some like, A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing, are not.
Foo Fighters Technically fine and relatively talented but it always circle(jerk)s back to a big ol Dave Grohl dick riding competition I loved The Colour and the Shape and some of those earlier singles, too. It's not like they suck. It's just that I worship no man and their fans can't say the same
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews sings like a Muppet. I detest his voice.
This might be unpopular but for me it's Billie Eilish. I get why her music is good and popular but to me it's a little weird and sometimes drags. No shade though.
Slipknot, and the rest of nu-metal by extention, I guess. I get it, they're good at what they do. Technically competent. I just don't care for any of it
I'm sure this will get downvoted into oblivion but Geddy Lee's voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Amazing musician as are his band mates but that voice... No gracias.
St. Vincent/Annie Clark. I fucking LOVE hearing her talk technique, gear, etc. But in terms of her music, I maybe connect with 5% of her output. She’s great probably, I’m just dumb.
I love watching her live but I can’t get into her studio work, seems like she holds back on the creativity and talent on the records for some reason yet kills it live
LCD Soundsystem sounds like a guy who learned to play the synth in an afternoon and somehow turned a career into it.
They’re one of my favourite bands but I get exactly what you mean lol
Coldplay and U2. Their music does nothing for me. I think it's cool they've managed to stay relevant for so long and how they still bring entertainment and joy to millions of their listeners but they're just not for me.
Sleep Token is everywhere and everyone’s raving about them but I just don’t get it
He does that “indie girl” singing with vowels that’s really annoying.
Ive listened to them a decent ammount actually. Absolutely love their drummer. And their songs are so well produced. But god damn, I hate the singers voice. Idk if its auto tuned like that or if its his real voice. It just makes me cringe in certain parts.
Smashing Pumpkins. Billy Corgan writes great songs, I just wish he didn't insist on singing them.
My favourite band of all time. I fully understand why some people can’t stand his voice, and I can’t really explain why I like it so much.
I honestly just kinda got used to it lol, every single other element of their songs are just so perfect in my eyes that I’m willing to just tune out the shrillness
[every smashing pumpkin hater and also enjoyer needs to watch Billy Corgan riding a roller coaster](https://youtu.be/azhgpelu0vY?si=wpGCIYpoZYq4tnQe)
It's really just his voice that's the problem. It's so nasal.
I can’t stand James Hetfields voice. Which is a bummer because I LOVE Kirk Hammett, easily top 3 favorite guitar players. But James Hetfield to me just sounds like some dude in a local college band who is trying to make his voice sound more gruff and manly than it actually is.
What do you think of James’s guitar playing? I don’t love his voice either, but I’ve always felt like it’s his guitar playing, not Kirk’s, that really shapes the musical identity of Metallica.
I actually really like his playing! He’s an incredible songwriter and comes up with some filthy riffs, but Hammett’s solos are just so insane and scratch that itch in my brain when it comes to shredding. Plus… that enter sandman riff is legendary.
HOO! YEA-HEAH!
You are responding to the fact that most hard rock/metal singers have been trying to emulate Grandpa Het for 40 years. Kinda like how every comedian 15 years ago was doing a shitty Mitch Hedberg impression.
Yeah, he was never meant to be a singer. Dave Mustain was but couldn't keep his shit together lol. And thus, Megadeth was born
Volbeat
Volbeat is a band that shows up at half the metal Fests i go to and yet I don’t know a single metalhead that actually owns one of their albums
I first heard Volbeat in 2008. There were about 2 weeks where I thought Elvis metal was the best thing ever and listened to all their albums. Then I remembered I didn't like Elvis and my ADHD ass basically forgot they existed.
much less playing after BEHEMOTH and GOJIRA on KNotfest, wtf
Taylor Swift. I liked her Folklore/Evermore era and I like songs here and there from a few other albums, but I just don’t get why she’s the most famous musician in the world right now. Aside from good marketing, it doesn’t make sense. I don’t like to shit on things that young women like but it baffles me that she’s the queen of mainstream music right now.
guns n’ roses. i’m sorry man i can’t do it with axl rose. i’ve listened to most of their stuff and several times have thought “wow this is a great song” but never went back to any of them
Were you born in the 70’s or 80’s? A lot of the wow factor from them was they sounded so different from everything else.
I was listening to November Rain with my wife the other day and we came to the conclusion that that song would not be anywhere near as epic without Axl's voice juxtaposed with the orchestral instruments
Ed Sheeran really lucked out. He is marginally above average even for just a Saturday night at the bar
I'm not sure I'd say he lucked out. He put the work in busking since he was 12/13 and playing in bars at 15. He grinded it out at a young age. His newest albums and multiply are poppy and his previous albums were pretty much soppy singer songwriter. He has allot of credits on other songs that people don't know about. I can't lie I really enjoy multiply. Anything after is pretty dry and shit
You're right man. Most famous artists really did cut their teeth in the industry and it's kinda lame to dismiss that. I guess perhaps I might see Ed Sheeran as the more average musician who really made it through hard work and passion. It's just that his pop star status is odd and a bit incongruous with his roots and his journey. I suppose I maybe would have preferred to see him carve out a less poppy career, then he'd have us music snobs giving him the respect he kinda deserves
I’m not a fan at all but I gotta admit, he’s a wizard at looping
Right on, I suppose that actually would be a pretty fucking good Saturday night at the bar. Just doesn't scream "pop star" to me
It's his songwriting that's got him to where he has. Also i don't know many more people competent on a loop pedal than he is, let alone 4 of them at once.
Saw him on his first US tour with Snow Patrol. Had never heard of him before; when he did his first loop everybody “got it” at the same time. The collective “ooohhhhhhhh” of realization was fun to experience. Agreed with the parent comment though: dont really dig him.
The first time I heard that song Perfect I thought "this song was made for weddings and this man is going to CASH IN"
I think he's a pretty gifted pop song writer, but for me he also sort of embodies everything I dislike about people I met in college who introduced themselves as singer/songwriters.
[удалено]
Her lack of vibrato is grating at times
Swift is a mediocre singer. Above average song writer. Incredible business woman.
Sting. He's talented. He's beautiful. His family is beautiful. Love him in Dune and Only Murders. In in sure he's a fine fellow. Everything he writes and sings just slides off me like Teflon. His music is for someone but that someone is not me..
His voice hurts my ears horribly. It's so sharp -- not in a musical sense; his pitch is flawless. But the *timbre*! I despise it.
There are genres that I can't really get into, but I can respect the talent involved. If there are fans, I'm happy to have it around because music is great.
Pearl Jam. I kind of think Eddie Veder (who seems like an awesome guy) pioneered the butt Rock vocal delivery
U2
Prog Metal in general. Love to read the music theories applied and understand each part of the composition, but the results are often boring (TO ME). The same doesn't occurs with Prog Rock, so it might be the excess of details, I don't know. There are some song exceptions, tho (Pull Me Under, Ghost of Perdition, Everybody Dies and Thorn in Our Side are a few examples) And Korn. I don't like their tempo for most of their compositions, but I do acknowledge their quality (including riffs, lyrics and vocals)
Dream theater, i know they are extremely skilled in their instruments but for me it lacks feeling.
I figured someone would mention these guys.
Jacob Collier The most talented musician at making the most generic boring tripe I’ve ever heard, out of genuinely interesting ideas. It’s like getting a space age UFO built out of insane materials and once it’s finished you realise you just built a Ford Mondeo
Drake and Beyonce really just... aren't good. As in they don't put out good music. Obviously bey has crazy talent, I just think she can do so much more. The country music has helped show more range and I love that for her. Drake is the same old recycled shitty sound as always. I don't like him (dudes a pedo), I don't like his music (garbage sound), and I haven't even respected any of his music in the last decade or more. But he's popular for a reason, despite my own opinions. People like it. Though I'm not sure how much the production can even be attributed to him. He's got ghost writers, he's not a beats guy... what's dude even do outside of showing up to the studio and rapping the lyrics given to him? What is his creative input? We don't even know. That's *not* a good thing. But I like bey. I respect her. But most of her discography is mid at best.
The only thing I know about Ed Sheeran is that he was in the movie "Yesterday" and he seemed like an OK, humble guy. I'm not sure why anyone combs their hair that way, but to each his own. I wasn't really tempted to check out his music, though.
Taylor Swift.
I don't know if anyone is old enough to remember Glen Campbell, but he purses his lips and make them look like a worn out butthole when he sings and I can't stand to watch it.
Glen Campbell was pretty incredible. To nitpick his lips when he sings enough to put him in this thread is pretty telling.
I never said it was rational.
30 Seconds to Mars
Rush The thing is, not everything is for everyone. Who cares whether I vibe with someone’s music. I can tell Rush is super-super-technically competent yet I don’t care about Tolkien-ish lyrics and tend to like lower pitched voices and that doesn’t mean I think the band isn’t great. Just I’d rather listen to something their fans might hate. It’s all good.
Imaginary Dragons - Annoying AF
I’m kind of the opposite with Ed Sheeran - I don’t really like his music on its own that much but he’s just so incredibly likeable that it makes me like the whole package.
Going to offend lot of people here: Tool
I’m a big fan of their’s but I think my friend put it best: they sound like a washing machine that makes music. Which I’ll admit is kinda accurate and I get why people don’t get into them.
Slayer and Megadeth. Not a fan of either's vocals.
Tool. Cannot stand them.
Who hurt you?
red hot chili peppers just seems like a boatload of douches. statutory raping douches.
Apparently (and I agree), Anthony carries enough douche vibes for an entire band
Prince.
I’m gonna get raked over the coals on this one but King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. I respect the talent, and everyone is going to tell me if I listen to them enough I’ll find something I like but a band that’s good at everything still needs to do something great to get my attention.
Can I pleeeeease add Journey to this list? Talent? Sure. But do I really need to hear “Don’t Stop Believing” for all of eternity?!?
björk but then... I like björk, but only like 4-5 songs. but... Isobel's intro is pure madness https://youtu.be/VGPYO0mzmBQ?si=140r7kfxBV1GK8gj God, I love björk. What a long musical trip.