We need to talk about why we don't talk about new music

[Shaky]

I liked What are you listening to?

Yeah, it offers up a lot of exciting stuff both new and old so I don't really see what the problem is. There's not much in the way of detailed discussion but it's still CaB reveling in the joy of all things musical.

[NoSleep]

It's like there's been a deliberate polarisation of the Talking About New Music. The Pitchfork mob on one side and the People Who Don't Care on the other. Could be part of the reason the NME went under - trying to ply the centre ground just didn't fly.

The NME probably went under because we don't really need music journalism anymore (especially not if we maintain a healthy Oscillations). Gone are the days when NME could declare something "single of the week" and you'd have to buy a copy to discover that it really wasn't.

[NoSleep]

Yeah, it offers up a lot of exciting stuff both new and old so I don't really see what the problem is. There's not much in the way of detailed discussion but it's still CaB reveling in the joy of all things musical.

So why don't people start new threads? Guaranteed that when somebody does start a new thread about some music it's because they're listening to it at the moment.

[holyzombiejesus]

As requested, I've locked the "what are you listening to thread" to see if that helps. I hate those threads and finds them very stifling, largely because it can already be tricky to get the shy buggers on here to start new threads, so they just look for somewhere else to bing stuff. So I feel that threads like that tend to swallow up a lot of interesting targets.

So let's see how this goes.

Cheers.

Can you get rid of that 'pathetic attempts at humour' thread too please?

[greenman]

Its interesting to see the differences in CaB when it comes to differ art forms though, you look at cinema and TV drama discussion here and new releases make up a significant amount of it were as music feels much more limited.

[NoSleep]

Much more music will get released in a week than new TV series or films and only a small amount of it will be promoted in an equivalent way to either film or TV. I often only find out about new releases that are of interest to me a couple of years later (and then you might feel you've missed the boat and don't bother posting about it). A TV series will naturally generate more posts, as each episode is viewed week by week and people comment on the unfolding story or the topics covered; the release of a TV series or film is more of an event.

[Johnny Yesno]

Firstly, I certainly would welcome negative comments in my threads as opposed to nothing at all. That said, you'd maybe need to constructively elaborate a bit more on those thoughts (e.g. "This is alright. Personally though I don't think it's a patch on stuff like Elliott Smith") as a throwaway dismissive comment would probably be disheartening to read.

While I agree with the overall thrust of your op, you really need to work on this yourself.

[Barry Admin]

Yeah, it offers up a lot of exciting stuff both new and old so I don't really see what the problem is. There's not much in the way of detailed discussion but it's still CaB reveling in the joy of all things musical.

That's the problem really. The whole forum is for discussion, but people on here always tend to gravitate towards hiding everything away in huge threads (which I can't personally be bothered keeping up with), because they think something "isn't worth" starting a thread over. And then you just end up with lists of stuff, instead of detailed discussion.

[Dirty Boy]

My brain is so fucked lately that when i do post it's usually only a brief splat in the 'now listening' thread. Sorry.

I get self-conscious about starting threads because i tend to suffer verbal Diarrhea, add to this the fact that no one seems to give a toss about anything i like and that they barely run to more than a couple of posts and i can see why others in the same position might not bother.

In short: i like music, but i'm rubbish at talking about it.

[Barry Admin]

That's what a lot of people think, and you really just have to be less self-conscious. It's only a thread!

[NoSleep]

My brain is so fucked lately that when i do post it's usually only a brief splat in the 'now listening' thread. Sorry.

I get self-conscious about starting threads because i tend to suffer verbal Diarrhea, add to this the fact that no one seems to give a toss about anything i like and that they barely run to more than a couple of posts and i can see why others in the same position might not bother.

In short: i like music, but i'm rubbish at talking about it.

I like a lot of the music you mention, Dirty Boy. Just because there aren't too many replies doesn't mean it isn't being read (you can get an idea from the score for how many times the thread has been viewed, bearing in mind that a lot of the visits on heavily posted threads are the people who are posting coming back to read again); which is probably something Nags should bear in mind when he thinks he's talking to no-one. I'm not always in a position to reply after I read something and then I forget to return.

[holyzombiejesus]

For all my reservations and anxieties about starting threads and writing about music I love, I don't think I've ever read an enthusiastic post on here and come away grumbling about poor writing. I may have thought the music being raved about wasn't very good but I haven't ever felt dismissive about the actual prose. And that's coming from a right twat.

[Pingers]

Piccadilly Records staff picks is a great way to discover good new music

[jobotic]

Aquarius Records' demise and the loss of their monthly uodates is what fucked me. I should really read the Norman Records ones. I used to.

[holyzombiejesus]

Piccadilly Records staff picks is a great way to discover good new music

I've been shopping there for about 30 years, but it can be such a dull record shop. All the best ones have a personality but Piccadilly has none. The staff are lovely people but the staff picks and end of year charts are so bland when compared to, say, Monorail or Norman.

[saltysnacks]

And of course, if anyone has ways to elaborate on this, by all means speak up.

I suppose I'll elaborate on my love of Run The Jewels and my dislike of most mumblerap. My artistic tastes lean towards works that actually engage with society and politics, stuff that takes a stance. Run The Jewels seems to be a maturation of a particular kind of Hip-Hop, the duo themselves are mature and seem to be actively mature, rather than merely 'older'. There is the usual grand standing, bragging and power play of a lot of 90s rap, but this is revolutionary rather than criminal. I'm not entirely certain of El-P's politics, but Mike is a definite radical with clear Socialist leanings. The targets of their songs are the fat cats, their response to ideology and centrist pacifism is a huge 'fuck you!' that is frankly ecstatic. Run The Jewels sidetrack mere escapism through empowering their messages with ominous, sometimes grating beats. My favourite track of theirs is Angel Duster, the line 'I kill my masters, I mentor none' is uttered so straightforwadly, that it is oddly inspiring. Killer Mike has reached a point in his life where he is tired of educating white centrists, and is ready to pull the trigger when necessary (maybe it is metaphoric and can be interpreted as cutting ties with them, but his vocal support of black people arming themselves makes me doubt that). As a man who talks of being a self-sufficient southerner, hunting when his home's power was cut, I believe his radicalism.

Now, with mumblerap, my dislike has lead to me not being overly familiar with it (I'm not a masochist), but a lot of its content seems to be the lowest rap can offer. 'I fuck bitches, I abuse drugs, I get drunk' and the occasional reference to depression which is more a demand to be taken seriously. As with all generalities, there will be blindspots, there will be decent artists who utilise certain mumblerap traits, but I do not know of any yet. Most mumblerappers don't engage with anything beyond what affects them, and I'm quite happy that XXXTentacion's death has yet to be romanticised, he seemed a pretty awful person. I'm open to being proven wrong about mumblerap,  but you can understand me not continuing with it if I've disliked everything I've heard so far.

[saltysnacks]

For all my reservations and anxieties about starting threads and writing about music I love, I don't think I've ever read an enthusiastic post on here and come away grumbling about poor writing. I may have thought the music being raved about wasn't very good but I haven't ever felt dismissive about the actual prose. And that's coming from a right twat.

I'm really anxious about my grammar, I don't bother so much now, but I used to actively not right because, I, thought, I, used, too, many, commas.

*write, I'm going to leave that mistake in because it amused me.

[Pingers]

^ a very good exposition of why RTJ matter and why they are a level above. In some ways I see parallels to Sleaford Mods; they are not there to tell us what the solutions are, but to articulate the rage of the downtrodden and the marginalised. They do it gloriously well.

[bgmnts]

Tried Sløtface. Bit wank, sub pop punk. Singer is shite.

Everything just has that kind of floaty pop sound I can' t put my finger.

[Funcrusher]

I just don't like the beats on RTJ though. Maybe I'll try again at some point. They're not really new though....

[madhair60]

It's because getting eviscerated over loving the music you love fucking hurts, and more than any other interest (except perhaps videogames) it's defined by gatekeeping and snobbery. At least that's why I rarely post here.

[saltysnacks]

I just don't like the beats on RTJ though. Maybe I'll try again at some point. They're not really new though....

Fair enough, but I like them a lot. They're varied and were definitely innovative when El-P was an underground producer/rapper, I just love how thick and raw they are. There is always a connection between the rapping (which is fucking top notch) and the beats, but if you can't jel with the beats, I completely understand.

They started as a group in 2012 and only really became famous recently, I don't think we have to be anxiously following 'new' as in 'now' music, as that takes a lot of work. I admit to letting the critics decide for me what to listen to to some extent, I don't want to have to wade through tons of shit to find a gem.

[NoSleep]

It's because getting eviscerated over loving the music you love fucking hurts, and more than any other interest (except perhaps videogames) it's defined by gatekeeping and snobbery. At least that's why I rarely post here.

But music you love tends to be stuff that you've been around for yonks (and there are plenty of threads based around that kind of listening). Nags is talking about the stuff that's just excited you this moment; maybe it's a flash in the pan, maybe you'll still like it after spending some time with it.

[Jockice]

Because I don't hear any. I'm 53 you know.

[Johnny Yesno]

It's because getting eviscerated over loving the music you love fucking hurts, and more than any other interest (except perhaps videogames) it's defined by gatekeeping and snobbery. At least that's why I rarely post here.

Perhaps I'm reading the wrong threads but I haven't seen anyone get 'eviscerated' for their music taste here.

[alan nagsworth]

I suppose I'll elaborate

Great!

on my love of Run The Jewels and my dislike of most mumblerap.

oh

They're not really new though....

mate

[Brundle-Fly]

Perhaps I'm reading the wrong threads but I haven't seen anyone get 'eviscerated' for their music taste here.

I have had loads of my favourites slated in here over the years but try not to take it too personally. You just have to stand up for the shit you like.

[alan nagsworth]

I have had loads of my favourites slated in here over the years but try not to take it too personally. You just have to stand up for the shit you like.

that's because you have AWFUL TASTE

Nah, sorry if I've ever jumped down your neck. I'm sure I have. I try to keep my scathing dismissals reserved for threads in GB that are blatantly hateful or counter-productive or downright pointless but Yesno is probably right about me flying off the handle and being like "arsed mate, shite".

I do actually think you have very good taste. I mean, you like Ween, fer cryin' out loud.

[QDRPHNC]

I don't bother posting much in here, because while I love music, all y'all seem to be musos and it's kind of intimidating.

[alan nagsworth]

I don't bother posting much in here, because while I love music, all y'all seem to be musos and it's kind of intimidating.

Honestly, please actually just post stuff. Muso chat is just as exciting to me as someone just being like "MATE THIS SONG". It'll draw other people out of the woodwork too. I strongly encourage you to do it!