musical taste as superiority

i bet they are. really.

I think this is the MN Manifesto.

OTM people.
when your cultural tastes define you then you'd better find an in-group or prepare yourself to wallow in a vat of difference.
have you ever tried communicating a fetishistic love of merzbow with your busconductor.

"sorry sir ,we're going to have to let you off here"

of course a good scene is something to migrate toward and failing that, forums such as this can provide community and collective identity, but in a relatively drecky kinda way.

no offence regulars.

You better believe it! (or not, I mean you've got the right to your opinion...I could be wrong)

that said, i don't think i see my musical taste itself as superiority, nor do i see the amount or diversity or even genre-completism of music i listen to as superiority (and i shouldn't, because "music geeks" as such can be some of the biggest tools on earth and because it's arguable that i'm not geeky enough in certain areas). i do feel a bit of superiority over the fact that i try, though, that i like learning about things on my own and really delving in, waging my own one-woman "revival" for artists/records that haven't been reassessed by mojo or whoever yet. i can totally understand that some people NEED to be told and shown and simply don't have the time to do it themselves, but in my experience a lot of NPR-heads i've known also had a very "hold my hand" attitude about life in general -- needed jokes explained to them, couldn't follow directions in an instruction manual, etc. i'm just saying.

I don't think of my tastes as being superior, only just that of a curious guy who listens/watches/reads/eats a variety of things. Nevertheless, I avoid getting into culture discussions because I inevitably become that "mad prophet" referred to earlier. Constantly having to defend your tastes against people with "mainstream" tastes puts you in that kind of head-space.

Only I notice condescension and trivialization more than a "you think you're so smart" reaction. It's as if being curious and having non-standard tastes is "just a phase" that I haven't yet grown out of.

Whenever talking to people about my musical tastes, I tend to dumb down the particulars until I sense how much into music they are relative to me. I find that saying "I'm into a little of everything" is vague enough to get the ball rolling. If they respond with furthur questions, I will elaborate. Perhaps even turning the tables and asking specific questions about their tastes as kind of a preemptive strike against having to sound like a music nerd. Also, I find that this allows him/her to freely talk about their love of No Doubt or John Mayer, without any trepidation about how I'm going to react.

And if I really think about it, my reaction is all dependent on the type of person I'm talking to. If it's an attractive female, I will swear up and down how much I share her love of Creed, for instance. But I may slam it into the face of a potential male rival, in order to show my "superiority" to a listening female. Much like the male peacock will flaunt the colors of his plumage. This could obviously backfire if she turns out to also be a Creed fan. I guess my point is, it's ok to use your musical tastes as a way to show/feel superiority.......but do it wisely!! ;)

even a music snob should at least know "Free" from Billy Breathes.

I always keep my music tastes to myself and will occasionally reveal them when people, after seeing the collection, make mention of it and ask if I might burn some stuff I think they might be interested in. Whenever I think of taste, and what others think of my taste, as if taste is an absolute, and that they might be judging me upon my tastes and how that whole dynamic might affect my taste really kinda takes the fun outta listening to your favorite bands/musicians.

Does it annoy anyone when you go into a store and the clerk goes, "Great taste!"? As if you listen to music as some sort of validation of whatever. Of course maybe I underestimate the affects of pop/counter culture and the establishment of kinship and trends on the developement and preservation of my favorite bands. Anyway they didn't seem to notice me when I was buying up all their used Carpenters, Cowsills and Eddie Money stuff.

My goal is to encourage people to listen to whatever they like and hopefully maybe we might meet. Plus it's much better when people make their decisions in a vacuum cause it reveals more.

no, of course i know phish. my point was that i wasn't sure whether i should leave it at "yes i know them" or run the risk of insulting her daughter's taste by adding "but i'm not a fan." on one hand, the first response seems brusque; on the other, the clarification is probably unnecessary.

as a phish fan, at least a former one, I'd have to disagree. I'm not sure there's anything by phish that everyone should know, and if there is, it certainly isn't that. but i do think that anyone who really likes music should be open to the possibility that there is phish music that has something to offer them. not that approaching their music randomly would be cost-effective if you are not predisposed to liking something about them. but starting with, say, the Weekapaug on Slip Stitch and Pass might be worthwhile.

thread question - i think that my musical taste is beyond a concern for superiority. but perhaps my rejection of superiority is in itself a form of superiority.

The former would have shown you a conversationalist, the latter would have been for your own benefit. snob.

as for "Free", sure it's not emblematic of them or even a good place to start, but it's a fantastic pop song.

She also once referred to Al Green as "jungle bunny music."

there are a few things i find appealing about phish but the total package isn't my cuppa tea.

ooh, i hate this. it's like when someone throws out a reference and another person goes "who/what the fuck is _______?" okay, you've never heard of it, but what's with the anger?

i disagree. she has to "swallow her pride" to not tell the realtor that she doesn't like them. then she brings it up in a chat later to a friend, cuz it was eating away at here that she didn't tell someone that she doesn't like phish. then, it comes up again here.

I must be searching wrong, could you link up the thread on Killfiles?
I am actually interested. E-mail me personally if you wish.

Thanks,

Trever

and i don't even bother talking to civilians about music. is that superior?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4779727/

but "civilians"?

It's odd because everyone I know pretty much knows I like music alot and so people often say things like "oh my friend X is really into music, like you" and everytime part of me wants to go "NOT LIKE ME, NO!".

Ah we're all such losers.

Because when I ask "Cool, what do you like?" the answer is usually that they like some Evanescence, maybe some Norah Jones or some Josh Groban, the soundtrack to The Beach, that Music To Watch Girls By compilation, not to mention a Best Of Classical Hits of which their favourite is Pachelbel's Canon. Oh, and Coldplay, of course.

I like them braised.