Musical Extremes?

AndyC · February 02, 2010, 03:35:09 PM

I know there are a few of us on here with musical taste that covers some pretty wide territory, sometimes running to the extremes of the musical spectrum. The question is, how extreme are our musical tastes?

I tend to like both ends of the spectrum - hard and heavy, soft and sappy. I like a lot of stuff in between, but left to my own devices, I'll often go to one extreme or the other. For example, I have a workshop with a retail showroom. While I was setting it up, I had the 80s metal on web radio. My wife informed me that I can't have that playing when I'm open to the public. Seems reasonable. Not all the customers will appreciate the subtle nuances of Motley Crue. But that left the question of what to play that would be fairly innocuous, yet not torture for me.

Anyway, fast forward to today, and now my wife is complaining about John Denver, James Taylor and the Carpenters. Hey, it's inoffensive. I also find it very soothing while I work, and there is a certain nostalgic novelty to it, being a variety of music from my childhood that I haven't explored as much.

This is playing right now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqnUe0vwLPM

My musical taste just seems to run into areas that are either too light, too heavy or too old for the majority of people.

How about you guys? How broad is your taste in music?

Psycho Circus · February 02, 2010, 03:46:48 PM

Well, I too like soft and sappy and also hard n' heavy.

I'd say 80% of my music collection is hard rock/glam metal. That's middle of the road for me, as I swing in and out of phases where I listen to nothing but thrash bands like: Overkill, Testament, Abattoir, Dark Angel etc....Then I'm back listening to the glam stuff: Pretty Boy Floyd, D'Molls, Tigertailz, Poison etc...
The most extreme I go in terms of metal,that I can handle is stuff like Morbid Angel and Bathory.

For soft and sappy, I like listening to Stevie Nicks, Phil Collins, Godley & Creme, Alan Parsons, Bruce Cockburn, Laura Branigan and Michael Bolton.

RCMerchant · February 02, 2010, 06:37:41 PM

I like everything from bluegrass...
(the Osbourne Bros. doing 'Ruby')....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlKMbezXtZE

to hardcore punk....
(Dead Kennedys-'Holiday in Cambodia')

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf5fbQ2w3oE

to jazz......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwNrmYRiX_o

to the just plain weird....

(Dred Zeppilin-Immigrant Song)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CO7FPU7a2g

Mr. DS · February 02, 2010, 07:24:58 PM

My musical influences...where to start...my brother was into a lot of pop 80s stuff growing up so of course I followed suit. If it was big in the early to mid 80s pop scene, theres a better than fair chance I'll like it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB-Crjeqa5M

My mother was into stuff like the Oak Ridge Boys and Kenny Rogers. My father was a huge Elvis fan and also frequented Johnny Cash. All of these kind of stuck with me as well. I danced with my mother at my wedding to this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQuRtbx1qOQ

I branched out into Heavy Metal a lot in the late 80s more than anything. particularly the glam rock scene with some thrash thrown in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbEIi46NAno

During the early 90s I really gravitated towards bands like White Zombie, Prong, Nine Inch Nails, Pantera, Alice In Chains, Fear Factory etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPNFVj-pISU

So now I'm an odd mix up when it comes to loving music. I can sing along to music in the supermarket yet blast METAL in my car when I leave. I enjoy classical music at my desk at work often as well. Oh...and I f*cking love POLKA! That sh!t just makes me want to get up and dance goofy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sshhb5ISHvI

RCMerchant · February 02, 2010, 07:59:30 PM

Quote from: The DarkSider on February 02, 2010, 07:24:58 PM

So now I'm an odd mix up when it comes to loving music. I can sing along to music in the supermarket yet blast METAL in my car when I leave. I enjoy classical music at my desk at work often as well. Oh...and I f*cking love POLKA! That sh!t just makes me want to get up and dance goofy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sshhb5ISHvI

My stepma and all here kin were polacks...whenever they had a get together...out came the squeezebox,the glumpkis,the pierogis and the booze-my kin were Norweigan...get us drunk enuff-we'll listen to anything! (and debauch and plunder after!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtmuXWCFQzE

AndyC · February 02, 2010, 08:00:58 PM

Oh man. Walter Ostanek! Very well known where I grew up. His weekly TV show, Polka Time, was produced at the local TV station in Kitchener, and he was a regular attraction at Oktoberfest. Still is, as far as I know. I saw him perform live there, or rather, I chugged beer and ate schnitzel while he performed live there.

I can appreciate the influence of parents and older siblings. I learned to appreciate the likes of Hank Williams, Charley Pride, the Statlers, Buck Owens and a lot of other classic country artists from my parents. My older brothers kindled my interest in prog rock, while my older sister had the new wave and early-80s Canadian rock. I took an interest in metal in high school, mostly plain old heavy metal, hard rock and glam. Took an interest in new (at the time) country in the early 90s, and started rediscovering 70s and early 80s pop, disco and crooners like Tom Jones as an adult in the late 90s.

Oh, and in the late 80s/early 90s, my friends and I became huge fans of this man:

Stompin' Tom Connors.

He's a music legend in Canada, but not so well known outside the country. His style of music would probably suit your taste, Darksider, and probably RC's as well. It's sort of a mix of country, folk, storytelling and humour. I've seen him play live on two occasions, and I almost interviewed him on the phone once, except that he was in the midst of releasing an autobiography, and his publisher was restricting print interviews. Major disappointment for me. Really, how can you not love this guy...?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrUkE-nUSlc

Mr. DS · February 02, 2010, 08:15:42 PM

QuoteTook an interest in new (at the time) country in the early 90s, and started rediscovering 70s and early 80s pop, disco and crooners like Tom Jones as an adult in the late 90s.

Ah Tom Jones, my mother LOVED him back in the day and actually went to go see him live. Oddly I recall her telling me about women throwing underwear up on the stage. I asked why...she really didn't have an answer. I myself enjoy Tom Jones as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpsGh4Amt44

QuoteMy stepma and all here kin were polacks...whenever they had a get together...out came the squeezebox,the glumpkis,the pierogis and the booze-my kin were Norweigan...get us drunk enuff-we'll listen to anything! (and debauch and plunder after!)

Aw sh!t man you made me laugh with that. Glumpkis, Pierogis and Kielbasa was a staple in my house growing up.

RCMerchant · February 02, 2010, 08:30:22 PM

Quote from: The DarkSider on February 02, 2010, 08:15:42 PM
QuoteTook an interest in new (at the time) country in the early 90s, and started rediscovering 70s and early 80s pop, disco and crooners like Tom Jones as an adult in the late 90s.
Ah Tom Jones, my mother LOVED him back in the day and actually went to go see him live. Oddly I recall her telling me about women throwing underwear up on the stage. I asked why...she really didn't have an answer. I myself enjoy Tom Jones as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpsGh4Amt44

QuoteMy stepma and all here kin were polacks...whenever they had a get together...out came the squeezebox,the glumpkis,the pierogis and the booze-my kin were Norweigan...get us drunk enuff-we'll listen to anything! (and debauch and plunder after!)
Aw sh!t man you made me laugh with that. Glumpkis, Pierogis and Kielbasa was a staple in my house growing up.

I hate to admit..naw I ain't!...I LIKE TOM JONES! Yes! I said it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOArsNMVqGg

Check out this....I love Big Band...Heres a song about Kalamazoo! I'm going ther to meet me freind Carrie (a girl!a real live girl,man!)Friday and Saterday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFv_PoZ2iP0

Rev. Powell · February 02, 2010, 09:35:22 PM

Sadly, it seems to me that when most people say they have broad taste in music, they mean one that it ranges from one end of the contemporary rock n' roll/pop/hip-hop spectrum to another. I like my share of rock bands and listen to a lot of it, but like RC as I grow older I find myself listening more to classical, jazz, blues, folk, bluegrass, country, African, and Latin American music. It saddens me that many people won't even consider listening to music of other countries or eras, but then again they're the ones that are missing out, not me.

The same thing goes for movies: I like everything from gory horror movies to touching dramas to experimental pieces, micro-budget homemade features to big-budget extravaganzas. Just so long as it has heart, and a vision of its own that hasn't been preordained to be as bland and familiar as possible with the intent of catering to the lowest common denominators of a mass audience. It's always a bit of a shock to me that majority of people are too timid to watch movies from other countries, movies that are in black and white, or movies that don't have big familiar stars in them.

AndyC · February 02, 2010, 10:49:22 PM

Quote from: The DarkSider on February 02, 2010, 08:15:42 PM
Aw sh!t man you made me laugh with that. Glumpkis, Pierogis and Kielbasa was a staple in my house growing up.

Not a fan of kielbasa, but I love cabbage rolls and pierogi. Before pierogi (perogy in Canada) became common in the frozen food isle (mid 80s or so), I was introduced to them by my brother who was living in rural Saskatchewan at the time. Ukrainian country. An instant favourite. Still a regular part of the dinner menu. Cabbage rolls I could stand to eat more often, but they're a lot of work.

Anyway, back to music, much as I'm enjoying this discussion of Slavic cuisine. We really need a drooling smiley. Oh well...

God the Worms · February 02, 2010, 11:10:30 PM

This'll be super fun!!!

All time favorite band- THE CRAMPS!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB7YhbM4K80
Butthole Surfers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNAkbbKycCM
Old Lady Drivers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQsQvTkpr34
MF Doom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwc2Dwh-i8s

And that barely scratches the surface. There's still WAY harder and WAY softer stuff.

Allhallowsday · February 02, 2010, 11:58:48 PM

I like all good music, Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Schmaltz, Soundtracks, . I also like some bad music. Great topic, AndyC.

Quote from: The DarkSider on February 02, 2010, 08:15:42 PM
QuoteTook an interest in new (at the time) country in the early 90s, and started rediscovering 70s and early 80s pop, disco and crooners like Tom Jones as an adult in the late 90s.
Ah Tom Jones, my mother LOVED him back in the day and actually went to go see him live. Oddly I recall her telling me about women throwing underwear up on the stage. I asked why...she really didn't have an answer. I myself enjoy Tom Jones as well.

God the Worms · February 03, 2010, 01:29:48 AM

AndyC · February 03, 2010, 06:32:32 AM

I'm surprised this clip hasn't popped up again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhQgta94IG8
Oh wait.... it just did.

Jack · February 03, 2010, 08:23:13 AM

Well, I like classic rock, though I don't listen to too much of it due to overexposure to a few too many classic rock radio stations. Love everything from the '80, at least through the mid-late '80s. Pop, new wave, rock, metal and hair metal. I love almost all metal, up to the point where they started having hyphenated metal. I listen to a bit of classical, and I developed a taste for smooth jazz a few years ago. If you want to listen to good musicianship in a somewhat pop format, that's where you've got to go. The only country music I've ever actually liked would probably be the Dream Lovers album by Tanya Tucker. I don't mind most of this "new" country that's more like pop music with a slight Southern accent, but I never listen to it on purpose either. Like a bit of Reggae now and then, a bit of punk (mostly from the '80s), I've always liked disco, and...that's about it.