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Are music fans blinded by their fandom?
Posted on 9/21/16 at 11:17 am
Posted on 9/21/16 at 11:17 am
While we all know that internet trolls and critics can be a bit excessive with their evaluations and assessment of many artists, it seems like there is a stark contrast to such negativity.
I'm referring to the unyielding optimism and support given by various fans. These are the individuals who dare not challenge the brilliance and creativity of their beloved bands, and seek to demonize and vilify anyone who offers an opinion tinged with the slightest bit of doubt or critique.
While art is subjective and musicians should continue to create at their own leisure and desires, it seems ridiculous for us as listeners to never question what we are being exposed to. Why can't we yearn for the sounds of yesteryear or desire for something new? Why must everything be greeting with smiles, adoration, and support?
There are a number of bands that I love and support wholeheartedly, but that doesn't mean that they are exempt from my criticism should they choose to put forth a sub-par or lackluster effort. There is no band that has been flawless or perfect throughout its existence. It's human nature to have shortcomings and missteps along the path of life. And that's okay.
I can still applaud the material I do love and cherish yet acknowledge that which I don't enjoy as much.
Somewhere along the way, people decided that fandom must be linear and well-defined. In sports, as much as in music, you are not permitted to question the decisions or actions of a coaching staff or athlete, lest you be labeled a "hater", "nega-insert team mascot", etc. Conversely, those who are always happy, regardless of the outcome, are viewed as "sunshine pumpers". In politics, if you hate Hillary, then according to some you must be "conservative" or a Republican. Meanwhile, if you object to Trump's policies then clearly you are nothing more than liberal scum.
Since when did people become one-dimensional? It seems wrong to categorize fans or people with a single word or to limit their definition to "for" or "against".
"Either you're a fan or you're not!"
"The band doesn't need you."
"Rabble, rabble, rabble..."
I'm referring to the unyielding optimism and support given by various fans. These are the individuals who dare not challenge the brilliance and creativity of their beloved bands, and seek to demonize and vilify anyone who offers an opinion tinged with the slightest bit of doubt or critique.
While art is subjective and musicians should continue to create at their own leisure and desires, it seems ridiculous for us as listeners to never question what we are being exposed to. Why can't we yearn for the sounds of yesteryear or desire for something new? Why must everything be greeting with smiles, adoration, and support?
There are a number of bands that I love and support wholeheartedly, but that doesn't mean that they are exempt from my criticism should they choose to put forth a sub-par or lackluster effort. There is no band that has been flawless or perfect throughout its existence. It's human nature to have shortcomings and missteps along the path of life. And that's okay.
I can still applaud the material I do love and cherish yet acknowledge that which I don't enjoy as much.
Somewhere along the way, people decided that fandom must be linear and well-defined. In sports, as much as in music, you are not permitted to question the decisions or actions of a coaching staff or athlete, lest you be labeled a "hater", "nega-insert team mascot", etc. Conversely, those who are always happy, regardless of the outcome, are viewed as "sunshine pumpers". In politics, if you hate Hillary, then according to some you must be "conservative" or a Republican. Meanwhile, if you object to Trump's policies then clearly you are nothing more than liberal scum.
Since when did people become one-dimensional? It seems wrong to categorize fans or people with a single word or to limit their definition to "for" or "against".
"Either you're a fan or you're not!"
"The band doesn't need you."
"Rabble, rabble, rabble..."
This post was edited on 9/21/16 at 12:07 pm
9
Posted on 9/21/16 at 11:24 am to saint amant steve
quote:I don't see it here. Lots of people hate on some of the work of their favorite bands. The worst album I've ever owned was by one of my top 5 bands of all time.
I'm referring to the unyielding optimism and support given by various fans. These are the individuals who dare not challenge the brilliance and creativity of their beloved bands, and seek to demonize and vilify anyone who offers an opinion tinged with the slightest bit of doubt or critique.
Posted on 9/21/16 at 11:36 am to AlxTgr
quote:
I don't see it here. Lots of people hate on some of the work of their favorite bands. The worst album I've ever owned was by one of my top 5 bands of all time.
I think most posters on this board are pretty sensible and objective. Most of what I see is on YouTube and Facebook.
Posted on 9/21/16 at 11:37 am to saint amant steve
Ah, carry on.
Posted on 9/21/16 at 11:39 am to AlxTgr
quote:
Lots of people hate on some of the work of their favorite bands.
But heaven forbid someone else dislikes them. See Led Zep and the Beatles as examples.
Posted on 9/21/16 at 11:44 am to saint amant steve
Interesting assessment that I agree with. We all fall victim to this at points. I find that it's best to judge a record by a "favorite band" after much time has passed and you revisit it.
Tool fans (which I am most certainly one) will hold every single record and song up on a pedestal. The problem is that 10,000 Days is not a great record, yet the rabid Tool guys will chastise you for stating this. The truth is that it's riddled with rehashed riffs and themes previously used on preceding records. Is it a good album overall? Sure, but it is quite flawed.
It's also funny how it works on the opposite spectrum as well. Let's run with the Tool example. How many times have you had someone tell you that A Perfect Circle is better than Tool? We all know how silly this statement is, but it happens anyway. Why? It's because of the contrarian nature of many people. They are rabid MJK fans, and that's the only reason they like APC; however, they want to be contrarian to the Tool fans, so they put APC on a pedestal that it doesn't deserve. They followup this with praising every single thing that APC does as greatness even when it isn't.
I saw APC at the Red Rocks a few years ago, and it was one of the worst shows I have ever experienced. Somehow the APC apologists saw otherwise and were angry at my assessment.
Tool fans (which I am most certainly one) will hold every single record and song up on a pedestal. The problem is that 10,000 Days is not a great record, yet the rabid Tool guys will chastise you for stating this. The truth is that it's riddled with rehashed riffs and themes previously used on preceding records. Is it a good album overall? Sure, but it is quite flawed.
It's also funny how it works on the opposite spectrum as well. Let's run with the Tool example. How many times have you had someone tell you that A Perfect Circle is better than Tool? We all know how silly this statement is, but it happens anyway. Why? It's because of the contrarian nature of many people. They are rabid MJK fans, and that's the only reason they like APC; however, they want to be contrarian to the Tool fans, so they put APC on a pedestal that it doesn't deserve. They followup this with praising every single thing that APC does as greatness even when it isn't.
I saw APC at the Red Rocks a few years ago, and it was one of the worst shows I have ever experienced. Somehow the APC apologists saw otherwise and were angry at my assessment.
Posted on 9/21/16 at 12:00 pm to Midget Death Squad
People (myself included) weren't kind to Radiohead's last two LPs. Quite the dropoff from their prime. I'd put them as easily the best studio band from the stretch of 1995 (The Bends) to 2007 (In Rainbows). Their current live show is still spectacular due to their pure virtuoso musicianship and aforementioned tremendous backcatalogue, but their last two studio releases have been underwhelming at best and forgettable at worst.
Posted on 9/21/16 at 12:34 pm to saint amant steve
Never understood this. Hell, Donald Fagan is a certified moon bat who I wouldn't have a single thing in common with, but his music is amazing. I may defend his body of work, but I'm not going overboard with the rah, rah shite.
Posted on 9/21/16 at 1:06 pm to HeadyBrosevelt
quote:
Radiohead
quote:
virtuoso musicianship
Let's not get carried away now.
Posted on 9/21/16 at 1:29 pm to HeadyBrosevelt
quote:
I'd put them as easily the best studio band from the stretch of 1995 (The Bends) to 2007 (In Rainbows)
I wouldn't put In Rainbows in the same category of excellence, but you are spot on. They were fantastic (even Pablo Honey is great... though many disagree).
The Bends is one of the best records ever recorded. It's a classic. Unfortunately they have fallen into the trap of being avant garde rather than making good, palatable music.
Yet their fans will tell you how otherworldly the new record is even though it's not very good
Posted on 9/21/16 at 1:32 pm to saint amant steve
I can't remember too many Metallica fans defending St Anger or Lulu. Those are both terrible albums that even the most hardcore Metallica fans hate.
Posted on 9/21/16 at 1:51 pm to Tigertown in ATL
quote:There's something to that.
But heaven forbid someone else dislikes them
Posted on 9/21/16 at 2:39 pm to Midget Death Squad
quote:
Unfortunately they have fallen into the trap of being avant garde
When I could no longer take Thom Yorke seriously:
This post was edited on 9/21/16 at 2:40 pm
Posted on 9/21/16 at 10:52 pm to Jester
What. The. frick.
Is he on bath salts?
Is he on bath salts?
Posted on 9/21/16 at 11:26 pm to Jester
Posted on 9/22/16 at 10:24 am to saint amant steve
quote:
Are music fans blinded by their fandom? by saint amant steve
I'd say music fans are some of the least blind around. Linkin Park, for example, has put out complete and utter shite since meteora. They think they're musicians when they're very below average musicians, but great entertainers.
I don't know a single Lostprophets fan who can listen to their music after hearing he diddled infants while Penn State celebrates child molesting enablers.
In fact in general I think fans are willing to "eat their own" more to preserve their era of a band as its greatest.
Posted on 9/22/16 at 10:42 am to saint amant steve
Music fans are tribal in nature, just like fans of anything else. There is also a cliquiness in taste, a pseudo intellectualism and elitism which is as pervasive in music culture as it is in booze culture, food culture, cinema, television, ect.
Every person on this planet has an innate desire to belong to something greater than themselves. Every person has an innate desire to believe that they are exceptional. Every person thus must have some way of distinguishing themselves from their peers so that they can feel that they are better than their peers.
Oh yeah, that band was cool until they sold out. I like (insert obscure band here) now. You've probably never heard of them...
As we move increasingly towards a talentless society, where individuals, with increasing frequency, produce nothing, create nothing, and really have no hard skills of any kind, rather than take pride and self-satisfaction for what we ourselves create, we have to pat ourselves on the back for enjoying and discovering the creative works of others.
Every person on this planet has an innate desire to belong to something greater than themselves. Every person has an innate desire to believe that they are exceptional. Every person thus must have some way of distinguishing themselves from their peers so that they can feel that they are better than their peers.
Oh yeah, that band was cool until they sold out. I like (insert obscure band here) now. You've probably never heard of them...
As we move increasingly towards a talentless society, where individuals, with increasing frequency, produce nothing, create nothing, and really have no hard skills of any kind, rather than take pride and self-satisfaction for what we ourselves create, we have to pat ourselves on the back for enjoying and discovering the creative works of others.
Posted on 9/22/16 at 10:52 am to saint amant steve
quote:
I think most posters on this board are pretty sensible and objective. Most of what I see is on YouTube and Facebook.
False. Criticize Tame Impala, why don't you? Criticize Tame Impala in any way and see how they react.
Don't you know? All non-conformists drink coffee.
This post was edited on 9/22/16 at 10:53 am
Posted on 9/22/16 at 12:02 pm to ShamelessPel
quote:
I don't know a single Lostprophets fan who can listen to their music after hearing he diddled infants
Luckily the rest of the band hooked up with Geoff Rickley and inexplicably made non-post-hardcore music.
Posted on 9/22/16 at 12:26 pm to saint amant steve
quote:
Are music fans blinded by their fandom?
Yes and no. I don't think you can make a clear argument that all are most fans are blinded by their fandom.
I think more people are blinded by their nostalgia for music that they liked when they were an adolescent through college. But I have no way of proving that, but can only say based on posts on here and from people that I know IRL.
I'm a huge Mars Volta fan. I was an even bigger fan several years back. But I won't deny that I found their last couple of albums to be boring. I can say the same for many other bands that I am a big fan of.
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