[martyo]

Led Zeppelin

[giantsteps]

 I've listened/listen to everything out there for well over half a century. For a while, Marilyn, my 18 year old neighbor(she moved) thrust rap in my face. There's a lot of talent in this genre. And I particularly like the use of sophisticated chords in the background.

 I have no problem getting it. I've been exposed to every musical expression from this planet.

 But I do have my preferences.

 Frank

[giantsteps]

 Clarifying............................. .....................

 I totally "get"  Patricia Barber and that's why in my book she sucks!


 Frank

[launche]

I don't know if this is "well respected" or not, but last night my wife and I caught Duffy on Saturday Night Live.

Having never heard Duffy, I was open minded- until she opened her mouth. My first thought---"WTF????" 

It's like she was huffing helium before she went on stage, and her enunciation was damn near unintelligible.  Are the executives at the record company smoking crack, or are they deaf?

And they wonder why music sales are declining.  I just don't get it.

Ditto that.
I bought the CD for my wife since it was on sale and she liked "Warrick Ave."  The CD is rough in several spots but listenable for what it is but hearing her live was not a good thing.  Even her keyboard player was giving her "that" look.

[geezer]

Oh I get it alright. Just not enough.

[kbuzz3]

 Clarifying............................. .....................

 I totally "get"  Patricia Barber and that's why in my book she sucks!


 Frank

RIght On Frank!!!!!!!

[BobRex]

Does anybody have a band they like that is mostly under the radar and you can't understand why the band isn't the most popular one ever?

Lin, that's the way I felt about The Dead and Zappa, circa 1971 or so...

Re: someone I've failed to 'get'.....  (drum roll, please...) 


Miles Davis.   At best, I find him inovative and upbeat, at worst, an addled junkie lost in noodling...

('oh, somebody help me, PLEASE!')  I'm about a dozen or so albums into him, and still don't know why I spent the money...

DeadFish  (great thread btw!)

I love Miles' pre Bitches Brew output, but from then on, nope, don't get it, can't follow it.  I saw him live in 81 when he came out of retirement. It was a concert on the stage by the Intrepid museum in Manhattan.  He tooted a few notes, hit a few chords on the Fender Rhodes, then walked off stage and let the rest of the band continue on.  WTF????  I saw him about a year later at UOP and it was a little better, at least he stayed on stage!

I agree with Yanni, but I won't pick on him since he seems to be off the radar.  I never bought into the "Beatles are God" routine, but what really got me was Pink Floyd.  Yeah, I know, acid music - intense lyrics (not!).  Not the most accomplished players, so they stayed with simple music and lots of sound effects.  Never quite got that one.

[bwaslo]

Well, who can resist a thread like this, a chance to be contrary about music?

Some that I don't get (or just find boring):

Led Zeppelin -- and I was even a teenager when they were getting big.  Boring and pretentious.
Dylan's later stuff -- seems to have lost any originality, unlike his earlier
Zappa -- agreed he's a genius, but I'd rather listen to AC hum
Beefheart -- same as above
Later Stones -- but really liked the earlier stuff (Brian Jones days)
Yes -- hey, look, I can play notes really fast!
Stravinski -- over my head I guess
Madonna -- why is she famous?
Metallica -- music and band concept seems like it came from a marketing dept
Rush -- ick.
Crosby, Stills and Nash -- only because they were once played to death and burned out any receptive nerves I once had for it
Young -- just didn't get it. Born without those receptive nerves
Prince -- it seems like I should get it, but I don't.


Some that I get but a lot of people here apparently didn't:

Beatles -- though seldom play them any more
Wilco -- okay, maybe not Wilco, but Tweedy.  Probably because he was on Golden Smog's "Weird Tales", maybe my fave CD ever.
Steely Dan  -- I don't get why some people don't get
Jayhawks -- not mentioned previously, but a fair number didn't like folk or alt-country
Joni Mitchell -- I think you had to be a teen in the late 60s.  Or listened to Hejira late at night.

[kbuzz3]

Crosby stills nash..oh year forgot about them.....they most definitely fall in the dont get category. the addition of neal young only seals the deal for some

[jqp]

Tedb- Pet Sounds is unlistenable

It's interesting how tastes can be so different, blah blah    Obviously a big part of it is how we are exposed, what our expectations are, and yes how many times we "have to" listen to the songs that shape our feelings about songs/artists.

On Pet sounds, "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "Sloop John B" were both in the top 10 - of course this was in 1966! How much music from that year do you get?

I came to appreciate Pet Sounds long after it was released - I think it was after 2000 that I first bought it. When I was a wee lad I "didn't get" the Beach Boys with that "California sound", as much as the Beatles in the early 70s.  I didn't even know about Pet Sounds. When I read about it, how it was so highly praised by the British music scene in the 60's and how Brian Wilson basically composed the whole thing in the studio while the rest of the Beach Boys were on the road, I became intrigued. Then there was the fact that all the sounds were "pre-studio"  sounds (not synthesized) - hence "pet sounds". You almost cannot imagine how no one had achieved anything like this, having heard all that has come since. I was really curious and open, and I love to see how music influences other future music. Given all this I was very open to Pet Sounds and have gotten many hours of listening pleasure. It doesn't mean everyone will feel the same way, but maybe you will understand what other do get about it.

--

Neil Young I also get, but I can see how his Canadian singer songwriter, country rock style may not appeal to everyone. And there is a lot of his stuff I don't listen to - for example Broken Arrow is pretty unlistenable for me. Dana Carvey did a great parody of him. He is highly praised as a singer/songwriter, but you may not like the artists who praise him thusly

As far as being a "great guitar player", maybe not but I think he is a very good guitar player on many of his acoustic songs ("Needle and the Damage Done", "Look Out For My Love", etc). I am guessing it is his acid-rock type electric guitar trances that aggravate many. I look at him as an acoustic artist and have several of his mostly acoustic stuff.


I do not feel good about most music played by musicians wearing spandex, but that is a generalization. Also gold chains, and tight jeans and cowboy boots. Some I get, some I don't.

[jasonc]

Not sure he's "well respected" in the music industry but he sure has many followers- Jimmy f'ing Buffett

Others that I have never cared for and never will-


Linkin Park
Lauryn Hill
Incubus
Nickelback
The Who, that's right damnit
Van Morrisson
Faith Hill
Santana
Greatful Dead, Phish
Joni Mitchel
Dave Mathews Band
Frank Sinatra
Janet Jackson
Bonnie Rait
Annie Lennox
Natalie Cole
Justin Timberlake

[giantsteps]

 Clarifying............................. .....................

 I totally "get"  Patricia Barber and that's why in my book she sucks!


 Frank

RIght On Frank!!!!!!!

Man ...........you're lucky you never talked to her. What a bundle of f@#$#% shit she is. And I'm always aware that maybe I shouldn't be so harsh on her. They played her latest at Toprounds NYAR and everyoe one was nodding there head like she was some f@$##@^ goddess. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaagh!



When oh when will people get that PB is politically an audiophlie dream but a musical nightmare.


Frank 

[kbuzz3]

Others that I have never cared for and never will-
Van Morrison

Im the original poster and for the most part my replies have been on the "oh yeah, great one forgot about that loser(s)." But Van @$#%@% Morrison. How could you not get him on any level. punk, Pop artist, singer, mystic, trendsetter, pretentious name dropper, even as an "asshole on the personality front"  but whats not to get-good or bad?

I know its all subjective but come on thats an underrated talent! Yes much of the later years after "no guru..." sucked but really in my objective opinion he cannot be denied as a songwriter, performer, or bandleader. I mean van morrison versus say phish???? there's no contest...

To each his own..there is no right or wrong, tis the beauty of this thread

[jasonc]

Others that I have never cared for and never will-
Van Morrison

Im the original poster and for the most part my replies have been on the "oh yeah, great one forgot about that loser(s)." But Van @$#%@% Morrison. How could you not get him on any level. punk, Pop artist, singer, mystic, trendsetter, pretentious name dropper, even as an "asshole on the personality front"  but whats not to get-good or bad?

I know its all subjective but come on thats an underrated talent! Yes much of the later years after "no guru..." sucked but really in my objective opinion he cannot be denied as a songwriter, performer, or bandleader. I mean van morrison versus say phish???? there's no contest...

To each his own..there is no right or wrong, tis the beauty of this thread

No denying he's one of the great songwriters of the 20th century.  How do I put this.. I don't like his sound.  I've heard a lot of Van Morrison in my life, pretty much every day my sister had him on.  I know this is a harsh statement but I've always found his sound oppressive, meaning it kind of weighed me down.  It's funny because some songs that lift the spirit of many or some find overwhelmingly beautiful can depress the hell out of me.  A great example of this would be Louis Armstrong's what a wonderful world - it's like the message is forced too hard on me and there's nothing left for me to run with, an adverse reaction for the songs obvious intention.  And it's not like I'm being overly analytical when I listen to these songs.. just happens to be the feeling they evoke.

[nathanm]

Man, where is audiojerry when you need him?  Him and Frank could get into fisticuffs over Patricia Barber.  Hee hee!

I'll second Jimmy Buffet.  I don't get it.  Does it help if you are into tropical climates and boats perhaps?

Zappa -- agreed he's a genius, but I'd rather listen to AC hum

You mean you'd rather listen to AC hum than Dinah-Moe Hum?

[Bob in St. Louis]

I'll second Jimmy Buffet.  I don't get it.  Does it help if you are into tropical climates and boats perhaps?

No it doesn't.
Just "because it's one of things you're supposed to do", I sat in Mr. Buffets Restaurant and ate a cheeseburger (in paradise) and drank one of his Margaritas. I mean, life *shouldn't* get any better than being in the Florida Keys at Buffets Bar eating the burger and drinking the 'Rita listen to him sing the familiar songs we've all heard.......Oh.....I was oozing nostalgia.

I still don't get the music.
The Margarita was average
The burger was mediocre at best.

So no Nathan, it doesn't help.

Bob

[soundbitten1]

Experimental music . Now what's that all about ?    .  I would conjecture It's fine if the experiment is successful though apparently some of the artists can't seem to make that judgement .   

[boead]

U2 I just don't get it. Lousy songs, lousy musicians, lousy singer.

[Turnandcough]

This album was on every jazz critic's short list so I ran out and bought it. I tried to convince myself that what I was listening to was a classic album. No dice - the most irritating, nerve racking noise I ever heard(well almost)
Sorry Ornette

[mjosef]

Send it to me, I will enjoy it... 
Ornette is an acquired taste...after you have acquired a taste for no taste.