The rules of recommending music (hip-hop, indie, metal, punk)

Predator · 02-10-2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowquill

It's pretty idiotic to go "Here Avril Lavigne fan listen to some Cannibal Corpse because I like it." I mean you can keep deluding yourself into thinking it will work because of the occasional odd case but over all it won't. Baby steps tend to work better than giant leaps.

There is no need for baby steps. You should start with what you like, after hearing it, they can figure out the elements that they like. Based on that you can recommend something that takes away what they don't like and keeps what they do like. Then repeat the process. It isn't like a drug that you have to wean someone off of. There is no reason not to go full bore. Throw it out there, either they like it or don't.

~~Farfisa~~ · 02-10-2008, 06:20 PM

poeple usually branch out from one band to 2 more and so on.......its because you like one or two people in a band and you check out their old ones or ones they are also in......or thats just how it was for me

ProggyMan · 02-10-2008, 06:23 PM

But you run the risk of alienating someone from an entire genre. Are you ever going to try Metal again if the first band you try and listen to is part of a transition from The Jonas Brothers to Amon Amarth?

sleepy jack · 02-10-2008, 06:24 PM

Yeah seriously, in most cases if you do a complete musical 180 on them they won't find many appealing qualities in the band. Generally speaking, I think that's a very backwards way of going about it.

ProggyMan · 02-10-2008, 06:28 PM

But let's say you go from one boy band to another, going into the early Beatles stuff, which leads you to the Proto-Metal of Helter Skelter or into The Kinks You Really Got Me, causing you to check out Black Sabbath. Then maybe you look into the 80's Thrash scene, Slayer, Metallica, etc., which leads you to Death Metal like Amon Amarth.

Predator · 02-10-2008, 06:32 PM

I have honestly had pretty good luck the way I do it. Sometimes it takes more than one shot, sometimes they just don't like it and never will, and sometimes they like it the first time and never look back. My point is that it never hurts to try and you can learn a lot by their first reaction.

ProggyMan · 02-10-2008, 06:37 PM

But isn't it better to suggest one artist for starters then let them evolve from there? Additional prodding along the way of course.

Predator · 02-10-2008, 06:43 PM

Maybe that is the best way in your experience. The best way for me is to jump right in.

cardboard adolescent · 02-10-2008, 06:45 PM

It really depends on the person and how open minded they are. I mean, one of my friends listened to pretty much only ska punk when I met him and I managed to get him into Faust and Tortoise within a week. At the same time, I've hit so many brick walls trying to introduce people to my favorite bands that I've learned it's probably a better idea to introduce them to things you like that are similar to their own tastes. If you can't do that, you probably shouldn't bother.

Seltzer · 02-10-2008, 08:01 PM

I preach open-mindedness, but the reality is that most people don't want to explore new genres. At most, they want recommendations which are similar to what they already listen to (i.e. in the same genre). So if you want to show them new genres, it's best to recommend multi-disciplinary bands which mix a genre they like and a genre you want to show them. Slow and steady.

But it's getting to the point where I talk about music with very few people in real life. The average 'metal' person here seems to listen to Tool, NIN, Marilyn Manson, AC/DC, Metallica, System of a Down, Disturbed and Pantera. The average 'rock person listens to Muse, RHCP, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, AC/DC, Guns 'n' Roses, QOTSA, Green Day. The average indie fan doesn't stretch far beyond Radiohead, Interpol, Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party, Death Cab, Muse, Killers and Hot Chip. That's not even mentioning the pop, pop-punk, rnb, and hip-hop fans.

I'm not saying those are necessarily bad bands at all. I like some of them. But it just irritates me that 95% of people can be matched up with a blueprint of some sort, as if no other bands exist. I can't see how people do not desire to discover new music.

02-10-2008, 06:20 PM	#12 (permalink)
~~Farfisa~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2,773	poeple usually branch out from one band to 2 more and so on.......its because you like one or two people in a band and you check out their old ones or ones they are also in......or thats just how it was for me Last edited by Farfisa; 02-10-2008 at 06:26 PM. Reason: im not good at wording things

02-10-2008, 06:32 PM	#16 (permalink)
Predator Whatever Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 344	I have honestly had pretty good luck the way I do it. Sometimes it takes more than one shot, sometimes they just don't like it and never will, and sometimes they like it the first time and never look back. My point is that it never hurts to try and you can learn a lot by their first reaction. __________________ Jack be nimble Jack be quick I be a lunatic The answer is hidden in plain view. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

02-10-2008, 06:43 PM	#18 (permalink)
Predator Whatever Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 344	Maybe that is the best way in your experience. The best way for me is to jump right in. __________________ Jack be nimble Jack be quick I be a lunatic The answer is hidden in plain view. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

02-10-2008, 08:01 PM	#20 (permalink)
Seltzer Fish in the percolator! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hobbit Land NZ Posts: 2,870	I preach open-mindedness, but the reality is that most people don't want to explore new genres. At most, they want recommendations which are similar to what they already listen to (i.e. in the same genre). So if you want to show them new genres, it's best to recommend multi-disciplinary bands which mix a genre they like and a genre you want to show them. Slow and steady. But it's getting to the point where I talk about music with very few people in real life. The average 'metal' person here seems to listen to Tool, NIN, Marilyn Manson, AC/DC, Metallica, System of a Down, Disturbed and Pantera. The average 'rock person listens to Muse, RHCP, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, AC/DC, Guns 'n' Roses, QOTSA, Green Day. The average indie fan doesn't stretch far beyond Radiohead, Interpol, Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party, Death Cab, Muse, Killers and Hot Chip. That's not even mentioning the pop, pop-punk, rnb, and hip-hop fans. I'm not saying those are necessarily bad bands at all. I like some of them. But it just irritates me that 95% of people can be matched up with a blueprint of some sort, as if no other bands exist. I can't see how people do not desire to discover new music. __________________ In the Court of King Crimson \| Last.fm \| RYM

02-10-2008, 06:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
ProggyMan Reformed Jackass Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3,964	But you run the risk of alienating someone from an entire genre. Are you ever going to try Metal again if the first band you try and listen to is part of a transition from The Jonas Brothers to Amon Amarth?

02-10-2008, 06:28 PM	#15 (permalink)
ProggyMan Reformed Jackass Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3,964	But let's say you go from one boy band to another, going into the early Beatles stuff, which leads you to the Proto-Metal of Helter Skelter or into The Kinks You Really Got Me, causing you to check out Black Sabbath. Then maybe you look into the 80's Thrash scene, Slayer, Metallica, etc., which leads you to Death Metal like Amon Amarth.

02-10-2008, 06:37 PM	#17 (permalink)
ProggyMan Reformed Jackass Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3,964	But isn't it better to suggest one artist for starters then let them evolve from there? Additional prodding along the way of course.

02-10-2008, 06:45 PM	#19 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,503	It really depends on the person and how open minded they are. I mean, one of my friends listened to pretty much only ska punk when I met him and I managed to get him into Faust and Tortoise within a week. At the same time, I've hit so many brick walls trying to introduce people to my favorite bands that I've learned it's probably a better idea to introduce them to things you like that are similar to their own tastes. If you can't do that, you probably shouldn't bother.