The Makings of a Good Band

HuskyInDenial · 10-06-2009, 10:15 AM

What is it, for you, that makes you fall in love with a band? What makes that band stand out against the endless motley wall of music we hear everyday?

For me, I look for something interesting, something that's strange and stands out to me. It's often the vocals or lyrical structure, like Pixies or Busdriver.

I also find that things that take a while to get used to turn out to be the best. It took me a long time to appreciate Radiohead, but one day it just kind of hit me, and there was a light. That light is a great, warm, fulfilling feeling.

I look for originality. It doesn't have to be totally different; that's almost impossible these days. But I like people who aren't absolute clones.

I also like a bit of dissonance, harsh sounds, even if it's subtle like Enon's Natural Disasters.

I like a band that's willing to evolve. I don't want to hear the same thing album after album. Incubus has done this over the years, and so certainly has Radiohead.

How about you?

Antonio · 10-06-2009, 10:20 AM

welll.....most of what you just said.

~~The Unfan~~ · 10-06-2009, 10:22 AM

If I can imagine myself having a homoerotic experience with the band members the music is probably good.

BTown · 10-06-2009, 03:37 PM

I like bands that aren't afraid to not play it safe. Lyrically like there to be purpose, I hate hearing about girls from the same band every song or something sappy like that.
I like a variety of things, when i'm in a chill mood I love listening to the distorted sound of Grunge guitars with slurred vocals. I also am a fan of the eerie feel some songs give off.

Other time I like listening to more upbeat music like Ska. I'm not tobig on band's recordings being really polished but I cn make an exception for ska and reggae.

80's punk has always been a favorite of mine, I'm not really sure as to what atracts me to it, maybe it's just that DIY work ethic and how the recordings aren't so great. That I don't give a **** attitude.

Sometimes listening to bland music is actually ok for me, I consider stuff like Pavement and the Pixies to be kind of bland. Bland is usually associated as bad but I can't think of many other ways to describe these bands, minus using generic genres.

I have yet to really find one heavy metal band I like although they are many metal songs I like.

I like being lost in thought while music is being played and stuff like this just really makes me feel..well, lost. And yea I know it's stoner music.

mr dave · 10-06-2009, 04:20 PM

for me the drums have to do something more than play a generic pattern

the bass has to do more than sit in the pocket

the guitar can't just sit back and strum chords

and the vocals have to say something interesting

basically. to be a 'good' band the combined output has to surpass and transcend the sum of its parts.

Astronomer · 10-06-2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

basically. to be a 'good' band the combined output has to surpass and transcend the sum of its parts.

This.

I like it when all band members contribute their instrument and their musical knowledge equally, with nobody sitting on the sidelines. I like it when they can show that they are talented and know what they're doing with their instrument, and who are not afraid to be 'out there' or to bring something different to the table. I also love to hear musical technicality.

But musical technicality and talent isn't everything... a good band also have to mean what they play, and convey the stories or emotions or feelings that are in their music to their audience.

sidewinder · 10-06-2009, 05:44 PM

There really aren't set qualifications. I just have to feel it...whether it's instant or after 10 listens. A band could follow all of my rules and still not do much for me.

TheCunningStunt · 10-06-2009, 06:33 PM

The first thing I listen for in a song is the lyrics, I love poetic lyrics, or interesting lyrics, or lyrics with hidden meanings.

And after that, I'll listen to the guitar and hooks and riffs they play.

If both of them are good, I'll tend to like the band.

jackhammer · 10-06-2009, 06:56 PM

I like bands that play the music they want to hear first and balls to everyone else. This could be dirty garage to ambient chillout. I can hear a band going through the motions within 2 songs.

I don't care whether they can't even play barely a note as long as they believe in the sounds and I personally feel that I can hear that in every genre of music.

Mojo · 10-06-2009, 07:55 PM

Out of all these posts so far id be more inclined to lean more towards what Jackhammer said when thinking about what my own response would be.

I listen to different kinds of music for different moods and for different reasons so i dont think i have an exclusive set of rules for what i think makes a good band. If anything the rules would change depending on what i was listening to. Lyrics are imporant to me for SOME bands, lyricists that make me want to sit and actually read the inlay whether im listening to the album at the time or not. Lyrics that i find inspiration in or personally relate to in some way. In other bands i would say creating an atmosphere and whatever that atmosphere is, it would be something i can complete get lost in and really feel that record from start to end. Sometimes im looking for something that isnt clever, is in no way experimental or even original but is plain balls to the wall energy.

However no matter what the rules are, what exactly im listening to or what im looking for from the band im listening to i guess i would say any band that knows exactly what they want to be and how they want to sound and don't allow themselves to stray from that would be the most important thing to me. If a band makes the music they want to make rather than making the music they think their largest potential audience would pay to listen to or conforming with any current trends to make money their top priority and therefore probably jumping on every bandwagon going over the course of their career then im likely to be able to give them props for that.

10-06-2009, 10:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
HuskyInDenial Groupie Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Memphis Posts: 10	The Makings of a Good Band What is it, for you, that makes you fall in love with a band? What makes that band stand out against the endless motley wall of music we hear everyday? For me, I look for something interesting, something that's strange and stands out to me. It's often the vocals or lyrical structure, like Pixies or Busdriver. I also find that things that take a while to get used to turn out to be the best. It took me a long time to appreciate Radiohead, but one day it just kind of hit me, and there was a light. That light is a great, warm, fulfilling feeling. I look for originality. It doesn't have to be totally different; that's almost impossible these days. But I like people who aren't absolute clones. I also like a bit of dissonance, harsh sounds, even if it's subtle like Enon's Natural Disasters. I like a band that's willing to evolve. I don't want to hear the same thing album after album. Incubus has done this over the years, and so certainly has Radiohead. How about you? __________________ [and the little ones chewed on the bones]

10-06-2009, 03:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
BTown super cool Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 806	I like bands that aren't afraid to not play it safe. Lyrically like there to be purpose, I hate hearing about girls from the same band every song or something sappy like that. I like a variety of things, when i'm in a chill mood I love listening to the distorted sound of Grunge guitars with slurred vocals. I also am a fan of the eerie feel some songs give off. Other time I like listening to more upbeat music like Ska. I'm not tobig on band's recordings being really polished but I cn make an exception for ska and reggae. 80's punk has always been a favorite of mine, I'm not really sure as to what atracts me to it, maybe it's just that DIY work ethic and how the recordings aren't so great. That I don't give a **** attitude. Sometimes listening to bland music is actually ok for me, I consider stuff like Pavement and the Pixies to be kind of bland. Bland is usually associated as bad but I can't think of many other ways to describe these bands, minus using generic genres. I have yet to really find one heavy metal band I like although they are many metal songs I like. I like being lost in thought while music is being played and stuff like this just really makes me feel..well, lost. And yea I know it's stoner music. __________________

10-06-2009, 05:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
sidewinder Engorged Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,536	There really aren't set qualifications. I just have to feel it...whether it's instant or after 10 listens. A band could follow all of my rules and still not do much for me. __________________ last.fm \| my collection on RYM \| vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

10-06-2009, 06:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
TheCunningStunt love will tear you apart Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 5,107	The first thing I listen for in a song is the lyrics, I love poetic lyrics, or interesting lyrics, or lyrics with hidden meanings. And after that, I'll listen to the guitar and hooks and riffs they play. If both of them are good, I'll tend to like the band. __________________ I don't feel and I feel great. Last FM

10-06-2009, 06:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I like bands that play the music they want to hear first and balls to everyone else. This could be dirty garage to ambient chillout. I can hear a band going through the motions within 2 songs. I don't care whether they can't even play barely a note as long as they believe in the sounds and I personally feel that I can hear that in every genre of music. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

10-06-2009, 10:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
~~The Unfan~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Methville Posts: 2,116	If I can imagine myself having a homoerotic experience with the band members the music is probably good.

10-06-2009, 07:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	Out of all these posts so far id be more inclined to lean more towards what Jackhammer said when thinking about what my own response would be. I listen to different kinds of music for different moods and for different reasons so i dont think i have an exclusive set of rules for what i think makes a good band. If anything the rules would change depending on what i was listening to. Lyrics are imporant to me for SOME bands, lyricists that make me want to sit and actually read the inlay whether im listening to the album at the time or not. Lyrics that i find inspiration in or personally relate to in some way. In other bands i would say creating an atmosphere and whatever that atmosphere is, it would be something i can complete get lost in and really feel that record from start to end. Sometimes im looking for something that isnt clever, is in no way experimental or even original but is plain balls to the wall energy. However no matter what the rules are, what exactly im listening to or what im looking for from the band im listening to i guess i would say any band that knows exactly what they want to be and how they want to sound and don't allow themselves to stray from that would be the most important thing to me. If a band makes the music they want to make rather than making the music they think their largest potential audience would pay to listen to or conforming with any current trends to make money their top priority and therefore probably jumping on every bandwagon going over the course of their career then im likely to be able to give them props for that. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust