Unpopular Music Opinions

duga · 10-05-2011, 09:02 PM

I've got respect for the guy, but I can see what you guys are saying. Once I branched out a little with reggae, I quickly saw how he was one of the least exciting acts. I get the feeling Bob Marley did that on purpose, but I do agree. He still has a place in my music collection, though.

Howard the Duck · 10-05-2011, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra

I've heard varying levels of Reggae in many forms, and Bob Marley has been one of the least to impress me. Thing is, Reggae is about the colors of the sound, not the rhythmic construction. In that, however, it's potential is lost as I feel a lot of reggae is samey.

If the thick coloration palette is used well, then it can do amazing things. However, some artists in the genre fail to bring it beyond that, and have it swallowed in the muck of it's own cliche. Perhaps Bob Marley created the cliche, but by now, the cliche has gotten damn old.

to be fair, he did bring reggae to the unwashed masses

it's a pretty safe formula he used, intended to appeal to "rockist" people

can't say i don't enjoy his stuff, even purely as just "popular music"

TockTockTock · 10-05-2011, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra

I've heard varying levels of Reggae in many forms, and Bob Marley has been one of the least to impress me. Thing is, Reggae is about the colors of the sound, not the rhythmic construction. In that, however, it's potential is lost as I feel a lot of reggae is samey.

If the thick coloration palette is used well, then it can do amazing things. However, some artists in the genre fail to bring it beyond that, and have it swallowed in the muck of it's own cliche. Perhaps Bob Marley created the cliche, but by now, the cliche has gotten damn old.

I would love to know of some reggae artists who do this because I've always found the genre to be incredibly boring and lacking in variety...

SATCHMO · 10-05-2011, 11:18 PM

I think there are a lot of genres-- not just reggae-- that limit themselves and seem monotonous because of the common criteria that place them in the genre. While reggae cliches can abound and the syncopated rhythm can get very tedious and monotonous, I also think both of those things can be overlooked in contrast to it's soulful nature. There's something about it that's very uplifting on a deep level, plus it's great to dance to. Let's not forget it grew out of the dancehalls of Jamaica where the original party DJs--the selectors, kept the dance floor moving.

Being a huge Jamaican music fan, it does get a little annoying that Marley seems to be so ubiquitous, in dark contrast to the fact the he is the beginning and the end of most people's reggae knowledge. but when you separate yourself from the fact that so much of his material has been played out and that his image has gone beyond the point of being iconic and has been sold out to pop culture, You have to respect the fact that he incited an entire culture to embrace and fight for their human rights and, for the most part, single-handedly created the roots reggae genre.

Plus he smoked a **** of a lot of weed. I bet you there wouldn't be a third of the marijuana leaf merchandise in any given Hot Topic store if it weren't for Bob.

**Janszoon** · 10-05-2011, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SATCHMO

I think there are a lot of genres-- not just reggae-- that limit themselves and seem monotonous because of the common criteria that place them in the genre. While reggae cliches can abound and the syncopated rhythm can get very tedious and monotonous, I also think both of those things can be overlooked in contrast to it's soulful nature. There's something about it that's very uplifting on a deep level, plus it's great to dance to. Let's not forget it grew out of the dancehalls of Jamaica where the original party DJs--the selectors, kept the dance floor moving.

Being a huge Jamaican music fan, it does get a little annoying that Marley seems to be so ubiquitous, in dark contrast to the fact the he is the beginning and the end of most people's reggae knowledge. but when you separate yourself from the fact that so much of his material has been played out and that his image has gone beyond the point of being iconic and has been sold out to pop culture, You have to respect the fact that he incited an entire culture to embrace and fight for their human rights and, for the most part, single-handedly created the roots reggae genre.

It's also worth noting how huge his impact on Jamaica was. How many other third world musicians have appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone? At a time when Jamaica was struggling to find an identity independent of the UK, Marley helped push Jamaican music onto the world stage and deserves a lot of credit for helping the music of that country become the international phenomenon that it continues to be to this day.

SATCHMO · 10-05-2011, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

It's also worth noting how huge his impact on Jamaica was. How many other third world musicians have appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone? At a time when Jamaica was struggling to find an identity independent of the UK, Marley helped push Jamaican music onto the world stage and deserves a lot of credit for helping the music of that country become the international phenomenon that it continues to be to this day.

His impact on Jamaica was very huge, that it affected the entire pan-African diaspora was incredible. Jamaica was for sure the epicenter of it all, but he effected the entire African collective culture(s) on an almost global level, and where he didn't quite reach, Fela did.

TheNiceGuy · 10-06-2011, 01:30 AM

Led Zeppelin's debut album is their best.

Unknown Soldier · 10-06-2011, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNiceGuy

Led Zeppelin's debut album is their best.

This is not really an unpopular opinion as I also think its their best and a lot of people I know think the same. Any of the first four albums plus Physical Graffitti often get mentioned as their best anyway.

TheNiceGuy · 10-06-2011, 02:45 AM

I've always come under the impression that people considered Led Zep 4 or 3 as their best.

Howard the Duck · 10-06-2011, 03:17 AM

^^2 for me

10-05-2011, 09:02 PM	#6971 (permalink)
duga MB quadrant's JM Vincent Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 3,762	I've got respect for the guy, but I can see what you guys are saying. Once I branched out a little with reggae, I quickly saw how he was one of the least exciting acts. I get the feeling Bob Marley did that on purpose, but I do agree. He still has a place in my music collection, though. __________________ Confusion will be my epitaph...

10-06-2011, 01:30 AM	#6977 (permalink)
TheNiceGuy Living under the bridge Join Date: May 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 317	Led Zeppelin's debut album is their best. __________________ My Music Review Blog-It's Only Rock 'n' Roll There is no Dark Side of the Moon really, matter of fact it's all dark...

10-06-2011, 02:45 AM	#6979 (permalink)
TheNiceGuy Living under the bridge Join Date: May 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 317	I've always come under the impression that people considered Led Zep 4 or 3 as their best. __________________ My Music Review Blog-It's Only Rock 'n' Roll There is no Dark Side of the Moon really, matter of fact it's all dark...

10-05-2011, 11:18 PM	#6974 (permalink)
SATCHMO Al Dente Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,708	I think there are a lot of genres-- not just reggae-- that limit themselves and seem monotonous because of the common criteria that place them in the genre. While reggae cliches can abound and the syncopated rhythm can get very tedious and monotonous, I also think both of those things can be overlooked in contrast to it's soulful nature. There's something about it that's very uplifting on a deep level, plus it's great to dance to. Let's not forget it grew out of the dancehalls of Jamaica where the original party DJs--the selectors, kept the dance floor moving. Being a huge Jamaican music fan, it does get a little annoying that Marley seems to be so ubiquitous, in dark contrast to the fact the he is the beginning and the end of most people's reggae knowledge. but when you separate yourself from the fact that so much of his material has been played out and that his image has gone beyond the point of being iconic and has been sold out to pop culture, You have to respect the fact that he incited an entire culture to embrace and fight for their human rights and, for the most part, single-handedly created the roots reggae genre. Plus he smoked a **** of a lot of weed. I bet you there wouldn't be a third of the marijuana leaf merchandise in any given Hot Topic store if it weren't for Bob.