The Why Are/Is... thread
 

I thought this might be a good idea for a thread (or maybe a really bad one, time will tell ;))

I thought it'd be a good chance for the MB members to ask questions to other members, not to be bitchy or opinionated, just go get some knowledge. So not why are Nirvana so overrated? Or why are Nickelback shit?

Genuine questions that you want to know the answer to.

I'll start..

Why is the album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain by Pavement considered by some as one of the best Indie albums to emerge from the 90s?

Feel free to ask your own and let the expanding of your mind begin.

This sounds strangely like the "Explain Why You Like This Album (Cause I Don't Understand)" thread...

Or did I miss something?

I like the thread idea.

I can't answer your first question though, because the only Pavement album I have been able to get into is Slanted & Enchanted (which is awesome by the way).

My question would be: why is everything about nu metal considered awful?

Well, I wasn't sure whether it'd be a good idea 'cause other threads COULD cover the subject matters..

But it's a more general thread.

It could be:

Why is the Manchester music scene considered good? Oasis and the Stone Roses were shit.

Why is Kurt Cobain considered the voice of a generation?

So someone who knows a lot about that subject matter could divulge some information.

Ah...I gotcha.

It'll probably fall flat on its arse, but it was worth a go. ;) my question belonged in the Explain this album thread actually. I may re post it there. :thumb:

Because of that other thread, then, we should make sure to avoid asking things related to specific albums, such as "why is this great...I don't get it" at least. Other questions about the album, that don't relate to not getting it, would of course be alright. Right?

Pretty much yeah, I felt like a lot of people don't understand certain things within music where as other people have a good understanding. Maybe other threads about will cover it but you can never be too sure. ;)

i think this is mostly due to the time period nu-metal appeared within the scope of the mainstream. it happened just as napster was taking off and P2P file sharing started having a very noticeable effect on every aspect of the music industry.

it was one of the first styles that was over saturated before it was actually established. the innovators of the style had barely finished wiping the sweat from their gear only to find out their style had already been pre-packaged and shoved down the throats of a new generation of adolescents who were already tired of the breakdowns. it was the last ditch effort to push a new style of music and in an act of probable desperation the labels seemed to use the idea of throwing crap at the wall until something stuck and then just kept throwing more of the same crap before going back to 'safe' pop stars and connect the dot 70s rock a la Nickelback.

by becoming so big so fast only the crap that appealed to the masses got really big (Korn, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, etc.) those who would have innovated and done something decent with the style moved on (Deftones, Fear Factory, etc.), whether it's because they no longer liked the style they helped create, or to distance themselves of the whiny self-serving nature that was fast becoming the core of the style, it's anyone's guess but the field seemed to deplete itself quickly.

as a result the terms 'nu-metal' and 'mall metal' are basically interchangeable. the style never managed to break out of adolescent rebellion and truly into its own, and for those who had already grown past that point in their own lives and were looking for a new style of metal/aggressive music were forced to look in more progressive directions, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

because he was and that's really all that needs to be said. if you had your first clue of independence by the time the 90s rolled around you'd get it. otherwise, sorry, you'll have to find your own.

I wasn't seriously asking why Kurt was the voice of a generation, I just using it as an example. I love Kurt, he was my avatar until I fancied a change today.

Why is Linkin Park considered crap? Why would you lump them together with Korn and Limp Bizkit?

I gave Linkin Park a chance with their first album. It was catchy, blended the best aspects of your basic nu metal well, and sounded like they had room for growth. I told myself before their second album came out, if it sounds anything like the first album my official opinion of them will be that they are a crock of ****.

That is exactly what happened. They are a crock of ****. Give me one Linkin Park song and I pretty much got the idea of the whole back catalog.

Sidenote: I never knew Fear Factory was every ever lumped in with nu metal...

Haha...further validation of this fact:

All Linkin Park songs look the same - Hometracked

Really? I mean, Oasis I can understand, and I know a lot of people don't like the Roses but what about Joy Division/New Order, the Smiths, A Certain Ratio, Buzzc0cks, Magazine, etc etc!?

HAHAHA..YES!

Excellent article...thanks for that, Satch.

My point is proven.

Why aren't people getting my two questions? They were used as an example..

I'm from Manchester, I adore the Manchester music scene. It was quite possibly the biggest influence on me. I just used the questions as an example of queries people may have. I.E someone from America might not get The Smiths.. I could explain EXACTLY why they are brilliant because I know about them

Oh, my bad. I kind of saw that and didnt bother reading the rest, because that was just ridiculous

Don't worry, Paloma...I love those bands as well.

A lot of questions you can put on this thread make sense...but that just seems like a matter of opinion. Some people will like that kind of music, some people won't. I even found some enjoyment in Oasis (for a time). Some people find grunge to be a mindless rehash of punk music in a slightly different package.

Do you want to know what specific aspects we like in that music?

EDIT: Sorry, just saw the last couple of posts. At least its keeping the thread going, eh?

I used

Manchester music scene and Kurt Cobain 'cause they're two widely discussed topics :D I would've asked things I actually wanted to know as examples but I couldn't think of anything

And oi, I love Oasis. :( although I don't listen to them much anymore.

I understand now, man...see my edit.

Apologies ;)

I am usually the one asking that question with regards to KoRn. By the time Follow the Leader was released nu metal had hit the mainstream and it sounded little different from your Linkin Parks/Limp Bizkits of the world. But their self-titled debut is what sets them apart. It was released in 1994 and has plenty of honest emotion on it, not to mention some decent musicianship. What Fieldy was doing with the loose strings on his bass is easily my favorite aspect of the group.

Well, at least we can all agree Limp Bizkit sucked balls. And they are the one I'm playing the most often recently... :laughing:

edit: and I'm glad you didn't lump Deftones in with the rest. An honest to goodness solid band.

The funny thing about nu metal is that the two heavy bands I mainly find myself listening to, Primus and Tool, are like the primary influences on the genre. So I almost have to like some of it... :laughing:

Why is Daniel Johnston so widely liked/respected?

I have an album and am a fan of a few songs but I never really "got" him.

Judging from the last time Korn's debut was brought up, quite a few people here actually don't mind that one. So you are in good company as far as that goes.

But Limp Bizkit? For shame.

I thought they were cool when I was in middle school, wasn't quite sure what he meant by "nookie", but knew I had to have one.

Nice post, although I don't agree with all of it. I assume you just meant many of the statements as generalizations? How does a band like System of a Down fit into this outline?

I had a nookie when I was a baby. :D

I don't listen to Limp Bizkit for their artistic quality or anything. It's just a guilty pleasure. 'Break Stuff' is simple yet effective in my mind. No worries though, I have no problem labeling them crap.

RE: KoRn, I think there are still plenty of people who disregard them. And I dig half of the songs on Follow the Leader too. IMO, there is no denying this is a pretty good song:

I used to love Korn when I was younger. I think they have a lot of talent, there are loads of gems in many of their albums. That being said, there are also loads of disappointments. The reason I stopped listening to them was because I basically grew out of them - they have been around for (more than?) a decade and they are still singing about the same angsty youth type stuff. They had their moments though, some of Munky's guitar riffs are pretty brilliant, Fieldy's bass is beasty and Jonathan's vocals can be pretty touching.

Why do people like the Dead Kennedys? I downloaded their discography after I heard Holiday in Cambodia, and decided they're complete crap.

+1.

(Except not for the entire discography)

Just why are they rated so highly? I didn't find them particularly good.

Impossible!

Because he's a genuis. :D

I know, I know... NOT the idea of thread.
I couldn't help myself though. :D
Forgive me.

For the third and final time. (Well, probably not.)

The questions I asked weren't serious questions I wanted the answer to. I love Kurt Cobain, I love Manchester music. They were just broad examples of common questions someone might have about music.

IMO, System kicks ass. Awesome fun great band to listen too, but can be in your face serious as well.
I LOVE thier new single.

No, I know.
I knew that before I replied. Like I said, I couldn't help myself. I told you I was **** disturber. ;)

Ah, when I made the thread and used the examples, I even had a Kurt Cobain avatar. People still answered the question though. Gr.