The Batlord's Kitchen Sink Journal of Anything and Everything He Wants to Write About

**Frownland** · 10-19-2017, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elphenor

it's just familiarity by listening to a lot of a genre that will make you appreciate more pure versions as time goes on

Bingo. I think that dissecting things to their theoretical base almost limits people because that's not always an appropriate way to approach certain genres. Having an understanding of music theory can help you identify things about music that can help you communicate why you do or don't like it, but I don't think it affects how much you appreciate something. My familiarity with experimental music and such did way more for how I appreciate it now than my musical training and experience.

The Batlord · 10-19-2017, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

Bingo. I think that dissecting things to their theoretical base almost limits people because that's not always an appropriate way to approach certain genres. Having an understanding of music theory can help you identify things about music that can help you communicate why you do or don't like it, but I don't think it affects how much you appreciate something. My familiarity with experimental music and such did way more for how I appreciate it now than my musical training and experience.

That's honestly surprising to me. Pop music and punk I obviously don't see where it would help, but I imagine that's not true for classical and jazz though?

**Frownland** · 10-19-2017, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

That's honestly surprising to me. Pop music and punk I obviously don't see where it would help, but I imagine that's not true for classical and jazz though?

With classical music, context can make or break music so having that understanding of the history and what would signify a big change can definitely help. For jazz, it can help you appreciate it more, but only if you can also connect to the emotive element that's so present in the genre.

OccultHawk · 10-19-2017, 07:55 AM

Being a connoisseur is very different than being an artist. As a connoisseur you don't need theory to understand difficult music. It's about being in touch with the feelings or even the ambiguity the music creates. Great musicians often have terrible taste and a hilarious lack of understanding of other people's music. Miles Davis hated free jazz. Read interviews with Roger Waters. He never had a clue what David Gilmour brought to the table. Johnny Ramone didn't understand why it had to be Joey's voice. These aren't just sour grapes either.

Try to find a high school music teacher that likes Schoenberg. Most people with music degrees have horrible taste and it's also completely lost on them why their own music is at best mediocre.

That's why critics are critics. People say critics should throw their hats in the ring but they would never because they actually know how bad their own **** smells. That's why they cut through the garbage for people without much time. And that's why I read Wire. Hell, it's why I read your metal threads.

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard · 10-19-2017, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

That's why critics are critics. People say critics should throw their hats in the ring but they would never because the actually know how bad their own **** smells. That's why they cut through the garbage for people without much time.

one of the best things i've seen you say on here. never really thought of like that, but i think it's a very interesting point.

The Batlord · 10-20-2017, 01:32 PM

The Batlord Reviews His Top 10 Songs of 2017 as Decided by Last.FM

10. Kesha - Praying: Damn it, this is one of four songs I've already reviewed in my Rainbow entry in my Ke$ha journal, but I'm not TH so I'm not gonna drop you a link to that and be lazy. This song is way stronger musically than I originally gave it credit for, carrying the lyrics and message along on a wave of uplifting euphoria. It's Elton John-esque, but is still simple enough that it isn't bogged down in corny dullness. Even if it is corny.

But those lyrics hit hard as a hammer and can bring me to tears. You go Kesha. You ****ing go. **** Dr. Luke.

9. Kesha - Woman: One of the high energy pop bangers of significant awesomeness from Rainbow. Yeah it's kind of manipulative as a female party anthem, but Kesha has made her career out of such, and even on an album that kind of rises above that schtick this still feels appropriate due to its rough and ready fun that doesn't dwell on... issues, while still being kinda uplifting. But seriously it's just all about the fun and turning up the volume to make your floor vibrate.

8. Ke$ha - Take It Off: God damn it, Ke$ha, this wasn't supposed to be a fanboy screed post, but since half the songs on this list are yours it's kind of impossible for it not to be. And yes, I am switching between the "$" and the "s" when appropriate. This is simply one of the thumpingest pop songs of all-time, from her Animal album, the definitive Ke$ha album and possibly the definitive dance pop album in general. If you've heard any Ke$ha single then you know what this is. It's just god-tier pop that makes all but Britney Spears, Madonna, and Kylie Minogue sound like incompetents.

7. Cryptopsy - Slit Your Guts: Definite top 10 death metal song right here. None So Vile is insanely savage as a whole, but "Slit Your Guts" is simply perfect. It's high energy, ****ed up, with brutal riffs, but the beginning and end are the highlights, not just of the song but the album itself. The beginning, with the 0 to 60 riffs that slay ****ing hard, combined with those monstrously guttural vocals literally sound like a hail of mind-altering brutality that strain the mind's ability to interpret intensity. And that breakdown at the end is the absolute perfect end to such a maelstrom of hate, that is both catchy as legit sin and feels like an offensively arrogant statement of, "And this is how you ****ing do it, you poseur, ***got pussies!"

6. No Remorse - We Fly the Swastika: Huh, only one Nazi punk song on this list. I'd have at least predicted a Final War song or two. If you remember that two weeks where I was going off on how awesome was Rock Against Communism in the context of how amusing and oddly catchy it was then just know that it wasn't all irony and attention seeking. As hilarious as the chorus of "We fly the Swastika/We fly it strong and true/We ain't never gonna take it down/For the communists or Jews!" is, it's also just a **** ton of fun and I've found myself singing it to myself many times over the past few months. No Remorse are a punk band, but they're also kind of a good pop band, and this is definitely a pop song more than it is a punk song. There's so much that is ****ty about it and this band, but **** me if "We Fly the Swastika" isn't just madly entertaining no matter the political affiliation. I even have this thing I want to do when the chorus kicks in where I point out in a way that unintentionally looks like a Sieg Heil and I swear to god I don't even mean to do it, but it still makes me laugh every time.

"When you see our banner high! Rally 'round and cheer! Only our racial enemies, have something to fear!"

Indeed, fascist ****s. Indeed.

5. Lil Yachty - Good Day: Say what you want about Lil Yachty's **** rapping ability, but the man knows how to make a god damn good pop song, and this is easily his best. The lyrics are bog standard to a massive fault and are clearly the work of an incompetent who is just emulating modern pop rap cliches, but the song is so chill and fun that they somehow work on what may or may not be an ironic level. Honestly though I don't think Lil Yachty gives enough of a **** about his lyrics to even bother being ironic, but "Good Day" still has an ironic quality that makes it entertaining even if you're not being cynical and contemptuous. And all that auto-tuned positivity makes me think of Ke$ha, which warms my cockles. You just gotta get high and bump that euphoric, gloriously nonsensical chorus. You just ****ing gotta.

**** that generic rapper feature though.

4. Kesha - Boogie Feet: And Kesha again. And Kesha for the next two entries. Deal with it. She's my bae and you just gotta accept it. This song is so much ****ing, ****ing, ****ing, silly, silly, silly, fun, fun, fun. The chorus is one of the most hi-NRG things she's ever done, proving that she can do it on her own while still being a goddess of pop like none other. Another song that sticks in my head throughout my work shifts and gets me through the day until I can get home to play it upon immediacy. The verses are decidedly silly as well, being the closest on Rainbow to the drunken, party girl rap of her early days but in a way that is somehow still new and fresh for Kesha. Basically the whole song is gold and makes all of pop seem like a prologue to this song, as the best pop should.

3. Ke$ha - Tik Tok: Why am I not surprised? The best pop song ever recorded and therefore the best Ke$ha song ever, and vice versa. Everything about Ke$ha in three minutes: the drunk, white girl, semi-rap; the trashy, party girl lyrics; the delivery with the idiosyncratic personality; the dance pop on crack beat; and the chorus that absolutely any pop artist would commit first-degree murder and do the time for. You've heard this song before. I don't need to tell you what it sounds like or why it rules. And if I do then eat dick.

2. Kesha - Let 'Em Talk: I'd go with "Boogie Feet" as my fav Rainbow song but this is a very close second, higher rank simply because it's higher in the track list. It's just so fun with that power pop riff, happy vocal, and general sense of everything is alright and amazing. It's uplifting and **** just like most of the album, but not in a trite or exploitative way, it just revels in the sheer fun of pop music cause it's Kesha and all Kesha wants is to have fun. One of those pop songs that just grabs you by the balls and makes you forget about everything but moving to the rhythm the way that any pop song worth its salt should. Kesha is simply pop royalty and this is more proof that you don't need but absolutely want.

1. Brooke Candy - Bed Squeak: This is quite possibly the filthiest song I've ever heard. Brooke Candy is sort of like if Ke$ha added more gangsta rap to her sound. She is a pop artist with a kinda sorta hip hop sound but with a certain aggressiveness that makes her more in-your-face than you'd ever expect from any pop artist who wasn't her. This song even uses bed squeaks as a sample to drive through the point that all she wants to do is **** and get ****ed. This song's disgustingly amazing sexuality is honestly amazing and makes me happy that so many pop artists are so obsessed with unrestrained sexuality, even if none of them can touch this song's hedonism. It's actually kind of feminist, not because it touches on feminism, but because it is so unapologetic in its acceptance of a woman's desire to have all the sex and **** chastity for the repressive lie that it is. If I'm not totally waiting for her actual debut full-length it's because she seems to be dropping the goofy rap sound to be a full pop artist. But Kesha did it amazingly so maybe I should give Brooke Candy the benefit of the doubt too.

Hold on, does she have her new album out yet? Nope. Damn.

And how the **** is there only one metal song on this list? I've listened to so much death and thrash metal this year that this feels like a slap in the face to my favorite genre. Oh well.

OccultHawk · 10-20-2017, 03:53 PM

Can I get a shout out for encouraging you to check out LY?

That song is joyous.

The Batlord · 10-20-2017, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

Can I get a shout out for encouraging you to check out LY?

That song is joyous.

Hell the **** yeah you can, otherwise I never would have even given him a shot in the first place, let alone have given him any more than one chance. Basically any time I listen to Lil Yachty I think OH cause it's so weird of a rec occurrence.

OccultHawk · 10-20-2017, 04:35 PM

Thank you <3

The Batlord · 10-20-2017, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

Thank you <3

Seriously though that is a Ke$ha level pop song and you're responsible for me knowing it so all praise to you.

10-19-2017, 07:55 AM	#174 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,033	Being a connoisseur is very different than being an artist. As a connoisseur you don't need theory to understand difficult music. It's about being in touch with the feelings or even the ambiguity the music creates. Great musicians often have terrible taste and a hilarious lack of understanding of other people's music. Miles Davis hated free jazz. Read interviews with Roger Waters. He never had a clue what David Gilmour brought to the table. Johnny Ramone didn't understand why it had to be Joey's voice. These aren't just sour grapes either. Try to find a high school music teacher that likes Schoenberg. Most people with music degrees have horrible taste and it's also completely lost on them why their own music is at best mediocre. That's why critics are critics. People say critics should throw their hats in the ring but they would never because they actually know how bad their own **** smells. That's why they cut through the garbage for people without much time. And that's why I read Wire. Hell, it's why I read your metal threads. __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html Last edited by OccultHawk; 10-19-2017 at 08:18 AM. Reason: typo pissed me off

10-20-2017, 03:53 PM	#177 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,033	Can I get a shout out for encouraging you to check out LY? That song is joyous. __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

10-20-2017, 04:35 PM	#179 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,033	Thank you <3 __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html