Are Punk Sub-Genres Needed?

tgpo · 10-16-2009, 05:27 AM

Do you feel punk sub-genres add anything? Do they really make it easier to catalog bands? Are they even needed? Do most people even apply them correctly?

I suppose I can understand a handful of them. Pop-Punk, Horror Punk, Hardcore, etc. Fusion genres make since to have their own sub-genre. But Street punk, skate punk, garage punk. Do these labels actually add any value?

What are your thoughts?

TheBig3 · 10-16-2009, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgpo

Do you feel punk sub-genres add anything? Do they really make it easier to catalog bands? Are they even needed? Do most people even apply them correctly?

I suppose I can understand a handful of them. Pop-Punk, Horror Punk, Hardcore, etc. Fusion genres make since to have their own sub-genre. But Street punk, skate punk, garage punk. Do these labels actually add any value?

What are your thoughts?

That assumes that Punk is needed.

In all sincerity, genres are an extension of adolecent us-vs.-them-ism and only serves to senselessly divide music along lines that are neither

a. accurate or
b. useful.

The idea of musical genre is shocking in its longevity because bands more increasingly move toward "indescribable" and while I'm sure thats great for recod labels (a sound you've never heard before!) it doesn't help us.

In the most general sense, music genres at the macro level allow us to sum up peoples tastes a little quicker, it allows for more directed (or rejected) conversation from the jump.

I like roots, jazz, noise, whatever.

But lets be honest with one another, if its a website, the douchebag probably put songs/bands/albums in his username and you can sum him up in a quick second. If its IRL, well...everyones prejudice in this town.

"nice ripped jeans toolbag, how's the Whitesnake collection going."

Also: Welcome to Musicbanter~!

tgpo · 10-16-2009, 08:33 AM

I think high level genres are useful. Rock, Rap, Classical, Pop. It allows us to easily filter music on radio, looking through CDs at the store, searching for music to listen to in our music players, etc.

But I feel that sub-genres have reached the level of absurdity. Mathcore is a sub-genre to a fusion-genre. I'm sure there are examples of even deeper genres that exist.

Do these genres help us any more than the band name itself at this point?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

Also: Welcome to Musicbanter~!

Thanks.

kouki · 10-17-2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgpo

I think high level genres are useful. Rock, Rap, Classical, Pop. It allows us to easily filter music on radio, looking through CDs at the store, searching for music to listen to in our music players, etc.

But I feel that sub-genres have reached the level of absurdity. Mathcore is a sub-genre to a fusion-genre. I'm sure there are examples of even deeper genres that exist.

Do these genres help us any more than the band name itself at this point?

Thanks.

I totally agree with you.One or two sub genres is cool,but theyre just going overboard.WTF is mathcore? Bands that sing about how math is cool? Jeez.

almauro · 10-17-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kouki

WTF is mathcore? Bands that sing about how math is cool? Jeez.

Have you ever heard of The Dillinger Escape Plan?

mr dave · 10-17-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kouki

I totally agree with you.One or two sub genres is cool,but theyre just going overboard.WTF is mathcore? Bands that sing about how math is cool? Jeez.

mathcore is a derivative of rock where nerds spend a bunch of time figuring out how different time signatures overlap so basically every instrument is playing a unique rhythm and speed that still has moments of cohesion when the formula cycles.

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 10-17-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

mathcore is a derivative of rock where nerds spend a bunch of time figuring out how different time signatures overlap so basically every instrument is playing a unique rhythm and speed that still has moments of cohesion when the formula cycles.

It also happens to be awesome.

kouki · 10-19-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

mathcore is a derivative of rock where nerds spend a bunch of time figuring out how different time signatures overlap so basically every instrument is playing a unique rhythm and speed that still has moments of cohesion when the formula cycles.

Ahh,I see.Is this dillinger escape plan a good recomendation?

clutnuckle · 10-16-2009, 12:28 PM

Well, genres segregate and bring people together at the same time... So really, if you keep adding on sub-genres you're just going to make several smaller groups of people who hate each other.

Although on the other side, I like being super-specific and giving things complex tags and meanings. I figure, "What the hell, we have the language, why not use it?"

Roemilca · 10-16-2009, 12:43 PM

Pop-punk really just seems like alternative to me.

Also, people go overboard with these.
Christian Metalcore, Christian Deathcore, Jazzcore, Mathcore, Skate Punk, Street Punk, Garage Punk, Semi-Punk, Posi-core, Straight-Edge Hardcore Punk, and so on and so forth.

10-16-2009, 05:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
tgpo Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 207	Are Punk Sub-Genres Needed? Do you feel punk sub-genres add anything? Do they really make it easier to catalog bands? Are they even needed? Do most people even apply them correctly? I suppose I can understand a handful of them. Pop-Punk, Horror Punk, Hardcore, etc. Fusion genres make since to have their own sub-genre. But Street punk, skate punk, garage punk. Do these labels actually add any value? What are your thoughts? __________________ tgpo.org \| Last.fm

10-16-2009, 12:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
Roemilca Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 412	Pop-punk really just seems like alternative to me. Also, people go overboard with these. Christian Metalcore, Christian Deathcore, Jazzcore, Mathcore, Skate Punk, Street Punk, Garage Punk, Semi-Punk, Posi-core, Straight-Edge Hardcore Punk, and so on and so forth. __________________

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10-16-2009, 12:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
clutnuckle Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: -_-_-_-_~__~-~_-`_`-~_-`-~-~ Posts: 1,276	Well, genres segregate and bring people together at the same time... So really, if you keep adding on sub-genres you're just going to make several smaller groups of people who hate each other. Although on the other side, I like being super-specific and giving things complex tags and meanings. I figure, "What the hell, we have the language, why not use it?"