Topic: Pretentious bands both worth listening to, and that have a valid reason to be so (Read 26750 times)

FireStarter · « **on:** 03 Dec 2006, 08:38 »

Muse
Yes

There I started go at it...I will explain as soon as my caffine kicks in again, and I can be intelligent and semi-coherent again. >pre fires clotheslining any rapier jests that come his way, silenced m4 ftw<

SeanBateman · « **Reply #1 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 08:45 »

I like post rock and I am comfortable with that

Johnny C · « **Reply #2 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 08:49 »

If anything I listen to is pretentious, I balance that out with a healthy dose of Andrew W.K.

WE DO WHAT WE LIKE
AND WE LIKE
WHAT WE
DO

FireStarter · « **Reply #3 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 08:51 »

Please tell me I'm not the only one that sees irony in Johnny's post.

SeanBateman · « **Reply #4 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 08:56 »

Who are you?

I really like The Exploding Hearts, speaking of kind of pretentious. Only pretentious because they are all dead.

Johnny C · « **Reply #5 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 08:58 »

I'm not sure what you're implying. Are you implying that I find I Get Wet to be an album full of stupid but consistently catchy music in an ironic sense, or that Andrew W.K. is pretentious? The gentleman who wrote a song called "Party Til You Puke"?

SeanBateman · « **Reply #6 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 09:04 »

Dude I really like having sex on crack. The pipe really gives you that extra boost, you know?

FireStarter · « **Reply #7 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 09:06 »

dude I don't do "crack" I do DXM and Benatrippin'

SeanBateman · « **Reply #8 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 09:18 »

As a former heavy user, DXM is the dumbest highschool bullshit drug ever.

camelpimp · « **Reply #9 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 09:24 »

I have nothing against drugs, just the idiots that use them.

I swear the drugged up skaters were the stupidest wastes of flesh ever.

SeanBateman · « **Reply #10 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 09:26 »

Disagreed!

If you are good at drugs, then you are good at existance.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #11 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 09:26 »

I listen to a great deal of bands that many folks here would consider to be "pretentious." My valid reason being that I really like them and I enjoy the music they make. Since when do you have to justify liking a band more than that?

SeanBateman · « **Reply #12 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 09:29 »

Since people started judging each other like infinity years ago

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #13 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 10:59 »

I LIKE TOOL D00D THEY R AMAZING I DONT THINK THEIR PRETENSIUS BUT OTHER PEOPLE DO BUT IF YOURE BAND IS THAT AMAZING HOW CAN U B PRETENSIUS

JUST LISTEN TO THEYRE LYRICS AND HTHEIR AMAZING MUSICIANSHIP ES;ECIALLY THE DRUMMER I MEAN DAMN WHEN I FIRST HERD HIM I WAS LIKE HOLY CHRIST FUCK ME SEVEN WAYS TO SUNDAY

SeanBateman · « **Reply #14 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 11:13 »

I like your username.

The Eyeball Kid · « **Reply #15 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 11:20 »

The Decemberists, Augie March, The Mountain Goats, Hold Steady.... thats if we're going by number of literary references per song

SeanBateman · « **Reply #16 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 11:25 »

Claiming the Decemberists as a pretentious band you like is the musical equivilant of being really impressed with yourself for being ahead of the curve and picking up the Da Vinci Code at your local Barnes and Noble

Johnny C · « **Reply #17 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 11:41 »

The second you say that you like a band for their drummer you are essentially condemning that band for the better part of eternity. Just saying.

The Eyeball Kid · « **Reply #18 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 11:44 »

Quote from: Genocide Jones on 03 Dec 2006, 11:25

Claiming the Decemberists as a pretentious band you like is the musical equivilant of being really impressed with yourself for being ahead of the curve and picking up the Da Vinci Code at your local Barnes and Noble

I didn't say I just got into them. I didn't say they were obscure. I said I like them and some people would consider them pretentious due to their overly-literate nature. Same would go for Joanna Newsom.
The stuff i'm into is pretentious lyrically and not musically.

Colin Meloy is a better writer then Dan Brown, but that goes without saying

tomselleck69 · « **Reply #19 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 11:58 »

i really try not to sweat pretentiousness, but sometimes it can't be helped.

muse: what radiohead would sound like if thom yorke hadn't been called "salamander" as a child. also the dude has a fucking kaoss pad on his guitar, that negates any valid reason he could possibly have to be pretentious.

camelpimp · « **Reply #20 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 12:56 »

From what I've heard of Muse (1 song) I have to say: Muse is adorable.

FireStarter · « **Reply #21 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 13:17 »

If your going by number of literary references per song, then the Bloodhound Gang is up there with the most pretentious, and they are anything but. Don't believe me? Check this out Asleep at the Wheel and stfu up I just googled "Asleep at the Wheel" and picked one of the myriad of lyrics sites out there...I was expecting someone to mock me because of my use of sing365....a shitty website, but useful.

Patrick · « **Reply #22 on:** 03 Dec 2006, 19:21 »

Quote from: Johnny C on 03 Dec 2006, 11:41

The second you say that you like a band for their drummer you are essentially condemning that band for the better part of eternity. Just saying.

Rush, Led Zeppelin, Cream.

Storm Rider · « **Reply #23 on:** 04 Dec 2006, 00:26 »

I think he means that if you only like a band for their drummer. Led Zeppelin, Rush, and Cream have other very good musicians in them.

Valrus · « **Reply #24 on:** 04 Dec 2006, 00:30 »

Quote from: tommydski on 03 Dec 2006, 09:21

The phrases 'Bullshit' and 'Highschool' can be applied to all drugs as far as I'm concerned.

iawtc

Quote from: Genocide Jones

I like your username. (to Scrambled Gregs, presumably)

iawtc2

Merkava · « **Reply #25 on:** 04 Dec 2006, 00:41 »

Quote from: The Eyeball Kid on 03 Dec 2006, 11:44

Quote from: Genocide Jones on 03 Dec 2006, 11:25
Claiming the Decemberists as a pretentious band you like is the musical equivilant of being really impressed with yourself for being ahead of the curve and picking up the Da Vinci Code at your local Barnes and Noble

I didn't say I just got into them. I didn't say they were obscure. I said I like them and some people would consider them pretentious due to their overly-literate nature. Same would go for Joanna Newsom.
The stuff i'm into is pretentious lyrically and not musically.

Colin Meloy is a better writer then Dan Brown, but that goes without saying

I find the pirate gimmick pretentious, and that's why I like The Crane Wife. They really toned it down and I can actually...you know, get past Colin's voice.

Skittish · « **Reply #26 on:** 04 Dec 2006, 01:25 »

Muse has no right to be pretentious. Hell, Yes doesn't either for that matter.

The following bands do, however:
-Radiohead
-Sigur Ros
-The National
-Morrissey

Johnny C · « **Reply #27 on:** 04 Dec 2006, 01:25 »

Quote from: Storm Rider on 04 Dec 2006, 00:26

I think he means that if you only like a band for their drummer. Led Zeppelin, Rush, and Cream have other very good musicians in them.

Correct on two counts, even if I don't like Zep that much.

Hat · « **Reply #28 on:** 04 Dec 2006, 02:29 »

Quote from: Genocide Jones on 03 Dec 2006, 09:26

If you are good at drugs, then you are good at existance.

Hooray!

Also, how do Morrisey and Radiohead get a free pass on being pretentious, but Yes doesn't?

Gryff · « **Reply #29 on:** 04 Dec 2006, 02:35 »

So pretentiousness is a false or excessive claim to greatness or importance. Why is that a good quality for a band to have?

Thrillho · « **Reply #30 on:** 04 Dec 2006, 03:59 »

Quote from: Genocide Jones on 03 Dec 2006, 09:26

Disagreed!

If you are good at drugs, then you are good at existance.

I don't know where to begin. This post makes me despair so much I can't even bring myself to argue.

onewheelwizzard · « **Reply #31 on:** 07 Dec 2006, 13:01 »

Quote from: DynamiteKid on 04 Dec 2006, 03:59

Quote from: Genocide Jones on 03 Dec 2006, 09:26
Disagreed!

If you are good at drugs, then you are good at existance.

I don't know where to begin. This post makes me despair so much I can't even bring myself to argue.

No, he's right. It's just that being good at drugs involves knowing when not to take them, and taking them seriously (possibly even religiously), and stuff like that. Being good at drugs and doing them all the time are mutually exclusive. However, being good at drugs is such a boost to life (as hard as it is to do, and as risky as it is to try), that his statement really does hold.

Taber · « **Reply #32 on:** 07 Dec 2006, 13:32 »

Quote from: Valrus on 04 Dec 2006, 00:30

iawtc

iawtc2

iawtc?

I am World Trade Center?

I ate wet tasty cranberries?

I attack wild terrible creatures?

I articulate while teasing cats?

Igor ambles with tesla coils?

I am with that comment?

edit:

googled. I am with that comment was pretty close. I agree with this comment.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #33 on:** 07 Dec 2006, 14:17 »

Quote from: onewheelwizzard on 07 Dec 2006, 13:01

No, he's right. It's just that being good at drugs involves knowing when not to take them, and taking them seriously (possibly even religiously), and stuff like that. Being good at drugs and doing them all the time are mutually exclusive. However, being good at drugs is such a boost to life (as hard as it is to do, and as risky as it is to try), that his statement really does hold.

Terribly agreed!

It seems that most peoples definiton of being pretentious nowadays is simply being intellectual. It is obvious, of course, that bands should always dumb themselves down lyrically, musically and conceptually to the lowest common denominator. I personally want absolutely every song I hear to be about either how much the singer is longing for some girl or boy, how the singer is going to stay with some boy or girl, how the boy or girl in question was a complete cunt so the singer left him, or partying. Any band that tries to tackle a concept or theme more advanced than this, or attempts to use any sort of literary or poetic devices in their music whatsoever, or seriously experiments with form, or aims for virtuousic levels of musicianship, is clearly an awful band and nobody should ever have anything to do with them. Unless of course they have tight trousers and flock of seagulls haircuts, in which case they are pure unabashed geniuses.

Hat · « **Reply #34 on:** 07 Dec 2006, 16:19 »

I think you could have said it far more succinctly, by saying that it is perfectly obvious that all the music in the world should either be ripping off pre-revolver Beatles, or Andrew W.K.

Actually I get the sarcasm there, but I could probably live with that for a few months quite comfortably.

I understand this makes me a bad person.

Dimmukane · « **Reply #35 on:** 07 Dec 2006, 22:10 »

Quote from: KharBevNor on 07 Dec 2006, 14:17

Quote from: onewheelwizzard on 07 Dec 2006, 13:01
No, he's right. It's just that being good at drugs involves knowing when not to take them, and taking them seriously (possibly even religiously), and stuff like that. Being good at drugs and doing them all the time are mutually exclusive. However, being good at drugs is such a boost to life (as hard as it is to do, and as risky as it is to try), that his statement really does hold.

Terribly agreed!

It seems that most peoples definiton of being pretentious nowadays is simply being intellectual. It is obvious, of course, that bands should always dumb themselves down lyrically, musically and conceptually to the lowest common denominator. I personally want absolutely every song I hear to be about either how much the singer is longing for some girl or boy, how the singer is going to stay with some boy or girl, how the boy or girl in question was a complete cunt so the singer left him, or partying. Any band that tries to tackle a concept or theme more advanced than this, or attempts to use any sort of literary or poetic devices in their music whatsoever, or seriously experiments with form, or aims for virtuousic levels of musicianship, is clearly an awful band and nobody should ever have anything to do with them. Unless of course they have tight trousers and flock of seagulls haircuts, in which case they are pure unabashed geniuses.

the way i see pretentiousness is when a band does outrageous things in the name of the band. for instance, trivium stating that they are the greatest guitarists in the world. (for fuck's sake, i wanna stab matt heafy in the EYE.) or Tenacious D (who i do enjoy) singing "the greatest song in the world" (which it turns out is Beelzeboss, off the newer album. you'd understand if you saw the movie) or bands that try really hard to make themselves look artsy fartsy, like The Mars Volta. That kinda thing.

supersheep · « **Reply #36 on:** 07 Dec 2006, 22:23 »

It is not the greatest song in the world, no-oh, it is just a tribute.

C'mon, you can hardly call that being pretentious - it is so obviously a pisstake, and humour is quite anti-pretentious.

Spinless · « **Reply #37 on:** 07 Dec 2006, 22:39 »

I confuse bands that are pretentious, and bands that are smart.
I mean, are those guys assholes, or are they well read?
That dude literate or is he showing off?
Does that musician REALLY like that book like he says he does in that song? Nah, I doubt he's even read it.

Dimmukane · « **Reply #38 on:** 07 Dec 2006, 23:37 »

Quote from: supersheep on 07 Dec 2006, 22:23

It is not the greatest song in the world, no-oh, it is just a tribute.

C'mon, you can hardly call that being pretentious - it is so obviously a pisstake, and humour is quite anti-pretentious.

well, the whole joke part is how they're the greatest band in the world. which is why I say that. other bands joke about other things, tenacious d jokes about how awesome they are. especially if you've seen the hbo shows and the movie, it makes them seem really pretentious.

Tago Mago · « **Reply #39 on:** 07 Dec 2006, 23:40 »

I try not to worry about it. Most musicians have an inflated ego; it requires somewhat of an ego to make any kind of bold statement.

Johnny C · « **Reply #40 on:** 07 Dec 2006, 23:48 »

SO, LET'S GETAPARTYGOIN'
(LET'S GETAPARTYGOIN')
NOW IT'S TIME TO PARTY AND WE'LL PARTY HARD
(PARTY HARD)

Dimmukane · « **Reply #41 on:** 08 Dec 2006, 00:34 »

whatabout pretentious bad bands?
e.g, Trivium, Slipknot, Dragonforce...

Hat · « **Reply #42 on:** 08 Dec 2006, 00:37 »

Quote from: Johnny C on 07 Dec 2006, 23:48

*Andrew WK*

KICK IT!!!

Will · « **Reply #43 on:** 08 Dec 2006, 01:46 »

If you look at some of the things that Aaron Turner lists as lyrical inspirations - House of Leaves, Cervantes, Hassan-I-Sabbah, the works of Michel Foucalt just to name a few - then Isis can come across as rather pretentious. I don't really have a problem with that though; I started reading Discipline and Punish: The Birth Of Prison by Foucalt because of the reference by Isis. I'm all in favor of any form of art that can expand my horizons beyond the scope of what I already know. I think the difference between being pretentious and simply being literate comes in not trying to use your knowledge to bludgeon someone into thinking "HOLY SHIT THIS BAND MUST BE BRILLIANT!!!!!"

I know we had the pretentiousness discussion in another thread, but I figure I'll just post here rather than bump the old one.

Spinless · « **Reply #44 on:** 08 Dec 2006, 03:56 »

Since this is a topic about pretention, I thought I might as well post since here.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/the.brainiac/stuff/prog.htm

It is horribly offensive sometimes, especially to John Peel, but it still brings up some pretty interesting points.

FireStarter · « **Reply #45 on:** 08 Dec 2006, 04:03 »

Speaking of pretentious literature, one of my buddies almost failed Honor's Seminar for using the word "betwixt" over 100 times in a 5 page paper.

Valrus · « **Reply #46 on:** 08 Dec 2006, 06:58 »

After I discovered the semicolon in high school, I somehow developed the erroneous belief that it could replace virtually every other punctuation mark and used it accordingly. Needless to say, the teacher's comment on the first essay I wrote after this watershed moment restored me to sanity.

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #47 on:** 08 Dec 2006, 07:38 »

Quote from: Spinless on 08 Dec 2006, 03:56

Since this is a topic about pretention, I thought I might as well post since here.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/the.brainiac/stuff/prog.htm

It is horribly offensive sometimes, especially to John Peel, but it still brings up some pretty interesting points.

The worst defense of the entire prog rock genre I have ever read. I mean hey, why try to prove your favorite bands are not pretentious when you can just imply that people who don't like your music don't like it because they are idiots or "don't get it." Any article that attacks Lester Bangs and John Peel to try to defend prog rock is automatically ill-founded and stupid. And I say that as someone who actually kind of likes prog rock!!

The Eyeball Kid · « **Reply #48 on:** 08 Dec 2006, 07:46 »

I think that article was a joke.
it was kinda funny
and offensive
and funny
kinda
argh

Johnny C · « **Reply #49 on:** 08 Dec 2006, 10:38 »

Quote from: Spinless on 08 Dec 2006, 03:56

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/the.brainiac/stuff/prog.htm

I think I can "categoris" this under "spectacular faliure."

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Pretentious bands both worth listening to, and that have a valid reason to be so (Read 26750 times)

FireStarter

SeanBateman

FireStarter

SeanBateman

SeanBateman

FireStarter

SeanBateman

camelpimp

SeanBateman

SeanBateman

ScrambledGregs

SeanBateman

The Eyeball Kid

SeanBateman

The Eyeball Kid

camelpimp

FireStarter

Merkava

Skittish

Taber

Spinless

Spinless

FireStarter

ScrambledGregs

The Eyeball Kid