I was going to just make a snarky comment that contributed nothing beyond possibly pissing someone off, but instead I decided to go on a tangent.
It seems like we get into this roundabout discussion every now and again...so, I will postulate once more, is there anything inherently wrong with liking a band just because you happen to like them?
I like the Mars Volta. I don't think I am making a statement about my perceived "hightened intellectualism," I'm certainly not more-indie-than-thou, I just like their music. It is pleasing to my ear when I hear it, and it is an enjoyable experience that leaves me feeling satisfied and content with my lot in life for the next hour or so. That's all I am asking of the band, and that's all I am getting from them.
Gregs, I'm growing to appreciate and respect your contributions to the music forum - about 95% of the bands you discuss, I couldn't possibly care less about, but I am happy to see someone adding a thoughtful discourse on the music they listen to, rather than mindlessly ape on one liners about how "so and so is pretty awesome." Nonetheless, I'm getting a vibe of outright hostility when it comes to this band. It could just be that I'm misreading your intent, but it seems like you're a few posts short of outright saying "Anyone who listens to the Mars Volta fails at life." To me, this just seems unfair.
I'd like to know why it's acceptable to like certain things "ironically," or why there's a general acceptance of someone like Justin Timberlake because his music is "fun," but the gloves come off when someone says they like TMV? At this point, I guess I'm speaking more in generalizations than about you specifically, but my point remains - is it so wrong to just like what you hear? I'm all for showing someone that 'if you like (A) then you should check out (B),' and it may be a proven fact that (B) is a vastly superiour band, but if someone still likes (A) then what harm comes of it?
Don't take this as a personal attack, please..this is just a string of thoughts I've had while reading this thread.