What is your first criteria?

Shelly Werewolf · 04-23-2007, 08:19 PM

When listening to new music, what is your first criteria in deciding whether or not you like the music? (Not to be confused with if the music is good or not, though that could be a criteria, though it is pretty much implied).

I try to give new music a fair chance and listen to their different stuff and I am usually tolerant if the music does not sound like a bunch of kids too anxious to make music that they put all their stuff together when it does not fit. But I think that the first criteria that is going to move me into a specific new artist are the vocals. I think for me to really be into a new artist, the vocals must not be too common or else it does not catch my ear. Of course most of the times though, after a few more times listening to that artist over a certain period of time, I will most likely get into it and most of the new music that gets to be played often is the music Party Shuffle makes me listen to. Stuff I had no idea I had in my library.

Adelia · 04-23-2007, 10:29 PM

While I love and certainly want good vocals, it's not the first factor for me. I'm looking for a beat right away. Something with a good rhythm and flow that gets me. This might explain why I like a lot of techno, classical, and drum and guitar solos. I like to feel music and that usually comes from the sounds and beat rather than vocals. If the music is good enough, I can even ignore bad lyrics and/or vocals. I find it very hard to do the reverse.

panbient · 04-24-2007, 01:22 AM

the sound of the voice is the on/off switch for new stuff. not necessarily what they're singing just the sound of their voice. unless i've read up on the band or have some preconceived notion, the vocals will make or break new music.

radiohead is one of the simplest examples for me. first time i heard them i thought 'what the hell is this whiney crap.' then a few years later after reading up on them and hearing a single with a little more life to it (just) i gave them another chance and was able to grow to like yorke's voice. same goes for jane's addiction.

boRa · 04-26-2007, 10:59 AM

admitedly i've got some conservative taste in music. Searching some industrial guitar-beat sound blended with non-smiling vocal, and lyrics not consisting phrases like "babe", "thinking of you", "give my love for you",etc. (meh). The music accepted must not be in the same line, e.g. i like (very much randomial) kings of convenience, iron and wine, i like interpol, editors or nin, i like pulp, supergrass, stone roses, smiths, and tom waits and nick cave as well as tindersticks, portishead, moreover leftfield or unkle. All these sample sounds make a similar feeling for me.