Grumpy old bass player looking for answers

JKT · #1 07-24-2007, 01:24 PM

I like to think I have a fairly open mind, at least when it comes to music. I enjoy many kinds of music and have played a wide variety over my 33 yrs of bass playing.

Although in fear of gradually becoming my father, what exactly is the deal with what passes for bands on national TV these days? I don't hate any legitimate form of modern music. I'm not a hard-core Alt rock fan but I really dig a lot of it.

However, my despondency has reached a new all time low with my introduction to a band called "Grinderman" on Letterman last night. If anyone is hip to this act, could you please gently try and explain to me just what the heck I'm not getting? Who listens to this drivel and says to themselves "yeah this is great, let's dance...or let's ponder the introspectiveness of the songwriter... or this is a real happy toe tapper of a tune... or these guys are getting some really cool sounds out of their instruments"

Nothing redeeming there, and in all honesty I have to say I try and look hard. But in the end my call is, it's just crap.
Opinions?

JKT

driver800 · #2 07-24-2007, 01:31 PM

Their website should bring clarity to the matter for you:

www.grinderman.com

well, on second thought, maybe not.

louieeadg · #3 07-24-2007, 01:31 PM

Ahhh, the always fun, "Why popular music sucks like a Dirt Devil" thread...

It really does. Truly. I'm 24 and I can't tell you the last time I listened to the radio and I only watch the Discovery channel and Food Network. And the people I associate myself with don't know who these new people are either. Its a waste of time. Don't get down on yourself. You're not old. They're just dumb. Go to the pub and order a pint of their finest bitter and smile to yourself when you think about the quality music you've been a part of and heard in your life. Consider yourself lucky...

cheers

Dan Molina · #4 07-24-2007, 01:49 PM

Ok, I just listened to some of their tracks on myspace and I can honestly say it is complete garbage. I'm not old either I just turned 21.

JKT · #5 07-24-2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Molina

Ok, I just listened to some of their tracks on myspace and I can honestly say it is complete garbage. I'm not old either I just turned 21.

You have no idea how much better this makes me feel

JKT

afinalfantasy · #6 07-24-2007, 01:59 PM

They're not too bad

They have a Sonic Youth/White Stripes feel to them

louieeadg · #7 07-24-2007, 02:02 PM

white stripes suck

if that offends someone, don't pay attention to me...

JKT · #8 07-24-2007, 02:06 PM

Just as an aside, one of my co-workers has a brother who has worked as a sound engineer and producer on the Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live and is currently on Access Hollywood.

He currently resides on the left coast but I told his sister that the next time he is in town he can name the place and just how he would like his steak cooked just for the opportunity to ask a bunch of questions among which will be just how the heck these types of decisions are made.

I may just start a thread before that happens, get everyones questions and then post them.

JKT

afinalfantasy · #9 07-24-2007, 02:07 PM

Everyone has different music tastes, no one listens to the same thing another does

lefty007 · #10 07-24-2007, 02:08 PM

Not my cup of tea, but I rather listen to that than to Fall Out Boy, and some of that neo-somewhat-punk-pop crap they have these days.

JKT · #11 07-24-2007, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afinalfantasy

They're not too bad

They have a Sonic Youth/White Stripes feel to them

"You kids with your crazy rock n roll"

Seriously with influences from Jaco to Wooten on your profile how do you get to say that? They're not too bad? C'mon lad I know you're only 17 but you claim to appreciate some of the most awsome creators of modern music. I'm truly puzzled...

JKT

afinalfantasy · #12 07-24-2007, 02:13 PM

Why do you care about the music I like?

If you're just going to troll me for what I like, then I'm going to put you on my ignore list.

JKT · #13 07-24-2007, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lefty007

Not my cup of tea, but I rather listen to that than to Fall Out Boy, and some of that neo-somewhat-punk-pop crap they have these days.

See, Fall out Boy was yet another "band" that left me shaking my head...

JKT

rfclef · #14 07-24-2007, 02:19 PM

Yep...saw them on Dave last night... I did not dig it either.... was that one cat playing a solid body electric ukulele? Looked like it only had 4 strings... Even a solid body electric uke would not be enough to sway me, though...

JKT · #15 07-24-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afinalfantasy

Why do you care about the music I like?

If you're just going to troll me for what I like, then I'm going to put you on my ignore list.

At the end of the day I could care less what music you like, I was curious that you expressed an interest in something that by popular vote was barely qualifying as music while you and I had famous and truly talented bassists listed in both our profiles.
I was merely trying to understand your thoughts through the often one dimensional medium of email.

I wasn't "trolling" anybody and if you want to put me on your ignore list you just party on

JKT

Dan Molina · #16 07-24-2007, 02:22 PM

Stay away from emo music JKT. You won't like any of it. Music like Grinderman is made by people who think they're cutting edge.

afinalfantasy · #17 07-24-2007, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JKT

At the end of the day I could care less what music you like, I was curious that you expressed an interest in something that by popular vote was barely qualifying as music while you and I had famous and truly talented bassists listed in both our profiles.
I was merely trying to understand your thoughts through the often one dimensional medium of email.

I wasn't "trolling" anybody and if you want to put me on your ignore list you just party on

JKT

You know, there's something called having a diverse taste of music and not being closeminded to a certain style. Whatever, I'm done here with this topic.

the_fonz · #18 07-24-2007, 03:29 PM

just because there's something better than it doesn't mean it sucks

i actually liked this
because i'm what is called eccentric

El Barbero · #19 07-24-2007, 04:29 PM

I am almost with the OP on this, almost. Given my age (57) I genuinely believe that my generation was really spoilt in our younger days by the explosion of talented musicians of the 60s, 70s and early 80s.

Being brought up on a diet of Beatles, Stones, Cream, Zeppelin, Hendrix, Floyd the list goes on and on, is it any wonder that we find the current crop frankly dissapointing.

The real problem, to me, is that newer bands can produce some good tracks but they are not consistant in the quality dept, but it's not all crap, just most of it.

SundanceChile · #20 07-24-2007, 04:40 PM

The only thing I like about this band is the monkey.

FTR, I'm 18, and a music comp major. How these guys get coverage, I have no clue.