Musical Classifications

etoncrow · #1 12-14-2011, 05:14 AM

I am starting a new thread on this subject so I do not appear to be a troll. I just read a thread where a reference was made to a band that plays a type of music called "melodic hardcore". Maybe I am just getting old but if you have "melodic hardcore" don't you also have to have "cacophonic hardcore"? I mean one seems to imply the existence of the other. We used to have gospel, country, blues, R&B, soul, pop, folk, bluegrass, jazz, classical and rock. Within these genres there were some sub-classifications I suppose but everyone seemed to know what you were talking about when a reference was made; folk-rock for example. Now I hear about musical classifications that I do not have a clue what they mean. Emo? Stoner Doom Metal? Melodic Hardcore? Do we really need to be this analytical? Is it a need for social identity? Are other people's perceptions that important to you? Maybe we could discuss different musical classifications and how are they defined for the edification of old curmudgeons like myself. And while we are at it, get the hell off my lawn!

runmikeyrun · #2 12-14-2011, 10:21 AM

I agree that it is getting a bit ridiculous with all the genres out there now. I think people just want to put a label on their music to belong to something. Personally, I just describe our band as metal/hardcore even though we could put that it has "stoner" riffs, melodic transistions, etc etc. Most people don't care, just get out there and play! If people like it they're not going to care what genre you're in.

LIONFURY · #3 12-14-2011, 11:57 AM

The funniest genre is depressive suicidal black metal

etoncrow · #4 12-14-2011, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIONFURY

The funniest genre is depressive suicidal black metal

Do any of them live long enough to express themselves?

elgecko · #5 12-14-2011, 12:03 PM

I'm partial to Post-Canadian Death Reggae...Core

kb9wyz · #6 12-14-2011, 12:07 PM

I have come to the conclusion that the only reason that all these genres exist is because people want to have a label to define themselves with that stands out. That's all. Genre labels are vague, so first tier sub-genre labels are useful (i.e. prog metal, heavy metal, death metal). Beyond this seems to serve nothing more than an in-group/out-group distinction within the greater subcultural group of musician. As such, it can help to set one's group apart, externalizing the group's self-definition. Rather than a mission statement or some other means, they use second tier (or even third tier) sub-genre definitions to accomplish that. Within any sub-culture, there will be any of a number of smaller divisions that break from the macro-level (musician in this case) to the micro-level (individual band like Dimmu Borgier).

So multi-tier sub-genres fill that need according to the cultural group's own jargon.

I think it's silly, myself.

LarryO · #7 12-14-2011, 12:09 PM

when you combine peanut butter and jelly you still have peanut butter and jelly. Why do people feel the need to create a new name for something that has exsisted longer than them? I guess if you can't create something new it's easier to combine 2 things and make up a word for it.

etoncrow · #8 12-14-2011, 12:12 PM

I guess in "my day" artists of all types created their product and let the people define it. No one felt a need to explain the music, or the painting for example, beyond letting the art stand for itself. In today's virtual friend society words seem to be greater than action rather than action being greater than words. A perfect example of "change" not necessarily being for the good.

smogg · #9 12-14-2011, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb9wyz

I have come to the conclusion that the only reason that all these genres exist is because people want to have a label to define themselves with that stands out. That's all. Genre labels are vague, so first tier sub-genre labels are useful (i.e. prog metal, heavy metal, death metal). Beyond this seems to serve nothing more than an in-group/out-group distinction within the greater subcultural group of musician. As such, it can help to set one's group apart, externalizing the group's self-definition. Rather than a mission statement or some other means, they use second tier (or even third tier) sub-genre definitions to accomplish that. Within any sub-culture, there will be any of a number of smaller divisions that break from the macro-level (musician in this case) to the micro-level (individual band like Dimmu Borgier).

So multi-tier sub-genres fill that need according to the cultural group's own jargon.

I think it's silly, myself.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^I agree with this.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
IMHO it's not silly at all, it's just cultural evolution.

agreatheight · #10 12-14-2011, 12:20 PM

I dunno, melodic hardcore makes sense to me - there is a lot of non-melodic hardcore.

Jinro · #11 12-14-2011, 12:22 PM

Do genres even have clear-cut definitions? I could honestly care less anyway--I listen to what sounds good to me, regardless of genre, popularity, etc.

kb9wyz · #12 12-14-2011, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smogg

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^I agree with this.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
IMHO it's not silly at all, it's just cultural evolution.

I would agree with that. But I think that culture is silly in general.

I have studied it too much to take it totally seriously, but have a deep appreciation for it.

Drewski9 · #13 12-14-2011, 12:31 PM

I appreciate the topic, genres are basically marketing, but you used the word "cacophonic". That in it's self elevates the discussion. :-)

etoncrow · #14 12-14-2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drewski9

I appreciate the topic, genres are basically marketing, but you used the word "cacophonic". That in it's self elevates the discussion. :-)

Yeah, thanks for noticing; I enjoyed that myself...

JTE · #15 12-15-2011, 12:52 PM

"There are only two kinds of music; music that sounds good, and whatever you want to call that other stuff. " Duke Ellington

John

Elrend · #16 12-15-2011, 12:54 PM

I think my new favorite genre name might be "post-african blankcore".

Waffles and Scotch · #17 12-15-2011, 01:27 PM

Dark Emo Christmas-core.

Bloodhammer · #18 12-15-2011, 05:48 PM

Yeah! Why should we differentiate between Precision Bass and Jazz Bass and Stingray and Thunderbird! They're all basses and basses are just basses! It's so silly to have a separate name for every different body-style/pickup configuration when they're all really just alike!

And what's up with P-J basses? Combining two existing things into a hybrid doesn't make it a thing of it's own! You should just buy one of each of those designs!

Dang kids always skateboarding on the sidewalk!