underground vs. mainstream

[Ridenour]

Being a devote black-metaller myself, this is where I stand.

I don't neccesarily hate all "main stream". I pretty much never listen to it, and I can't stand most of it - I am extremely musically interolerant. But I don't profess myself as "hating the mainstream". My friends are pretty much the only ones that know I am into nothing but black metal and death metal.

This brings me into my next point - poseurs. If someone where to take a look at me, they would never have any idea what I listen too. I don't "dress like blackmetal". I don't walk around with 80 pounds of chains and corpsepaint on. I just dress the way I want. I don't need to people to "think I'm heavy". What really gets me going is when some douche nozzle is all like "Ohhh I listen to slipknot and I think they're the heaviest band ever so that makes me the son of satan so I beter start dressing like i'm some badass goth". And so you see these dudes walking down the halls with all their goth garb, and you ask most of them, and about 9/10 haven't even heard of black metal. It's like WTF. For some reason, they need people to think that they're "heavy" by looking at them - which is retarded. I listen to my music for me, and I wish these dipshits would do the same. People just need to listen to their music for themselves, be it mainstream or not. It's a fact that most black metal bands are not "mainstream" over here - however if you were to go to Scandanavia, black metal is the norm - it's rediculously popular / mainstream over there. So it actually kind of depends where you are for what is mainstream / underground. But as far I'm concerned, I love black metal, which happens to be moreso considered "underground" over here, and dont like most "mainstream" american music. My obsession with my music isn't based on underground or mainstream though - it's just what I like happens to fall into the "underground" category. I agree with you guys that people deffinately should not pick their music choices based on underground vs. mainstream. Just listen to what the hell you want to - and for pete's sake don't feel like you have to dress like some damn badass because you listen to a band that you think is heavy! LoL - had to vent

[Suislide]

Originally Posted by thrasher

I'm gonna have to go out on a limb and say most mainstream music does suck. Just about anything on the popular radio stations in Minneapolis is watered down shit (50 cent, Simple Plan, Good Charlotte, etc...). I can't stand listening to the stuff, it has absolutely no musical or lyrical value. If they can play good music I don't care if they're mainstream or not. Most people who listen to the pop radio stations aren't hardcore music fans anyways

but that's different. those bands/artists that you listed just suck. not because they're mainstream, but simply because they cannot write music.

there's some mainsteam stuff that is very good. such as Nas. he gets played alot on the radio, and yet he's still amazing. there's quite a few rock groups like that too, they get played alot but they're still good. why? because they make good music! if they make good music, it doesn't matter how popular they are or how much they get played, it's still good music!

but sometimes, a good act will turn sour once it hits the spotlight. they make good music until they become popular, and then start to suck. i've seen that happen before too.

[Mediocrity]

Good music is good music..

From Atari Teenage Riot to Bob Dylan to Enya.

Listen to what makes you feel good.