I skimmed through Mr Traynor's Trout Mask Replica thread fairly unsurprised by the various remarks. As pretenious as Mr. Traynor's stance on TMR is all of us are guilty of using a person's musical tastes as a superficial summation of that person's overall qualities to some degree. I seriously doubt I could marry a gal who didn't enjoy listening to StationToStation (or whatever early Bowie stuff). I think Mr Traynor may have taken poetic license with the extreme pass/fail nature of his post, but if you meet a person who "really loves music" and has never heard of the Pixies, how seriously do you take that person from then on?
And what if this stranger's favorite music is C&W? I always think here's a person who watches NASCAR on Saturdays, goes to church on Sundays and probably let his KKK membership expire because he spent the money on Budweiser.
For me, it's Echo & the Bunnymen. Does the stranger laugh at the name? Give a "oh, yeah I think I remember them?" "Do they sound like Nickleback?" (Argh!!) Or hopefully something like, "Yeah, I hear a lot of the Bunnymen's influence on the new British Sea Power album."
If a Claudia Schiffer look-a-like told me her favorite band is EATB I'd very likely either father her children and live happily ever after or do two years in prison for stalking. All depends on Claudia.... ;-) Actually, in college I went out with this chick for a year and a half with absolutely nothing in common except having similar tastes in music. I might still be with her today if only she wasn't a sexually frigid, deceitful, two-timing, lying bitch with fleas and ticks.
Now, personally, I don't need draw and quarter persons who fail my EATB test...a simple tar and feathering suffices.
*Who Is Your Music Litmus Test With Strangers?* (Funny anecdotes of how the music litmus test played out would be appreciated.)
i would have said
The Smiths, but then that would exclude a few people on here i really like, the idiots.
maybe its actually Pulp?
neil young.
or bob dylan.
nick cave
you haven't got a soul if you don't dig the man
that'd make me
soulless.
*SPOOKY DANCE*
haha
maybe, have you had a test done?
Neutral Milk Hotel
But I respect the music tastes of people who don't like them, I guess, so nobody.
The Fall and / or the Stooges
usually covers it..
do you like tom waits?
that usually seals it for me. To be honest, most of the time, if they even know of him it's good.
that said i know loads of people who hate his music.
and even more who would hate most things mentioned here, including beefheart.
The notion of 'proper songs' being played by only by a select few would annoy them a great deal.
I dunno really
As long as their musical knowledge goes beyond the NME, although Sonic Youth and DFA1979 appreciation really is a bonus.
I've got a friend in college whose litmus test is Will Oldham, Steve Albini and McSweeney's books. In Scunthorpe that's not going to happen...
Even though
they aren't my favorite band, Bright Eyes.
If someone likes Bright Eyes I can usually infer they will like other stuff I like.
if i had a music litmus test
i'd never talk to anyone outside the internet.
The Smiths
I have no qualms about people on here
lIKEWISE.
Most of my friends listen to trance or nothing. Absolutely nothing.
I don't have any friends
Good post, oR...
I don't know if I have one really. I'd have real trouble spending time with someone who didn't like the vast majority of music I do, though, because how could I put CDs on and how bad would I feel if she was attending my gigs or gigs with me really hating the whole idea?
Hmm...
This is a future dilemma for me
which I guess shows me for trying to hit off with a girl with a Gerard Way fetish. LULZ asunder
I don't take an instant dislike to someone just because of their musical taste
...but I AM guilty of making more of an effort to get to know people who share mine... of seeing them as more interesting, intelligent and well rounded human beings. One of my best friends I first met when I had a party. Normally I would have to put on stuff like Motown, to prevent people leaving in disgust at my "dodgy" musical taste, but as soon as he arrived he took over the stereo and put on Elliott Smith. We then realised that we'd both been at Bowlie - two people from the same small village being there and not knowing that the other existed... instant bonding... and we've been friends ever since.
Hmmm...
Good question, I have been known to use Fugazi or SFA in the past, but then I feel bad as those two bands really don't even touch the tp of my musical taste, but no band does, oh well.
but
you like me. and i think those two bands are distinctly average.
Girls Aloud
appreciate the pop, bitches.
^^^this
It's ALL about the pop.
What pv said, sort of
It's a shame, but in the big scary world no-one else appreciates Sunny Day Real Estate. If they did, then I would probably instantly hug them.
And Chumbawamba. I usually get super happy if someone I meet has heard more than that one song. And tend to go over the top, conversation wise, as meeting someone like this is so rare that I momentarily lose the ability to form coherent sentences and act like a ranting loon.
Apart from me though, I do sometimes get slightly excited when I'm walking down the street and see someone wearing a t-shirt of a vaguely obscure or alternative band. Even if I personally don't like them, it's still 'Wow, you like sort of the same things as me! I bet you're great!'. Same thing as seeing places I've been on the telly, I think. Always fills my tiny heart with joy.
I don't know. I've said nothing here. Sorry.
Entirely correct
The Chumba's 'Anarchy' is one of the great pop albums. And they were an absolute tour de force live. I used to get up parties of folk from work and drag them along en masse. And we all danced like (Alice) nutters.
EXACTLY
It's a grand record, it really is.
Don't really mind what music they like
For me it matters a lot more that they can communicate why they like the music they like. Can they qualify their taste, or their love for a particular tune? Basically, is music something that means something to them, that interests them or not, regardless of what that music might be. I'd rather ladel my eyeballs out and pop them up my bottom than listen to Jack Johnson but he might remind you of a good holiday. Fair enough, if it floats your frigate.
Unless someone says they love Eichmann's Goebbels and the reason they like it is that they hate jews and that music is about hating jews. But I like to think I could see those people coming and wouldn't get into a conversation with them in the first place.
i agree
with you.
um...
probably RFTC.
thank you
for this thread.
I now have a new nom du guerre - Fred Litmustest.
as in "Fuckin' 'Ell It's Fred Litmustest"
I don't really care
what people like, but I like it when I meet people and we can talk about music, I especially like it if they like The Velvet Underground.
It always cool when people like a range of stuff, I always find it a bit odd when they just like one genre.
Alot of my friends are into music and many are in bands this is an unconcious thing though.
BUT
There are some bands I hate, really hate.
Interpol
They're one of those bands that if someone likes theyll probably have a good taste in music, even if it isn't exactly the same as yours.
-
I've only ever met one person outside the internet that has a similar taste to me. All my friends refuse to listen to anything not featured on the pages of Kerrang or played on MTV Base.
Though, if I could pick one band most representative of my tastes it would be The Fiery Furnaces. I will love anyone who appreciates weirdo pop.
i know almost no one in "real life" with similar taste to mine
once i even sexed a girl who LOVED nickelback
I think
it's nice when you meet someone who, though they may not have heard of/like bands that you like, will express an interest or be open minded enough that they will listen to some of what you recommend.
In my case, smashing pumpkins
doesn't mean I won't get on with them, just means I won't like their music taste in general.
I think its a reasonable band to choose, as they do a varied mix of stuff, and were pretty popular and well exposed. I could say my favourites like At The Drive-In but the the probability is that its a bit too on the edge for most people...