fredag 12 Jun 2009, 20:00
As we all know the music we listen to is not stagnant but rather a fluid function of our ever-changing tastes. So what bands/songs influenced the music you listen to most?
I'm 19 now, if that helps but the years in perspective.
"End of the World" by Cold - ~2003
Cold isn't too proficient, however this song opened the door to the softer, more emotional side of music for me. Prior to this I listened to absolutely terrible hard rock/nu-metal.
"3 Libras" by A Perfect Circle - ~late 2005
Opened the door for my more progressive music tastes. Before this I was pretty much a nu-metal/generic rock radio type of kid. Heightened my appreciation for slower songs that required more of an attention span to listen to. The closing croon of "You dont, You dont, You dont see me" is tear-inducing.
A Perfect Circle - ~late 2005
APC is the band that completely changed everything. Probably my first favorite band to not suck. I loved the way they used vocal melody and atmosphere to stir emotion. I heard of them in the years prior, but never had the mindset to listen to them and appreciate their music.
"Any Hopeful Thoughts Arrive" by Hood - July 2006
By now I was starting to broaden my horizons but was still strapped into traditional rock stylings. I heard this song on XM's indie station one rainy day over summer break in 2006 and loved it instantly. This song really opened me to electronic/experimental rock. This experience was integral in my (much) later discovery of artists such as M83.
"Cote" by Karnivool - November 2006
By now I was starting to scour last.fm and myspace for good bands. Karnivool, as well as Cog, were two good aussie bands I found. I instantly fell in love with "Cote". Absolutely killed this on itunes/ipod, accruing something along the lines of 150 plays in two months. Built upon the art rock foundation that A Perfect Circle started, and taught me that you can really find good underground music if you search enough. Still though, even after APC and the 'Vool, I still listed Stone Sour and Korn among favorite bands.
"Sempahore" by Jakob - December 2006
If you guys want a good post rock band/song, check this out. Jakob is a New Zealand-based post rock band that opened me up to music without vocals. I found their myspace via Karnivool's and was initially turned off by the lack of words, however post rock is one of my most played genres today and I consider "Semaphore" a top 10-15 song of all-time.
dredg - February 2007
After APC, dredg was the next big step in my progression. I remember previewing Bug Eyes randomly on itunes once and liking it a lot. I bought a couple songs off Catch Without Arms and El Cielo. "Whoa Is Me", "Same Ol Road", "Bug Eyes", and "Ode to the Sun" was my first dredg exposure. I was hooked. Quickly, and not surprisingly, my dredg discovery was followed by bands such as Codeseven, Kaddisfly, Rishloo, The Mayan Factor, Strata, and others. These progressive/art/melodic rock bands were the stepping stone to what my taste is today.
Clann Zu - ~Spring 2007
The Irish band from Australia is still one of the most original bands I've ever heard. And that's precisely what this band taught me to appreciate: originality. Varied instrumentation, obtuse song structures, dramatic vocal crescendos. Clann Zu had it all. Unfortunately they've been broken up for almost four years, however their music ingenuity will never cease to exist.
"Slice Paper Wrists" by Poison the Well - July 2007
I always liked hard rock when I was younger, but what I thought was hard were bands like Disturbed and Stereomud. The breakdown in this song completely changed my perspective on screaming/hardcore music, which I had previously detested. Poison the Well is now one of my top five favorite bands and lead me to acts such as Botch and Dance Gavin Dance.
If you have your own story, feel free to post.