DVD Josh

Guys, I want to like these guys, but I really can't get into them.

So I have a question. In my Guzzlefish link there is my CD collection. Could someone give it a quick review and tell me why I should like them (e.g., compare them to artists in my collection and tell me why I should).

Thanks.

andybrew

I looked through you guzzlefish collection, and I dont see any good reason why you would like them based on ther music you have listed in there.

I like them a lot. I think they have a remarkable sound. The vocals and the light sound just does it for me. I cant really tell you a good reason why. I just think they sound really excellent.

Thats all the reason anyone needs to like something. It just has to sound good to them. If it doesnt, why try and make it?

SAShepherd

Some of the artists in your collection (e.g., Matthew Sweet, Fountains of Wayne) match those in mine, and I really like the Shins. But you seem to have a somewhat harder edge to your collection than I do, and so I'm not surprised to hear the Shins haven't piqued your interest.

But that's OK. If you don't like it, that's fine.

Maybe we need some sort of support group... "Hi, my name is SAShepherd, and I can't get into the White Stripes..."

cungar

How many times have you listened to Chutes too Narrow? It may take a while but if you don't like it after 5 or 6 listens, you don't like pop music.

fallow

Eh, I think that is too simple. There are a number of bands that are in line with The Shins as far as sound or style goes that I really don't like (Super Furry Animals, for one). Doesn't have any bearing on my feelings toward "pop music." Just my taste for that particular group.

That said, you should never try to like a band. If it doesn't strike you on an animal or intellectual level, it just doesn't. No point in hammering squares into circles.

deadlax

super furry animals are 10x more obscure (in their sound) than the shins. they are hardly straight pop.

illennium

Your collection is completely consistent with a distaste for The Shins.

fallow

10x more obscure? Perhaps on something like Rings Around the World with some of those Philly Soul strings diving in and out of the tracks, but their latest is a very straight-forward, sunny pop album. I'm pressed to find a song that I would call "challenging" or "obscure" by SFA.

DVD Josh

I want to thank all the posters that were honest with me and told me why I didn't like the band. I appreciate your time!

deadlax

Have you heard Guerilla, Mnwg (in welsh), fuzzy logic, or radiator?

It's like saying Weezer sucks because of the green album.

illennium

I don't know. I can readily believe that to a Xiu Xiu fan, no Super Furries song is challenging.

cheapskate

I think you should just accept the fact that you don't like them and move on. I really wish I liked David Bowie...I think that would be pretty cool... but I don't... not very much anyway...

You should just start putting more effort into your video game collection. You have an X-Box, a PS2 and a Gameboy Advance, but only a handful of titles for each...

Get your priorities straight!

fallow

Eh, just because I don't like them doesn't mean I think they suck. It's more like a "they aren't my bag" type of thing.

Yeh, I've heard those albums. They just don't seem to be overtly "weird" or "experimental" to me (that "to me" is key). And I brought up SFA because of the direction they went in 2003 with Phantom Power. So.

And let's not forget that Animal Collective and Fennesz are in my pantheon of current artists.

atlantamoi

Gotta agree with the others... your collection is heavier and a bit more "normal" than maybe a band like the Shins. If you had a huge collection of early REM and also were into the Beach Boys I might find it strange a little bit. Anyway, don't sweat it... at least you gave them a try.

I love them!

DVD Josh

Update: tried them again last night. Still not a fan

I think it's really cool that most people in this thread didn't slam my tatse in music. Most other sites would have flammed me to death. Glad to know there are some decent folk in this forum!

I try to get into bands that aren't on the radio 24-7, but it's tough in this market (MD/VA/DC). HFS plays Godsmack and Korn like they are the freakin' Beatles. I tried out Rooney and liked them, and I'll always try out new bands (especially when BB offers them for $7.99)!.

If you guys in this thread, after looking at my collection, have any reccommendations, I'd appreciate them!

atlantamoi

wfujosh, I can't access Guzzle right now, but do you own Interpol's "Turn on the Bright Lights"? It's one of my favorite recordings over the past couple of years. Heavy at times, but completely accessible.

fnordboy

wfu, I am a little late since it seems that you have made up your mind about not liking them already, but if you really want to like the Shins you just have to go see them play at a small club. I saw them fairly recently (sometime within the last year or 2) at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ and it was an amazing show. They absolutely blew me away. Find them on a cheap ticket and give it a shot.

SAShepherd

Yeah, that's a good recommendation. Also, having looked at your collection, I think you might like ... And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead's "Source Tags and Codes" -- harder than most of the stuff I listen to, but really melodic. You might want to check out the Strokes as well, though the Strokes tend to divide listeners ("they're awesome!" "what's the big freakin' deal?"). Another really good power-pop album is the New Pornographers' "Electric Version" -- not sure you'd like it, but I just think it's a wonderful album for the Fountains of Wayne/Weezer fan in you. I also really like Guster's "Lost and Gone Forever" (for your inner Dave Matthews/John Mayer).

As for finding new music in general, you can probably search the forum for previous threads on this topic. This forum has helped me explore more music than I would've otherwise. I'd also recommend a) using a music-matching website such as Amazon's Recommendations page or ratemymusic.com, and b) using your public library. Neither are perfect, but I think the combination of the forum and those two things have helped me hear a lot more music.

CUBuffsMike41

Have to recommend Wilco. They're probably lighter than most stuff you listen to, but I think they're up there with Radiohead in the "best band in the world" contest.

Buford T Pusser

I just picked up the new one but haven't played it yet. It's on sale at Best Buy this week for $7.99.

Their first had a single that I loved immediately but the rest of the disc took about 6-8 listens before I really liked it. It's good, but not an all-time fave.


SAShepherd mentioned New Pornographers and Fountains of Wayne. These are on my all-time fave list.