I'm talking to my friend at the shop the other day and we're discussing music and it got me thinking. I've always had what's been deemed 'odd' taste. There's 'good' bands i like and there's 'shit' bands that I like. People always ask me why I like band A but can't stand band B, everyone that likes A likes B. yadda yadda. And I think I finally figured it out. We were discussing Aerosmith, who used to be one of my favorite bands, and now I won't listen to anything new by them, because Crazamazicrying was just too damn much. Put the Ballad down. Step away from the sappiness.

Now, Aerosmith put out what is universally considered a shit album by the name of Done With Mirrors, and this is actually one of my favorites (Night in the Ruts is however the best, not Toys in the Attic, sorry people). Anyways, i'm trying to figure out why I thought this album was so much better than the others. This was deemed such garbage that they didn't even stick it in their nifty box set. The production values on it are complete jank, it was mostly first and second takes, and then it hit me. That's why I like it. Because its not a fucking studio album. One of my most despised bands of all time is Smashing Pumpkins because billy corrigan and crew cannot do anything without a studio full of equipment. Enough equipment and you can make me sound good (and everyone that's heard me sing knows how fucking impressive that is!!).

So i'm thinking of all the wierd shit that I like, and I like it because it's 'real'. I'm thinking of the time I saw Aerosmith down at the meadows and they had this 15 or 16  year old kid playing before the show, who just played with such fucking raw emotion that I decided he was on par with Jimmi fucking Hendrix (when I first heard him I thought the radio was still playing and I freaked because there was a hendrix tune I hadn't heard!). This blonde haired blue eyed little white boy was playing the most amazing bluesy guitar i've ever heard live, and possibly ever period. He was that good. He's since gone on and become kind of a big deal (jonny lang for those that like good music).

I would much rather listen to a local band play at a dive then to hear 99% of the people with recording contracts play. They just don't give a shit. There's no emotion in their music anymore. I don't care what the lyrics are. I don't care how well they can hit that E chord (that's for you AC/DC, i love your shit, but can you play another chord, just fucking once). I would rather see a local band like  Angry Jonny, The Room or Drunk Stuntmen play cuz they like playing than listen to a 'great' band like U2, Pearl Jam, or even my (formerly) beloved Aerosmith, who are just showing up for the paycheck.

What got me thinkng about this more today was I was listening to the bastard fairies today while working and I was trying to figure out why I liked them so much (thanks nikki btw for introducing me to their awesomeness BTW). I should hate this poppy bullshit and then thinking back to my discussion earlier this week was when it finally hit me, I want to feel something from music. I like to listen to certain music at certain times. I use music as a mood enhancer/setter. I don't listen to thrash metal when I'm chiling out, no matter how much I like it. I don't listen to chill music when I working out, no matter how much I like it. I like wierd Al, he makes me feel light hearted and happy. I like Manu Chow (sp?) he makes me feel chill. I like Rollins, cuz he makes me feel pissed at the world. All these people make me feel something and they aren't just packaged shit that we consume ad naseum. They aren't different just to be different. They aren't anti-establishment because it's cool and scene to do so. Sex Pistols didn't rage so they could sell t-shirts, they raged cuz they were pissed (drunk and high too, but that was cuz they were pissed too).

Anyways, tha'ts my random blog/rant of the day. Listen to something that makes you feel something, not because 'the songwriter is a genius' or because a few million was spent packaging shit together. Wrap shit up with fancy lyrics and sweet riffs, but guess what? It's still shit.