Does your independent leanings toward music sometimes precede you to the point that if you show interest or buy a mainstream record people tease you, or are flabbergasted at your decision?

Not that it bothers me, but I found it interesting that because I picked up the new T.I. record, a few friends were completely aghast.

I'm completely aghast that somebody used the word aghast on here.

I had to fight real hard not to use Afghanistan.

And "flabbergasted." In one post.


In answer to your question, we still buy whatever we want, pretty much. If it's good, it's good. I'm a slave to a good hook.

My fiance is constantly amazed whenever I admit to liking anything approaching mainstream. I commented the other day after seeing a snippet that the new Kelly Clarkson single was "catchy" - and then had to explain that hwil I found it catchy, it is not something that I would actively pursue listening to.

And that, I believe is the main difference between everyone on this board, and regular people. We go to things - actively seek out new entertainment based on our own likes, and avoid it based on our dislikes.

Most people let everything come to them -- either rammed down their throats by commercials, or Entertainment Weekly or whatever.

Not to mention that the new T.I is the shit.

Went to the Braves home opener last night and they played "Bring Em Out" when the Braves came to bat in the first inning. Andruw Jones's "coming to bat" music is now "Grillz" - Nelly & Paul Wall.

They also played "Since You Been Gone" Kelly Clarkson at some point and I've had it in my head ever fucking since. Catchy as hell.

I've got no beef with Top 40. It is what it is.

i am suprised when people have even heard of the music I listen to. at my poker game the other night, some guy I dont know was commenting on all of the crap on my ipod playlist - spoon, pj harvey, guided by voices - it amazed the shit out of me.

Ditto. Had a classmate of the wife's over last night to find him some music for a commercial they're making for a class project, and I was floored when he knew of the Decemberists, and when he heard Postal Service and said "this sounds like the singer for Deathcab."

Guy is super nice, but is also pretty much a shut-in action figure collector. I was surprised.

Should I know what/who T.I. is?

You just described 78% of the board, why does this surprise you.

TI is a rapper from ATLanta...and his album is fucking bangin'

edit: asketh, receiveth.

He makes one helluva calculator.

np: Foreigner - "Luanne"

I was agog at aghast.

I'm pro-pop music as you should all know by now.

Who the fuck is TI.

Honest-to-goodness "gimme indie rock! or death! " vibes in me died when I was about 17 and saw how wrapped up some of my older friends had gotten in refusing to listen to (essentially harmless) stuff like a new REM record. I mean, Monster sucks, but their reasoning against the record was based on REM "being sellouts" alone -- not for any honest artistic reasons. Ever since then, I just try to pay mind to stuff I like -and- hope to find amazing and challenging music out there. That takes enough time and energy as is, ya know?

I'm aghast that anyone on this board would have a problem with the use of a word like "aghast."

just one and it's the pope.

I listen to whatever and don't really care what people think.

Agree with Shiv...though for the record I do not listen to T.I.

this is the correct answer.

Aside from whatever I admit to buying or listening to on the board, I've got exactly zero people around me in my daily life who know anything about music. And even the caustic remarks I've gotten around here don't bug me, but they do make me want to argue a bit.

Unless Andruw actually has Grillz, I'm boycotting that half-season-streaky mofo...

I mean, you're playing in ATL, with that burgeoning rap scene, and you come out to the cheesy ST. Louis meets Houston stuff? Have some local pride...

The mere mention of Paul Wall makes we want to kidney punch the closest human to me.

I'm in the 'listen to what I like' camp, also. And I think Monster is an overcriticized record. I like it a lot.

Me, too. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" and "Star 69" are two of my all-time favorite R.E.M. tunes. Did any of you see Letterman way back when Monster came out, and Dan Rather actually sang "WTF, K?" backed by R.E.M.? CLASSIC!!! It was especially hilarious, because Letterman had been using that Rather incident as a punchline for years before R.E.M. wrote a song about it.

np: Shel Silverstein - "Sahra Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out"