The Arcade Fire crap/not crap got me thinking. How tolerant are you to the hype? Does the overplaying of certain artists make you hate them? even if their stuff is just okay?

edited: there is already another thread about hating a band for their fanbase.

It's a tough call. Usually overhyping will prevent me from even seeking out a band in the first place, because generally my rule is "if that many annoying people are creaming over it, it can't be that great." Admittedly, i'm sure i have missed out on some fine bands as a result of this. In the case of Arcade Fire, i was lucky enough to accidentally see them in Milwaukee at a small club about 6 months before they blew up, so now i get to deal with quizzical looks from my friends whenever i explain how great they are live.

But still, ultimately i can admit the practice is CRAP, even if i partake in it sometimes. Bands aren't always responsible for their stupid hype, and they definitely aren't responsible for what kind of fans they attract. That'd be like saying Minor Threat sucks because of all the bands that tried to imitate them...to this day...god, thanks a lot, Minor Threat.

Benny wrote:The Arcade Fire crap/not crap got me thinking. How tolerant are you to the hype? Does the overplaying of certain artists make you hate them? even if their stuff is just okay?
Can you listen to a band, or listen ocassionally to something that their fanbase is annoying and stupid as hell, but you can find that the music is actually good?

I am very intolerant of hype. If I hear a band's name a lot before hearing their music, I tend to dismiss it automatically. I don't like this trait and I try to avoid it but I do fall into that habit more often than not.

If I like something, overplaying doesn't usually faze me (see the Brown-Eyed Girl thread, I still like that song).

I usually have disdain for bands whose fan base I find intolerable. But its usually just the music I can't stand as much as the fans. That said, I remember a particular young drunken evening sitting on a porch with some friends and being shocked that I liked Grateful Dead's American Beauty. Still hate their fans, but that's a decent porch/drinking record.

Good thread idea, Benny.

Any reason to hate a band is basically A-okay.

If you can't decide whether or not you like a band based on the merits of their music, then that is a crap problem for you.

Slight waffle factor, as there are careerist bands out there that aim for that hype, what with their street teams, managers, agents, corporate sponsorships, and various other non-musician employ that leads to a consumerist, disposable fanbase.

"if that many annoying people are creaming over it, it can't be that great."

exactly.

the 'annoying fanbase' thing is a different story though..

If the music does something for you then listen

if it doesn't then don't

If any other factor comes into significant play beyond that then i would suggest a quiet (silent) evening alone filled with some healthy self reflection



CRAP

DrAwkward wrote:It's a tough call. Usually overhyping will prevent me from even seeking out a band in the first place, because generally my rule is "if that many annoying people are creaming over it, it can't be that great." Admittedly, i'm sure i have missed out on some fine bands as a result of this. In the case of Arcade Fire, i was lucky enough to accidentally see them in Milwaukee at a small club about 6 months before they blew up, so now i get to deal with quizzical looks from my friends whenever i explain how great they are live.

But still, ultimately i can admit the practice is CRAP, even if i partake in it sometimes. Bands aren't always responsible for their stupid hype, and they definitely aren't responsible for what kind of fans they attract. That'd be like saying Minor Threat sucks because of all the bands that tried to imitate them...to this day...god, thanks a lot, Minor Threat.

true, true. it's just as bad as saying a band can't be all that good if nobody's heard of them.

dirtbleachd wrote:true, true. it's just as bad as saying a band can't be all that good if nobody's heard of them.

That's a very good point; it's basically the opposite end of that spectrum. Nevertheless, i find myself falling into the habit. Ah well.

Germ War wrote:If you can't decide whether or not you like a band based on the merits of their music, then that is a crap problem for you.

Slight waffle factor, as there are careerist bands out there that aim for that hype, what with their street teams, managers, agents, corporate sponsorships, and various other non-musician employ that leads to a consumerist, disposable fanbase.

'Nuff said.