Modest Mouse, Ween, etc

[Fickle]

I need more music from these guys. There isn't enough music out there having a good time. Everybody on MTV is trying too fucking hard, but for some weird reason I dig a few new bands that seem to have some kind of rejection of formal "rock" music that is somehow happy. Rock music hasn't been happy since Lennon died. Everybody started getting Artsy and then they started to suck.
Granted, I like the blues, but c'mon. Look at Jet. It might have happy lyrics, but thier popular song is still angry or something. Angry music is cool too, but it's getting old.
Happy music is just a genre that needs rebirthing.
Down with The bitching, more with the "I'm so glad."

[MidnightViper88]

No more of that "The world sucks" and "I hate my parents" shit, though...

I hear too much on that Three Days Grace around here, and it's starting to annoy me...

[Cylob]

I have just one comment......

[Tarron_D]

I have to agree. We need happier music! Though I have to say that it would be weird to hear a happy NIN track or something. A non depressive Radiohead track? It might be too much for me to handle.

[xenosomething]

plenty of happy music outside of rock.

give new kinds of music a try! you'll never go back!

[Fickle]

Originally posted by Tarron_D
I have to agree. We need happier music! Though I have to say that it would be weird to hear a happy NIN track or something. A non depressive Radiohead track? It might be too much for me to handle.

Why would it have to be Reznor or Radiohead? Why can't someone else take the spotlight instead of these tired fucks who need to take less prozac.

Honestly, I get lonely and depressed, pissed off, angry, etc, but holy shit, when I'm bombarded by this music, it doesn't make me feel better, it makes me feel justified for being angry at stupid shit or depressed about useless crap. I don't need justificationwhen in those moods, I need closure. And I'm not going to get that listening to music that ecentuates my current feelings.

[Semantics]

Granted, I see the arguement and I somewhat agree, most of these people write these songs as a way of therapy, and then they get discovered and milked for all their worth. Bottom line is, no one is gonna cope via writing when then happy. Most people don't deem it nessesary to write about the time, they aced a math test or got a new puppy, ad nauseum. But angry music is everywhere, and it does get old. I suppose it reflects the world condition...people are pissed off in general, so they are gonna relate better pissed off music.

-By the way, I'm confused...are we calling Modest Mouse "happy"? Their lyrics (espcially off the new album) wreak of anger (mostly at heartbreak and God). Great band though

[xenosomething]

who says they even have to write lyrics anyway?

its all just meaningless dribble...anyone above 13 years old can write lyrics to a rock song.

focus on the music and not the lyrics.

[Semantics]

Gonna have to say I disagree. Is musical structure important? Of course it is...but lyrics are just as important. Yes, some lyrics suck...and they do sound like they were written by a 13 year old...but by the same token, most lyrical writing takes skill, and rock music is filled with the latter. To underplay it as some cancer on music is insane. Try writing a hook, then throw in a bridge or two, some verses, maybe a solo. Then add lyrics to it that are coherent, as well as fit with the mood of the tempo and song structure. As someone who has written a few songs (something I take pride in), I can tell it is difficult, very difficult...especially if you want it to be good. Can a mood be conveyed by musical notes alone, hell yes (Samuel Barbers "Adiago For Strings" is a great example), but good lyrics do just as well

[xenosomething]

rock lyrics are useless...they are there to hide the repetitiveness of the the bg music of todays rock.

and no one expect happy music out of rock bands, they are just one trick ponies....no versatility at all.

and i'm not bashing rock as a whole by the way...i listen to alot of it too(try dracula battle )

[noshfs]

I enjoy "Float On" by Modest Mouse. It's kinda relaxing.

[Fickle]

Originally posted by Semantics
Granted, I see the arguement and I somewhat agree, most of these people write these songs as a way of therapy, and then they get discovered and milked for all their worth. Bottom line is, no one is gonna cope via writing when then happy. Most people don't deem it nessesary to write about the time, they aced a math test or got a new puppy, ad nauseum. But angry music is everywhere, and it does get old. I suppose it reflects the world condition...people are pissed off in general, so they are gonna relate better pissed off music.

-By the way, I'm confused...are we calling Modest Mouse "happy"? Their lyrics (espcially off the new album) wreak of anger (mostly at heartbreak and God). Great band though

My point was the music itself, not the lyrics. Ween has some fucked up lyrics, as does the BloodHound Gang, but for the most part part, I am uplifted by the music itself, simply because of it's beat and rhythm. Many songs are upbeat musically and not lyrically. Maxwell's Silver Hammer comes to mind.

[Syndphrenik]

Music is music. No matter how much we procrastinate, music is universal. The methods of production and lyrics are all over the richter scale, so, enough bitching of "we don't need "the world sucks" and "I hate my parents" music slams. What we need is some restriction and supervision. Music of all genres and sub genres has it's highs and lows, but the problem with greedy record labels and companies like ClearChannel is that they block the consumer from everything out there. The laziness of us makes us either find the good shit (or I should say, less monotonous), or deal with what's playing on the radio.

We need smarter A&R directors. Sign people based on originality and diversity, not what will sell in a hot minute. But then again, since the industry was founded on this crap, I guess they don't know how to promote people like Freddie Foxxx against fuckers like Lloyd Banks ( ).

And it's not even a matter of underground vs. mainstream vs. %100 independent. Rock, Rap, DNB, whatever it may be, each class has its goodness and gayness. It's like the rapper, MURS, once said "mainstream or underground/away team, or home town/it boils down to the facts/wack is wack"

Blah, I'm rambling. I hope some of you understand what I'm saying.

Now, back to Bahamadia...

[Semantics]

Xeno, thats a horrible generelization of rock music. Are there some rock bands that are repetitive? Yes...nu metal, corperate rock, etc. But honestly, there is so much diversity in rock, you can't lump it all together, and call them "one trick ponies". I sense a strong bias on your part, and I get the sense your not the versed in rock music.

Fickle, I'm gonna have to say I agree. Thanks for clarifing.

[xenosomething]

can they write any other music besides rock? if not, then they truly are one trick ponies.

this was a thread about wanting happy music right?...well i'm saying todays rock bands don't write happier music because they know only one way to do things.

i find rock repetitive, you don't....i don't think out opinions will be changing in this thread so we can leave it at that i guess.

[Semantics]

true dat

[sidd]

Well, imo, when you call a band "depressing" you are really just describing how that music makes a particular person feel. You're not really describing the music itself.

There is plenty of modest mouse tracks that i find depressing. Actually, come to think of it, i would describe them as being more consistantly depressing than, say, radiohead. It all depends on what you get out of the music.

I suppose the latest modest mouse album is a bit more chirpy, at least in music (the lyrics seem to still be mainly about death ) That might have something to do with it being mixed by the flaming lips crew. (ah, theres another 'happy' rock band for you )

As for the theory about rock beind a depressing and stale format, well thats up to the individual as well. It definatly true that alot of rock in general is about negative things, but thats also the case for most music. Songs about everything being perfect just arnt all that interesting. The really interesting tracks tend to be about real life scenarios and evoke emotions that we can relate to; not perfect worlds, and not some grungy guy complaining about how bad life is.

Anyways, the point is, i think its harsh to ignore a band because they are "too depressing". If the music is actually making you depressed, then it obviously it is powerful enough to have an effect on you. So to me, when you say a band is too depressing, its like saying that you have acknowledged that the music can affect you emotionally, but then choosing to ignore it.

Well, I suppose that you could just mean that you find that type of music annoying to listen to. Quite similar to the way hearing fingernails scrape down a blackboard is depressing. hmm..

Ok, the point was... hmm.
wait.. there was no point.. i was just ranting..

Oh yeah. Modest Mouse are good! W00torz!

[MidnightViper88]

Originally posted by sidd
I suppose the latest modest mouse album is a bit more chirpy, at least in music (the lyrics seem to still be mainly about death )

It's like their "Float On" single...It talks about the depressing truth that everyone will die, but also makes note that we'll just have to make the best out of it while we're alive...Something you won't find in the lyrics of some damn emo-goth song, or whatever...