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RMRK General => General Chat => Topic started by: Majestic Wolf on February 17, 2006, 11:49:37 AM

Title: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Majestic Wolf on February 17, 2006, 11:49:37 AM
Well this is kind of from a north american few when I say vs. International. But I was wondering what everyones thoughts were on certain music genres including metal. I think that to many bands from america and canada sound to much alike. International on the other hand is very unique and surprisingly not so well know. I just find that there's more talent over there and that it's really something to get into like for example Soilwork, In Flames, and Children of Bodom are 3 pretty great bands that are usually mentioned within the same conversation, with Soil and Flames decending from Sweden and Children from Finland.

Just wondering what everyones opinion on this is. I'm sure I left alot out but just wanted to start it off so :O_o:
Title: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: haloOfTheSun on February 17, 2006, 10:11:37 PM
I wouldn't say there's more talent over there. True, most bands that are great aren't from America, but they also don't have to go through the same crap with the record companies there, that bands here have to go through.

Death metal isn't really my type though. Soilwork and In Flames are about as far as I'll go. Aside from them, and a select other few, there isn't much talent involved other than playing as fast as you can. And, as a musician, I know that it doesn't take long (few years) to be able to play that fast, if you practice playing fast and push yourself.

But, on the other hand, I would listen to those death metal bands anyday over the likes of crap bands (Metallica, Linkin Park, etc.) and rap (which shouldn't be considered music at all. There is no musical quality to it, and is only considered music because of the dictionary definition. Stupid dictionary.  :roll: )

Well, that's enough for now. I'm sure my Metallica statement was alone to upset people.
Title: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Master_of_Time on February 18, 2006, 03:50:20 PM
Quote from: HaloOfTheSunI would listen to those death metal bands anyday over the likes of crap bands (Metallica, Linkin Park, etc.)

lol I listen to linkin park. XD I feel like an idiot now.
Title: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: zxm on February 18, 2006, 04:13:42 PM
Look, I never dis anyones music.
Title: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: haloOfTheSun on February 18, 2006, 08:14:34 PM
Quote from: Master_of_Time
Quote from: HaloOfTheSunI would listen to those death metal bands anyday over the likes of crap bands (Metallica, Linkin Park, etc.)

lol I listen to linkin park. XD I feel like an idiot now.

Don't feel like an idiot, everyone can like whatever they want to. I still stand by my statement that they're crap, but I meant that in the meaning of talent, because as a musician, I have to say they're fairly untalented. But you can like whatever you want to, nothing is stopping you. That's your opinion, and this is mine.  :wink:
Title: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Majestic Wolf on February 19, 2006, 05:26:40 PM
Yeah, I wasn't saying that North American Metal or Music sucks, just most of it sounds very much alike. No music is crap, its just if it fits your taste or not.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: veltonvelton on September 02, 2006, 01:03:51 PM
I hate metal, I listen to Gomez and Oasis, and a apparently a Finnish band called TikTak
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Arrow on September 02, 2006, 01:13:10 PM
I like Metallica, but I don't get to hear them very much, that could be the reason I like them.

I also like techno, (SOME, not all) and classical. I prefer music without words. I hate lyrics.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: veltonvelton on September 02, 2006, 03:27:09 PM
Singing is fun, how can you hate lyrics?
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Arrow on September 02, 2006, 09:18:52 PM
They just get on my nerves. Opera is all right everynow and then though.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Moss. on September 03, 2006, 01:48:17 AM
Yes, your Metallica comment insulted me, because you can't lump Metallica in ANYWHERE because they've changed their overall sound more than twice over the course of their musical career. That alone immediately rules them out of being grouped along with a band like Linkin Park, which really does suck.

AND

some rap is decent. Like Bone Thugs N' Harmony. Because they actually have a chord progression in their songs, with some melodies and maybe even a verse -> chorus arrangement. The rap that sucks is what's commonly on the radio today, where there's really nothing melodic about it. It's just a repetitive drum beat and some guy talking in one of those "YO! I'm so TOUGH! UH!" voices.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Arrow on September 03, 2006, 01:52:38 AM
I like some rap songs too. Usually there funny. I think there was one by this guy called, "The Bus Driver." I can't remember the name of the song, it had a flute in the background through out.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: SexualBubblegumX on September 03, 2006, 04:11:57 AM
ewwwwwww, rap.

Any ways... I've found that music in the country did a nose dive quality wise around I'd say 1996. This why I'm stuck in the 80's music wise.

I'm gonna go listen to some MANOWAR.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Arrow on September 03, 2006, 04:17:35 AM
Yay, he's smart. I totally agree with Fu.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: veltonvelton on September 27, 2006, 04:19:35 PM
sometimes i just hear a random rap and it makes me think-what did i do to deserve this torture? I think rapping is just reading out a poem. one with lots of.. gotta go.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Moss. on September 27, 2006, 08:36:58 PM
lol wasn't this thread bigger a few months ago?
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: haloOfTheSun on September 27, 2006, 08:48:52 PM
Actually, this topic was dead until velton revived it.  ::)
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Moss. on September 27, 2006, 08:58:40 PM
I know, but I could have sworn this topic was longer, like I guess it got cut off when the boards reset back to august or whatever it was. I was just wondering...
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: haloOfTheSun on September 27, 2006, 08:59:55 PM
Actually, I vaguely remember that now.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Moss. on September 27, 2006, 09:08:01 PM
Yeah, I think I remember some Mental pwning action going on regarding Dream Theater and how he kept saying he had every album or something like that.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: haloOfTheSun on September 27, 2006, 09:10:33 PM
OH YEAH LOL Those were the good ol' days...
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Malson on September 29, 2006, 01:55:36 AM
Maybe it's just me, but I find about 90-95% of the music I hear sounds good. Even people like Ludacris and Fall Out Boy, I find myself listening to. Perhaps I'm just easily pleased. But I know it's stupid to be an elitist about the music you like. I'll start with rebuttal of Halo's statement about rap. Rap is certainly music, and not just by the dictionary definition. Sure, rap songs don't have strong melodies, sometimes no melody at all. But there's plenty of elements to it that make it music. Not to mention rap is poetry, no matter what way you look at it. Sure, you may not like it, but it's music, and there's no way around that.

Now to Fu. You appear to love 80's music. However, does that give you a right to degrade more modern music? There are plenty of people, including myself, that would say music these days is just as good as music back then, or music will ever be. Name a band you think sucks, and explain why you think so. I can guarantee I can respond with plenty of rebuttal to your claims.

I know this makes me sound even more of an elitist than you guys. But really, it's just a plead for acceptance and maturity. I don't care if you hate rap, Halo. I don't care if you detest modern music, Fu. What I care about is you guys throwing around your insults to these categories of music as if they were fact. Music can be very enjoyable to plenty of people. If you don't like them, fine. But there are plenty of people who do, and your abrasive comments only serve to insult those who like bands of that nature.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Arrow on September 30, 2006, 02:41:34 AM
It's the internet, ou can't expect people to take all of that into account. Especially the fact that you are basically in a lawless zone of the world, and there is no real penalty for doing so. I'm sure we all try, but the simple truth is that it doesn't hurt people to say things like that here, and it is our right to say things this way. (though it may not be CORRECT to do so)

So if no one is here to STOP people, then why wouldn't they? I freely admit I have been this way before, and I also admit I acted poorly. Howeer, that doesn't make it right.

That aside, I'll watch myself in the future Zypher, I respect your opinion.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Malson on October 01, 2006, 05:00:40 PM
Meh, sorry about that. I was pretty pissed because a friend of mine started going music-elitist that day, saying anyone who didn't like Slipknot was going to get kicked in the balls. He actually was doing it, too.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Arrow on October 01, 2006, 05:04:16 PM
That's pretty fucked up.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: haloOfTheSun on October 02, 2006, 03:34:08 AM
Quote from: Zypher on September 29, 2006, 01:55:36 AM
I know this makes me sound even more of an elitist than you guys. But really, it's just a plead for acceptance and maturity. I don't care if you hate rap, Halo. I don't care if you detest modern music, Fu. What I care about is you guys throwing around your insults to these categories of music as if they were fact. Music can be very enjoyable to plenty of people. If you don't like them, fine. But there are plenty of people who do, and your abrasive comments only serve to insult those who like bands of that nature.

And in all honesty, you shouldn't care what we hate. You shouldn't even care too much about what we like, if at all. The fact of the matter is, you should just like or dislike whatever you want, no matter what other people say about it. However...

Quote from: Zypher on September 29, 2006, 01:55:36 AM
Maybe it's just me, but I find about 90-95% of the music I hear sounds good. Even people like Ludacris and Fall Out Boy, I find myself listening to. Perhaps I'm just easily pleased. But I know it's stupid to be an elitist about the music you like. I'll start with rebuttal of Halo's statement about rap. Rap is certainly music, and not just by the dictionary definition. Sure, rap songs don't have strong melodies, sometimes no melody at all. But there's plenty of elements to it that make it music. Not to mention rap is poetry, no matter what way you look at it. Sure, you may not like it, but it's music, and there's no way around that.

You are right that rap is poetry... which makes it art, not music. Good poetry? In some cases, I've heard rap that has some pretty good lyrics actually. It's usually not what's on the radio though...

But music? I still disagree with you. We have in a large amount of rap music: lyrics, drum beats, and MAYBE a synthesizer.

You have lyrics, which aren't sung, so this constitutes nothing towards being music.

The drums are very rarely played by a human, but rather by a drum machine, which means they just selcet the beat they want, set the tempo, and voila, you have your very own "drummer". Still no musicallity added at this point.

Synth: The ones that have a synthesizer have a tiny bit of musicianship, if you can even call it that. Anyone can plink out a succession of three or four notes, add a drum machine behind it, and then rap about whatever the hell you want. The actual writing of what the synthesizer is playing takes very little talent. Creating the sounds for it on the other hand, when they do actually use custom sounds, takes a bit of talent.

I cannot find what elements you're looking at that makes it music.

It has phrasing, but you need that in poetry as well. It has rhythm, I suppose... which is an element of music... but a washing machine has rhythm as well. Washing machines don't make music.

Let me give you a better example. In the music world there is something called a "cadence". You may have heard of that, of course, but there is another definition (sort of) for it, which is used primarily in marching band, and in parades: when the drums are playing this cool little groove. Yes, we write out the music for it, but it isn't a song, because all it contains is three elements: Rhythm, dynamics, and phrasing. So, hence we do not consider the percussionists'cadences music.

It lacks melody, counter melody, moving parts, dynamics, cadences (in the traditional sense, not the cadence from above), point, counterpoint... all the necessary elements for music other than rhythm. Hence, rap = art, but rap doesn't = music.

Now, let's look at a band like Green Day. I hate Green Day. Maybe you don't and that's perfectly fine. They just don't appeal to me. I don't think they're very talented, but that's not really the reason most people listen to them. Even still, whether I think they're talented or not, they have all the necessary elements of music in their songs. Except maybe dynamics... which really isn't necessary come to think of it.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Arrow on October 02, 2006, 03:39:05 AM
My washing machine makes music...I call him George.

But I read all that. You also present a valid point. I would agree about the rap comment, and Green Day, heh. I think a combo of both of your posts could be a good philsophy for any musician.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: haloOfTheSun on October 02, 2006, 03:48:39 AM
In all actuallity it makes no difference to me what music people listen to. I may make fun of Fall Out Boy, or other bands, but that isn't enough of a reason for me to dislike somebody.

I still stand by my belief that rap isn't music, and everyone I know that knows anything about music agrees. However, society has labeled it music, and so it will stay...
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Arrow on October 02, 2006, 03:53:30 AM
I can't wait til there's an Oldies station that plays rap...
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: veltonvelton on October 02, 2006, 06:13:23 PM
I was listening to 'classic fm' and it had on 'todays special' which was the black eyed peas. I only listened to it becuase its on classic fm. Its kewl.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Malson on October 02, 2006, 07:56:57 PM
Your "lack of melody = not music" argument is something we can just agree to disagree on. However, I noted that you mentioned how the use of drum machines meant there was hardly any musicianship. You don't have to play any instruments whatsoever to create music, which is why I'm confused why you, as a composer, would say something like that.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: haloOfTheSun on October 03, 2006, 04:06:45 AM
True, I suppose I should've elaborated a bit.

Thinking now, I can't be 100% sure, but I would say the rap artists do not program the drum machines themselves, it seems ridiculous to say they do. They just buy them, (or the studio does?) and choose the drum beat, they don't write the drum beat, they don't play the drum beat, they just... choose it, and the machine plays it. That doesn't take musicianship or talent, it takes 1 finger.

Now, granted, I've never used a drum machine, I can't be too sure that's the entire process of using one, but I DO know, that it basically does all the work for you.

As a composer, whether you're like me and you use standard notation, or you prefer tabs or even sequencing, that takes talent and musicianship. To be good anyway. While we are just writing out the music, we have to know what we're doing, you can't just write random crap. It takes at least a small level of understanding music.

Actually, nevermind, that's going down a different path other than the one you brought up.

True, you don't have to be able to play an instrument to create  music. For example, I can't play the violin, it doesn't mean I don't know how to write music for it. The use of a drum machine is not the same as composing on a computer, you don't have to know anything about music to use one efficiently, yet to write music well, you need a general understanding at the very least.

Agh, I'm doing several things at once here. I'm not able to think very clearly at the moment, but hopefully you get what I'm trying to say.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: GilgameshRO on October 03, 2006, 05:01:17 AM
Quote from: Zypher on October 02, 2006, 07:56:57 PM
Your "lack of melody = not music" argument is something we can just agree to disagree on. However, I noted that you mentioned how the use of drum machines meant there was hardly any musicianship. You don't have to play any instruments whatsoever to create music, which is why I'm confused why you, as a composer, would say something like that.

This isn't exactly the conversation I expected to find here. I'm way to lazy to find out what the debate is about, but just from this statement I'd have to say I agree with Zypher.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Reives on October 03, 2006, 05:35:25 AM
Meh, the term 'music' was a vocabulary created by humans anyhow. And like all terms, things evolve and change and differ in their meaning from person to person as from time to time. So imo there's no set definition for such matters.

And to those that disregard rap as music (I myself am not a fan of it neither by the way); society has labeled it as music and hence it is music in that sense. Sure there are compelling arguments here and there, but in cases like this what can be argued for does not really matter at all. There are those who enjoy it, and they call it 'music'; then it is music to them.


Edit: How'd you guys manage to get off-topic to this anyhow~
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: haloOfTheSun on October 03, 2006, 05:41:21 AM
I'm still trying to figure out part of Zypher's comment, as I never said you had to play an instrument to create music. My point was clearly about how rap isn't music - it isn't exactly rocket science.

It doesn't matter, if you like rap, it's likely you'll take offense from someone commenting about it not being music and completely ignore all logic that suggests it isn't. And if you don't like it, it's likely you'll just agree because you don't like it.

It's hard to have an intelligent debate with people who don't quite understand...

No matter what I say here, it's going to sound as though I'm putting myself above other people, simply because I know about music theory and so on, and thus my comments actually making it seem like I'm narrow minded about music, which is definately not true.

Also I'm straining to see how you can view something without melody to be music. It has to have melody. The melody may be beautiful, or even very dissinent, but either way, it's melody. There's no way around it. That's what a song is. Maybe that's where everyone is getting confused; maybe they view melody as something that has to be catchy, or pretty, or whatever, but this isn't always the case.

Meh, none of this matters, I can see you're not changing your mind, just as I'm not changing mine.

Reives, you posted while I was typing ~ That's basically what I had said before, it's been labelled as music, thus there is no changing it. Yet, your first sentence is insignificant, all terms are created by humans.  :) I know what you mean though, heh. But the point I'm making is, you can like rap, and yes it is art, but it lacks musical quality and elements, sans the exceptions to this generalization as stated earlier.
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: Reives on October 03, 2006, 05:57:22 AM
Heheh, well I guess my intended point for stating the creational nature of the term was that creations change. And as society evolve, not only will things like this be labeled as one; but as time goes on the actual literal meaning will most likely come to include it as well.

I'm pretty sure heavy metal or even just rock would be seen as noise rather than music back in the classical period; to the majority at least. 'Revolutions' happen, even when it's not accepted by many.


I can definitely see where you are coming from though. Morally, I share your view completely. But realistically speaking my comprehensions are numb and harsh.

(Gotta go now, 2:00 already :( I'll have to make up for all the sleep lost when I get outta college.)
Title: Re: North American Metal vs. International Metal
Post by: haloOfTheSun on October 03, 2006, 08:27:09 AM
Quote from: Reives on October 03, 2006, 05:57:22 AM
I'm pretty sure heavy metal or even just rock would be seen as noise rather than music back in the classical period; to the majority at least. 'Revolutions' happen, even when it's not accepted by many.

The same can be said for the "oldies" (50s rock), and, up until the Romantic period), jazz, and nearly all music from the early 1900s and on, even the new symphonies that are being today.

I actually thought I had mentioned this earlier, but it's apparent I didn't. Oh well, I'm done with this topic. >_>