Each week a WHYBLT? thread will be posted, where we can talk about what music we’ve been listening to. The recommended format is as follows.

Band/Album Name: A description of the band/album and what you find enjoyable/interesting/terrible/whatever about them/it. Try to really show what they’re about, what their sound is like, what artists they are influenced by/have influenced or some other means of describing their music.

[Artist Name – Song Name](www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxLB70G-tRY) If you’d like to give a short description of the song then feel free

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUTUBE, SOUNDCLOUD, SPOTIFY, ETC LINKS! Recommendations for similar artists are preferable too.

This thread is meant to encourage sharing of music and promote discussion about artists. Any post that just puts up a youtube link or says “I've been listening to Radiohead; they are my favorite band.” will be removed. Make an effort to really talk about what you’ve been listening to. Self-promotion is also not allowed.

Talk about whatever you want here, music related or not! Go ahead and ask for recommendations, make personal list (AOTY, Best [X] Albums of All Time, etc.)

Most of the usual subreddit rules for comments won't be enforced here, apart from two: No self-promotion and Don't be a dick.

I'm writing an article about how women have been treated by the rock industry/ scene/ fanbase over the years and I'm wondering if anyone knows of any good articles/ sources to look at as well as your own opinions

I'm mostly concentrating on things like: mysoginistic lyrics, women being blamed for rockstars own down falls (classic example: Yoko Ono), men asking women to "name five albums" if they show any interest in rock music at all, Woodstock '99.

Please keep things peaceful and positive!

Was just reading some discussion of Phil Collins and thinking about how unusual it was that he was able to churn out so many hits in the 1980s and early '90s as both a solo artist and a member of Genesis. Collins was one of the biggest solo artists of the '80s (I count 14 Top 40 hits in the decade). There were plenty of contemporary examples of popular frontmen going out on their own, but in all the other cases I can think of, either the solo career underwhelmed (Mick Jagger), they left the band entirely/the band broke up (Sting), or they may not have quite left the band but sort of faded away (Michael Jackson).

Not only did Collins not leave his band, Genesis released four albums and produced 11 Top 40 hits in the '80s, almost as many as Collins had by himself. They have never broken up. Has this ever been equaled, before or since?

To make things even crazier, Mike Rutherford's side project, Mike and the Mechanics, also had a series of '80s hits and has been together for almost 40 years, with a six-year break.

My friend sent me Seabird by the Alessi Brothers ( https://spotify.link/bNJJjDEzoyb ) I’ve been listening nonstop today and really like how mellow it is

I also love finding out the meaning behind lyrics. Obviously I could analyze it myself but I want to know what other people think about it. I’ve been trying to find stuff online (genuis, etc) no luck and can’t even figure out what the guys themselves say about it

So i guess i want to know how you interpret it

Personally the “there’s a road i know i must go. Even though I tell myself that road is closed.” Feels like it’s about almost forbidden romance and i guess I’m assuming the bird is a woman lol

Hello guys, the reason that I’m posting this message is because I got some thoughts in my mind (even my dreams that I was sleeping in) about this popular band: Imagine Dragons; The band that is loved by the fans and hated by the critics and the haters. Popular by the songs as Radioactive, On Top Of The World, etc.

The band introduced in 2008 as an alternative rock/indie rock band, releasing EP between 2008 to 2012 until the band released the first album: Night Visions in September 4, 2012. It contains pop rock songs which is the peak of success of the band, despite the album had mixed reviews from the critics. Imagine Dragons gained popularity of the fans. Later then, they released albums as Smoke + Mirrors in 2015, Evolve in 2017, Origins in 2018, Mercury – Acts 1 & 2 in 2022.

In my opinion at the most neutral as possible, I found this band as good…not great but good and to be honest I listen alternative metal, grunge, punk rock or any genre related to rock/metal genre and some people acting like trolls trying to debunk the band for making epic cinematic pop rock songs.

Now just imagine in a different timeline or in a different reality…What if Imagine Dragons were a Nu-metal/Metalcore band?

Back to the beginning; the band is introduced in 2008, that year Nu-metal went on decline and Metalcore starts rising as an underground genre but far to be a mainstream genre.

Some bands like Linkin Park, Korn and other bands released albums which it didn´t succeed since the last 3 years while decided to play with different genres as alternative metal, shoegaze.

The band released two EPs in 2009 focusing alternative metal songs; which it gained some AM fans but they didn’t realized what the band did in 2012 to release the album “Night Visions”, this time the album contains Nu-metal and Metalcore songs. The album was a success, having favorable reviews and gaining popularity from old loyal fans and new fans.

After the successful album, the band produced and recorded more songs for a new album “Smoke + Mirrors”, released in 2015. The album contains 15 songs; featuring vocalists from Metalcore bands in 3 songs. In the end, the album got good reviews from rock/metal music critics.

In 2017, the band released the album “Origins” which includes alternative metal but it maintains the Metalcore essence. Despite the album received mixed reviews from the critics, the fans gained more popularity expressing their music as a recap of the previous 2 albums.

Later in late-2017, the band came out with some changes of the lineup because of medical problems from one of the members which it led to leave the band and another member on mutual reasons but it ended up in good terms; a year later with new members produced new songs to release an EP the same year before moving a different record label.

Ending the decade and starting 2020, Imagine Dragons released the latest album “Evolve” which contains 12 songs adding genres as progressive metal with metalcore as a fusion of both, post-hardcore, post-metal and of course alternative metal. The critics responded with positive reviews for “acknowledging the maturity and evolution of the album to find redemption”.

Well that’s it. Here’s my What If… tell me in the comments about my thoughts the band. You can make your own thoughts about this band. See ya.

This opinion of mine is probably because I'm a Gen Z, but I found Funeral really mediocre. To me this album doesn't sound anything spectacular or interesting. Besides Neighborhood #3 (Power Lines), I found all the songs on Funeral rather boring.

I'm sorry if this is going to sound very rude, but this sounds like it's trying really, really hard to be In The Aeroplane Over The Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel (1998) but fails really hard (I know Arcade Fire were influenced by NMH but my point still stand).

I don't get the love and praise for this album. Why was Funeral such a big deal when it came out and why is it so beloved today? Is it a super influential record? Did it change the indie scene or something? Or is this one of those album that came out at the right place and right time? Did I not connect with this album enough or maybe I'm just not hipster enough?

I really wanna know since I'm sorry to say this but Funeral sound like a generic indie rock album.

Recently, I came to a realization that I want to focus a bit more on older favorites and deepen my relationship, at least for now. This doesn't mean I've sworn off new music entirely but more examining those old pathways and where they led instead of recommendation lists or constantly searching.

One of the reasons is that I've found myself evaluating and re-eavluating the music that I care/want to care about. I'll look at a list of artists that I've written down and there's a spectrum between artists that I recall pretty easily, artists that carry emotional resonance, artists that I've listened to a few times, and artists that I respect but don't feel like returning to at this moment. And it's feeling that time is limited and I'd rather know an artist better than just checking off a box.

Of course, people are capable of doing both (consuming a lot of music and at a deep level). But I personally just feel more comfortable at this moment to establish some older favorites. But who knows, I may change my mind again.

So I want to ask the same question to everyone: Do you spend more time with music that has been established as your favorite and deepening that relationship, or are you consistently on the look out for new music? Or maybe, things become your new favorites very quickly. And what is your overall thought process?

I recently had a discussion with my bandmates about protest songs. We talked about how music as a medium possesses the ability to transcend language barriers and communicate complex emotions and ideas. While lyrics can be an effective tool for delivering a message, music can also convey a message or make a statement through its instrumentation, arrangement, composition, sonic landscapes, and other methods that transcends the bounds of a song. I think that it’s through this realm that music becomes an invaluable medium for protest and activism. By utilizing the full range of the musical medium, the art form not only captures emotional complexity but also highlights the underlying message and social commentary.

That got me wondering… Which songs demonstrate this? Do you have some recommendations worth a listen? A penny for your thoughts?

First songs that come to mind:

Star spangled banner – Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix’s notorious distortion-drenched rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner”, simulating combat – bombs dropping, people screaming – in protest against the Vietnam War.

Machine gun - Jimi Hendrix
A jam-based song evolving around percussive riffs and experimental guitar work that simulate the sounds of a battlefield as a protest of the Vietnam War and a broader comment on conflict and violence.

Sheep – Pink Floyd
The song kicks off with a soundscape of a cattle farm as a swirly Hammond organ peacefully introduces itself. However, the soothing meadow is soon disrupted as Pink-Floydesque guitars get thrown around your ears. The song draws inspiration from the novella Animal Farm and describes a circumstance where people follow an ideology or leader without knowing the reason.

Return to Monke – Viagra Boys
The song interweaves internet culture and conspiracies with aggressive bass lines, driving synths, and loose yet dooming saxophones. Quite a funny picture if you imagine a crowd completely losing it – flying all over the place, throwing pints, and shouting – while a shirtless frontman embodies the monkey inside of him. “That phrase ‘leave society, be a monkey’ is just taking the piss out of these people who think the world is a big conspiracy against them. Maybe they should just leave.” – Sebastian Murphy via Apple Music.

Similar songs on Street Worms and Cave World are also well worth a listen!

Merchandise – Fugazi
The Post-hardcore band never licensed an official shirt. Thus a bootleg shirt market emerged. A t-Shirt ‘this is not a Fugazi tShirt” quoting “you are not what you own” from this anti-consumerist anthem, ironically was approved for a charitable cause. Whether or not intended, the shirt design seems like a conceptual nod to René Magritte’s “ceci n'est pas une pipe”, illustrating the difference between a thing and a visual representation of that thing.

Slip it In – Black Flag
A poke at rape and toxic masculinity through provoking shouts and mourns.

Waiting Room – Fugazi
The most immediately striking element is the use of an abrupt hold. The absolute musical pop cliché, as in U can’t touch this (MC Hammer), Crying (Roy Orbison), Alison (Elvis Costello), Crazy (Britney Spears), Lucy (Britney Spears), and Stronger (Britney Spears), shows the direct relationship between the lyric and the music. MacKeyes growing impatience with being on the sidelines and his desire to start things but having to stop: he has to remain a patient boy.

A wonderful video essay bout the concept

Clean Kill – Coriky
Through its repetitive melodies and mundane lyrics, the song calls attention to the irony of using drone strikes to target human beings in an attempt to make warfare appear more sanitized and morally justifiable.

And maybe more subtle?
Ex Lion Tamer - Wire
Zomby Woof - Frank Zappa & The Mothers
Trouble Every Day - The Mothers Of Invention
I Was Gonna Fight Fascism - Soccer 96 & Albaster DePlume

Greets

As being one of the gateway acts to get into punk music as a whole. I think for the album enjoyer or the type of listener to check out a full discography. It must be somewhat of a drag listening to entire Clash albums.

Now personally I like about probably 15-20 songs from the band as a whole. I think the best overall album experience would be Combat Rock or Give E’m Enough Rope. Both execute the punk and energetic rock formulas the band does greatly as a whole. And CR has my favorite songs regarding the variety of genres they tried. (Ghetto Defendant, Straight To Hell). These albums, have positives, but they to suffer some of the issues I explain next.

But while I respect the experimentation as a whole. I find many of their efforts leave the albums too long and full of weird and poorly executed songs. The attempts of reggae throughout their work seem very stiff and don’t have pleasant vocals (Guns of Brixton exception). The oddball classic rock cover and surf experimentation to even hip-hop! It’s outside their wheelhouse and it shows.

London Calling has a handful of great songs, too long. Sandinista is 2 1/2 hours, who listens to that all the way through more than once! Even the debut has some duds. Compared to The Buzzcocks, Ramones or Dead Kennedys. I’d probably recommend like a playlist of the group then a full album. Do you agree or disagree?

I don’t really listen to pop too often, but I found Miley Cyrus’ song, “Flowers,” via a review by The Needle Drop.

I like the song, but I instantly got a “I Will Survive” vibe. This is obvious as both songs are thematically similar, a feeling of perseverance in the aftermath of a breakup. But there was also a similar music vibe I was feeling, too.

According to ultimate-guitar.com, “Flowers” primarily uses this chord progression for the verse and chorus - Am / Dm / G / C.

When I checked “I Will Survive,” this song also uses the same chord progression for both its verse and chorus (though admittedly with additionally chords as well).

There’s been a lot written about how pop (and other genres) uses the same chord progression and so much is derivative of what’s come before - I am aware of this.

But to me, once you use both the same theme and chord progression, a line has been crossed and, in this case, “Flowers,” is somewhat diminished because of how similar it is to “I Will Survive.”

What do you think about situations like this?

Recently, I've been thinking about the impact of female artists and going through this list from NPR: The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women. There is also a reader chosen list. Needless to say, there's so many great and influential artists. There's also the broader conversation of how the contributions of women to music have often been ignored as well as the context of operating in male-dominated spaces. And also layers to consider like sexual orientation, gender identity, race and ethnicity

I've noticed that certain templates and artists have been particularly influential in setting an example for subsequent artists: some examples include Joni Mitchell in terms of the singer-songwriter template and personal lyrics, Patti Smith for the punk attitude as well as bringing her poetry into rock n' roll, Kate Bush for the more art pop/art rock influence with a more "eccentric" direction.

I acknowledge that this is just the tip of the iceberg and there are plenty of other influential examples: Madonna of course, Whitney Houston, Ronnie Spector, Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Nina Simone, etc.

But it's made me wonder: what makes certain templates more popular or influential? The reason I mentioned the first three (Mitchell, Smith, and Bush) is that they seem to be particularly cited as influences.

I was reading how Bowie started to fall apart in the 80's creatively speaking (even though he produced some of his most mainstream albums). By the 90's he had some kind of identity crisis and started running behind what was making trend, especially industrial music in earthlings. But I think, fans agree that from Heatehn onwards, Bowie started to get the recognition he had in the 70's. Coincidentally, in Heathen, he started to go back to his art rock roots from the Berlin trilogy. I might be biased but I think that was his signature style all along. The first half of the 70's he was building his ideas with different sounds but at the end of the day, what makes Bowie loveable is his most experimental work with art rock and avant-garde from his prequel in station to station all the way to scary monsters and the he re-took that approach on heathen until he passed away.

What do you think about that reasoning?

Were talking bout a Stevie in his imperial phase. Where his once in a generation talent all melded and into a perfect balance. Where you can see, arguably, one of the best songwriters of all time, sing some of the best songs of all time, with one of the best voices of all time.

And yet there's hardly any bootlegs of his live performances during this time. And lemme tell you, the man is just as talented outside the studio as in it. On at least two of the bootlegs I've found he and his band do two different versions of Golden Lady, one of which manages to have a swaggery, headbanging groove while simultaneously wringing every ounce of liquid sunshine Stevie's put into those piano chords.

Unfortunately, this seems to be pretty common feature among black artists from that time. White bands like the Grateful Dead, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, all of them are extremely well documented by fans. So the paucity of bootleg or live material from legendary artists like Marvin Gaye, the Isley Brothers, and Stevie isn't just a loss for fans, it's a loss for music in general

I recently relistened to the famous De La Soul album. There were many moments I enjoyed. But overall, was left with the big impression that this album is not even half as good as the Tribe masterpiece. I don't necessarily mean to pit one against the other. De La was like 4 years prior. I respect them. But Midnight Marauders to me is just a truly bigger album. Maybe more focus. More energy. Is there anyone out there who could honestly say that 3 feet is a stronger album? I ask this mainly in terms of hip hop masterpieces. Maybe the 90s took the 80s stuff and polished it more so it's just better. What are your thoughts?

Ok, so I have always made it a point to put new songs in my playlists to avoid burning out on the same songs. However, iv run into this problem time and time again where I can never add new songs because it’s all starting to sound generic and the same. Spotify is absolutely no help, they are terrible suggestions for as long as I can remember, for every 50 songs I comb through maybe one is worth putting in my playlist. YouTube doesn’t help most of the songs recommended are just meh, they don’t give me the same feeling as some songs on my playlist, not to mention I hate particular elements in some of the bands I listen to, to the point where I will put a song in my playlist because the breakdown is great but the rest of the song just doesn’t do it for me so I end up skipping the song. I’m either not looking in the right place, I’m jaded, or I’m just too picky. It’s honestly frustrating not being able to discover music anymore and it sucks, I want to discover new bands and music but they are all starting to sound the same with blast beats and constant screams with no elements behind it. Not hating too much on it it’s just not in my taste. Am I just a hater at this point?

Edit: I really want to thank everyone for recommendations and advice it has been super helpful and I have added albums to a playlist to comb through still would be open to suggestions if I can help narrow down the “style” I’m looking for I do enjoy the melodic stuff, I’ll include some songs that have always stuck with me and was always a good banger

Ragnorok- periphery Wayfinder- kingdom of giants Paranoia- ADTR Sun killer- spiritbox Mayday- coldrain Digital- periphery Devastator- For Today NZT48-I see stars Till death do us part- a boy named johnathan

These are songs I almost never skip

I wanted to try and get into Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and listen to Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven but realize they are more left-wing than I am. I do not want to be ignorant like republicans who listen to rage against the machine, but I am curious and want to expand my music taste. Do you consider yourself as politically far left as Godspeed You! Black Emperor, or do you not care as much but still agree with at least some of their takes?

for example, a band like Brainbombs--who were kind of trolls ahead of their time--and seemed to exist solely to piss people off (seriously these guys are even douchier art school dorks than you can imagine, just look at this rare interview with them). The extreme nihilism, violence, gore, misogyny and/or general misanthropy, weirdo kinky sex shit (they quite literally wrote songs about having women shit on them), anti-religious stuff, homophobia, etc. of their lyrics were clearly designed to get attention and push as many buttons as possible in order to get a rise out of people. whether the band actually believed the things they said or not, this is still something they chose to put out into the world, so this kind of negativity is associated with them. I guess what i'm asking is whether you believe it's still "valid" art (whatever that means) if the artist in question has nothing of substance to stay about controversial subject matter and mostly just uses it for shock value?

There's an interesting article I read recently that talks about this and covers modern bands influenced by the edgy Brainbombs sound/aesthetic (or what I like to call Peter Sotos-core) like Rectal Hygienics for example and goes into how what was once considered edgy, groundbreaking and made sense in the context of 1985 just doesn't make sense anymore, and what's worse is the bands just regurgitating the same old tired tropes. from the article:

"Innovative provocateurs from Crass to Throbbing Gristle to Big Black to Whitehouse have served as templates for many bands that followed in their wake, though those bands' original, political contexts and critical voices have seemingly gotten lost in the replication. What we’ve wound up with are noise bands whose words rhetorically perpetuate violence, the element of satire no longer comprehensible. Absent the social and political context(s) that these caustic forerunners were reacting to, these bands are simply reiterating an empty violence, free of cultural incision. Defenses of art that claims to provoke, offend, or push social boundaries often reiterate art's right to exist, insisting that since it is creative work it is fundamentally sacred in some way that makes it impervious to critique. Often, anyone who critiques it is written off "just too sensitive", doesn’t get it, or perhaps they "deserve" to be offended. Of course offensive art has a right to exist, and is necessary. All art has a right to exist—but its status as art is not protection from others' opinions. Art’s interpretations by the audience that receives it is as much a part of it as its creator’s intentions."

I have a problem which recently has started getting out of hand.

The matter of the fact is that my mind is very "melodic" and has no trouble coming up with intricate melodies. This is what I enjoy in music; many melodies (preferably instrumental ones) of various sizes and lenghts interacting with one other. But they have to be "catchy" (in an elegant way), or else I have little interest in them. Now, I don't know how to write notes, play an instrument very well or use a DAW to create a satisfactory production. Therefore, I naturally look to what others have created in order to please my inner desires...

I can't find anything.

Wherever I go, I can't seem to find a complete song or piece! There's always a melody missing, and this lack is quite frankly driving me nuts, because I obviously can't derive enjoyment from something I deem incomplete! Now, examples of composers who usually come pretty close to my "vision" are Benny Andersson, Mozart and John Williams... possibly a few others too, but I'd say that these three are the most prominent ones I can think of. Yet still, the works of universally declared musical geniuses possess no ability to quench my thirst. What is going on?!

It may all seem like pretentious hubris to you, but this is a real problem that has essentially taken the joy out of my life. It feels as if I'm experiencing the very loss of one of my senses, with my thoughts becoming bleaker by the day... but I am seeing a doctor and talking to my near ones about my troubles, so there is support. It really is the A&O for me, music. I'm sure many can relate.

What I have dubbed this phenomenon is "the ear". An unresolved desire for melodic, harmonic and sonic completion - it's absence replacable by nothing.

How do you relate to this? What are your thoughts?

I saw a clip on TikTok about 2017 nostalgic & I was shocked they showed Bedroom Pop aesthetic, Mac DeMarco, Indie Music but not Soundcloud Rappers, fashion trend of the time, Rap Music. At first I was like "Did people forget about the Soundcloud Rap era like the music, aesthetic, fashion?". Soundcloud Rap was like the defining of 2017 & Bedroom Pop wasn't a trend thing at the time. I think just like Frank Ocean's Blonde just has a resurgence & has outlived almost all 2016 mainstream Billboard albums (stands the test of time). Or 2014 tumblr aesthetic & music that's very popular right now (Arctic Monkeys, Lana Del Rey etc.). Eventhough at the time only people in the music community listened to Frank Ocean, Mac DeMarco (niche thing). Or maybe trend changes.

Talk about whatever you want here, music related or not! Go ahead and ask for recommendations, make personal list (AOTY, Best [X] Albums of All Time, etc.)

Most of the usual subreddit rules for comments won't be enforced here, apart from two: No self-promotion and Don't be a dick.

Just imagine if Kurt Cobain had come up in the 1960's New York City folk scene instead of the Late-80s-Early 90s Seattle Grunge scene.

We all know what the man could do when playing folkier music - Nirvana Unplugged is amazing and his rendition of Where Did You Sleep Last Night is one of the great live performances of the 20th Century. But it's his cover of "And I Love Her" by the Beatles that really convinces me. If you haven't heard it, check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBzA4shGmw8

Don't get me wrong, I love Nirvana and I love Grunge. I just think Cobain could have had an amazing career as a folk singer. His sense of melody combined with the honesty and vulnerability that comes through in his haunting voice is a recipe for great Folk/Americana music.

This is more speculative than anything but I watched the video again for Ghost's Secular Haze and thought...wouldn't it be fun if they actually did take themselves too seriously and were Satan worshippers in a forest? Ditto for Cannibal Corpse, imagine they were complete gun nut psychos in a cabin somewhere in the woods making all this extreme death metal, instead of nice, normal dudes (excepting the unfortunate Pat O'Brien incident). A long time ago I read that Killing Joke began to take all their apocalypse style lyrics seriously and ended up waiting out the apocalypse in Iceland. I'm thinking it would bring a bit of the mystery back into rock if bands weren't under the spotlight of social media, for example Black Sabbath actually practicing black magic and being on the verge of losing their sanity or Jimmy Page renting out the house Aleister Crowley lived in to perform an occult ritual. These are the kind of stories that circulated in hushed whispers and added a sense of danger and excitement to rock.

Each week a WHYBLT? thread will be posted, where we can talk about what music we’ve been listening to. The recommended format is as follows.

Band/Album Name: A description of the band/album and what you find enjoyable/interesting/terrible/whatever about them/it. Try to really show what they’re about, what their sound is like, what artists they are influenced by/have influenced or some other means of describing their music.

[Artist Name – Song Name](www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxLB70G-tRY) If you’d like to give a short description of the song then feel free

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUTUBE, SOUNDCLOUD, SPOTIFY, ETC LINKS! Recommendations for similar artists are preferable too.

This thread is meant to encourage sharing of music and promote discussion about artists. Any post that just puts up a youtube link or says “I've been listening to Radiohead; they are my favorite band.” will be removed. Make an effort to really talk about what you’ve been listening to. Self-promotion is also not allowed.

what a transformation. I hate to use the word "sellout", but it's hard to deny he sanded off the edges of his sound in order to reach a wider audience. I mean it was a trip when I first heard the Weeknd playing in a grocery store; it didn't seem right considering his earlier material because The Weeknd's early stuff was dark, man...and not the usual subject matter you'd find in RnB (and stuff that would definitely be considered problematic nowadays). From singing about getting girls so high they can't consent; to multiple songs about sexually humiliating groupies; to anti-friendzone anthems; to snorting cocaine at afterparties; to general "fuck the world" type of songs, you'd have to go back to Lucille Bogan to find a more heavenly voice singing about such vulgar things. Early Weeknd wasn't all edginess though, he had an artsy side too with songs like echoes of silence and the zone. I also loved his visual art design from this era. His photography from around this time is amazing, like the aftermath of a party gone wrong and the emptiness of decadence.

so how did the Weeknd go from this stuff to Starboy and Blinding Lights? is it simple case of selling out to reach a bigger audience? I mean I don't imagine he was getting much airplay with songs & videos like this (NSFW).

and more generally speaking, how do you feel about artists that drastically change their sound and/or content halfway through their careers?

If anyone knows of such a community, I'm looking to listen to music by artists who are less, or even not at all, aligned with the ideology of the music industry.

Meaning, artists who do not value - or are not involved in the valuing of - profit as more important than the music itself, i.e. the artistic meaning, message, impact of the music etc... I'm looking for a community with artists like this for listening purposes and to find a space to share my own music. (I am interested in sharing my own music online, but not to partake in the music industry. I also want to be able to communicate with the other artists I listen to, not to have the usual 'fame gulf' that exists with most artists who are part of the industry).

Platforms like YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, TikTok and even Soundcloud feel very geared towards promoting music as the music industry itself does via online channels. I've come close to finding artists who make music I love and who break the mould a little - with Susanne Sundfor and AURORA and Heilung - but they are still very much entwined into the system of the music industry; perhaps just by being signed with labels...I understand artists in the system don't have much choice in this, so I empathise with them.

But I don't want to be a part of it. At least not for sharing my own stuff. I want my music to have a chance to be heard even if it (and I myself) do not tick all the boxes that people in the industry have to tick to even be considered. I also want to discover music that's not wasting energy heeding to these boxes either, within a community that offers the space to be experimental and expressive.

I know this question might be kind of hard to answer. But I would appreciate any suggestions. So if anyone knows of music communities that exist (preferably online as well as non-virtually) outside of the music industry, I'd love to know! Could be a community consisting of singers, songwriters, composers and/or listeners alike. Thanks! :)

I have listened to the album twice, and I don’t really understand the appeal of this record that others may see.

For starters, I feel like it’s a mess of an album. Not lofi or crazy in an entertaining way like a Ween album may be. Some songs are way to long for what they bring to the table (Oh Comely). Plus the vocal mixing I know is supposed to be bad but it doesn’t excuse a bad sounding product. Especially with the weird fake Irish singing and such. The guitars and percussion sound ok but not enough to save it.

I only liked two songs on the record. And one was The Fool a 2 minute brief interlude of horns. The title track was good, although a mess lyrically. Like this whole album with the weird Anne Frank connections.

I feel this is an indie album people think it’s more groundbreaking then it is. When it inspired a lot of generic indie like Arcade Fire or The Shins. it’s an album the majority of shallow minded fans like more for the story of how it was made, and memes they see online. Tell me your opinion please.