I figured I'd ask - what are people listening to at the moment? I never listen to St. Louis radio these days, so I'm curious as to what people across the state are listening to. Personally, I'm listening to Evanescence these days (well, as of yesterday). I already know that I'm going to buy their latest CD as soon as I have money, so they're list-worthy. Aside from them, I've been listening to a bit of Gravity Kills, all possible Ben Folds, Weezer, and old Smashing Pumpkins, not to mention a lot of 2-year-old country songs. I'm incredibly discerning in my musical tastes, so I'd like to think that my endorsement of the music I listen to means something.

An issue:

Y’know what sucks? People don’t believe anyone who says that a band is really excellent, because (aside from the obvious reason, namely that not everyone has different tastes in music – although that can’t really be a legitimate excuse, seeing as mainstream music tastes are generally similar) people are in the habit of saying things they don’t mean, endorsing bands they don't really care about, and nodding politely when other people do the same. Thus, when I say, “This band really rocks,” I receive a polite nod and a sarcastic comment.

Has anyone else experienced this? Why do things have to be this way?

Further:
What kind of file sharing programs, if any, are you using?
How do you get your music?
What kind of music do you like?
What would you recommend?

These kinds of questions are what this thread is all about.

I listen to anything and everything, and I tend to go through kicks of listening to different kinds of stuff depending on how my life is going right now and such. Superdrag is hands down my favorite band, and they go good with any mood. For country music, it's the 4 or 5 year old stuff that's best. Garth Brooks is usually the way to go there. Nick Lowe sings some really good stuff if you like British 70's underground pop. My favorites in other genres of music change just about hourly. My friend had suggested that I download "You Can't Handle This" by Five Iron Frenzy, and I absolutely love it. It's a great nerd song. I haven't heard any of their other songs though, but I've been looking.

As for file sharing, I go heavy on the KaZaA Lite. I've got somewhere around 190 songs on my computer at the moment. I used to have more, but my hard drive shot crap on me.

I have noticed that with people too. I think it's because whenever you listen to the radio, all you ever hear is the DJ saying "The Dirty Goats rock!" or "The Tickle Me Elmos are awesome!" even if they don't rock and aren't awesome and the DJ is paid to say that, and so nobody pays attention to them. Then you come along and say "I've heard this new band, and they're pretty good," but everyone thinks your talking BS like a DJ. I usually listen to people's suggestions about music, though, and I'd definitely suggest that other's do too. Not all great music is played on the radio, because not all great music is endorsed by big money record labels.

I also speak my mind about music, and express my opinions openly about certain bands/songs.
That being said, I don't really have any favorite bands :lol: I find that I like a song here and there from several differerent bands. Some that I like in particular though are Jimmy Eat World; Some select oldies from Linkin Park; a bunch of movie and game soundtracks; and a few from Evanescence, Chevelle, Saliva, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

A radio station around here (South KC) that I listen to a lot is 96.5 the buzz. It's all alternative, and I like it.

Along the lines of file sharing programs, I now use Kazaa-Lite. I've been through so many crappy ones that I can't stand it. After Napster fell, I went to the original Kazaa and Morpheus, XoloX, WinMX, some weird java-based program, and a couple others that I can't remember. Kazaa lite is as good at it gets - no ads, lots of stuff.

I really like random songs that remind me of other random songs that were played on the radio years ago. right now i've been going through a semi-depressing but reminiscent song phase that includes sister hazel, the wallflowers, and matchbox 20. LOVE the older country, kudos to ryan for Garth Brooks!! I use Kazaa, but only because its what ninny put on here so its convenient. i'd say it works well, at least its easy to operate.

-to PD- Love the buzz...have you heard 97.3 the Planet yet? they were pretty hit and miss for awhile, but they've settled into some really good stuff for the most part. what i found awesome was that for the first few weeks they were here there were no DJ's or commercials. just music :D of course, now they are established and have the usual amount of both, but for awhile they were radio gods.

I have extremely good taste in music. I pretty much buy all of my music... I'm on dialup internet, plus I find downloading full CDs without supporting the artist to be objectionable (Not that the RIAA and others aren't screwing us all with their luddite-ish position toward a change in format - they are, but I'm more concerned about the artist. That's a debate for another thread). I'll download a song or two from something that's new to me, if it's up on the band's page, or something, but I usually end up buying the CD.
My favorite bands of the moment:
1) Reel Big Fish: The ska/ rock/ punk/ pop/ reggae masters. Buy their album, Cheer Up!. I bought it the day after it came out, at MSA, and have listened to it ever since. I have all the RBF CD's, including the imports... and I'm trying to get a hold of their UK single, "Monkey Man".
2) Less Than Jake: Ska influenced punk. They have a new album, Anthem, coming out May 20th. Buy it, too; it's gonna be awesome. I have all but one of LTJ's major CDs, but I'm not ever going to attempt to get all their stuff... they have 100 some releases special for vinyl, bonus tracks for certain areas of the coutnry, and etc...
3) Forces of Evil: Hey, some more ska! Forces of Evil is a new band, but they already are awesome. They don't have a full CD yet, but check 'em out. FoE is composed of Reel Big Fish's lead guitarist, the O.C. Scholars' trumpet player, and the former members of Jeffries Fan Club.
4) Mighty Mighty Bosstones: OK, last ska band. Ska-core, anyway. The Bosstones rule completely. Buy their latest CD, "A Jackknife to a Swan". It's great. I have 5 Bosstones CDs, mostly from a Bosstones kick I got on last week, when I bought 3 in a row.
5) Zebrahead: The punk/ rap fusion group. They put on a hell of a show at concerts, and I just got theirlast CD. They have a new one coming out soon, too.

i think i've become addicted to 97.3. they're one of the few decent stations in KC (96.5 is included in this list), but amazingly 93.3 has been playing Matchbox 20's new single "Unwell" a lot. oh, and for my favorite bands at the moment:

1. Matchbox 20: In order of which albums i like best, i suggest Mad Season("Leave" and "You Won't Be Mine" are my two favorite tracks), More Than You Think You Are ("Disease", "Cold", and "Hand Me Down"), then Yourself or Someone Like You.

2. Chicago Soundtrack: "Cell Block Tango"...hey, if a guy pisses you off, you'll feel a lot better (or more violent) after listening to this one. (6)

3. Michelle Branch: "The Spirit Room"...it's got a couple of crappy songs, granted...but those are also the singles that were released on mainstream radio. The treasure tracks on this album include "Something to Sleep To", "If Only She Knew", and "I'd Rather Be in Love".

93.3 was my station before I found 96.5. I'll check out 97.3 though :)

Bo - Way to get that 'fact' out in the open right up front :lol:

About media piracy, my view:
I DO think that downloading copies of works of art on which someone spent time and money is not being respectful to the author. However, I believe - more firmly - that publicly availible media is the future. I think that if these stupid copyright lawyers continue to take cases to the supreme court, then the copyright laws are going to get worse, and worse.

Get this: There was a guy who had a computer. His computer did not have windows, it had linux. However, his DVD software did not work on linux; it worked on windows. Because he wanted to play the movies that he legally bought, he wrote a program to decode the MPEG2 formatted video on the DVD. He was arrested for copyright infringement because the program he wrote broke the encryption on the DVD. What kind of crap is that?

Ok, ok, I'll stop now :P But beware, I could go on for quite a while. (A)

Like I said, a debate for another thread... But you're right, it's outrageous the laws the insane music "industry" has been able to get passed by lobbying Congress (Motto: "Campaign Finance Reform - We Now Just Take Direct Bribes"). The DMCA is particularly evil. Especially with the Russian kid getting arrested for "cracking" Adobe's e-book "format". I play perfectly legal DVDs on my Linux box all the time... the only crime there is that there's a law saying that that's a crime.
But I still uphold my stance that the artists get hurt when kids on fast internet connections wantonly grab their whole CD months before it's released.

i use kazaa for my music... and i like alot of things... but mostly what people consider pop punk/emo...

1. something corporate - awesome band... with beautiful piano parts... i've seen them in concert twice... and i'm in love with their music...i listen to it every night as i fall asleep... and have even printed off the sheet music for their songs. yall must check them out (they don't get hardly any air-time... but trust me on this one)
2. taking back sunday - very passionate... great 'break-up' lyrics... they're kind of half-screaming (that's where i got passionate from)... i'm very upset that they're skipping missouri when they go from chicago to denver :(... oh well... they're coming to kc on warped!!
3. finch - a little bit harder... some more screaming... they also put on a very goood live show. some really good lyrics... they're video for 'what it is to burn ' is being played on mtv2... and the song on some radio stations... great live shows too!
4. rufio - got some love songs... with some...un-love songs (:)) some great guitar parts... very upbeat... the cd quality on their last album was a little lacking... but they're coming out with a new one (in june i believe) which should be better
5. the ataris - just thought i'd say their new album (so long, astoria) kicks some serious... stuff.
6. sugarcult - awesome awesome awesome cd... i mysteriously found them on kazaa and it was love at first...hearing. great variety of songs... great lyrics (or atleast i feel i can relate to them)
7. the juliana theory - i love their lyrics... they put on a pretty good live show too... they have a lot of songs that just get stuck in your head/ears and the more you listen the more you love... plus their last album had an awesome name "emotion is dead". i love it.)

welp. those are favorite bands right now... but i'm open to anything... esp. if any of you have some great local bands (i'm looking for some summer road trips :))

one more thing... about downloading music

i download ALOT of music... but if i like the band... i go buy their CD... because (A) i feel guilty and i DO feel like i'm robbing them (B) i can never trust the quality of the music i'm downloading and © downloading is kind of like... taste-testing to me... if i wouldn't have downloaded all this music... i never would have heard about these bands when i did... and i wouldn't have bought the cd...

that was just my two cents :)

very cool thread. bo has very good taste in music *i've been brainwashed, no it's not the french*. I haven't been much into the file sharing stuff, my brother is though. but where do you think he gets his musical taste :yes: (except for Jimmy Buffet (6) who may be Satan impersonated). Internet stuff for "taste-testing" is a good idear. This particular area is deprived of good radio stations. We have five pop, one NPR, two mixed, three 'light' rock, and about twenty-seven country stations. oh yeah, one rock station probably run from the trunk of somebody's car.
My very favorite bands change a bunch except for =weezer!!! Who I always love. Umm, I like okgo, sugarcult, taking back sunday, ALL AMERICAN REJECTS (oklahoma "home boys"), our lady peace (awesome older music), good charlotte (good older stuff), the hives, indochine, 3eb, moby, cake, coldplay, zwan, PUSA, pennywise, guttermouth, nofx, dropkick murphys, millencolin, nearly every other artist the punk-o-rama set features (but not all!), the beatles, sum 41, dashboard confessional, mest, etc, etc, nickel creek, norah jones (before the idiotic grammys!), john mayer (no matter how main stream he goes), U2, eric clapton, the clash, duran duran should have been illegal, frank sinatra and many more, and funk in general. sorry there were no breaks in there, I hate reading things that look like what i write <_< . i go braindead on my musical taste quite often when i am asked do regurgitate (how do you spell that?). i just know...

i recomend Days Old Dream (found at mp3.com), and the Rich Kids, but I've got no clue where to find that.

I'm also a 96.5 fan. Haven't heard of 97.3. I'm not sure if I get it where I live (about an hour east of the KC metro area). In fact, the Buzz fades out about 15 miles east of me. But yeah, just about anything on 96.5 I like. Except for the Beastie Boys. I'm a huge Cake, Foo Fighters and Sum 41 fan.

Lately, I've been on a Flogging Molly kick. They're a punkish, scottish-folksy type of music. Very unique.

Also I've been dowloading a lot of The Rainmakers. They're a rock band from the 80's and 90's. Great lyrics. Catchy tunes. Interesting tidbit: their lead singer/lyricist used to live in my house. Imagine that.

Mark

hey, what's up guys, i'm new.

anyway, yeah, music.

I've been listening to a fair amount of the Foo Fighters recently, you can never go wrong with Dave Grohl, whether it be Nirvana, FF, or queens of the stone age, i don't think there's anything bad in his history. Audioslave's CD is quite good, as well.

As far as music everyone should listen to, i think everybody should have some Jimmy Buffett (yes, the reincarnation of satan or whatever) in their collection. It's a different style than most people are used to, but once you've gotten used to it, he makes some astoundingly great music.

another commonly bashed singer that i think is great is Johnny Cash. It takes a lot of guts for a guy who's like 70 years old to cover a Nine Inch Nails song (see his newest album-the song is Hurt). on top of that, he's got some classic older stuff, like Man in Black and the Ring of Fire.

and as for file sharing, i see it as a blatant violation of copyright laws.

that said, i do it extensively anyway. guess i don't have much regard for laws.

Mike

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