"Are there acts that you listen to because you 'should' listen to them?"
Like I listen to REM sometimes and while I like some of their songs, I listen to their albums because I recognize that their important to music and culturally. (Michael Stipe's sexuality)
Usually, their music comes on my feed and I think 'Again?!' but then I think about the way the music informs my musical tastes and I'll give them a listen.
I know I have a habit of falling into ruts in my music listening by not challenging my tastes with different musicians or genres that as someone who likes to think of himself as into music culture ought to listen to. So, I don't really mind listening to music that I'm not hyped to listen to but sometimes it feels like the equivalent of playing warmup scales before a rehearsal - something to improve your skills but not really a joy.
Interpol is another band like that and so is SIA or Beyonce.
Jurassic 5 is in the same category to me as well as a lot of old school (pre-Golden Era) hip-hop.
Does anyone else have groups or artists where they listen to the music for the sake of maintaining your tastes?
1. "i haven't listened to a full Nirvana album" In response to Reply # 0
Which is weird because I'm certainly not averse to rock. I love Rafiohead. I dig both of Codeine's albums. When I collected vinyl I needed the SST release of Sonic Youth's EVOL because I wanted to hear the locked groove at the end of Expressway to Yr Skull. But I haven't listened to a Nirvana album in its entirety. I'm fucking up
------------------------------- If life is stupendous one cannot also demand that it should be easy. - Robert Musil
2. "Yeah, that's an 'important' band." In response to Reply # 1
I've heard Nevermind and In Utero. But I haven't gone back to either album in years.
I've probably aged out of their music. Kurt's lyrics sounded profound in my early 20s, but I doubt they would have the same impact now in my early 40s.
3. "none of em man ffuck that shit" In response to Reply # 0
__________________________________________ CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!! ------------------------------------ Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this
--------- "We in here talking about later career Prince records & your fool ass is cruising around in a time machine trying to collect props for a couple of sociopathic degenerates" - s.blak
6. "Ill go down in rabbit holes to fill gaps in music knowledge" In response to Reply # 0
Like I was in a bar one day and a Depeche Mode song came on; while I liked Violator I realized they had a whole acclaimed discography that I had to go dig back into and 'fill the gaps'.
9. "RE: Nope, I mean, I'll try, but if it don't hit me, I'm out" In response to Reply # 8
Co-sign. I have considered trying to get into The Beatles but I’m reluctant to even try. Methinks I won’t like ‘em. But then I remember artists I dig, like Common and Karriem Riggins, have praised them so maybe I should give the band a shot?
-- "Music is not to be possessed; it's to be shared.” - James Mtume
"Just stay loose, keep it raw, and bang ya drums out sometimes." - Madlib
as mentioned by some, occasionally i will check out an artists whole discography when i feel im missing out or want to see what the deal is about. if there are songs i like enough to keep in rotation they will stay. if not, they wont.
i do have playlists that include music that i know others like for when were together. i try to keep only stuff i can stomach though. wont listen to those playlists on my own.
12. "not sure how jurassic 5 fits into this discussion" In response to Reply # 0
im not sure they have acclaimed respect in any circle. i personally love them but it seems just as many heads dislike them as do casual listeners percentage wise.