Posts by Bryan Barrett

Lara said:I mean, which lists actually matter these days? Honestly, even if you don't vote for them, I feel like Dream Theater earned a spot in the top 50. At least they actually know how to play their instruments, unlike some of the stuff sitting in the top ten right now.

They don't need those rankings though... and honestly, it's probably better that way.

Alex Martinez4 said:I mean, yeah, it’s honestly ridiculous. Country music is way easier on the ears. At least there’s some actual sense behind it.

You just outed yourself... total FRAUD!!!! 👎

Count me in for six too! 🙂

marlon said:Look, I'm not saying this just to be difficult or because I'm repeating the usual complaints people have about certain music. It's just how it hits me, you know? That's just my honest take.

To each their own 👍 , everyone sees things differently. But if you don't want to write off the whole scene as being too sterile or just showing off, you should check out Pain of Salvation. If you ever get the chance—not that I'm forcing it on you—give them a listen. Everything they do just feels so raw and emotional...

Well, okay, now I see you aren't exactly caught up on today's progressive scene. To me, progressive (or just "prog") is an entire genre in itself, even if the boundaries are pretty blurry. Today's prog/rock/metal players and this current generation of guitarists are anything but:

marlon said:...that whole stereotype about overdriven guitars, bald or long-haired heads flailing around, 35-minute solos, absolute carnage inflicted on amps and guitars, and those weird ideological, sociological, or existential detours—all wrapped up in that classic image of unrepentant junkies and total eccentrics....

Every single band you just listed (The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Dire Straits, U2, AC/DC, Eric Clapton, ZZ Top, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Iron Maiden, R.E.M., and even Queen and KISS) was massive back in their day—and still is. You can't really say the same for bands like Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation, Ark, Andromeda, Planet X, Psychotic Waltz, Fates Warning, Shadow Gallery... the list goes on and on... or guitarists like Steve Vai, Satriani, Mike Macalpine, or Petrucci...
Honestly, I highly doubt any of them will ever hit the level of popularity of the names you mentioned, let alone become mainstream or achieve that legendary status held by the likes of Led Zeppelin (who probably earned it, too).
And look, I'm not saying everything that's popular is garbage; I just wasn't sure what you were getting at. And no, I wouldn't call these other bands "avant-garde" or "cultural revolutionaries." They're just driven by a love for the music, trying out new things, and, like I said, they have an artistic mindset. Money isn't their main motivator in life—though obviously, they need it to survive through their music—it's primarily about the music itself.

marlon said:Honestly, most Elvis Presley fans play way better than those self-proclaimed "avant-garde" or "progressive" types ever could. I mean, you can't even find anything to complain about!

When I say "Elvis Presley acts often hit harder," what I really mean is—it’s almost a universal truth at this point—that so many bands coming out of the "Elvis Presley school of rock" are just on another level. You look at some of the biggest global icons and massive stadium acts, and honestly, most of them belong to that lineage. From a purely musical and production standpoint, these guys are incredibly tight, insanely competent, and just world-class performers.

Look, I'm not quite sure what you mean when you say "dusting." Like, are you asking if they actually play better, or if they're just kicking up dust on the global stage because they've gotten more popular? 😕 Probably that second one.
You know, you're talking about those prog bands—those guys who are just insanely talented musicians. They've got that artistic soul, too. Their music is definitely never going to be some cheap Elvis Presley imitation. 🙂).

Ethan Jones42 said:So you were really trying to show off just now, acting like you’re this big genius who doesn't give a damn about what Elvis Presley says. Man, just give it a rest already.

I wasn't really trying to make a point or anything, just thinking out loud. I probably listen to some Elvis Presley too, for all I know. If Eric Clapton counts as Elvis Presley, then yeah, I guess I'm listening to Elvis Presley. But honestly, you've gotta be pretty out of your mind to call that kind of music Elvis Presley. 🙂

P.S. What kind of ridiculous word even is Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley? I mean, does that not just sound totally stupid? 😁

Ethan Jones42 said:Nah, they aren't even close to being as huge as Elvis Presley. They don't have those catchy, sweet little tunes with massive choruses where everyone on the planet can find a piece of themselves—you know, stuff that hits home for everyone from age 7 to 77. That definitely isn't The Beatles!!

Man, I was actually starting to worry I’d ended up listening to Elvis Presley.
🙂 TAZI TAZI TARZANE

ravana said:Wait, what? Are you saying Nikica Pećina or—to be fair—that the "pig" stuff from Black Sabbath is better?

Yeah, you've got a point there, Black Sabbath is 👍.

But hey, is The Beatles actually Elvis Presley?

Jerry Martinez3 said:Totally random side note for Bryan Barrett here. That thing you thought was a radiation warning sign? It’s actually just a sign saying "DANGER: MOVIE CAMERA AHEAD." 😁

I guess when there's nothing else left. 😳
But honestly, most people just don't get it. 😉

Justin Taylor said:Wait, what's even the difference?? Like, which one would you call legendary versus just... cult status?

Man, Tibor, this guy's got vision. Seriously. Give it twenty years and Dream Theater will be the absolute legends, while Led Zeppelin will be the ultimate cult band. 😉 🙂

He basically paved the way for an entire generation of young actors, guys like Steven Seagal, Dolph Lundgren, Michael Dudkoff, and even Chuck Norris...

But there’s only ever going to be one Bronson! 😢

It’s kind of wild that nobody brought up that girl from Night Vale! 🙄 😁

Lana Lane
Anneke van Giersbergen

In my book, the absolute legends have gotta be the Leningrad Cowboys 🙏 , though you can't deny that Blue Öyster Cult 🙏 holds that cult status.

Henry Barrett11 said:Are we all just wearing clothes made of... what was it!? Cashmere?

Looks more like angora to me. "My girlfriend still doesn't know why her sweaters are always stretched out." 👍

Check this one out:

"-Do you know what kind of a bomb it was?
-The exploding kind."

Fast and the Furious (I watched that one way too many times 🙂)

I haven't even seen the second one.

And as for Ed Wood, haha, honestly one of the best movies of our era about the absolute worst filmmaker ever. Kind of ironic, isn't it?

Yeah, Sunset Boulevard.

Anyway, here’s a "legendary" one for you. 🙂 This movie is just packed with such hilarious lines that I figured I'd grab a few short ones that really hit the nail on the head.

"Worst film you ever saw? Well, my next one will be better."

"Cut! That was PERFECT!"

"-Now, what is the one thing if you put it in a movie it'll be successful?
-Tits."

"This is it! THIS is the one I'll be remembered for!" 😁 (my favorite)

slyrider16 said:"I had an experience. I can't prove it. I can't even explain it. But everything that I know as a human being, everything that I am, tells me that it was real. I was given something wonderful, something that changed me forever. A vision of the universe that tells us, undeniably, how tiny, and insignificant and how rare and precious we all are. A vision that tells us that we belong to something that is greater than ourselves, that we are not, that none of us, are alone."

Contact Quote

lonescout2 said:As long as there is injustice, whenever a Targathian baby cries out, wherever a distress signal sounds among the stars, we'll be there. This fine ship, this fine crew. Never give up... and never surrender.

Galaxy Quest

lonescout2 said:All green of skin...800 centuries ago, their bodily fluids include the birth of half-breeds. For the fundamental truth self-determination of the cosmos, for dark is the suede that mows like a harvest.

Mars Attacks

I don't know which one first.

Yeah, it's Robocop.
Oh, definitely. The fourth one features some holographic woman, kind of like a computer system out of Resident Evil.
Do I even need to mention that the movie is absolute garbage? 🙂

Bryan Barrett said:We're talking about the third installment of a movie. _______ is the title.

Verhoeven directed the first one. The second and third are total garbage, honestly. 🙂 And there's even a fourth one out there.