Posts by coastalpanther43

"Ever since the band kicked off, bassist Mike Watt has GAINED 65 POUNDS!!!!"

Ugh, again, this stat from the website is painfully true. (And obvious.)😁

Tyler Grant86 said:I feel for the guy... honestly, it's gotta be brutal having to deal with all that while still being stuck in the band... I thought this stuff only happened in movies, but apparently, that's just how The Bangles work...😁

Explain yourself, please.😕

Also, I couldn't tell if that was the original drummer de Lorenzo or someone else? (The way he was twitching around like some kind of cartoon character really pissed me off. When I listen to VF, I want raw teenage angst, not some damn circus act.😠 )

Their official site claims:

"Trivia"

Then again, maybe their site is out of date. On top of that, looking at a 21-year-old photo from their debut album doesn't exactly help with identification....

Oh, and there’s a mixed version on one of The Flaming Lips' CDs. For the losers who don't own a four-player setup. 😁

hollowseal33 said:Look, you get it—this is turning into one of those "do you judge people by their music taste" threads. Personally, I don't care who someone votes for.

Fine, then what *exactly* are you judging them by? 😉

I'm with hollowseal33 on this one.
What really gets to me personally is the expectation. When you listen to alternative music and stuff, you actually expect people to think for themselves instead of letting someone else do the heavy lifting for them.

Basically, if you're a conformist, you're expected to just blast pop acts like Colonija or whatever mainstream garbage is non-subversive. Because those artists aren't exactly going to say anything meaningful to their audience. (It reminds me of those Orwellian poems written for the "proletariat" where machines just churn out lyrics based on pre-set templates.)

And like I said, the alternative (sub)culture—just like any other group—comes with its own specific set of values. And those values are in massive conflict with the Republican Party and the right wing in general.

I’m not claiming there’s some perfect political party that all "alt kids" should flock to vote for. Especially since our options are honestly pathetic. But to me, voting right makes zero sense. It's like what Plato said—it's impossible to do "evil" if we know better. To know is to do good.

Sure, it’s possible these alt types are just in a phase of "rebellion" or playing at being "misfits" because they're young, but their internal mindframe is basically establishment-minded and inherently conservative. In twenty years, they'll probably be the "pillars" of their local communities (wife, kids, dog—Country, Church, Flag).

Ashley Rogers2 said:Back again... just got to work, so I jumped straight onto Reddit.😁
Basically, things are really heating up here. Look, maybe I’m just slow or whatever, but why does everyone assume all Republicans are narrow-minded, racist, uneducated, or intolerant—or whatever else you guys listed? Who decided that? 😕 I am NOT like that!!! SERIOUSLY!! It’s simple. Like someone smart already pointed out a few posts ago, I think there's value in nurturing traditional values (even if I don't personally subscribe to them), and they at least feel like they have some backbone to me. That's it. And I have friends all over the world; my first boyfriend was Black, one of my best friends votes Democratic, and when we're grabbing drinks at the beach, we just joke around about political pundits on MSNBC 😁 and we're totally fine!!! Am I some kind of weirdo then?😕

Well, like I said, I wish you'd actually explain why you even vote Republican. You're educated, you're tolerant, and you don't even care about traditional values yourself... 👋

Let's move the whole capitalism vs. socialism debate over to the Politics subreddit. All I'll say is both systems suck. And honestly? I really hope neither current capitalism nor any version of socialism we've seen before is actually the smartest way for humanity to organize itself.

By the way, what does leftism actually look like in practice? Are we talking Albania or Sweden?

Ha, listen to you talking about friendships and connections. I don't see how political leaning is any different from any other personality trait. In fact, it's usually a pretty solid indicator of how someone feels about a massive range of issues—both big and small.

P.S. plenty of highly educated, smart people thought socialism was the answer. Even now, when the failures of certain versions are common knowledge, they still think it's a solid foundation for a future society, or at least some kind of constructive critique of the status quo. (I bet Mark E. Smith is one of them.) That's all. 👋

Frank Howard79 said:That’s exactly what you’re doing; generalizing and acting like some bigoted left-wing liberal (lol!).
I guess I’ll suddenly become a total loser in your eyes now that you've figured me out, right? How shallow...

I don't see how the fact that someone's political leanings—and by extension, the person holding them—could disappoint me says anything about my own shallowness.

At the end of the day, any positive assumption I had about you was built on equally "shallow" foundations. Specifically, what you've written here on Reddit. We don't know each other in real life, and who knows, maybe we wouldn't even like each other in person...

And you really think everything in life is just black or white...

No, but that isn't an answer to anything. I'm talking about basic things that differentiate "right" from "left" options.

I don't see a problem with my political views or yours. You see one, so it's on you to deal with it, not me.👋 [/B]

I don't see a problem either; I'm just expressing my own personal disappointment.

Only one thing isn't clicking for me: when you listen to the bands you listen to (especially with Mark E. Smith as your avatar), do you think the people in the songs are talking nonsense, or do you just not pay attention to the lyrics? Because from where I'm sitting, it seems like you think indie music is just crawling with "bigoted left-wing liberals."

P.S. And yeah, I'll admit, it bugs me extra because your example goes against my personal theory that people who listen to alternative music don't vote Republican. 🙂 I've always thought it made sense that the Right is voted for by people who either don't use their brains (so they can't vote any smarter), have some private interest, or are just types of people I wouldn't want as neighbors.

stitch said:Everything you guys are saying about her? You could say the exact same thing about my long-time crush, Michelle Pfeiffer.

She’s a fantastic actress and looks like an absolute angel, but she just never had any luck with awards or recognition. Her one truly standout role was in Dangerous Relationship. And I'm talking about those festival movies and the kind of stuff the Academy loves. So, excluding her brilliant Catwoman... I mean, Batman isn't exactly an Oscar contender, regardless of how genius Tim Burton is.

Well, besides the fact that the Academy nominated her THREE times and she still came up empty. 😁

Frank Howard79 said:God, I absolutely hate generalizations. 🙄
It reminds me of that whole "all Mexicans are Chetniks" stereotype. Personally, I’m definitely not that guy. Even though I voted for the Republican Party, I spend my days chatting away with Zuckerberg like he's one of my best friends. I listen to indie music, hit up all sorts of underground cultural events, and grab a breakfast burrito from an Albanian vendor at the local farmer's market.
So, where does that leave me? What am I supposed to be now? 😁

Inconsistent? Or just straight-up schizophrenic?

I have to say, this news caught me completely off guard. I’ve always figured Frank Howard79 was one of the most level-headed people on this entire forum.

Look, I’m not trying to generalize or act like some bigoted left-wing liberal here. I really am. But honestly? I just can't wrap my head around it. How does anyone who’s actually part of the alternative scene—people who have clearly embraced that whole ethos—actually go out and vote for the Republican Party? It makes zero sense to me.

The right wing is inherently conservative and anti-subversive. By its very nature, it’s the total opposite—if not the direct enemy—of counterculture. You can see that play out clearly with the AAAS and groups like them.

The right wing just doesn't get fucking humor. Seriously. Why? Because humor is inherently subversive. It lives to poke fun at the "sacred" stuff—things like the homeland, God, and the flag.

The Right hates anything "different"—Mexicans, Albanians, Black people, Jews, gay people... you name it. That’s exactly why they’re obsessed with homogenization, trying to force everything into one mold, from national identity down to basic culture.

It's fine.

Honestly, I feel terrible about what happened with AAAS, but I’m still holding out hope that things will turn around.
The best way to handle this. 😢

Look, I’m honestly sorry you’re so deep in that political mindset, but I'm still holding out hope that things will eventually sort themselves out for the best. 😢

P.S. Unless when you said "the right-wing option," you actually meant Mexicans or retirees. 😉 And I really hope you weren't talking about the Democratic Party. 😲 Not to mention the rest of them.

Porkbutts'n'tatters said:Here’s another little shocker for you: I’m pro-choice (yet somehow I vote Republican). Honestly, I couldn't care less about anyone's religion, nationality, sexual orientation, race, skin color, tooth color, hair color, or even the color of their underwear (and yet, again, I vote Republican). I listen to alternative music (I still vote Republican—though I honestly have NO CLUE how any of that is supposed to connect to my ballot😕), ... and I don't know, I vote for them for a million different reasons, but if I start listing them, we'll be stuck talking politics all day.😁

Okay, fine. That’s all great. Now, just do me a favor and tell me: why on earth do you vote Republican? Is it because you actually love their economic policies?😕

If you want to answer privately, hit me up in the DMs. I am dying to hear what kind of excuses you're going to pull out for this.

Jesse Wells8 said:God, what an absolute idiot...😠

Man, I always figured people who listen to Morphin weren't this narrow-minded...👎

Jose Chase2 said:Don't be ridiculous. Just like any sane person, they give their personal take on an album because beauty and quality are subjective. If things worked the way you claim, every critic on the planet would have the exact same opinion on every single record. They don't. That proves they're just sharing their own views—unless, of course, they're all getting paid to write fluff pieces.

Look, unlike your average Joe listener, a critic is actually expected to know a thing or two about music since they've supposedly put in the hours. For instance, whose recommendation would you actually trust more: someone who’s heard five albums in their life, or someone who’s spun five thousand?

Sure, maybe the person with five albums happens to share your specific taste, but that's why people find critics whose perspectives actually resonate with them and follow their lead.

It's the same deal when you look at time: my own musical taste and preferences back when I was 13 versus now at 23. I know more about music today; I can better spot actual quality, originality, creativity, and raw talent in a band or artist.

By the way, who ever said all critics need to have the same taste? Or that they're always right? But, just like any other expert, when it comes to their field, they should be right more often than some random amateur.

I'm talking about how things *should* be in an ideal world. In reality, any idiot can take music (or movie) criticism to heart, but that's a different story... 😢

Nonsense.

The whole idea that critics are just failed artists is nothing but pure delusion—a little way for frustrated "creatives" to feel better about the fact that actual critics don't even like their work. 👎

Music critics (just like any other kind of critic, really) are people capable of spotting genuine quality, originality, and raw talent in a piece of music.

Now, does that always hold up in the real world? And do every single idiot out there call themselves a critic (especially here in the States)? That’s a different conversation entirely... 😢

Seam - Driving School

And why not Joy Division - Disorder "...lights are flashing, cars are crashing..."

Anyway, here’s the list of tracks that make me unconsciously slam my foot on the gas:

Pixies - Something Against You / Broken Face
Frank Black - Thalassocracy
Ash - A Life Less Ordinary / Petrol / Jack Names The Planets
Alternative Rock Artists - Freak Scene
R.E.M. - It's the End of the World..
Los Angeles Adverts
Adverts - No Time To Be 21
Tallulah Gosh - Girl With The Strawberry Hair
Weezer - Come Undone (The Sweater Song)
Smiths - London
Divine Comedy - Tailspin
MBV - When You Sleep
Basement Jaxx - Where's Your Head At
90s Alternative Rock - Light Aircraft On Fire

Ethan Perez97 said:Dire Straits definitely 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

When it comes to punk rockers and their actual musical talent—you know, how they actually handle their instruments—it’s garbage. I’ve been playing guitar for three years (not that I’m bragging), but I honestly play better than all of them; punk is just one big musical "hoax." Sure, I'll admit there are some decent songs, but the whole thing is full of holes. I'm always asking myself why there are no solos in punk. Every punk out there will tell me it's because they aren't important or because that's just what punk is, but the real answer? They just didn't know how to play a solo;... 👎

Where are the solos, huh? Where? Where?! Show me, you damn punks!🤣 🙂

BTW, they really should have gone with "Academy Fight Song" or "This Is Not a Photograph" by Mission of Burma instead of "That's When I Reach for My Revolver." To me, that track just sounds kind of hollow.

Gary Wilson5 said:It’s not even that pro-British. Honestly, if you ask me, there should be way more British bands on here.🙂

Actually, it's just too much of the wrong kind of British. They could have mixed those UK acts together much better.

As for The Smiths, there are two songs on the list, but I wrote that post after looking through the first 30 spots.

Dire Straits aren't bad.

That whole thing about punk being against good guitar playing is, obviously, massive bullshit. Like JAMC so perfectly put it: "You should have your first concert the day you pick up a guitar."

Technical skill—which is just a craft—doesn't equal inspiration. Most of the best guitarists in the world play like crap.

I don't know what you're trying to prove here. I don't care about having "modern" views on music; if that were the case, I'd be listening to Britney Spears or Justin Timberlake.

Well, you probably would listen to them, but only because you clearly have no clue what actually good stuff is happening in modern music.🙂

Ugh, this whole debate is a joke. 🤣 🤣
I’m just worried because most people here are being deadly serious. 😵 😬

I can't wait for the inevitable showdown between the rockers and the punks, or the metalheads versus the techno producers.

Anyway, [in my most deadpan voice] I refuse to cast a vote as long as they're pushing hardcore while ignoring punk or alt-rock/pop. 😁

By the way, Thompson is such a basic amateur (just look at how many synths are in his tracks—it's obvious he was some teenager on the coast of Chicago listening to nothing but The Human League), real ethno-metal is Vuco! 😁

Ugh, just went through the top 30.

Conspiracy theory time: they only put "How Soon Is Now?" in there to keep The Smiths from breaking into the top 5. 🙂

"Summer baba" sitting at number 20... 👍
"Teenage Riot." 👍 But where the hell is "Freak scene"?

And why "Radio Free Europe" when that band had at least fifteen better singles?

Why "Fool's Gold" when The Stone Roses had at least ten better ones?

Why "Radio Radio" when Elvis Costello had five or six better singles?

Just why? Seriously, why?

🙂 🙂 😁