Punk week at audiography

[castalia]

I just knew this week's topic would bring wank. I'd ask what is it about punk fans that makes them so confrontational about their music more than any other genre fans, but that would be rhetorical.

Already we've had bickering over the definition of "real" punk. The usual intimations that "back in my day..." punk was this, punk was that, punk was just TOO HARD CORE OMG and you so couldn't handle it!

At least there were a few honest folk who admitted that most punk music is loud and incoherent and harsh to listen to b/c most of the "musicians" involved couldn't sing and quite often couldn't really play, either.

I'll readily admit this is one genre I just don't "get", although I'm sure some of you might. I love music and there's not a genre out there in which I can't find something I like - except punk. My sister loves the stuff and I had to suffer through so much loud playing of The Ramones and The Clash and The Dead Kennedys and other harsh guitar abuse riddled with profanity until my ears bled. It may be a statement, it may be something, but I'm not sure I call it music. I sure don't call it pleasant to listen to.

I hope this week's theme is over soon. I'm getting tired of all the "punker than you" elitist attitudes that are coming out of the woodwork thanks to this one. No one posts anything w/o taking a cheap shot at previous posts, then someone always comes by and says it doesn't conform to their definition. Though I'm sure they'd detest my use of "conform" in this case.

They're talking about following up with a "hardcore" week at some point. I love my community, but it's sure to end up on fandom_wank that week.

Comments

[amedia.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain!

I adored the Clash back in the day, and I even got see Gang of Four live... but I understand that technically they were
considered "postpunk." Sometimes I get the impression that only The New York Dolls and the Sex Pistols were considered "true punk." And then only on alternate Thursdays. When it was raining.

Sheesh. Kinda like OTP wars, but with piercings.

[keleos.livejournal.com]

Yeah. You're never coming to my house again. Ever.

As for dealing with the punkier than thou people, you could try reminding them that punk was never really about the music. It's not about the clothes either. The music and clothes were just an expression of the attitude.

[deborak]

It's kinda funny that I can't imagine * what * community you'd be in that was discussing punk, as clearly that is the opposite of your tastes, LOL.

Now, speaking as someone who was actually an living teenager during the punk era who went to concerts by the Dead Kennedys, The Ramones, The Clash, etc. in their heyday -- someone who was actually in a horrible punk band, and lived that kind of semi-homeless lifestyle of crashing on people's floors one step ahead of the police while your roommate is outside banging Henry Rollins in Black Flag's van -- I can attest that 95% of the punk genre is just indeed screaming noise intended to release aggression that would otherwise manifest in serial killings or professional sports.

It's all a matter of taste, and it's stupid to argue about 'street cred' especially if you weren't even alive when the music was created. I would rather listen to thrash punk than rap, even though the message in either is incomprehensible most of the time.

[lauraspeak.livejournal.com]

I actually never really listened to punk, myself. I listened to some later punk-pop back in my middle school/early high school days, I think, but it was never my favorite. Thus, I would be one of the people disliked on that group b/c I am quite sure I have never really listened to "true" punk.

Also, they probably wouldn't like me for thinking that my alt-rock band Breaking Benjamin does their one punk song better than most punk I've heard. ;-p

At least they're not having an emo vs. punk war.