Is it possible for music to sound different depending on how big of a fan you are?

[Prime]

I was thinking about this on my walk today, and perhaps it's an obvious answer, but I wanted to bring it up for a discussion. Is it possible for music to sound different depending on how much you like the band/artist? One reason why I bring this up, is because I was talking to a friend of mine about the Metallica/Lou Reed album that was released this year, and he loves it, mostly because he's one of the biggest Metallica fans I've seen. Yet, the general consensus for the album is that it really isn't all that good. He stands by his opinion though and thinks it's a great album.

So that's basically the question i'm asking. There are a lot of bands that I have tried to get into be it classic rock to now, that I just can't get into, so my "fanship" for the band isn't very high, but there are a lot of people who are big fans of certain bands that say nothing but good things about them, regardless of what other opinions are said about the band.

So, is it possible?

 

[Riff Raff]

Re: Is it possible for music to sound different depending on how big of a fan you are

I was thinking about this on my walk today, and perhaps it's an obvious answer, but I wanted to bring it up for a discussion. Is it possible for music to sound different depending on how much you like the band/artist? One reason why I bring this up, is because I was talking to a friend of mine about the Metallica/Lou Reed album that was released this year, and he loves it, mostly because he's one of the biggest Metallica fans I've seen. Yet, the general consensus for the album is that it really isn't all that good. He stands by his opinion though and thinks it's a great album.

So that's basically the question i'm asking. There are a lot of bands that I have tried to get into be it classic rock to now, that I just can't get into, so my "fanship" for the band isn't very high, but there are a lot of people who are big fans of certain bands that say nothing but good things about them, regardless of what other opinions are said about the band.

So, is it possible?

One thing I noticed among the very close minded fanboys of a band is anyone who has even constructive criticism is deemed not a real fan. How the band sounds is gonna be the same no matter whether they like it or not, it is just how the fan perceives it in terms of how it goes in their ears.
Some fans who always defend everything a band does even when they shouldn't are just closed minded, can't accept anything different whether it be opinions. I don't think a band or music will sound different to different people it is just how they perceive it, whether they think its good or if it sucks.

 

[gcczep]

Re: Is it possible for music to sound different depending on how big of a fan you are

If someone has/had a long term emotional [for a lack of a better word] investment in a group, more than likely they are able to accept change in that said band's direction. A casual or a listener with an above average interest might be taken aback resulting in a "wtf" reaction. So I say the answer is yes.

 

[Riff Raff]

Re: Is it possible for music to sound different depending on how big of a fan you are

If someone has/had a long term emotional [for a lack of a better word] investment in a group, more than likely they are able to accept change in that said band's direction. A casual or a listener with an above average interest might be taken aback resulting in a "wtf" reaction. So I say the answer is yes.

Sometimes it is the other way, die hard fans of a band can often be unaccepting of a bands change in direction, depending what that change was.

 

[gcczep]

Re: Is it possible for music to sound different depending on how big of a fan you are

Sometimes it is the other way, die hard fans of a band can often be unaccepting of a bands change in direction, depending what that change was.

Yes...that is true but those are listeners that aren't open minded in some sense IMO. Of course, if a band went from say heavy rock to a dance oriented genre then yes I can understand. Other than that, experimentation isn't necessarily a bad thing. All it means to me is that you have to grow up and explore sometime just as your favorite musical act does. Personally, I don't think I can deal with a group rehashing the same themes and musical platforms all their life. It gets boring. If they do, they'd better be hella very talented to make it work and not make it sound repetitive.

 

[Riff Raff]

Re: Is it possible for music to sound different depending on how big of a fan you are

Yes...that is true but those are listeners that aren't open minded in some sense IMO. Of course, if a band went from say heavy rock to a dance oriented genre then yes I can understand. Other than that, experimentation isn't necessarily a bad thing. All it means to me is that you have to grow up and explore sometime just as your favorite musical act does. Personally, I don't think I can deal with a group rehashing the same themes and musical platforms all their life. It gets boring. If they do, they'd better be hella very talented to make it work and not make it sound repetitive.

True but from a die hard fan perspective I can understand why some find it hard to accept a change, as I said it depends on the particular change. Bands who try to change and add more of their musical influences in I am more likely to accept. Others who just make a sudden radical change, not so much.

 

[gcczep]

Re: Is it possible for music to sound different depending on how big of a fan you are

True but from a die hard fan perspective I can understand why some find it hard to accept a change, as I said it depends on the particular change. Bands who try to change and add more of their musical influences in I am more likely to accept. Others who just make a sudden radical change, not so much.

I think your statement precisely sums it up. Of course, that is dependent if such a fan is aware or curious of other strains of music. A talented band can infuse elements of jazz, classical, funk and country in their works besides the blues or whatnot so as not to lose their identity in the process. Nothing radical as you properly described. Had Zeppelin did a cover of "Macho Man" or something equally ridiculous, then I would have been apoplectic. LOL! Of course, there are groups perfectly content to churn out the same type of music which is fine by me. Sure by all means and bless their socks!

 

[Mr. Shadow]

Re: Is it possible for music to sound different depending on how big of a fan you are

I become a fan because of the sound, and even my favorites can sound bad at times.

 

[Soot and Stars]

Re: Is it possible for music to sound different depending on how big of a fan you are

No, you are hearing the same thing essentially but if you are a true fan you just listen closer. If you area fair weather fan you will likely give it a blanket listen and hate it just based on the differences between that album and the albums you are used to which is the albums that got you into the band in the first place.

 

[Prime]

Re: Is it possible for music to sound different depending on how big of a fan you are

I personally do think that it's possible that the music can sound different depending on how much you enjoy the band. Only reason I say that is, when you're a huge fan of the band, you're used to hearing how the band sounds, and you've gotten comfortable with how the band is, the vocals, the guitars, etc (assuming they keep their sound throughout their albums, which I notice was brought up).

However, I can also see how someone can argue that point. Though I have noticed that if I don't know the band very well, the music doesn't have the same feel in relation to if I have been listening to the band for a long time. Like anything, something new is most certainly different than something "old".

I think it more along the lines goes with knowing the band well, and not knowing the band well.