I have to put this one first cos I don’t understand it, but for some reason, I really like organs especially Hammond organs
good witty lyrics
strong guitars but not overpowering. I don’t want a guitar player that thinks he or she is so cool he can take a ten minute solo in the minute of the song while we all stand around.
great live shows- good chemistry between members, good song choice, etc.
For examples I’ll throw up Crowded House, John Wesley Harding, Continental Drifters, Squeeze
So what do y’all think? What makes you love a band?
-Lil
Some things that make me love a band (but not necessarily do I want all of these in one song):
Good, intelligent yet emotional lyrics.
I love it when bands just let the electronics kick - one band that does this well is Cut.Rate.Box. They know when something sounds cool, so they let it go for a while.
I love a band that can have at least one track that is completely orchestral or have a great orchestral backing.
The vocals have to be good. I’m a real stickler for this - if I don’t like the vocals, I can’t like the band.
I agree with this one definitely. Bob Dylan and Neil Young are my prime examples of this rule, Neil Young even more so. Both have written excellent songs that I love to hear other people sing, but I really dislike their voices. Now I’ll occasionally get an inclination to listen to Bob Dylan but never Neil Young.
-Lil
Say something with those lyrics worth hearing: poetic, artistic, angry… whatever, I want emotion to come through. I want to know you had no choice but to write this song
I think a lot of the cds I end up buying have something sillly about them. Not necessarily songs that are intentionally silly (though I like those, too), but songs that for whatever reason, strike my funnybone. An example of this would be songs that contain hard-driving guitars and/or singers screaming. I start wondering, “Are they really that intense, or are they having as much trouble taking this seriously as I am?”
Another thing that’s usually a hook for me is originality. A group of songs I can still hear something new upon repeat listenings. Instruments that are not conventional. Not sure how recognizable they are but, Doo Rag is a good example of this. Included in this would be bands that use conventional instruments in unconventional ways.
I also like bands that would probably be included in the World Music category. Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s Swaziland was the first cd I ever bought, and I still listen to it. I’m usually willing to give any band in this category a listen, and it’s easy to keep things interesting. I think a plus side in this group is songs that are primarily sung in languages other than english.
Bands with a political message, usually of the Punk variety. Does not necessarily have to be subversive, but lyrics that make for good debate material.
Strong vocals. Preferably with a throaty, gravel, yet clear timber to it. The clearest example I can think of is Harold Chichester (Afghan Whigs, Howling Maggie).
There is a certain brand of vocals that just turns me right off, and I’m not sure if I can describe it. It’s that overy emotional sounding, thick sort of vocal where the guy sounds like he’s either about to break down and cry or he has horrible gas. The clearest example here would be Robert Smith of The Cure.
Catchy, but not kitschy, melodies.
Off kilter lyrics – not neccesarily deep, but not pap. Something that makes me think or laugh.
The lyrics have to have content and structure—they have to be thought provoking. The lyrics need to have been written by the band members themselves, and it’d be nice if they occasionally convey a sense of humor. It’d be nice if the lyrics were printed out in the CD booklet as well.
I’d like for the vocals to not necessarily be good in the typical sense of the word, but to be distinctive. For example, I don’t think I’d like Bob Dylan as much if he had a run-of-the-mill voice. I like the fact that he sounds like an unfortunate windmill accident.
Occasional use of unusual instruments or effects. They don’t have to be played by the band-members per se, but if this imaginary group tossed in a marimba solo on track seven of the debut album, I’d be theirs forever.
Variation from one track to the next. I want a group as good at track placement as the Beatles. I want that juxtaposition for contrast, I want to not know where they’re going next, and I don’t want monotony. Fast next to slow, trippy next to classic, cover next to something Revolution 9-esk.
I’m another one who likes distinctive vocals. I’m usually drawn to female vocalists that have a range – that is, they have a nice singing voice but they can rock out in their own unique way, too.
I love harmony. I love it even more when you have two almost seperate, contrasting vocal parts, or guitar parts that somehow manage to blend together seamlessly.
A variety of emotions must be expressed. Or, if there’s only one emotion, it must be expressed in a variety of ways.
The band needs to have a personality, and it needs to come through in all aspects – their live show, their packaging, and their interviews. I like it to be genuine, but if they are going to make up their image, then I want them to go all the way and get into it.
Sparing use of horns will also get to me as seen in the bands I already mentioned as well as the Mutton Birds (the lead singer plays a tuba on some songs if I remember correctly) and Lyle Lovett who uses trumpets and such, doesn’t he?
-Lil
