Well, for the most part I think that it’s a safe generalization that it’s mostly stylistic and not very musical. Hip-hop is a little more blurry… but then, I’m one of the only people I know who really makes a distinction between the two, so don’t take it from me.
I don’t think it’s cool to trash rap. I like some of it (mostly the early-to-mid-90’s stuff), but at the same time I recognize its weaknesses and don’t shy away from discussing them, y’know?
I think Maroon5 is pretty boring. I’d say more, but I’ve spilled some ashes from my Gauloise on my black turtleneck. I need to wipe them off with this book of Rilke poems.
I wouldn’t call Sublime a crappy band. A crappy band is a band with albums full of musically-uninteresting filler, a band where even the radio hits are mediocre. Sublime had lots and lots of songs with catchy hooks and great lyrics, blending hip-hop, ska, reggae and punk expertly IMHO. They were no Beatles - they didn’t turn the music world on its head or work in profound lyrics, extremely interesting chord changes or deep, layered arrangements - but they produced great fucking music without fail.
In fact, like many great bands, I think Sublime’s most-played radio song, What I Got, is actually their most mediocre song, and their best songs are the ones that didn’t get played on the radio. The same could not be said of Maroon 5. In my opinion, Harder To Breathe, Sunday Morning and This Love - their radio hits - are their best songs, and the rest of their albums are forgettable filler. But I wouldn’t call them a crappy band, because their hit songs are melodically pretty good. They’re no Nickelback. (Does ANYONE like Nickelback?!)
oh, I agree that Sublime isn’t a crappy band, for sure. I just meant that it’s ok to like music that wouldn’t make a music scholar bat an eye. Now, if I really wanted to name some crappy bands that I like, I’d probably start with Nirvana… ducks
Gosh, I don’t hear that either. Not in a million years would I have thought the two singers comparable enough to merit a mention. But hey, it’s just my opinion.
The little Maroon 5 I’ve heard has not made me want to explore any more music by them. To my ears, they sound very bland and boring.
Nothing wrong with selling out, in my opinion. You could use the money made in “selling out” to channel into your true musical passions, if you wish. Much easier to follow your heart when you don’t have to worry where your next meal is coming from, in my opinion.
Nirvana are not crappy. Over-rated? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Cobain knew how to write a solid pop song and melody, period. And even from a music theory standpoint, the songs are somewhat interesting. Take “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Harmonically ambiguous. Wikipedia claims an analysis of either i-iv-biii-bvi or I-IV-bIII-bVI, while I hear i-iv-bIII-bVI. You basically have this I-IV harmonic movement, then it’s transposed up a minor third (kind of interesting), and it returns back to the I without going through any of the usual routes (V7, IV7, plain ol’ V, etc…) In F, conventional theory would have you swing down to the C7, jazz theory might substitute a G flat 7, but the bVI-I movement is quite unusual in any conventional sense. There’s never any real feeling of completeness in the progress. Comparisons to “More Than A Feeling Aside,” and Kurt Cobain’s own disparaging comments toward the riff, I feel it’s quite distinct in feel and quite a product of the 90s harmonically.
In the end, who gives a shit about the theory. It’s does it rock? Is it catchy? Does it have a good melody? And I think Nirvana connect on all three counts.
FWIW, I can totally hear the comparison myself. I had to remind myself which band Maroon 5 was, so looked up “This Love” on youtube and said, “oh, yeah, the band/singer that vaguely reminds me of Jamiroquai.” Maroon 5’s delivery is much more straight, but the timbre and his phrasing reminds me of Jamiroquai.
Rhythm isn’t music? 
I’m not one to defend rap generally, but some of the vocal rhythms in rap are extremely complex.
As for Maroon 5…not a fan. But their new tune is frustratingly easy to sing along with. 
I’m largely indifferent to Maroon 5, but I do find most of their songs catchy and singable. I wouldn’t buy one of their CDs, but I don’t change the station when one of their songs come on.
Except… that She Will Be Loved piece of crap. God I hate that song. And the other day a woman on the subway was blasting it on her ipod, on repeat. I had to listen to it 6 times on the way to work, and it was all I could do not to smack her.
I’ve never been a music geek, but I am more “into” music than the average top 40 turn on the radio for background kind of listener. Seeing as how I was a drummer of unremarkable skill when I was a teenager, I listen to drummers in songs, and I know nothing about music theory (pulykamell, re: your point #3, was that, um, English you wrote there?). And I think the guy playing drums for M5 is pretty darn good. Maybe it’s just the production, but he’s got some clean chops and some interesting bass work without crossing into the I-just-got-double-bass-pedals-for-my-single-bass-drum-look-at-me-go busy-ness. I never bought the record, but I sang “This Love” and “She Will Be Loved” in my head for quite a while.
Speaking of pop bands with wildly top selling first releases and second albums I’ve barely even heard about…I also think the drummer for The Killers has some real moves. I also like watching him play, the guy just can’t keep on his throne.
And my wife loves Nickelback. Can someone give me a quick rundown on why they suck? I’m trying to fight the brainwashing she’s apparently fallen under…
The quick rundown is that they keep releasing the *exact same song * and trying to convince us otherwise.
They only suck to people who don’t like them. Meaning, their suckiness isn’t definitive. Why do you want to talk your wife out of liking them?
Which is why, in the end, I more or less say “who gives a shit.” Theory is useful for analysis and helps put into words why a song may be interesting but, in the end, it’s all about how it sounds. Theory does not make music–the music informs the theory. But it’s a quantitative way of demonstrating how and why a certain song sounds different that many of the songs that came before it.
WOOKINPANUB, I’m not really trying to talk her out of like Nickelback, you dinkus. And my kids love them! (Except for the songs about sex, which they don’t listen to. And I know they don’t cause they’re 5 and 7 and don’t listen to stuff on their own yet.)
DianaG, that’s why Nickelback RULES! Or ROCKS! Or whatever… I think the glistening sheen of their over-produced songs have blinded my wife’s ears…if you follow me.