Interests:ROCK: My favorite genres of rock are classic rock, prog rock, and jazz-rock, but I’m open to most types. I am listening to less and less metal nowadays but still enjoy it especially if it’s done well. 1970s are my favorite decade for rock but I like most of it overall. Today’s rock just seems somewhat stagnant, as from what I’ve heard there isn’t a lot that has changed in the last decade or so, which is probably why I’m not as into it as I once was. However, I still do enjoy it, and haven’t heard anything new in a while, so if you have something you are excited about that’s not on my banned list, give it a shot. I do enjoy instrumental djent, but haven’t experienced enough with vocals to make any sort of judgement otherwise. I enjoy symphonic elements immensely, so that may be a direction you want to take. Not a fan of growly deathy stuff, although I’m not opposed to it either, especially if it’s done well. Sometimes that or harsh vocals make it sound almost affected, and that turns me off. The more melodic and happy the better. 70s soft/light/folk rock calms me down in a good way. Clean powerful vocals are also a good sign.
METAL: I do like metal, but haven't heard any new metal in a while. Obviously I enjoy prog metal. I like symphonic metal but haven't heard a lot of it and not for a long time. I like power metal, but can usually only handle it in small doses because so much of it sounds the same. Thrash, death, and black metal are usually too dark for me, because I enjoy hearing melodies that I can usually play or sing a long with, and usually the guitars are too distorted and the vocals too growly for me to get into. However, I can't say that I dislike growls, because I do enjoy bands with growly vocals... but I haven't listened to anything like that in a very long time. I enjoy quite a few metal ballads as well, if you want to go that route.
JAZZ: I love jazz fusion and smooth jazz and the bridge between the two. I pretty much like all jazz (from Big Band/Swing to Bebop to Cool to Free) but especially those. I really don’t have a lot of time nowadays to just sit and listen to the music though, so that’s why some huge jazz artists like Miles Davis haven’t been completely banned (although I will tell you with the artist if I’ve heard it before… like because so many jazz artists evolve their sound so much from album to album I can’t ban them outright; if I haven’t heard everything, they aren’t banned).
POP: I love synthpop, especially when it’s well done. I love the wall of sound/ethereal take than many people are using now. I dislike a lot of mainstream pop, although it’s been getting better, especially lately with all the 80s and 90s influences; things go full circle in music. I also have a guilty pleasure for 90s dance/house music… shhh
COUNTRY: Some country is ok, but the twangy stuff with men wearing stetsons 4 sizes too big and the stuff about getting drunk is just putrid. Not a fan, unless it’s done really well. I like bluegrass a LITTLE better. In all actuality most country artists i like are female… although TBH it would be a huge risk for you to send anything by a country artist.
RAP/HIP HOP: I love artists that integrate jazz samples in their music or just pump it up. I also enjoy rap that deals with a prominent social issue. I hate hate HATE the slow trap sound that’s been dominating hip hop lately, or songs blatantly about sex or drugs with no substance whatsoever. I’m VERY particular.
CLASSICAL: I mean I know a LOT of classical music so if you have guts you can try… I like Renaissance, Baroque, and 20th century classical music the best, I really am not a fan of German Romantic music. Chances are if you’ve heard of it and aren’t a huge Classical music fan, I’ve heard it at some point in my career, so please OK it with me before submitting… If you insist on sending classical, be prepared for many rejections. Check out my top 50 before sending as well, and it’s changed a little since then since I did it in a hurry and missed a bunch of songs
… Choral music is my forte so I’ve heard even more of that. My favorite composers are in the banned list, but there are several I’ve enjoyed that aren’t on there so again, double check with me please.
ELECTRONIC: I know some, especially older electronic music (70s and 80s avant garde-synthy stuff)... most of the songs I’ve liked are on Ishkur’s Guide to Electronic Music, which is so massive it probably doesn’t help you much, as there’s a lot of stuff on there I don’t like as well
. Chances are though you could make an educated guess on whether I like it or not. I’m always down for something new though.
VOCALS: I love clean versatile vocals. I don’t dislike growls, but the more predominant they are the less likely I’ll enjoy the song, unless it “fits”... hard to explain. I HATE HATE HATE harsh screamo vocals. If they are like in the background and done well and it fits within the mold of the song I’ll tolerate them but there are FEW examples of this (one is in the Human Equation by Ayreon but I can’t remember what Day).