This whole "Dance" music movement

[Alex_Burton]

Anybody that pays attention to music has seen the prevalence of this pseudo-dance movement with scene bands lately. Not only are people hopping on the bandwagon, but they're also talking about dance/electronica influenced rock as if it's a new thing that hasn't been around for decades. I want to do an article about this for my blog, which you can check out here: GetFreshUSA (http://www.GetFreshUSA.com)

My questions for you are:

Why do people think this is new?
Why is it blowing up now?
Can you still make electronic/dance influenced music and not suffer some sort of backlash?
What's with the auto tune?

Give me your thoughts on this!

[Rodeo]

The 'New Wave' of the 00's.

[IWasaCamera]

Can you still make electronic/dance influenced music and not suffer some sort of backlash?
What?

[Alex_Burton]

What?

Maybe I should clarify with an example: the newly announced project from Ben of Armor for Sleep seemed to get a lot of negative responses in the thread on the news page. Would the project be shunned as much if it came out 5 years ago? What if it were from some one other than Ben? I guess what I'm really asking is, "Is there a tendency to view this sound as a bandwagon movement more so than before and is that causing people to be predisposed to judge this kind of music negatively and therefor not give it a fair chance?"

[Broclee]

What's with the auto tune?

B5xsiKBJGW4

[Bi11 Lumburgh]

The 'New Wave' of the 00's.

it really is, history repeats itself

[bastard_of_ness]

I complained about this like 4 years ago and I guess it hasn't gone away.

Some "dance" type music is great, others suck. The trend of dancerock, etc. type bands is lame and most of them suck... but can't we say that about most trends?

[SilverWings]

brokencyde bringing dat hot new ish yo

[IWasaCamera]

Maybe I should clarify with an example: the newly announced project from Ben of Armor for Sleep seemed to get a lot of negative responses in the thread on the news page. Would the project be shunned as much if it came out 5 years ago? What if it were from some one other than Ben? I guess what I'm really asking is, "Is there a tendency to view this sound as a bandwagon movement more so than before and is that causing people to be predisposed to judge this kind of music negatively and therefor not give it a fair chance?"
Are you referring strictly to scene kids gone electro receiving backlash from fans of the former projects? Regardless, there's naturally a sense of apprehension and disdain when such a shift in aesthetic is presented.

[Alex_Burton]

I complained about this like 4 years ago and I guess it hasn't gone away.

Some "dance" type music is great, others suck. The trend of dancerock, etc. type bands is lame and most of them suck... but can't we say that abotu most trends?

Of course. But if you look back on music, this isn't really a trend so much as it's an established sub-genre that's been around for decades and been extremely popular. It's only a trend now in that it's made its way to younger circles and to the ears of the warped tour kids and top 40 listeners.

Is it cool now because it's existing in some ironic vaccuum?

[Alex_Burton]

Are you referring strictly to scene kids gone electro receiving backlash from fans of the former projects? Regardless, there's naturally a sense of apprehension and disdain when such a shift in aesthetic is presented.

Not strictly referring to scene kids gone electro, but it's a topical example, so we can continue on it. When Gabe Saporta came out with Cobra Starship I feel like his change was more acceptable at the time. Is Ben getting it worse because kids are assuming it's a bandwagon move? Also, would he get the same backlash if he switched to folky acoustic stuff, or is this backlash worse because it's electro?

[IWasaCamera]

Not strictly referring to scene kids gone electro, but it's a topical example, so we can continue on it. When Gabe Saporta came out with Cobra Starship I feel like his change was more acceptable at the time. Is Ben getting it worse because kids are assuming it's a bandwagon move? Also, would he get the same backlash if he switched to folky acoustic stuff, or is this backlash worse because it's electro?
I can't speak for this particular project or the supposed backlash as I admittedly haven't been exposed to any of it. Are they simply accusing him of milking a fad?

[Alex_Burton]

I can't speak for this particular project or the supposed backlash as I admittedly haven't been exposed to any of it. Are they simply accusing him of milking a fad?


More or less, along with accusations of selling out and kids lamenting the fact that it's danceable and has synths. I just wonder if Ben is getting a fair shot or if kids are hating it off the bat just because it's electronic. Which is why I posed the question of can you still make electro/dance influenced music without being hit with immediate backlash.

[owiseone35]

Neon's the new Disco.

[BBScience]

Why do people think this is new?

Because it is new to them? Just because you may have been aware of it's existence, doesn't mean the masses of teen America has.

Why is it blowing up now?

Its a cross between two popular genres of music = wider audience. Plus girls can shake their ass to an 808 beat better than 180bpm rock?

Can you still make electronic/dance influenced music and not suffer some sort of backlash?

Are you happy with the music you make? Does it mean something to you? Unless you're trying to make a career off of it, then who cares what anyone else thinks. I don't think its difficult to tell when music is genuine and when it becomes contrived. There will always be haters, but that shouldn't stop anyone from creating something they feel is important and original.

What's with the auto tune?

I'm all about using auto tune as an effect, its one of many tools in a clever engineer/producers toolbox. But it turns into something completely different when it replaces the need for talent.

[briewer]

Why do people think this is new?
Because kids these days think Kraftwerk is a foreign auto maker. It's just general ignorance of music history.

Why is it blowing up now?
Again, just general ignorance, and for whatever reason, it's what's clicking with the masses. Same way everyone bought Razor scooters or Furbys years ago. It's just what everyone wants now, and what they will probably end up being embarrassed for wanting in the near future.

Can you still make electronic/dance influenced music and not suffer some sort of backlash?
Umm... yes?

What's with the auto tune?
Well it would be kind of odd to have natural acoustic vocals on top of a clusterfuck of electric blips and beats, wouldn't it?

[x togepi x]

Is Ben getting it worse because kids are assuming it's a bandwagon move? Also, would he get the same backlash if he switched to folky acoustic stuff, or is this backlash worse because it's electro?

I think if he came out with folky acoustic stuff, this site would be all over his dick. but that's just me.

[ThemChains]

I think if he came out with folky acoustic stuff, this site would be all over his dick. but that's just me.
Most likely true.

[IWasaCamera]

More or less, along with accusations of selling out and kids lamenting the fact that it's danceable and has synths. I just wonder if Ben is getting a fair shot or if kids are hating it off the bat just because it's electronic. Which is why I posed the question of can you still make electro/dance influenced music without being hit with immediate backlash.
I suppose it depends on the type of electronic music he's writing. I can't be bothered to listen to this particular project, but some artists can certainly pull it off without too much of an uproar. Just look at Dan Bejar and his Bay Of Pigs EP for a recent example.

[Metal Now]

While you can never write off autotune as a creative tool that can be used beautifully (See: Woods by Bon Iver), I think it is way overused. As for the resurgence of dance influenced rock, it's easy to hate on it because it's currently associated with "The Scene". I hate scene kids, but I have to check myself before I write off the music associated with them before hearing it.

[x togepi x]

i think there's a huge difference between talking about "dance influenced rock" and assuming that all "dance influenced rock" is mindless scenester bullshit. There are plenty of awesome post-punk bands that would fit within the first but not get the stigma of the second