music What is it about Dub-step that people dont like?

[Lost 1,410]

I think you're referring to "Brostep", a sub genre of Dubstep. Brostep is usually incredibly loud, inconsistent, random and follows no rules or logic. That's the reason why I hate it at least

 

 

Is Dubstep itself not a Sub-Genre anyway?

 

 

There is nothing wrong with Dubstep (or BroStep, whatever the buck you wanna class it all as), its the people who listen to it that irritate me, you get it with most genres of music anyway, but it seems more prominent with Dubstep/Brostep/Whogivesabuckstep, the 10 year old kids thinking its the best thing ever and that it will last forever that just spend their entire time disrespecting other genres of music.

 

The amount of "Skrillix is better, metal sucxxxcs" comments i see on the video for "Sick Bubblegum" by Rob Zombie is just pathetic.

 

 

TL;DR -

The music seems to attract a bunch of little irritating kids that show no respect for other genres of music, but that is just the vocal minority, there's nothing "wrong" with that kind of music, i'm just not fond of it.

[Thrashy 2,800]

Personally, I'm just not a fan of what has been described by others as the harsh "screeching" noise effects that seem to dominate...um, whichever specific genre it is that I'm thinking of. (Forgive me, dubstep vs. brostep purists, for I know not which I criticize. ) Honestly, it has a worse effect on my ears than nails against a chalkboard, so I'm a little mystified as to why people enjoy it as much as they do. Then again, there are still people out there (old folks, I'm guessing) whose ears still bleed when they hear distorted guitars, so they'd clearly wonder how people can listen to heavy metal. All depends on what you grew up with and/or how musically open-minded you are, I suppose.

 

As for the bass drops...bitch, please. I'm a motherbucking bassist - I've made the low end of the frequency spectrum my bitch.

[Haven Celestii 9,385]

I have one question and one question only.

 

What is "Dub-step"?

 

Ive heard of Dubstep, just not the former.

 

 

Seriously, its just a love hate kind of thing. You either like its crazy, bassy, fast paced/slow style or you purely hate it. Sometimes both.

 

 

For me, I don't like dubstep, but I do love it at the same time. Now of course I know SoundGarden calls it brostep for what I listen to, but I don't believe in that genre since not very many people even call it that.

 

You would be surprised at who classifies it like that.

You may just not have heard as much yourself.

Is Dubstep itself not a Sub-Genre anyway?

 

You can have a subgenre of a subgenre. Its totally possible. Edited May 25, 2013 by Haven

[TomokoKuroki 1,707]

This isn't pony related so dont complain  I recently noticed that there is a lot of people who dont like dub-step, I'm not a HUGE fan, but i listen to it sometimes...but if you like it or dont like it, can you explain what it is you like or dont like about dub-step. i don't know why i like dub-step so don't ask.

 

It's just not my preferred taste of music. I don't like it because I don't understand it. I tend to like music with a story to it, or at least a theme that can help tell a story. With what Dubstep I've seen; it's not done that for me. It comes off as a beat that's purpose is to "sound good". And that is not bad, it just isn't for me.

 

Which I am not a fan of. I like music that can create emotions (for me). I'd imagine a lot of the reasons why I don't like dubstep can be also said for anyone who doesn't like Rap, metal, etc. I know a lot of people who don't like the music I listen to; J-pop being my example. 

Edited May 25, 2013 by Hayze

[fimdash 1,196]

Dang, seems like dubstep has a negative connotation. It has its fans, but alas it has its haters as well. I never really liked using genres because things like this always happen.

 

I firmly believe that there is great music in every single genre. Yes, a lot of dubstep is kinda generic and insipid but at the same time there are a lot of gems out there. I personally like dubstep, but not every single dubstep song in existence. I was a little skeptical at first because I never really heard dubstep songs I liked, but as time went on I discovered dubstep songs that I found very appealing. Next thing you know I ended up loving dubstep songs. Some of them are really well-made, and are usually accompanied with vocals to die for. I used to instantly shun other genres with genre stigma too such as screamo and rap, but I ended up loving those as well.

 

People never really give songs a chance because of their genre, which is a shame. They'll hear the first few seconds and think "Oh, it's dubstep" and insta close. They might have ended up really liking that song if they had only given it a chance.

[dedacct6 2,591]

Because it's a horrible, out-of-tune, high-frequency, broken, random mess that goes against everything music is, and meant to be. It sounds like someone threw random shit together and hoped for the best.

 

Don't give me the "but it's complex" argument either. It can have a complex and complicated arrangement and still sound horrible. I can put together a guitar riff that's random notes and cords, but make them all over the place and fill it with the hardest cord transitions imaginable, and it would be "complex" to play, but still sound like shit.    

Dude, dont just bash it , i like it, my friends like it, and there are some talented dub-step artists who dont just do dub-step , and you should know that dub-step is actually REALLY hard to make , i was hoping for a critique's point of view kind of thing, not just bashing it because you dont like it , i for one am not a HUMONGOUS fan of dub-step where I'll listen to any kind of artist, but i still listen to it every now and again...

Well I could go on about how generic, poorly structured, and obnoxious sounding newer dubstep is to me, but instead let's take a comparison to the electronic music that I listen to most mainly to see why I would majorly dislike newer dubstep.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsE9iXoXB6s

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwe10iDlFQo

 

So yeah I like Old School EDM, IDM, Ambient, Trance, and Trip-Hop, none of which relate to Brostep in any sort of way, it's just not what I'm used to hearing. The only kinds of Dubstep that I like are old school Dubstep and Post-Dubstep, because well they have a smoother flow to them that isn't interrupted, not only that but you completely subtract the generic house melodies that Brostep songs usually start with. +1 for not making a poorly done melody. The repetition of old school Dubstep and Post-Dubstep might be hard for some people to get around from but for me it's not really a bother due to the fact of how repetitive most of the stuff that I listen to is. I'd choose Underworld, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Infected Mushroom, Crystal Castles, Portishead, and Radiohead (yes they've done tracks that count as electronic music), over Skrillex, Omnipony, Alex S, Datsik, Excision, and Downlink any day and anytime of my life.

i cringed at that second song  , *epileptics beware* but the first one was catchy, i liked it, but what the HELL was that second song, I DON'T EVEN KNOW what that is I listen to Deadmau5 mainly *not dub-step*, i'm not familiar with these songs at all   and what was i talking about? oh yea, i actually love downlink, Omnipony, Alex S. and Excision, but i dont like Datsik, too much screeching not enough wubs  Im sorry but I dont know any of those other Artists actually  but i'll check them out.

Edited May 25, 2013 by PelateOvercast

[Moog the Kvlt 1,460]

i cringed at that second song , *epileptics beware* but the first one was catchy, i liked it, but what the HELL was that second song, I DON'T EVEN KNOW what that is

 

The second one is an IDM (Intelligent Dance Music) track. The genre gets even more chaotic than that, though at the same time it can have quite obvious ambient influences. I can't really tell if you liked that Aphex Twin one, though at least you enjoyed the Underworld one for sure. If you enjoyed the Aphex Twin one then I can give out some more IDM if you'd like.

[dedacct6 2,591]

Personally, I'm just not a fan of what has been described by others as the harsh "screeching" noise effects that seem to dominate...um, whichever specific genre it is that I'm thinking of. (Forgive me, dubstep vs. brostep purists, for I know not which I criticize. ) Honestly, it has a worse effect on my ears than nails against a chalkboard, so I'm a little mystified as to why people enjoy it as much as they do. Then again, there are still people out there (old folks, I'm guessing) whose ears still bleed when they hear distorted guitars, so they'd clearly wonder how people can listen to heavy metal. All depends on what you grew up with and/or how musically open-minded you are, I suppose.

 

As for the bass drops...bitch, please. I'm a motherbucking bassist - I've made the low end of the frequency spectrum my bitch.

you seem to be listening to the crappy dub-steps i never listen to, dub-step is usually deep wubs vibes, and a cool drum beat, not screeching, dont listen to Flux Pavillion or Skrillex, because they use the screeching tones...

 

The second one is an IDM (Intelligent Dance Music) track. The genre gets even more chaotic than that, though at the same time it can have quite obvious ambient influences. I can't really tell if you liked that Aphex Twin one, though at least you enjoyed the Underworld one for sure. If you enjoyed the Aphex Twin one then I can give out some more IDM if you'd like.

sheesh dont show me stuff like THAT again, i think i got a head ache *really i did* and i think I'm gonna have nightmares tonight. 

Edited May 25, 2013 by PelateOvercast

[Moog the Kvlt 1,460]

sheesh dont show me stuff like that again, i think i got a head ache *really i did* and i think I'm gonna have nightmares tonight.

 

Understandable, as IDM is an acquired taste, I personally enjoy it for the genre's diversity and how artistically structured it is.Though you should at least get a taste of the not-so chaotic side of IDM, since after all IDM takes it's roots from Ambient, so it has a softer side to it.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRRTOnXOZsM

[Gears of Halo Duty V 394]

For me, it's like this. And like everyone has said, it's all tastes.Really that's all it comes down to.

 

I can't offer a critique, because when it comes to music I'm about as dumb as you can get with it. While others can give you some sound reasoning, all I can say is that it doesn't feel right with me. It doesn't do what I need to do, and it doesn't make me feel the way I want to. The overall concept doesn't appeal to me, so it doesn't fit with me.

[dedacct6 2,591]

Understandable, as IDM is an acquired taste, I personally enjoy it for the genre's diversity and how artistically structured it is.Though you should at least get a taste of the not-so chaotic side of IDM, since after all IDM takes it's roots from Ambient, so it has a softer side to it.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRRTOnXOZsM

thats better i like it, very...relaxing? mainly because of the drum beat...i think i'll look into IDM a little more their music seems very interesting

[Thrashy 2,800]

you seem to be listening to the crappy dub-steps i never listen to, dub-step is usually deep wubs vibes, and a cool drum beat, not screeching, dont listen to Flux Pavillion or Skrillex, because they use the screeching tones...

Yeah, I kind of had a suspicion that the screechy BS is mostly an aspect of some of the more popular dub-and-brostep artists, like good ol' Skrilly, that many hardcore fans of the genres seem to shun. It's quite unfortunate, but the popularity of such screech-step (yeah, I'ma call it that) leads poor, uninformed souls like myself to assume that a majority of dub-and-brostep sounds like that. I'll admit, though, I'm still trying to shake off that stereotype by listening to *good* electronica. Which, as per usual, is supplied by none other than Moog!

 

Understandable, as IDM is an acquired taste, I personally enjoy it for the genre's diversity and how artistically structured it is.Though you should at least get a taste of the not-so chaotic side of IDM, since after all IDM takes it's roots from Ambient, so it has a softer side to it.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRRTOnXOZsM

(speak of the devil! )

 

Never heard of IDM before, but I like the ambient nature of this. Definitely something I could put on to help me go to sleep.

[Lemonpie 47]

Dubstep is not armonic, its supposed to be conflictive and to place you in an uncofortable and unknown place, people´s reaction is only natural, its just that most people dislike to be faced with something weird and strange and others cannot accept music exist out of their closed definition of what music is.

[TwilizzleFoShizzle 95]

 

 

I think you're referring to "Brostep", a sub genre of Dubstep. Brostep is usually incredibly loud, inconsistent, random and follows no rules or logic. That's the reason why I hate it at least

Funny that you would use Bangarang as an example, and then some random dude I don't think many people have heard of as an example of "good" dubstep. My answer to the topic at hand is that people do not dislike dubstep music, but outwardly dismiss it because they feel more original when they do so, and in the modern world we are conditioned to be happy if we recognize ourselves as being individual and having abnormal opinions. Theoretically most people like dubstep and almost nobody states it, but people still assume the people around them like it because their subconscious opinion is that dubstep is good, so they presume that to be the outward opinion of others, and as such express a contradictory outward opinion. Since people expect less around them to know about that random guy you used as an example of "good" dubstep, they are less likely to think that those around the have any opinion at all, and as such they can express their true opinions without having to make modifications in order to feel less "mainstream." Bangarang does, in fact, demonstrate a lot of great instances of "good" sound as it would be made by an instrument other than a computer in the sense that it follows what is generally agreed upon to be a pleasing beat pattern and follows some variation of the twelve tone system. If you claim some random dude is better than Skrillex, then although this opinion may be plausible, it is generally not given because the music is genuinely better but because it is not subconsciously seen by your mind as "mainstream." 

[GrimCW 658]

I won't claim to like or hate it as i'm still confused..

Its just modern techno, no real differences between, except someone decided to give it a new name and many will fight to the death that there is a difference of some sort...

 

Pretty bad when the duo known as daft punk went from being all out techno to suddenly being labeled dubstep.... they haven't exactly changed anything ever. Yet again, some will defend to the end they are "dubstep" while others still know them as "techno"

 

guess the "retro" name is just to old and no one wants to use it

kinda like "flare bottom" jeans... they're just bell bottoms with a new name....

[TwilizzleFoShizzle 95]

Dubstep is not armonic, its supposed to be conflictive and to place you in an uncofortable and unknown place, people´s reaction is only natural, its just that most people dislike to be faced with something weird and strange and others cannot accept music exist out of their closed definition of what music is.

Not true in the least, it still follows most basic guidelines of music theory for what is generally agreed upon as "good music", I.E. in the song "Scatta" by Skrillex (arguably rap and dubstep at the same time but for these purposes the example is accurate enough) follows the G harmonic minor with its "wubwub" part and the entire song demonstrates no strange magical witchcraft that denies the guidelines of music theory. What you percieve as being non-harmonic (more technically known as dissonant) is the augmented 7 of the scale, coupled with the fact that it is major to begin with, making the scale musically correct but designed to elicit unease in the audience. The only good example of what you are describing would be white noise, brown noise, or pink noise, which I think you'll find sound far less organized than dubstep. Dubstep songs are still musical to the same extent, if not more so, than any other type of song, but the use of uncommon scales, such as harmonic minor, make it seem strange to the untrained ear.

[Le Kvlt Dawn 2,364]

 

 

i cringed at that second song  , *epileptics beware* but the first one was catchy, i liked it, but what the HELL was that second song, I DON'T EVEN KNOW what that is I listen to Deadmau5 mainly *not dub-step*, i'm not familiar with these songs at all   and what was i talking about? oh yea, i actually love downlink, Omnipony, Alex S. and Excision, but i dont like Datsik, too much screeching not enough wubs  Im sorry but I dont know any of those other Artists actually  but i'll check them out.

I hated the first song, I thought it was boring. The second song was completely different, I actually really liked it. And I'm not very familiar with electronic music either.

 

 

So yeah I like Old School EDM, IDM, Ambient, Trance, and Trip-Hop, none of which relate to Brostep in any sort of way, it's just not what I'm used to hearing. The only kinds of Dubstep that I like are old school Dubstep and Post-Dubstep, because well they have a smoother flow to them that isn't interrupted, not only that but you completely subtract the generic house melodies that Brostep songs usually start with. +1 for not making a poorly done melody. The repetition of old school Dubstep and Post-Dubstep might be hard for some people to get around from but for me it's not really a bother due to the fact of how repetitive most of the stuff that I listen to is. I'd choose Underworld, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Infected Mushroom, Crystal Castles, Portishead, and Radiohead (yes they've done tracks that count as electronic music), over Skrillex, Omnipony, Alex S, Datsik, Excision, and Downlink any day and anytime of my life.

Moog mah boy, that first was well... kinda bad, but that second song was excellent.

[Moog the Kvlt 1,460]

thats better i like it, very...relaxing? mainly because of the drum beat...i think i'll look into IDM a little more their music seems very interesting

 

What do you mean "their music" IDM is a genre silly. Boards of Canada are probably the best start for anyone trying to get into IDM, try out their album Music Has The Right To Children, if that one isn't working then go for The Campfire Headphase.

Other albums to try out would be:

Flying Lotus - Until The Quiet Comes

Autechre - Amber

Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92

 

though, I'm still trying to shake off that stereotype by listening to *good* electronica. Which, as per usual, is supplied by none other than Moog!

 

Moog always knows best doesn't he?

 

 

I hated the first song, I thought it was boring. The second song was completely different, I actually really liked it. And I'm not very familiar with electronic music either.

 

Moog mah boy, that first was well... kinda bad, but that second song was excellent.

 

So you likes teh IDM as well. I figured since you're used to Radiohead's more electronic influenced material that you'd end up liking Aphex Twin, after all, he was a huge inspiration on Thom Yorke while he was making Kid A, the more you know, and yeah the fact of how you don't like Underworld is predictable, knowing you. They're too Dance influenced for you to enjoy, though there might be a few songs by them that you wouldn't mind. Anyways need more IDM bro? You should get some quick while I still feel like giving out lists.

Edited May 25, 2013 by Blackwater Moog

[Le Kvlt Dawn 2,364]

So you likes teh IDM as well. I figured since you're used to Radiohead's more electronic influenced material that you'd end up liking Aphex Twin, after all, he was a huge inspiration on Thom Yorke while he was making Kid A, the more you know, and yeah the fact of how you don't like Underworld is predictable, knowing you. They're too Dance influenced for you to enjoy, though there might be a few songs by them that you wouldn't mind. Anyways need more IDM bro? You should get some quick while I still feel like giving out lists.

Yes please, and some dark ambient would be nice too since I'm used to hearing Burzum's ambient stuff. But yea I found that first song really boring.

Edited May 25, 2013 by AtDawnTheySquee

[Lemonpie 47]

Not true in the least, it still follows most basic guidelines of music theory for what is generally agreed upon as "good music", I.E. in the song "Scatta" by Skrillex (arguably rap and dubstep at the same time but for these purposes the example is accurate enough) follows the G harmonic minor with its "wubwub" part and the entire song demonstrates no strange magical witchcraft that denies the guidelines of music theory. What you percieve as being non-harmonic (more technically known as dissonant) is the augmented 7 of the scale, coupled with the fact that it is major to begin with, making the scale musically correct but designed to elicit unease in the audience. The only good example of what you are describing would be white noise, brown noise, or pink noise, which I think you'll find sound far less organized than dubstep. Dubstep songs are still musical to the same extent, if not more so, than any other type of song, but the use of uncommon scales, such as harmonic minor, make it seem strange to the untrained ear.

See here is when changing one words gets annoying and complicated, I never implied nor said harmonic in the sense of scales, I meant it as in -quoting oxford dictionary-  "the state of being in agreement or concord", Yes there is a huge muscial base in dubstep, yes they are music I said so in my original post, but theyre not... symetrical in their composition nor try to be pleasant all the time, what I meant is that this contrast between sounds makes people uncomfortable, and many dont enjoy that.

[Moog the Kvlt 1,460]

Yes please, and some dark ambient would be nice too since I'm used to hearing Burzum's ambient stuff. But yea I found that first song really boring.

 

I'm not too well educated on Dark Ambient, though one album that I really did enjoy was SAW Vol. II by Aphex Twin.

 

 

IDM wise:

Aphex Twin - Yellow Calx

Aphex Twin - afx236 v7

Autechre - Clipper

Autechre - Nil

Richard Devine - Sigstop

Boards of Canada - An Eagle In Your Mind

Boards of Canada - Turquoise Hexagon Sun

Amon Tobin - 4 Ton Mantis

Squarepusher - 50 Cycles

Squarepusher - Tetra-Sync

Mouse On Mars - Twift Shoeblade

Mouse On Mars - Distroia

Venetian Snares - Chinaski

Venetian Snares - My So-Called Life

Flying Lotus - Tiny Tortures

 

 

Sorry for the long list of songs, I wanted to give you as much variety as I could

[Le Kvlt Dawn 2,364]

I'm not too well educated on Dark Ambient, though one album that I really did enjoy was SAW Vol. II by Aphex Twin.

 

 

IDM wise:

Aphex Twin - Yellow Calx

Aphex Twin - afx236 v7

Autechre - Clipper

Autechre - Nil

Richard Devine - Sigstop

Boards of Canada - An Eagle In Your Mind

Boards of Canada - Turquoise Hexagon Sun

Amon Tobin - 4 Ton Mantis

Squarepusher - 50 Cycles

Squarepusher - Tetra-Sync

Mouse On Mars - Twift Shoeblade

Mouse On Mars - Distroia

Venetian Snares - Chinaski

Venetian Snares - My So-Called Life

Flying Lotus - Tiny Tortures

 

 

Sorry for the long list of songs, I wanted to give you as much variety as I could

Alrighty then, I'll try to download that Aphex Twin album you said was dark ambient, and a Boards of Canada album. Which one would you recommend for me?

Edited May 25, 2013 by AtDawnTheySquee

[Moog the Kvlt 1,460]

Alrighty then, I'll try to download that Aphex Twin album you said was dark ambient, and a Boards of Canada album. Which one would you recommend for me?

 

You should definitely go for Music Has The Right To Children, it has a bit of a darker sound to it, and you like darker songs.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySGDn5ccMhw

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJaGKaXecuQ

 

If you feel like having more Aphex Twin than SAW Vol. II then I'd recommend Druqks or Richard D. James Album.

Edited May 25, 2013 by Blackwater Moog

[Le Kvlt Dawn 2,364]

You should definitely go for Music Has The Right To Children, it has a bit of a darker sound to it, and you like darker songs.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySGDn5ccMhw

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJaGKaXecuQ

 

If you feel like having more Aphex Twin than SAW Vol. II then I'd recommend Druqks or Richard D. James Album.

I liked those songs, I listened to both them entierly. This is something I could enjoy listening to before I got to sleep, ya know.

[Soundgarden 2,758]

Is Dubstep itself not a Sub-Genre anyway?

 

Just like Haven said, a sub-genre within a sub-genre is possible, and there's nothing wrong with it.

 

Funny that you would use Bangarang as an example, and then some random dude I don't think many people have heard of as an example of "good" dubstep.

 

So, just because it isn't mainstream, it's a bad song? Great logic there

 

And for you information, Mala is insanely popular in the Dubstep scene, and is considered to be one of the most important artist within the genre

 

One last thing, I used Bangarang as an example of how "Brostep" sounds like, and the second to show how "Dubstep" sounds like. If it's good or not, is up to you