How to appreciate music better?

[(((I am NOT a jew)))]

I'm a guy who likes music like most people. I have several albums and various genres I like. But I have a small problem.
I have no idea what makes music good. I can't critique music for shit. I have no clue of music theory, only have a faint idea of what good music production is and feel lost in the conversation whenever I see guitarists or music buffs talk about what makes a track or album work. I can talk about my love for music all day, but it feels very surface level... probably because I haven't had much experience at all with making it.
I can only really say that I like the lyrics or how an album as a whole fits a certain theme/motif. I have no idea of ability or why I like half of the shit I do.
Is there anything anyone here could recommend or a place to start in order to fully learn to give reasoning to my like/dislike of music. I want to review albums at some point, not for money but just to share a slightly less pretentious view than a lot of popular music critics.
So is there any albums, books, documentaries, youtube channels, critics, music theory lessons or anything else anyone can recommend as a gateway into being able to listen to music better?

 

[rel=alternate]

Drugs. The answer is drugs.

You might not like it, but it is what it is.

 

[Pee Cola]

Don't overthink it. As a famous fictional Australian lawyer once said. it's the vibe of the thing.

Though if you really want be autistic about music, Rick Beato's "What Makes This Song Great?" series on YouTube is worth a watch.

 

[WE'RE ALL GONNA]

I know that some people listen to noise music for hours on end to better appreciate the nuances of music they're used to. It's an equivalent to staying in a sensory deprivation tank to refresh your brain. Or playing with feces.

 

[BSC]

Learn an instrument

 

[Matt Damon]

I can only really say that I like the lyrics or how an album as a whole fits a certain theme/motif. I have no idea of ability or why I like half of the shit I do.

Does this really matter so much? And I say that as a (I like to think) somebody who's pretty competent at writing, playing, and producing music - the ultimate goal of even the most complex music really is that gut feeling it evokes.

But other than that, you'd really have to become a musician to seriously understand the nuts and bolts of the different levels that music works on.

 

[(((I am NOT a jew)))]

Does this really matter so much? And I say that as a (I like to think) somebody who's pretty competent at writing, playing, and producing music - the ultimate goal of even the most complex music really is that gut feeling it evokes.

But other than that, you'd really have to become a musician to seriously understand the nuts and bolts of the different levels that music works on.

I think my issue is even on here when I see discussion of music in the unpopular opinions thread or in general I'm a bit envious of people talking about something and seeming to at least be giving a reason as to WHY they like/don't like something. It also is partly because I'm frustrated I can critique film really well (I know what proper lighting, cinematography, scoring, production and screenplay can do for a film) but I'm at a loss when it comes to music.
I'd hate to make a video/write a review where I essentially say "Yeah these lyrics sure are relatable, what a groovy rhythm!" and have that be the census of my take.
I guess I just have this love/hate relationship with music critics in that I think almost all of them are pretentious cunts who are saying a bunch of biased shallow takes but I also feel like I'm reading a different language when they speak and might actually just have a better grasp than I do. So I wonder if I'm just a retard when it comes to music appreciation and there's really no actually metric to express why something sonically works or if all music critics are just actually faggots who love to pretend they're saying something. I think it falls into a bit of both, honestly.

 

[Ultrapenguin]

I feel like you're going to probably struggle to give a less pretentious view of music if you accept there's some intellectually correct way to appreciate it.

By knowing academic terminology you can dress it up so it sounds more official, but it's not going to teach you to appreciate music more just because you can say "I appreciate their use of the harmonic minor scale here" instead of "I like this section's gothic sound".

In fact if anything I think pretentiousness is a major enemy, because as a person starts to consider themselves an "art/music/film/etc person" they start to huff their own gas and get dismissive of anything they don't consider elite enough for their tastes — if anyone likes that stuff, it's only because they're an idiot who doesn't "know" music.

Then they start refusing to allow themselves to even consider a majority of material not because it isn't good, but because they don't consider it part of their preferred brand.

So I wonder if I'm just a retard when it comes to music appreciation and there's really no actually metric to express why something sonically works or if all music critics are just actually faggots who love to pretend they're saying something. I think it falls into a bit of both, honestly.

If a person immerses themselves they'll get more sensitized to it, whether you're playing an instrument or just listening to a variety of music you'll eventually start being able to dissect it a little better the same way someone who's a chef and consumes a variety of cuisine starts to learn to recognize ingredients and flavors in their food.

Again, that's the danger of shutting yourself off from things just because you don't think you should like them.

That said most of the shit the critics say is intended to produce that exact effect of making it sound like their opinion is somehow elevated above that of the average person. I wouldn't get too wrapped up in that.

 

[Matt Damon]

I guess I just have this love/hate relationship with music critics in that I think almost all of them are pretentious cunts who are saying a bunch of biased shallow takes

This is mostly the case. I always think of that faggot Anthony Fantano who thinks mentioning anything about the arrangement makes him a genius of music analysis when it's the most superficial "here are the instruments being used in this track" commentary you could imagine.

Maybe the easiest way to get into it is to find somebody who talked or wrote something (actually substantive, ideally) about a song or album you like and see if you can notice the things they mention. Ask yourself whether you agree with their opinions or not and why you feel that way. That'd probably be a good way to start developing a more analytical frame of mind and building up an understanding of broad musical concepts.

 

[Tren Shapiro]

I don't understand music critics like Anthony Fantano. If I want to know what a song is like I'll listen to it. I'm not deaf. I don't need you to describe how the drums sound. Deaf people also don't need you to describe how the drums sound because they don't know what something sounding crunchy means because they're fucking deaf, Anthony. I give your black wife a light 2.

 

[(((I am NOT a jew)))]

This is mostly the case. I always think of that faggot Anthony Fantano who thinks mentioning anything about the arrangement makes him a genius of music analysis when it's the most superficial "here are the instruments being used in this track" commentary you could imagine.

Maybe the easiest way to get into it is to find somebody who talked or wrote something (actually substantive, ideally) about a song or album you like and see if you can notice the things they mention. Ask yourself whether you agree with their opinions or not and why you feel that way. That'd probably be a good way to start developing a more analytical frame of mind and building up an understanding of broad musical concepts.

That said most of the shit the critics say is intended to produce that exact effect of making it sound like their opinion is somehow elevated above that of the average person. I wouldn't get too wrapped up in that.

Thank you both. I'm constantly surprised by the lack of cynicism on here whenever I ask for genuine advice.

Yeah, I kind of instinctually know that music critics are all full of shit but I do know there are ways to spot technical greatness in other artforms and I feel at a loss when it comes to the one I digest most. Another weakness of mine is not being great at hearing (nothings' fucked up with my ears, I just can't differentiate phonetic sounds well all the time so half the time someone talking ends up sounding like one slurred, mumbling word) so it makes it damn near impossible to understand most of the lyrics I hear, especially from shit from the 70s when singers almost went out of their way to make their lyrics as unintelligible as possible.
I'm working on it, I just thought here might be the best place to ask since a lot of people on here seem to either appreciate/play music but also not be the kind of fart-huffing assholes I see everywhere else.

I don't understand music critics like Anthony Fantano. If I want to know what a song is like I'll listen to it. I'm not deaf. I don't need you to describe how the drums sound. Deaf people also don't need you to describe how the drums sound because they don't know what something sounding crunchy means because they're fucking deaf, Anthony. I give your black wife a light 2.

I'm feeling a definite high 2/low 3 on his new pedo stache, which is also probably the age range he's going after if he has a dedicated discord.

 

[Roland TB-303]

Music is supposed to be about how it makes you feel, not whether that beat is using polyrhythms or what key the melody is in.

 

[(((I am NOT a jew)))]

Anthony. I give your black wife a light 2.

Nah man I'm feeling a 7/mid 8 because she left his pornstar Mr. Clean looking ass.

 

[Matt Damon]

I don't understand music critics like Anthony Fantano. If I want to know what a song is like I'll listen to it. I'm not deaf. I don't need you to describe how the drums sound. Deaf people also don't need you to describe how the drums sound because they don't know what something sounding crunchy means because they're fucking deaf, Anthony. I give your black wife a light 2.

I think it mostly comes down to the fact that he reviews the most disposable, bland, trend-chasing music that exists so what is there to talk about besides "the cymbals sound like this", "the synths sound like this", "the bass is distorted", etc? They're boring reviews of boring music for people who aren't really that interested in music.

 

[Shart Attack]

There's an audio lecture series called How to Listen to and Understand Great Music, or something like that. It's from a company that used to be called The Great Courses, but I think they're called something different now. They're greedy assholes, so I don't recommend giving them your money. If you can find a free copy, it may be worth a listen. A music teacher goes through the history of medieval/baroque/classical/romantic music and uses it to explain things like harmony and musical forms. As Matt Damon says, the guy gives you some stuff to listen for, and then you can listen to a song and see if you can hear what he was talking about. Although if you do listen to it, I sure hope you like Agnus Dei, because he plays it a whole fucking lot.

Other than that, I've found that reading/listening to interviews of bands I like can give me a better understanding of their songs/albums. Liner notes used to be good for that, too, but nobody buys physical CDs with liner notes anymore. Knowing what they were going for gives me a way to judge if they succeeded or failed. I'm thinking specifically of the Barenaked Ladies. They tend to disguise serious subject matter with lyrics that would just be silly pop fluff if taken at face value, and knowing that the bassist was going through chemo or the lead singer had fallen off the wagon when a song was being written can give some lyrics a new meaning. Stuff like that.

 

[(((I am NOT a jew)))]

I just want to sound at least somewhat concise and professional when talking about music without being as much of a cunt as Fantano is.
I also want to talk about music that would never make MAL's top 100. I don't care what people say, Bat Out of Hell is a perfect album and should be just as beloved as anything some Sufjan Stevens-type fuck makes.

Other than that, I've found that reading/listening to interviews of bands I like can give me a better understanding of their songs/albums. Liner notes used to be good for that, too, but nobody buys physical CDs with liner notes anymore. Knowing what they were going for gives me a way to judge if they succeeded or failed. I'm thinking specifically of the Barenaked Ladies. They tend to disguise serious subject matter with lyrics that would just be silly pop fluff if taken at face value, and knowing that the bassist was going through chemo or the lead singer had fallen off the wagon when a song was being written can give some lyrics a new meaning. Stuff like that.

Liner notes are always a god send for me because I usually can't understand a lot of lyrics well phonetically. That and I feel overall they can give the album more of a soul just like the cover does until you're not really just reviewing the music but the entire physical "album" as a concept itself.
That's funny about the Barenaked Ladies. I still hate their music but I can see that appeal. The Police and Steely Dan mastered the art of turning dark lyrics into catchy rythmic pop.

 

[Overwritten Tapes]

Drugs.

But really, take a break from it. There was a time period for about 4 months where I refused to listen to music while taking a break from alcohol. Something about early sobriety drove me crazy and noise made me super angry. After the break, music sounded great and sometimes even give me an adrenaline rush depending on the songs.

 

[THE STRESS]

weed lol

 

[(((I am NOT a jew)))]

Drugs.

But really, take a break from it. There was a time period for about 4 months where I refused to listen to music while taking a break from alcohol. Something about early sobriety drove me crazy and noise made me super angry. After the break, music sounded great and sometimes even give me an adrenaline rush depending on the songs.

Everyone's saying drugs. I get it but it's never worked for me. I just get too paranoid when I'm on anything to focus on shit.
I completely feel you about dropping alcohol. I'm not a drunk but deciding to drink a lot less has both made my life perspective incredibly better and also given me completely bipolar levels of rage/depression, especially at work.
The music detox thing might actually be a great idea, but I'm probably still going to encounter music a lot outside of my personal time.

 

[Womble of Wimbledon]

Don't over-intellectualise music, it is a sensory experience. Just focus on the sounds being made and let it wash over you. Music discussions with other people are most fun when you're just recommending good music to each other. Talking about albums you both appreciate is a great way to bond. You like Bat out of Hell because it fucking rocks, it doesn't matter whether it includes key changes or what the dynamics are, you like the melodies and the production and the lyrics and you can pretty much leave it at that.

The more you listen to music the better your understanding of it will become. You cannot describe how a song makes you feel after one listen, only after many listens, and even then you probably won't be able to in any detail. Read any "great" music critic and realise that they basically all suck at describing the 'feeling' of a song, they either dwell on the musicological bullshit or they just speak in meaningless non-sequiturs (robert christgau). It is also much easier to describe why you dislike something than why you like something. Everyone remembers the brutally critical reviews of shitty albums but the positive ones might as well read "sounds good, listen for yourself."