musical gateway drugs

[interimlover]

Friends, I call on you for help... Christmas present help.

I have two cousins who live in San Jose... both male, one 13 and 16.  Their main hobby is skateboarding, one plays guitar, the other drums. I will see them next week when I go home for the holidays.

Their favorite band... some group named Avenged Sevenfold. After giving it a listen, it's

Comments

[dob]

I like the idea of Ministry but it might sound dated to their young ears. I was thinking

Bad Brains - Bad Brains (a great hardcore album with some reggae and might open them up to other styles.)

[interimlover]

most ministry yeah... but that album still has some teeth to it, great production... might still be so different though that they just tune it out...

[dob]

I was just thinking about Skinny Puppy - Rabies. That would be a good one.

stuff that first comes to mind

[iamdonte]

some 'cause it's angry, some 'cause it's arty, some 'cause it's just stuff they should hear.

blood brothers
chemical brothers
mclusky
the thermals
nwa
some sort of d&b, but i'm drawing a blank as to who

i'm down with the fugazi, ministry, and nin albums too.

the major problem you're dealing with is peer pressure. it takes a lot to be the kid listening to something different and they might not be up for that task. good on you for trying to steer them into a more adventurous direction though.

Re: stuff that first comes to mind

[iamdonte]

good idea on the spike jonze dvd too

Re: stuff that first comes to mind

[interimlover]

yeah, definitely getting that.

Re: stuff that first comes to mind

[joshc]

of all your ideas, Yeah Righ seems like the most effective gateway drug. They'll be too distracted be the skateboarding to notice that they're also hearing good new music.

As much as I like the idea of broadening their horizons, I think that it's better to give gifts than prescriptions. If they like angry hardcore, give it to them while nudging the boundaries of their tastes in the right direction.

[sanjay74]

definitely some fugazi
and without a doubt some old sonic youth, maybe "Sister"

a lot of old sonic youth songs were used in skate videos, that's how i discovered them.

[interimlover]

Black Flag, Dino. Jr, Butthole... all those came to me via skate videos... definitely a huge influencer.

[flavio]

you really can't go wrong with:

fugazi
minor threat
dead kennedy's
black flag
descendents
social distortion?

i think a lot of that electronic stuff on your list might be too esoteric for their ears, but definately the pixies is a keeper!!

[interimlover]

Yeah, I agree on the esoteric bit. I defnitely want at least one electronic music cd in there though... to at least give 'em a taste.

And yeah, you know Pixies was Raul's idea :)

[iamdonte]

the fact that they're angry hardcore kids is why i'd push mclusky over the pixies. there's heavy influence that they can trace later, but mclusky is a heavier take that might be in line with what they already listen to (and thus a more effective gateway).

[subtext]

maybe give them some mp3s of your mixes in addition to some more 'accessible' music (i think that yeah right would be perfect). that way, you're giving them a nudge and also giving them the opportunity to delve in more, which they may be more likely to do if you present it as your musical contribution and not just a mix of songs that are way better than what they listen to.

[liquidsexy]

instead of the "richard d. james" album.. I suggest "come to daddy".

also... the first mr. oizo album is really fun...

but... my relatives are younger... so I get them they might be giants!