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

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.

Re: stuff that first comes to mind

[interimlover]

I agree on Yeah Right... I think they're going to like that the most. I just hope to throw in one or two other things that they would've never heard of otherwise, but still has a fighting chance to be something they'd enjoy.

Re: stuff that first comes to mind

[joshc]

it's hard not to like floating skateboards!

I have no idea about the science of musical taste development among teens, but I'm guessing that the recommender needs to be either highly influential or the new music has to so good or similar enough to their current preferences that they'll listen to it a few times.

This is why I suspect that the Thermals and the Blood Brothers might have a chance, while Radiohead or Boards of Canada might not make it.

Re: stuff that first comes to mind

[interimlover]

very sad, but very true. if only i was their 18 y/o acid dealer neighbor! that's what got me into Wax Traxx and Skinny Puppy! :)

Re: stuff that first comes to mind

[iamdonte]

oh, and public enemy is a no-brainer

Re: stuff that first comes to mind

[iamdonte]

ATARI TEENAGE RIOT!!!!!!!!!

Re: stuff that first comes to mind

[girlstyle]

Seconded. I picked one of their albums up as a pre-teen and liked it enough to bring it to college.