Worst Music of All-Time

Lance12000 - I respectfully disagree with you re: SOB. Listening to it now, in 2000, it admittedly sounds a little dated and cheesy. But you have to remember it in its historical context (this is meaningful to me as a classically trained studio musician who's spent all his money on keyboards and have nothing for audiophile gear). In its time, nothing like this had ever been done before, taking the majesty and spirit of Bach and using these new sounds that were (up til then) only used as "blip & beep" novelties on pop records (Good Vibrations? Here comes the Sun?) It demonstrated something musical could be done with the synth, if approached with discretion with regard to timbre and dynamics. It was voted one of the most influential keyboard records of the last 25 years by Keyboard Magazine, and I heartily concur. Also, Wendy Carlos is one of the 2 most articulate, intelligent artists ever to express their thoughts on art and music (Brian Eno is the other). I have mixed opinions re: Carlos' current foray into equal-tempered music, but SOB was one of those few albums that really effected me in my development as a musician. Of course, all of this is simply MHO, and your mileage may vary.

I must have missed the press release that "The Barbra" was in league with the devil. I thought she had gained the noteriety she had because in her historical context, she was one of the few doing what she was doing, that being making a name for herself as a popular singer, then jumping into movies (funny girl, et al, ad naseum). I think part of the same phenomena contributed to Sinatra's fame as well, not necessarily his pure musical talent (although I enjoy his music). While rap in a few isolated instances has made timely cultural statements, its 15 minutes is well over and should slink back into its grimy hole and go the way of the hula hoop. Unfortunately, the decline of American culture and society in general probably means its here to stay. Eminem is simply the most outrageous example de jour. But that's another thread entirely. Returning to topic, IMHO Christina Ag, nsync, et al are just the latest version of bubblegum that has always floated atop American music like film on teeth. This too will pass. OTOH, I find some of the "contemporary" classical forays into atonal experimentation some of the worst "pots and pans clanging, cat in heat, fingernail scratching" published. Stuff like Schoenberg, John Cage, some Bartok. But some folks eat that stuff up. Your mileage may vary.