Yeah. And I would kind of put Metal in the same category, personally. They both tend to feel bloated and melodramatic/overly pleased itself while lacking substance/tastefulness that warrants it, IMO.
OT, but what's always been a pet peeve for me is that everyone who likes metal tends to jump to the conclusion that people don't like it because it's loud, noisy, and barbarically aggressive, but I've always felt like.... "No, it has nothing to do with that-- I love those attributes-- It's the corniness, garishness, and melodrama that puts me off about it."
Man, for somebody who doesn't like metal you sure do like to bring it up a lot...
Anyway - here are some thoughts on what I've been listening to lately; some old favourites and some things that were new to me.
Classical
Anton Bruckner -
9th Symphony; Conductor: Carlo Maria Giulini; Orchestra: Wiener Philharmoniker
This has been melting my face off ever since I first heard it a few months ago. To me, Bruckner's music always seems imbued with a profound understanding of the mysticism surrounding belief and religion. Giulini's conducting really accentuates that feeling. Solemn, ceremonial and utterly devastating - it has weltschmerz!
10/10
Anton Bruckner -
9th Symphony; Conductor: Herbert von Karajan; Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker
I think hearing the Giulini probably ruined this for me a little bit. Normally I quite like von Karajan as a conductor but something is a little off here. Just doesn't quite capture the essence of the piece - could be because it doesn't sound as clear as the Giulini version maybe? Still good, but a distant second right now.
7.5/10
Metal
Molested -
Blod-Draum (1995/Norway/Death Metal)
This album never gets it's due from people into this sort of music and I'm not sure why? Guitars weave an unnatural set of melodies, each song accentuated by a particular motif. Sort of like a demented version of folk music, which is made apparent by the album's title track. A ghastly and dreamlike atmosphere is everpresent. Loses half a point for some production qualities that I take issue with.
9.5/10
Adramelech - Psychostasia (1996/Finland/Death Metal)
Contemporaries of the legendary Demilich, but not quite as good. Definitely more streamlined and overtly melodic but they've got that unusual sort of riff phrasing which seemed unique to Finnish bands at that particular time - I think it's in the way certain tremolo picked riffs are accented. A nice balance between the familiar and the unusual. Heroes Of The Godly Blaze and As The Gods Succumbed are particularly strong tracks.
8/10
Other Stuff
Sun City Girls - Torch of the Mystics (1990/USA/???)
First of all this band has an absurdly large and intimidating discography so I'm wading through some of it with the help of a friend who raves about the group.
It's bizarre music that's for sure, I guess you'd call it experimental rock with elements of arabic folk music, psychedelia and free improvisation. Album doesn't seem terribly cohesive, and some individual tracks seem but maybe that's the point? I'm pretty much a philistine when it comes to this sort of music. The strong tracks (Esoterica of Abyssinia, Space Prophet Dogon, etc.) are interesting enough that I'll revisit this to try to get my head around it.
4.5/10 with the caveat that this could change substantially on future listens.