When did [insert band here] click with you?

[MrKnickerbocker]

Have you ever had a musician or band suddenly click for you, even though you previously had either not appreciated their music or simply never given them the time? When and why?

 

[Mosh]

it was a meme on this forum for awhile, but I’ve come to really appreciate Steven Wilson/Porcupine Tree recently. I’m not sure if I can pinpoint a certain time, but I was really impressed with the Porcupine Tree reunion tour a couple years ago. I was mostly impressed with how much charisma Steven Wilson had as a frontman. He genuinely seemed to enjoy being on stage and was invested in entertaining the audience. It felt like a contrast to his image as a “serious” artist who, at one time, seemed frequently to turn his nose up at other artists. The lack of pretension in that particular show went a long way toward me appreciating his music more. I still find a lot of it to be boring, but less so than before.

On the other end of the spectrum, I have learned to take music (especially metal) a lot less seriously the last couple years and enjoy the kitschy side of the genre. With that in mind, I have come to really enjoy King Diamond/Mercyful Fate this year.

 

[Sth2112]

I started with Metallica, Pantera and power metal when I was 15 or something, and soon found more extreme metal. So then I hated almost everything power metal. I also had a phase where I hated metal in genera, taking Steven Wilson and Trent Reznor way to serious. But when I went home to power metal in 2009, I had to eat my hat as I had to admit that Edguy, Avantasia, Helloween, Hammerfall and others are brilliant. This is what my true love is. I can like power metal just as much as black metal, pop music, kraut rock or whatever.

I still find some things that click after many years. This year I have just found out that Epica is quite good, same about Dragonforce. Last year this happened to Running wild. I’ve liked their music for 20 years, but then I bought their back catalogue and spent a month just listening to them, and I can now say they are one of my favorite bands.

 

[Kalata]

Grave Digger - I never gave them chance because of the vocals, but after I listened to their 1995 album (I think) in the early 2000's, it clicked. I think the great music helped. And ''heavier metal'' in general.

Another example is probably power & speed metal, fast playing. I've always enjoyed it from Metallica or Helloween's debuts, but I think Startovarius albums in the mid-90's helped me to like it fully. They are a bit different than Helloween, although it may seem not seem like it. Also appreciating progressive/neoclassical metal later.

Bruce's Skunkworks and Psycho Motel's Welcome To The World definitely helped me to like/find their genres.

 

[Ascendingthethrone]

Ghost. The song ‘Rats’. Before then I was put off by their image. I heard that song on the radio and was blown away. They said it was Ghost and I haven't looked back since. I think Tobias Forge is the best songwriter in the rock/metal scene at the moment. He fuses genres well and just writes amazing hooks.

I know people said he has ‘sold out’ but his songwriting is getting better and better.

 

[MrKnickerbocker]

it was a meme on this forum for awhile, but I’ve come to really appreciate Steven Wilson/Porcupine Tree recently. I’m not sure if I can pinpoint a certain time, but I was really impressed with the Porcupine Tree reunion tour a couple years ago. I was mostly impressed with how much charisma Steven Wilson had as a frontman. He genuinely seemed to enjoy being on stage and was invested in entertaining the audience. It felt like a contrast to his image as a “serious” artist who, at one time, seemed frequently to turn his nose up at other artists. The lack of pretension in that particular show went a long way toward me appreciating his music more. I still find a lot of it to be boring, but less so than before.

I was finally able to listen through Stevie's stuff a few years back after going on an Opeth binge and feeling like I could delve even deeper into sorrow. I pretty much came to the conclusion that I liked him when he was basically making prog/folk and when he was making heavier rock/metal, but the more heavily Floydian music just does nothing for me. Still find it boring.

On the other end of the spectrum, I have learned to take music (especially metal) a lot less seriously the last couple years and enjoy the kitschy side of the genre. With that in mind, I have come to really enjoy King Diamond/Mercyful Fate this year.

I also came to that lack of seriousness regarding metal in the last couple years and it has helped me find a brand new leash on the entire genre. I still can't stand King Diamond, though.

Ghost. The song ‘Rats’. Before then I was put off by their image. I heard that song on the radio and was blown away. They said it was Ghost and I haven't looked back since. I think Tobias Forge is the best songwriter in the rock/metal scene at the moment. He fuses genres well and just writes amazing hooks.

I know people said he has ‘sold out’ but his songwriting is getting better and better.

I think the idea that Tobias Forge, who literally built Ghost has a thematic, sellable concept could be a "sell out" is ridiculous. The guy built something to make money, happens to write great songs while doing it, puts on killer live shows, and brings new fans to the metal community. It's a win-win in all regards.

People who call Ghost "sell outs" no doubt would have said the same of Alice Cooper.