Amy's Guide to Good Music

Who am I and what are my credentials for creating this site? Absolutely zilch. At least if you are actually looking for useful information.

If you are looking for my personal ranting and raving about what makes music good, then you've come to the right place.

From that standpoint I do have some credentials. I have played the piano since first grade and the clarinet since fourth. (I also attempt to play the guitar). I'm not too shabby of a singer, either (second soprano-- I sing high but like harmonies). I did the classic rock show on my college radio station for all four years. And oh yes, most importantly:
I have lots of strong opinions!

Now, I know nobody needs a site about somebody else's opinions. It's just that for a course I took in grad school I was required to create a website, using various techniques, on any topic of my choice. And so I chose to rant about music. And I found it quite enjoyable-- so much so that, upon getting a new email address that is giving me web space, I decided to put it back online!!!!! Whoopieee!!!!!!

Anyway, then. Now for a bit about what you can expect from me:

So, WHAT MAKES MUSIC GOOD?

Whenever people ask what my favorite kind of music is I'm inclined to reply, "good music." I guess I'm most partial to Hippie-era rock [see My Obligatory Beatles Fan Site and The Happy Hippie Page for more on that], but seriously, in every possible genre there is Really Awesome and Really Awful. For example:

        Genre:          Really Awesome          Really Awful
        Classic Rock    the Beatles (duh)       Bob Seger
        Current Rock     Blink 182              Any of those whiny bands that all sound the same
        Light Sounds    the Carpenters          Michael Bolton
        Broadway        Les Miserables         Oklahoma!
        Classical       Beethoven               Wagner

Sorry to offend you if you like the people in the "Awful" category. I know they all have good points (somewhere), and I admit my deep-seeded hatred of Oklahoma! may be tainted by my having gone through a major depression during rehearsals for it, but if I only used items that actually WERE Really Awful (Broadway:State Fair) what would be the vital information in that?

Put simply, I like music that is both interesting and melodic. I like cool harmonies, variation, melodic basslines, countermelodies, and the ability to make you FEEL something. I don't like music that is too much like everything else (have you ever noticed that some groups' music ALL SOUNDS THE SAME??) or too repetitive (which is why I'm not a big fan of rap. Although I do admire just how fast some rappers can talk) or too syruppy, or too overblown, or too just plain annoying (which is why I'm not a big fan of country...)...

If I haven't completely offended you yet, here's some more fun for you:

Amy's Favorite Songs and Stuff: Because I KNOW you're dying for me to enlighten you.
Why the Beatles Still Reign Supreme: It's not just Paul McCartney's extreme charm and good looks. But that's a lot of it.
Amy's Perfect Radio Station-- the Weekly Schedule: What should be on the radio when you turn it on.
Amy's Illustrious Music Survey: What do YOU think about rock and roll? On my old page, you could fill out this fun survey! Once I figure out how to make it work on Comcast's server, you might just be able to take it again! But meanwhile you can practice what you WOULD pick, if you could.

created by Amy, cool librarian.
MOst of these graphics are courtesy Ender Design , except for a few I randomly picked up in unknown places and unfortunately can't cite, but if you see something that is yours and don't want me to have it, please ask me politely. Oh, and for a few I made myself, which are mostly cited as noted, or noted as cited. The Ready-Reference Home Page, ie my real website, for ME!