Dubstep - seriously wtf

[Adam B]

At the risk of sounding like my Dad can someone who is a fan explain the appeal. Most tracks seem to start with a melodic trancey build up before doing this:

Check at 3 mins as an example
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0UWQid2qeas

I am not criticising it or anyone who likes it (despite title of thread) because different tastes is something to appreciate, I am just genuinely curious as to the appeal as I like a diverse range of genres including dance music but this just grates my ears, no melody and I have no idea how you could dance to it.

Do people dance to dubstep? Is it a big scene in clubs? If so do people generally take drugs when in a dubstep club?

[Mastodon2]

It is horrendous, I assume you have to be on drugs to be enjoying it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qIdGkGFMLg

http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/... - this gif is humorous, but I think it would be even more laughable without the animated bee.

[Crafty_]

I don't get it either, just sounds like something having some sort of fit whilst holding an 80s sound effect machine.

[krunchkin]

You have to remember that the screeching garbage in the charts (Skrillex etc) is a cheesy bdasation of the original underground version (although even that wasn't terribly good or interesting really). In much the same way as 2 Unlimited's "Techno Techno Techno!" was not really comparable to the work of Richie Hawtin or Jeff Mills. Dubstep was quite a cool, dark, twisted underground scene but like any musical genre the cheesy moneymakers have moved in - what makes it worse is that the Americans seem to have taken to it and called it EDM and made it even worse.

[krunchkin]

Here are some Americans at an EDM 'rave' to give you the full horror....

http://www.thepoke.co.uk/2013/07/12/the-greatest-n...

Worth spooling through the 3 1/2 hours of sheer horror here to find the best bits. Truly jawdropping.

[Hoofy]

To me, it's like the breakdowns in DnB forgot to let the main tune come back. All rather dull. The local climbing centre has been playing it for a few years mixed in with other music on their Mac (randomised playlist feeding the speakers) so I've been force-fed quite a bit of it. Not heard anything that's convinced me it's worthwhile bothering with. Also, that you can catch it on Kiss 100 or Radio 1 late at night as opposed to something I'd enjoy is irritating, so it's not like "if you don't like it, don't listen to it" applies.

[kowalski655]

Not bad when weaponised

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDlif8Km4S4

[anonymous-user]

Dubstep isn't a massively rigid genre, whereas it has crossover into drum and bass for example. There are scales of 'dubsteppiness' where the softcore stuff can be quite tuneful and the hardcore a bit more noisy and beaty. I like the bass drop concept of dubstep and I like the tempo. Softer stuff like Sub Focus (eg Tidal Wave) and Dansette Junior Paranoid can be quite tuneful.

[Tonsko]

krunchkin said:

You have to remember that the screeching garbage in the charts (Skrillex etc) is a cheesy bdasation of the original underground version (although even that wasn't terribly good or interesting really). In much the same way as 2 Unlimited's "Techno Techno Techno!" was not really comparable to the work of Richie Hawtin or Jeff Mills. Dubstep was quite a cool, dark, twisted underground scene but like any musical genre the cheesy moneymakers have moved in - what makes it worse is that the Americans seem to have taken to it and called it EDM and made it even worse.

This. I can't see you liking any of it, but you could check out some Skream, Loefah, Digital Mistikz and for something slightly more approachable, Burial. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlEkvbRmfrA

[krunchkin]

Here are 2 examples of good use of Dubstep style breakdowns mixed with quality D&B tunes.

DANNY BYRD - BRISTOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5gAzAGCuIM

NETSKY - EVERYDAY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM_DwcxlztY
(This one is used on Forza Horizon I believe)

[Hoofy]

krunchkin said:

Here are 2 examples of good use of Dubstep style breakdowns mixed with quality D&B tunes.

DANNY BYRD - BRISTOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5gAzAGCuIM

NETSKY - EVERYDAY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM_DwcxlztY
(This one is used on Forza Horizon I believe)

1st song is DnB. Can't see anything dubstep about it. (Dubstep uses the same sounds as DnB of 2005-2010 era if you think it sounds a bit like dubstep.)

2nd song is ruined by dubstep (at 2'55). The first 3 minutes were good, though. I hate the way it builds up then dies. Back when I were a lad, it built up to something.

[egomeister]

krunchkin said:

EDM

Aah, Electronic Dance Music. As opposed to all that other dance music...

[RealSquirrels]

Akira kiteshi http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EcWKCj09Pfc

[TwigtheWonderkid]

I thought dubstep was one of the classes you could do down at the gym.

[Condi]

Like everything, there is the good, the bad and the ugly.

Original dubstep was very nice - work by the likes of Plastician, Kode 9, Skream, Benga, Burial, Coki, etc. Unfortunately the US market preferred something more in your face and the genre went away from the 'sub-bass' elements which make it so fantastic. I wouldnt class someone like Skrillex, or indeed many of the 'dubstep producers' on youtube as dubstep artists.

See what you make to this sort of stuff;

Plastician - Japan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZjbCkRJq44

Burial - NYC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv1BfpZkuFA

Skream - Midnight Line Request
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6pTSGvp7T8

Benga and Coki - Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNStVlJWy88

There are still good producers coming through - Bondax, Pheleh, Blackmill, Mt Eden etc. Its all out there, you just have to look.

[RedLeicester]

Do you like the dub?

Pure genius.

[Baryonyx]

Yes, it is a load crap, that much is obvious.

[stevenjhepburn]

I like some dubstep like La Roux - In for the kill (Skream remix).

[PomBstard]

RedLeicester said:

Do you like the dub?

Pure genius.

Liked that - amusing and disturbing all at the same time

[irocfan]

just out of curiosity having listened to the La Roux track (and not too bad it is either)... where does that leave these guys?

http://infected-mushroom.com/music/