Trans-Siberian Orchestra is just about the worst thing I've ever heard

[Orrex]

Honestly, has there ever been a more aggressive and violent performance of popular music? It's nauseating!

If I were shooting a film about a family butchered in its sleep by machete-wielding maniacs on Christmas Eve, I'd consider asking the TSO to do the soundtrack.

But then I'd reconsider, realizing that the horror of the scene would be totally overwhelmed by the horror of the music.


Who likes this awful stuff?

[rug]

1. Rabrrrrr does this better.

[Orrex]

2. If it's an anti-TSO rant, I will be very happy to read it.

[rug]

3. I don't know how he feels about them but this is the TSO of rants.

[UTUSN]

4. Bwah-ha-HAH !1 I've never heard them, but bad musicians give me the giggles!1

Like that delicious giggling in church or other suppressive places. Back a Brazillion years ago, in the band, ensembles of us, supposedly the best of the best, were making rounds at Christmas, playing for ladies' groups and clubs and such, and we were the woodwinds and there was this brass group and the French horn or somebody was just hitting a clinker of a blaring note, every time, and we were supposed to show professional courtesy but couldn't, giggling and giggling. The hostess came around with a dignified, stately air of "concern" for us. She didn't scold but she didn't smile, either.

[rug]

5. They're actually quite accomplished musicians.

There are two versions touring as well.

[Orrex]

6. I don't doubt their musicianship

It's like being pounded on the head by a truly accomplished sledgehammer artist.

[tigereye]

20. he!

:rofl: I am sorry, but that was hilarious, Orrex. Score one.

[rug]

22. They may have a reason to.

[Kat45]

9. Yes. A friend of mine is in that group.

Though I've never gone to see them. She tours in the West Coast ensemble, and I live on the East Coast so I never bothered to go see them.

[hamsterjill]

44. That's it!!!

I did not know there were two versions touring! That explains it!

We saw them two years ago and thought they were fantastic. Naturally, when they came back to town earlier this month, we bought tickets. Boy, were we disappointed. It was the most boring concert I've ever attended and people by the droves were getting up and walking out.

One saving grace, however, was that the band donated a portion of each ticket to a local high school band for new uniforms and instruments. So, regardless of whether I liked their performance....I like their style. It was a sizable donation.

[tigereye]

7. I don't really care for it- too bombastic.

prefer Anonymous 4, medieval, jazz, blues carols or classical.

[Lucian]

8. I like them.

[Common Sense Party]

10. They're quite good.

Different strokes for different folks...may be too difficult a concept for some to grasp.

[qnr]

11. Precisely. Nothing gives me more sympathy for an artist or group than to have

someone lambast them as evil incarnate.

[Orrex]

14. You're right about that

Different strokes for different folks...may be too difficult a concept for some to grasp.

Absolutely correct, and never is this more evident than when a critic takes issue with some fan's favorite; invariably the fan begins frothing about the critic's intolerance and ignorance, rather than saying "you know, I can see how the violently percussive string section might be decidedly off-putting to some listeners."

[undeterred]

12. Machete-wielding maniacs like them.

They bring a boombox along on Christmas Eve.

:hide:

[WillParkinson]

13. I served a bunch of the band last night...

Don't know much about their music but they were pretty nice folks. (See the thread about the one that gave me the early xmas gift.)

[Graybeard]

15. Mike Malloy's music of choice

On Malloy's great Winter Solstice show every year he plays carols by TSO. They go well with his irreverent take on the holiday. (He also insists on playing that guy who screeches O Holy Night!)

[lukasahero]

16. "Old City Bar"

Yeah, real "machete-wielding maniacs" on display here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA0vPtboZIw

[Orrex]

17. You really don't get it, do you?

I never said that TSO were machete-wielding maniacs. I said that their music (specifically their in-your-face and BOOM BOOM BOOM Christmas music) would be too extreme even for scene in a film that featured machete-wielding maniacs.

A subtle distinction perhaps, but significant.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

18. Mannheim Steamroller is much better.

[lukasahero]

26. And my point was not all their christmas music was the same

Guess you just don't get it either.

[we can do it]

19. Me Its Fun and Eases the Winter Depression

[Haole Girl]

21. But at least one of them has a cute tushie

:-)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x9584728

[TZ]

23. Dr. Strange LOVES them

And posts stuff from them on FB all the time. I happen to like the Christmas light syncs with their music on Youtube. So does most of my family actually. We listened to them yesterday.....
So um, you want to rethink your position or do you want to go ahead and say me and my family (including a retired PROFESSIONAL musician) have sucky taste? :popcorn:
Also, critiquing music the Strange One likes is likely to make you a candidate for a non-head position of the Human Centipede. Just sayin...:evilgrin:

[CreekDog]

24. But that doesn't mean they're not any good

:rofl:

[Dr. Strange]

28. Clearly you need a lesson on the fundamentals of logic.

If I like their music, they are good. QED.

The inverse holds as well: if I don't like their music, then they sucketh.

Orrex needs some musical improvement.

[CreekDog]

30. when did your musical tastes change?

:hide:

[TZ]

31. Says Walgreens boy.

Who thinks Orange and Black is an attractive color combo...and that shoe polish beards are hawt. Should you really be judging others tastes?! :rofl:

[CreekDog]

33. For once in our lives, The Giants helped MLB celebrate Halloween

:rofl:

[TZ]

35. "I'm dreaming of an Orange Holloween...."

Doesn't QUITE have the same cache as White Christmas, but hey...:)

[Rabrrrrrr]

25. They're like having palsy, but without the hope that at least some day you'll die

because it's a rare hellish form of palsy that grants immortality.

They wouldn't bother me as much (though they'd still bother me) if they didn't try to dress up like metal-heads.

Just because you have distortion on your guitar, you simpering douchebag pussy, doesn't mean you're playing metal.

If they dressed like their music sounded (cardigan sweaters or sweater vests with dickies, loafers, 1980s-era sensitive-male-type permed hair, pleated corduroy slacks, and nothing in black) at least there'd be some honesty.

:puke:

They have all the ludicrous cliche shittiness of Poison, but with the aesthetic of a 70-year old midwestern hausfrau.

[Dr. Strange]

29. Oh yeah? Well, the Jerk Store called...

and they think TSO is awesome, so there!

Wait, no, the Jerk Store called, and they're running out of TSO albums. Ha!

Wait, no, they called and they just had sex with your wife.

Um, no, wait. Aw, fuck it.

[Rabrrrrrr]

39. LOL! Nice one.

I think? :shrug:

:think:

[rug]

36. Now, THAT's what I'm talking about.

:thumbsup:

Even when you're wrong, it's splendid to behold.

[Rabrrrrrr]

40. Thanks!

:yourock:

[Forkboy]

27. You mean there's ways to perfom popular music that ISN'T nauseating?

Who knew?

[TZ]

32. So sayeth the man

Whose music permanent scars those who are forced to listen....:rofl:

[Forkboy]

34. Well yeah!!

By the way, I just posted a good one on FB!!! You'll love it!!!! :D

[eyepaddle]

37. I myself lead a normally bombast-deprived life, and they address that shortfall.

Plus it can be hard to find a bloated 80s style concert with over the top pyrotechnics and lighting these days, and they can scratch that itch.

And it's awesome to see al the grandparents who go to the show get treated to a dose of Savatage unwarned.

I haven't been to one of their shows for a few years, but I will grant that the Christmas treacle does kind of bore me, and the second set (the one with more crunch, chug, and arpeggios) is much more to my taste. Plus it usually has explosions. At that show I saw, about four or five years ago, I was sitting WAAAYYYYY back in the upper deck at Target Center while the main lead singer was introducing the band members and the orchestra in an otherwise quiet arena, and I saw my chance; I let out a bellowing (and at 6'4" 240 pounds I have an impressive bellow) "MORE COWBELL!!!!!"

It cracked up about 6000 people. I almost felt gulty as I laughed my ass off for about five minutes. I don't have any doubt that the whole band could hea r what I said, and I wondered if they got a chuckle too, of more likely wanted me dead, instantly, but violently.

I'm still laughing at the memory. :)

[HughBeaumont]

38. I sure don't.

Never did. Never got into Savatage either.

[Gold Metal Flake]

41. They have an album titled "Night Castle".

It makes it's own gravy.

[Lisa0825]

42. They're the only Christmas music I have ever bought. I like them.

I love how a story is threaded through the CD. Old City Bar is one of my favorites. The vocals are outstanding, recorded by multiple Broadway singers.

[mikeytherat]

43. Play "Wizards in Winter" and think This is Spinal Tap - suddenly, it all makes sense.

During the main guitar hook, imagine this voiceover: "On the guitar - Nigel Tufnel. He wrote this."

mikey_the_rat