What I like

People are often surprised, when I'm discussing books, movies, or music, not so much at the stuff I like but at the stuff I don't like. I realize that, as a writer and musician, my tastes are pretty narrow and specific. As opposed to so many other writers and musicians who have a very broad palettte and like all sorts of stuff, even if they only write or play a specific genre.

For example, I don't care for fiction. Period. I did, at one time, but I don't anymore. I just lost my taste for it. And everyone that hears that says the same name and heartily recommends his stuff--Dean Koontz. Sorry. Read several of his books, and really didn't care for them. I just didn't see it. And please understand that I'm not saying there is anything wrong with people who like Koontz--many of my friends enjoy the guy's work--but it's not to my taste. I mean, I really hated it.

Musically, about all I like is metal of some kind--usuallly Gothic but I do branch out into other areas. I don't care for pop music, I detest country, I do not understand hip-hop. Punk bores me. Rockabilly makes me really irritable. Evanescence is about as light and pop-py as I get these days. Again, if you dig that stuff, I'm not saying it's wrong. I'm just saying it's not my thing.

I like music that has life and energy. Music that's full of some sort of genuine emotion, even if that emotion is rage or sadness. Most of the stuff that gets produced these days lacks that--it's all formulaic, processed, all the emotion and meaning carefully removed to make it palatable to as many people as possible. Or it's just one mean-spirited, sarcastic song after another-- a little of that is okay, but that starts getting on my nerves eventually, too.

Anyway, people seem to take it personally when they discover I don't care for their particular style of music, or their particular artist. I don't know why. I don't take it personally when people say they don't care for my music. In fact, I'm usually surprised when somebody does.

Same with movies--I'm not wild about the formulaic, processed stuff that dominates the theater during the summer. Visually some of them are interesting but unless there's a compelling story with characters I find interesting a series of pretty pictures gets boring to me really quick.

But, again, that's just my opinion.