First, the photo of semitopless Twister includes the only SG I know in real, actual life.
Second, a paragraph from this entry made me suddenly realize why I've never really connected with heavy metal:
metal, like all alternative styles of music, is supposed to be a reaction to feelings you have. and then the form of music you play is supposed to be the only way you can express those strong emotions. if you're just screaming "fuck fuck fuck. kill kill kill. i hate your face," then you're not reacting, you're just screaming what you're thinking about. that's one of the reasons i loved sepultura, but never got into soulfly. metal, much like the rest of music, needs to find it's passion. till then, i'll continue exploring new genres of music while continuing to pick up discs by the bands who still have something important to say and they can say it with feeling.
I went to a metal show a few months ago with some friends, and although I dug the show and found the music interesting, my friends assumed (from my body language, or something) that I wasn't digging the show at all. I didn't give it much thought at the time, but I'm sure this is the reason -- my friends connected to this music on an emotional level, whereas I was standing back analyzing the rhythm & harmonic structure, watching the musicians' hands, figuring it all out.
Although I found the music engaging, it didn't move me. I didn't feel it. And I think Gonzoe's description provides the key. I just don't respond to anger, or rage. I mean, I can grant that it's a fine artistic statement, but I don't get it on a personal level. I rarely feel angry, and when someone else is giving off that kinda vibe, I may understand, I may even sympathize... but at heart, I don't really get it. I don't feel it.
I put together a King Crimson mix CD for one of these friends a few months ago, picking some of Crimson's hardest-hitting pieces... It's not exactly metal, but King Crimson is my favorite band, and has influenced so many metal bands over the years, I figured there was a chance some of it would hit home for my friend. But I think I may understand now why it didn't. Although it's hard rock -- hardcore in a non-genre sense, even -- it doesn't have the rage. No anger at all, really, now that I think about it. And if you're looking for that specific type of emotional core to the music, I'm guessing King Crimson just won't satisfy.
This is not to say I don't connect to music emotionally. Even King Crimson -- for example, "Starless" rips my heart out by the end, every time. But ultimately I'm much more at home with ironic detachment than I am with wrath.
I'm annoyed, the Keaton movies I ordered still have not arrived. You know, unless they came while I was in Chicago and the mailman left them on my steps and they were stolen, but let's hope that didn't happen.