A defense of tastes

I tend to like some bands in a spectecularly different way than most of their fanbase. And since the characteristics of a fanbase usually affects how the non-fans perceive a band, I often receive surprised reactions when I reveal my feelings towards them. "Anathema?" they say, "but they make depressing and lame love songs that only unrealistically romantic teenagers like. How could you like them?" Or sometimes they go "You listen to Dredg..." and not-so-silently laugh.

All tongue-in-cheek of course, I don't have cruel friends. But still, this is a thing that happens.

Then, an early Saturday morning while waiting for breakfast time, I remember of that song with awesomely crafted music and cheesy but perfectly delivered lyrics. I play it, back to back for a couple of times even, which is something I never do. And not much later, I start defending my taste of music - which favors Anathema as much as the power-progressive metal kings Blind Guardian, the finnish acoustic neofolk guys Tenhi, the ethereal voice of Loreena McKennitt, or the soundtrack to the Hotline Miami - against all the minor backlash I received in my life about this.

I mean, there is an acoustic guitar that plays one of the most subtle melodies you can find, and there are harmonic tings and tangs spread all over it, which is just an incredible touch. And then the drums kick in, very basic and pure, along with the vocals as calm as they can be at the brink of a storm. Clean electroguitar kindly accompanies this part with no claim of fame - all instruments know their place and perform perfectly. We go through almost every part of the song in this calm but deliberate mood, for about two minutes. Without you knowing it, suspense builds up. And then, the distortion enters, but doesn't crowd, the scene, just adding intensity to everything. The vocals respond by getting a little more excited, a little less calm. It doesn't matter that the words are very simple, almost elementary school level sentences. Their delivery is exactly how it should be. That it's easy to sing along is a plus at this point, letting the listener share the feeling they are meant to feel, as intense as possible. And the solo guitar takes things away, dominating the song without overwhelming the general sound, leading into a short and simple but fitting acoustic outro.

How do you not like this? Even some of those who like it are idiots, how can you not like this?

And thus, I conclude my defense.