So, this has been on my mind lately, it’s 100% ok to prefer a bands older music. Bands evolve and change over time, that’s normal, but when there’s such a sharp turn that it doesn’t even sound like them anymore many older fans will start saying they prefer their older stuff.
The thing that gets me is, the newer fans or casual fans tend to get offended at this. Not all, but for sure a vocal minority, screaming, “Elitism!” In the comment section of music videos.
Mr. Macabre is hear to tell you, it’s ok, you don’t have to enjoy something just because it’s new. Defending a band no matter what they do musically, I think it’s a bad thing.
New can be good, but that doesn’t mean that it always is. It’s not healthy to idealize an artist, criticism can be a tool to bring forth innovation and positive development. Sometimes new work is good, sometimes it is bad.
What makes it more difficult is when the band makes a sharp turn and they get popular off of it. Good on them for growing their audience! But that doesn’t mean the original fans no longer have a voice in the fan community of that band. Don’t get nasty and say things against other fans just cause they prefer one style of the band over the other, but explain your reasons on a musical basis.
I think keeping things in this light, on a musical basis of why you dislike what a band does is respectable. Don’t get personal and mean to random strangers, but explain on a musical level why you think something is good or not.
Older fans have every right to feel the way they do, so long as their not being jerks about it. Keep things about the music. You can still enjoy their older stuff, and perhaps the band will touch back on it someday.
It’s Ok To Prefer A Bands Older Stuff is marked with CC0 1.0
M-Alt 