There are certain items that 21st century American irony has made new again, and we are all the more glad for it. Like the fact that its okay to say that you listen to motown.

Then there are grey areas of ironic appreciation that are neither particularly rewarding nor artistically offensive. Like the return of synthesizers to music. Or shutter shades. Or beards.

But there are many stupid, stupid things that hipsters have brought back from the dead. So I suggest that we all kill this zombie memory of Limp Bizkit before it somehow becomes "ironic" to appreciate rap-rock.

There are few things that force me to lose any sense of live-and-let-live cultural relativism moreso than Rap-rock, and the disgusting musical era that was 1998-2003. This was all terrible music. Limp Bizkit. Linkin Park Sucked. Drowning Pool sucked. Papa Roach sucked. Staind Sucked (*ok, not really rap-rock, but just as bad). I don't want to hear any "oh, that's just, like, you're opinion, man" crap. This was the worst music ever produced by humans. End it forever. Never let it return in an ironic format. Banish it. Never speak of it again. No reunion tours.

(Didn't slate just write another article about Korn? Whats going on here?!!)

I agree 1000%. I swear there are times I want to go into Williamsburg and start setting fires and punching every single person I see in the face. Strangle them with neon fat laces and drown them in Stella or whatever the cool beer to drink is now. Probably fucking Hamms.

There is only one cool person in Williamsburg. And he's moving out.

I take it you were a britney spears fan during that time?

It's easy to be a critic and say "everythings stupid" and "everything sucks." You sound like a whiny teenager.

Aqualad:

In what world do people listen to Motown "ironically"?

You mean to tell me that there's a world where people listen to Marvin Gaye seriously?!! Oh. My. God.

The line between listening to music ironically or seriously is a vague one. More likely, people may listen to something and actually like it, but make a big deal about talking about it because it makes them seem totally legit. Motown currently qualifies as a type of music to boost your credibility with. World music too, especially latin-oriented stuff.

Liking Johnny Cash got huge. Stuff like that.

Jazz and Classical still aren't cool enough.

FirstinLastout,

I will be glad to whine like a 2-year-old when Nu-metal and Rap rock are brought up. Don't even get me started on Nickelback.

"Never made it as a wise man. I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing..." - Sooooo deep and meaningful.

well, what is it that you listen to then so the rest of us can make fun of it? Every time there is a music article, 99% of the posts are about how much they suck. Not that limp bizkit was particularly good, but they had their time and place, just like everything else. If I go back and listen to almost any music produced at a different time, it almost always comes off as cheesy or bad.

And whats wrong with Nickelback? I'm not an avid fan but its at least more listenable than most of the other pop crap that gets play these days. If I have to choose between Nickelback and Taylor Swift and Lil Wayne, I'll take Nickelback every time.

music fans hating on music critics is a time honored tradition. I'm just doing my part.

I listen to almost everything, but I have certain bands and genres that I love to hate. The whole nu-metal and rap-rock thing probably covers the the widest swath of things that I can't stand. I really dislike Coldplay and U2, though I like every single band that gets compared to them. Reggaeton sounds to me like something that was designed to torture detainees in guantanamo.

I liked Vampire Weekend, which means I'm not capable of forming an opinion on Rap/Hip Hop.

And I can't choose between the lesser of all the three musical evils you list there.

The point is, nu-metal and rap rock have already dissapeared from our collective musical history. This is the first citation of that era that I have seen in the past 5 years. Everyone just wanted to forget these idiots existed. I'm really glad that we've chosen to collectively paper over the fact that this ever happened. In damnatio memorai.

Nobody's willing to utter the phrase "guilty pleasure"? I always thought Limp Bizkit was lame, but I still love the first two Linkin Park discs. I'd never make the case that they are high art, but if someone with a voice as awful as Vince Neil's can enjoy a resurgence, surely rap metal can be enjoyed.

Now a Wild Side/Nookie mashup - THAT would be awesome. ;)

Very droll. Almost agree. 'Cept for this:

Then there are grey areas of ironic appreciation that are neither particularly rewarding nor artistically offensive. Like the return of synthesizers to music.

I personally think that acts like Zombi, M83, Sleepy Eyes of Death, and Wizardzz are some of the most interesting things happening in music. Then again, I grew up on Michael Mann and Dario Argento, with soundtracks by Tangerine Dream and Goblin. My view, therefore, may be skewed . . . but it's not ironic, and certainly not (intentionally) hip.

Other than that, lovely post. And Limp Bizkit? MAN they suck.

If I go back and listen to almost any music produced at a different time, it almost always comes off as cheesy or bad.

Really? Do you limit your music appreciation to TV theme songs and ad jingles? If you're bored by everything except the spanking-est new Beyonce track, perhaps you should think twice before criticizing those who would call Limp Bizkit trash.

If I have to choose between Nickelback and Taylor Swift and Lil Wayne, I'll take Nickelback every time.

/shudder. Glimpses of my personal hell.

"Good evening, madam. Tonight's specials are the shit sandwich, spaghetti with shit sauce, and shit portofini."

"Mmm, I'll take the spaghetti with shit sauce."

....let's say it was the worst music by humans since the awful corporate rock era of the mid-70s. I lived through REO, Styx, Kiss, Journey, Kansas...all that awful era. NOTHING could be worse than that, not even 80s hair bands. Was it any wonder that I fell on my knees in joy when I first heard the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, the Clash?

I ask you.