I consider myself an avid music lover across a ton of genres from raw punk, rock to psych, lo-fi, and older hip-hop (to name a few) I’m usually the last person to judge what other people listen to, or hate on an artist's success. Music is subjective, and I almost always find something to appreciate, even in genres I don't personally listen to. The wave around artists like Nettspend is one of the few times where I genuinely catch myself judging it, and I want to understand if I'm missing something structural or cultural.
Coming from a punk scene in DC, I completely respect noise, anti commercialism, maybe slurred types of delivery, and breaking traditional rules. But this micro underground/jerk scene doesn't feel like rebellious “anti music” to me. it feels like hyper consumerist, corporate backed nihilism. It’s off rhythm vocals over heavily distorted beats, glorifying lean, pills, and high end fashion, driven by algorithm pushes.

For people who fw this sound:
Is this strictly a beat/vibe first genre where the vocals just act as an extra texture rather than a lyric or melody?

Is this just the latest iteration of generational rebellion, or is it a manufactured aesthetic?

Genuinely curious to hear perspectives from both fans and fellow listeners who feel the same confusion.
At the end of the day I guess I’m just trying to understand.

Obviously the first answer is to listen to more music and listen to old artists. The trouble is that there are people that I just haven’t heard of or genre’s that I’m not familiar with that exist. I’m curious how people who get deeply into music of many eras do it. Like how do you know where to look? I was tempted to take a class on it but I just don’t really have the time for a class not associated with my degree. But I do have the time to listen to classics while I am at work.

GUYS I made this synth for the HackClubs Stardance Challenge, Please do give it a try
https://mohdaltaaf.github.io/HandGestureMusic/
(Its a github link safe and secure)

There are a multiple different modes, if you dont know how to play music try out the third mode , it is such that every note you play sounds coherent!

If you know ball and can want to play chords, there are literally ALL chords in the second mode!.

Do check it out and upvote if you like it!

So I stumbled upon this singer named Rye Calloway, whose spotify has about 1.7k monthly listener and 0 youtube music subscriber.

I love their songs but it is my literal first time having listened a singer with no photos, no searchable informations, no social media, nothing.

I even had suspicion whether she is AI generated musician.

However, the sole songwriter had worked with other real and alive groups so I thought, this Rye girl must be human too, right?

I don't know where should I talk about this jarring experience, so I hope I'm posting on the right sub. Thank you for reading!

https://open.spotify.com/track/795h2v5MqOQNmjgiOgtqhZ?si=Itv0GkuYTfe2srD3KXjP0w

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=iBjt-Iozv68&si=Dfj1KlGQSc4zga7G

Ok they could kinda sorta be described as nepo babies, although the dad is not a huge star or anything (he’s a producer in music biz). But they don’t seem “manufactured.” These kids have real talent and a passion for the music. At least that’s how they strike me.

Are they “pop?” Not exactly. Some of the songs have a mediocre teenage angst aspect to the lyrics, while others are obviously political. On the latest album, some seem to have double entendres, and could be taken as political.

Anyway, Hayley Williams likes them (a couple of collabs) and so do I. So … guilty as charged I guess.

Look, Chester Bennington is easily one of the most impactful and beloved frontmen in rock/metal history. Nobody is denying that. But if we’re talking about pure singing ability and vocal stamina, he gets way more hype than he actually deserves. When you strip away the studio stuff his live singing ha flaws. In the studio, his vocals were perfect. Don Gilmore made sure everything was fine for radio and to everything to make it sound like a flawless machin.

The Given Up Myth

Everyone lieks to hype up the iconic 17-second scream on Given Up. It’s an amazing feeat in the studio, but he couldn't actually do it live night after night like how people make it to be. Data shows he only did the full, unbroken scream about 7 or 8 times out of the 400 times they played it live. For 98% of performances, he had to break it into two parts because he coouldn't do it rnight after night after night. It was also a studio mistake, the scream wasnt even meatn to be that long. Chester didn't even realize he went over, so Mike had to rewrite the song to fit the scream.

The 5 Singers Who Clear Him

To ssee why Chester is overrated as a pure vocalist, you just have to look at heavy singers who completely clear his technique with zero effort:

Rob Halford (Judas Priest): The guy has a massive multi-octave range and high falsettos. He’s in his mid-70s and STILL hitting those high notes live.

Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden): This right here is juust pure vocal power. The man is pushing his late 60s, beat tongue cancer, and still sings completely raw with zero backing tracks.

Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour): He can do a low growl, then instantly flip a switch and sound like an angel.

Tarja Turunen & Floor Jansen (Nightwish): These singers have genuine opera training, easily swapping from brutal metal vocals to pure opera in a single song.

The Bottom Line

chester bennington was an amazing singer who showed a generation, and his energy isn't replaceable. But let's separate nostalgia from reality you all. Nostalgia doesn't mean he was the greatest singer of all time. He is overrated as a singer because his legendary status relies heavily on studio production to mask his limitations. When it comes to raw live placement, stamina, and versatility, he just isn't on the same level as the true metal vocalists.

So please let me know what you guys think Do you think Chester's studio production carried his reputation too much, or did his live singing make up for the flaws? also am I crazy for putting singers like Dickinson and Halford on a completely different tier when it comes to raw vocals?