Okay, read thru the whole thread, this has to be the greatest thread ever and the greatest forum ever! The debate between FP and PDP was amazing! I realize the thread has returned to its intended direction but I guess I'm commenting on the thread in it's entirety... here goes...
The most often talked about subject in this thread was GaGa. Yes, she is or was a girl, Stephanie something, a gorgeous brunette who seems to have been brainwashed by her Illuminati handlers. Anway, one thing I will assert is that YES, GaGa/Stephanie IS the best artist/musician/songwriter on the market today! Let me explain why.
I listen to EVERY and ANY genre of music. It simply needs substance, groove, energy, talent, any combination of these or all. GaGa is amazing. Her piano work is flawless. Her composition is stellar. Her timing and tempo changes are emotional and pull you through the tune, feeling the rush and heartbreak as she explains the sad state of things with her eerire, kind of faded starlet past her prime vocals that are pretty yet haunting at the same time.
And then there's the sad, sad fact that one of the most talented artists to come along in a LONG time gives all that up for fame and fortune, turns all her hard written, well thought out compositions into mindless MIDI auto tuned crap, becomes a drag queen he/she thing and goes for the cheap thrill. What a waste but its my opinion. As an artist, its got to be a crippling thing to realize that no one likes what I can do naturally, even though I know Im amazing for doing it, but I want everyone to like me more so Ill just let the computer play my melodies while I sing and run around in my bra and panties.
IMO, if she had just done her own thing, she would have developed a cult following, like Adelle, and, when her figure faded when she was older, her fan base may have still been there. Im sure 90% of her fan base doesnt even know what a talented pianist she is! Like the one poster stated, the general public are IDIOTS! He is right.
In the other corner, let's look at Vanessa Carlton: a fresh, young, budding pianist comeso ut of the woodwork with a hit song and a knockout body and look. The industry defenitely has plans to sex her up and sell her out as it did GaGa. This time, the artist refuses. Vanessa goes on to a diff label with then B-friend Stephan Jenkins, lead man from Third Eye Blind, to create one of my most favorite albums, Harmonium. The album is not for everyone but it is pure piano tunes written from a soul that has so many interesting influences from all different spectrums that blend together into an album with a total indie, hipster, folk vibe to it and, including her sexy as hell moaning vocals, creates just a wonderful listen from start to finish. She goes on to another record label, becuz, like last time, her current label wants more sex, less uniqueness, and releasees Heroes to Thieves, an album that seems to sort of pick up from where Harmonium left off, with Jenkins doing a bit more songwriting and way too much producing (IMO) but it sounds nice, if not a little ambiguous. After her and Jenkins break up and the label dumps her for the same reasons the others did, she finally has a breakdown, sells her house in NY, and pays for Rabbits on the Run to be recorded out of pocket. Rabbits on the Run is one of the most amzing albums you'll ever hear. Recorded in a tiny studio somewhere in England on nothing but analog, the album totally takes us back in time to when music was something special.
Moving on, I wanna touch on the pop dribble. And yes, a lot of it is dribble. But saying it all is is similar to saying that anyone who can play guitar but cant read sheet music is not a real musician. Bad analogy, I know. Just bare with me.
My case here is none other than Miley Cyrus. Miley Cyrus?! WTF?!! I know, right? But read on...
The song I'm thinking off is that annoying, catchy tune that says "She's just being Miley, the next time we hang out...something, something, etc., etc.," Anyways, if you ever heard the song, you probably hate it. But listen to it again and THIS time, imagine the same tempo and groove and key BUT Marilyn Manson and his band playing it. All the sudden, its awesome. My point here is that its simply good songwriting and a nice recording. IMO, this is not crap but well composed, catchy, straight to the point rock that would sound better with Manson screaming out than little slut Miley. It's all in the context, I suppose. She DOES have a nice butt. Except that's not where her voice comes out... or maybe it is?

okay, moving along...
Other points I have is that I listen to music objectively, fully open minded and simply for the reason that I enjoy music in general and I also enjoy critically listening to what the engineer did when he put the piece together. I listen to Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, Jay Z, Cannibal Corpse, Mastadon, Iced Earth, Metallica, Megadeth, Mandy Moore, Britney, GaGa, Elton John, the Who, Gordon Lightfoot, Kenney CHesney, Mozart, ANYTHING! And I enjoy them all. Why? They're all music. Now, I PREFER some over others. My main focus is rock and thrash metal. I have a Mustaine Dean VMNTX, the United Abominations V and I love the hell out of that fingerboard. But I also love my Ovation acoustic. Music is meant to be enjoyed. I agree that oyu need to find your niche and run with it.
The music I'm working on right now sounds like a mix between Third Eye Blind and the Who. Is Third Eye Blind a faggy pop band? To most who have never taken the time to investigate, that answer will probably be yes. But how many fagggy pop groups have lyrics such as, you f**king whore, I'll kill you? featured over a poppy, Who sounding rock anthem? I'll admit, Stephan has simply lost his mind and I think the band should just stop already, but that's another discussion.
My point is is that saying one form of music is crap SIMPLY becuz you don't enjoy it is not realistic. I'm not into death metal. My ONLY reason is becuz I HATE the way they sing. I don't enjoy listening to it and I can't stand not being able to understand what they say. BUT I love singing it myse3lf!! LOL how goof y is that? I love playing death metal music, cuz its fast. But right now my fav spped metal band is Dragonforce and even most folks dont consider them to metal.
Where you can really find a lot of quality music and musicianship is in the indie scene, be it pop rock, metal, black metal, underground, urban, whatever. I think music is too braod and vast to say any particular genre is crap as a whole.