Determining a song's genre?

[shinysideup]

I write a lot of songs and they never really fit nicely into any given genre.
Well that, and the fact that new genres seem to be coined everyday.
I don't let genre define what I do, I just do it.

Now, this is probably a dumb question, but hey, I specialize in those, so...

Is there anywhere I can post songs and have listeners indicate what
genre they feel a song fits into? I realize it would be highly subjective,
but any points-in-the-right-direction would be awesome!

Thanks!

[oddstep]

I'd have thought that what you're asking would be the internet equivalent of wearing a t shirt that says "kick me hard". Put tracks on soundcloud and ask people to comment. I am guessing you want to know so you can market tracks effectively... You could google genre names and then check youtube clips and online mixes.... That will give an understanding of what a genre sounds like. Then its basically a question of "does my track sound like this one". You can't trust other peoples opinions anyway, they're all tone deaf idiots. Also, I have always thought that if you have to ask "is it genre x", then it probably isn't.

[Warrior Bob]

Start with some broad genre your music fits into (i.e. house, techno, disco, whatever). Choose a prominent element or topic in your music or artist name, and prepend the genre with that (i.e. "phaser trance", "shiny house", "mullet disco").

For added flavor, add adjectives to taste. (i.e. "symphonic blood trance", "uplifting mullet disco").

This also works with metal and any genre ending in 'core.'

[antarktika]

a good helping of "neo-" never hurts either, especially for "-core" based genres.

[gromgrom]

a good helping of "neo-" never hurts either, especially for "-core" based genres.

A Post- is equally cool

[shinysideup]

Aside of the snarky opening, thanks.

I've tried all kinds of music sites... and the thing is, as you mentioned, it's purely subjective at the usual hubs.
People hear one tiny element and box it into the genre where they heard a similar tiny element. It's pointless, IMHO.

I never ask if my songs are "genre x"; that's too leading. Nor do I place them in any genre. Most genres sound so similar to me that,
again, it's pointless to try and label music. I do have an understanding of many genres, but with all the sub-genres
(which usually are just rehashes of the original genre they're subbing), I'm left wondering where my stuff *actually* fits.
I don't market music; I give it all away for free, to clarify, and I'm interested in continuing to write material in many genres, so
that's what I've been doing. Above all else, I love my fans eyebrows to be raised; there's no sense pretending to be a one-trick-pony
when that's not the case.

[shinysideup]

gromgrom and antarktika,

Post, neo...

That's exactly what I'm talking about when I say that most genres are a rehash of the genre they're subbing and not a new genre.

The field has become mud.

[Warrior Bob]

Aside of the snarky opening, thanks.

I've tried all kinds of music sites... and the thing is, as you mentioned, it's purely subjective at the usual hubs.

Hopefully my post didn't come across as condescending! It was meant for fun, nothing else.

Genres, being slang, are kind of hard to categorize precisely. I think your best bet is, like oddstep said, to just put it up somewhere and invite commentary. I've had good luck at cloudkillers.com getting some basic exposure, perhaps you could include a message somewhere about specifically looking for genre categorization?

[regretfullySaid]

This is old school but it still may be helpful. It's been out of date for years, and since new geners are made up everyday, it's gotta feel pointless to keep up with. Hopefully he'll update it, though. He's really right on the money for the most part when he describes the genres.

http://techno.org/electronic-music-guide/music.swf

Or you could just be a trendsetter, pick a word and add step to the end of it ie "mudstep", punkstep", "slushstep", "the clapstep", "budstep", etc.

[shinysideup]

Thanks for the clarification, Warrior Bob... as with 99% of forums on the net, I assumed it was a troll. I do appreciate your reply, thanks.

[shinysideup]

Thanks shadx, I've seen that somewhere before...but wondered what ever became of it.

I think I'll just say screw it and group all my songs (regardless what they sound like)
under a personal, new genre.

Works for me.