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If nothing else AI is making clear that there are people all around us for whom writing, art, and music are not communion with another mind, but just - wallpaper. Just pleasant things to look at. They think AI is conscious because they have no actual grasp of what it is to encounter another mind.

"With AI you'll never have to listen to music you don't like again!" is basically the musical equivalent of a sex doll. Like bots that only say yes and are never unavailable. It's absolute solipsism.

It's the whole 'nobody is allowed to feel any sort of discomfort ever' thing translated to music. (I still remember the first time I heard 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and it literally *frightened* me.)

I remember getting the first Rage Against the Machine album as an import and playing it to all my mates and they had that reaction.

They quickly learned to love it though

Yes! I first heard "Killing in the Name" when I was doing a week's work experience at a little audio-visual training college and had the same 'holy shit, what's that?' moment I had when I first heard "Teen Spirit." Both just had something completely new and epochal about them.

Yep, it they were some defining moments for me and my mates. Forged out musical appreciation for many years to come.

My mate made me a tape with 'Nevermind' on one side and Extreme's 'Pornograffitti' album on the other side. Even at the time it was incredible how Nirvana made Extreme sound instantly and hopelessly dated (even if more virtuosic)

Damn, I can't remember that last time I heard Extreme. I read an article earlier this week that posited that Nirvana, Metallica and Red Hot Chilli Peppers turned/woke up the music world around in 1991. I wouldn't go that far with the last 2 though.