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Written by Dan on April 10, 2008
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The fact is that there is simply too much music to ever hear it all. To make matters worse, there is a lot of music out there wasting your valuable time. Hopefully, it is well known by now that the radio is by far the worst place to find new music. Instead of listening to the music that’s being fed to you by the media, take some time to research your favorite artists and find the music you really love.

It is our goal to both bring attention to those artists we find exceptional and also to continue our search for that new favorite band yet to be found. This site aims to bring others along for the ride, but the site’s real purpose is simply a way for the authors to keep each other up to date with new music. However, we’re so picky that hopefully we’re simultaneously saving you time in your search for more music. If you’ve found at least one new band or artist that you just can’t wait to see live, then the site is going beyond its purpose in the best way possible. Conversely, we know there are people out there that have already heard the music we’re raving about. If that’s you, let us know what else we’re missing.

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Current Editors:

My name is Dan and I am what I like to call a nerd with social skills. I had worked in retail long enough that I no longer get knots in my stomach as soon as a stranger makes eye contact with me. Well, that’s not really true. My stomach hurts from the notion that someone might actually read this. But I am working on a graduate degree in applied physics. I am also that guy who will do homework on a Friday night because he’s bored (true story). It’s sad, I know. Physics degree plus no night life, you do the math.

On the flip side of things, I’m also an aspiring musician. Lately, I have been writing and arranging my own music out of my apartment. On one hand, it gives me an outlet for my musical ambition since I’m not currently in a band. On the other hand, it’s given me a much better appreciation for sound engineers and producers. Being able to play great music and being able to make a great recording of music are two completely different things.

The vast majority of my favorite bands are hard rock and metal, but I grew up with a wide variety of rock, jazz, and blues. Although, the funny thing is that my dad is the one that got me into bands like Tool and Opeth. No joke. My friends call that man Mr. Cutright with just respect. To this day, he and I still keep each other up to date with new music. However, it’s also his fault I like bands such as Toto. Way to go dad.

If you’d like to contact me some way other than posting comments on the site, you may do so via:

EmailFacebook | MySpace | Twitter

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Michael Shiavoni
I’m just a contributor to the site; Nirav and Dan are the creators and true O.G.’s [Nirav, you might need to translate that one for Dan]. My name is Mike, and one of my favorite feelings in the world is goose bumps - the ones that come from listening to music that really speaks to me.

I currently reside in L.A. so I suppose you can call me the site’s west coast correspondent. To me, a defining trait of an obnoxious listener is the ability to discern between quality music and music you personally like. Often the two overlap but one is hardly an exclusive requirement for the other.

I too have widely varying musical tastes. My favorites include prog rock/metal, jazz, and hip-hop. The progressive stuff fulfills my need for complex and well thought-out compositions. Conversely, I love jazz for its pure, elemental nature. Finally, hip-hop provides driving beats and deep lyrics that tend to lack in other genres. I’m also into classic rock, blues, classical music, and other various genres like electronic and funk.

I am hopelessly behind the times (no Facebook or MySpace account, and I’m not even sure what those other services that Dan and Nirav list are), so contact me at mike@obnoxiouslisteners.com if you desire attention.

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Emeritus Editors:
Nirav Sheth

I wake, eat, work, write, study,and sleep with music in my ears. I’ve been doing this for the last 10 years of my life. Though many would consider this unhealthy and an addiction, I can’t disassociate myself from it. My name is Nirav and I’m a music junkie.

It’s not even one type of genre either. I love it all: hip hop, progressive rock, hard rock, jazz, etc. If it’s quality, I’ll put it in my ears. If it sucks, I’ll curse and literally throw the music out the window. And I’m always craving for new music. If I don’t find it, I’ll go back and reminisce with old albums. And if that’s not an option, I hit a harsh withdrawal. And that is the absolute worst as I’ll start thinking of turning on the radio. Then I know I’ve hit rock bottom!

My love and obsession for music was inherited from my father who still to this day purchases a new Bollywood album per day. I hope that one day my music collection will trump his, though he’s way further ahead of me!

When not thinking or working with music, I serve as a designer and technology lead for a web design and development company named dboost. If you want to contact me, find me at:

Facebook | Twitter | MySpace | Flickr



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I was that kid. You remember, back in the ‘90s when you had an AOL account and you used to maunder through chat rooms talking about Gangsta Rap with people you’d never know, completely invigorated by this new and digitized dimension of socializing – and there’d have to be that one kid. That peurile little punk — all of a sudden emboldened by this new world of anonymity — who had to come to the “Rappers Only” chatroom with a screenname like ToolKornSnotShit666 and scroll RAPSUX RAPSUX RAPSUX until you head started to skip like an old Herbie Hancock record. Yeah, that was me. Sorry.

But think of how far we’ve come. I’ve taken guitar lessons, rolled with a DJ crew in Hollywood, meditated with the great Hindustani Classical musicians of our time, and discovered the wonderful world of, well, world music. And you! Now you’re coming to my chat room so I can bludgeon you with my opinions. You massochist, you.

If you’d like me to talk dirty to you, you can find me here:

Facebook | Twitter | ash@obnoxiouslisteners.com

I’m also a professional writer and new media editor. My work has appeared in Flavorpill, Flavorwire, and other tasty media outlets. If you’d like to contact me about work, the best way to reach me is here: ash@obnoxiouslisteners.com