Lately I've been hearing lots of trendy music. There's been an uproar of popularizing indie rock. Get that? Indie rock is now mainstream. They've even got their own music video station. MTVU I think, or something like that. Those that know me know very well that I don't watch that shit.

As life goes on, my tastes in music--like anything else--change over time. But there's one trait of music that's responsible for making it good. That trait is heart.

More and more bands evolve every day (thanks to guitar hero, everyone thinks they're a guitar player now!). Most bands, intentionally or not, end up mimicking some other band or entire genre. Instead of creating original music, they'll end up trying to fit into an existing space or realm. Come on, people; write something original. If I want to hear a genre I'll Pandora that fucker.

No matter what genre a song belongs to, if it ain't got heart, then it ain't got my vote. Electronic music is a fine example of this issue.

Anyone nowadays can grab a laptop, find some free or jacked software, and begin programming away, making beats that people will, simply put, blandly accept. It won't stand out much, and it won't live forever. There's just something missing in the electronic sounds, and that something is heart.

Pour your heart into a song, and people will respond. Just like with marketing, if you attack or hook peoples' emotions, you'll get a response. Music is no different.

Harry Nillsson poured his heart into the soundtrack to the 1980 movie Popeye, and I listen to those songs to this day. I sing my ass off to those ridiculous songs, but you know what... I love them! They're fun to sing and get stuck in my head; but they have heart.