Top 10 Best Music Genres

Heavy metal has gotten me through some very dark times. When my dog died, I listened to lots of Dio and Slayer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I listened to a lot of Slipknot, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motörhead, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Korn, System of a Down, Killswitch Engage, Deicide, Carcass, Morbid Angel, Cryptopsy, and Suffocation. It's always been here for me, and I am thankful for it.

Since this summer vacation (2023), as a teen, there's one genre I'm loving faster than any other genre: Heavy Metal. I started listening to artists like Slipknot and Five Finger Death Punch, and I love their music! In the future, I want to start a heavy metal band, and I'll become the guitarist. (Can't wait to hear my sister complain about the loud music my future band and I make, lol.)

Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Motörhead: the big four of British heavy metal and some of the greatest heavy metal bands not just in the UK, but throughout the whole wide world in general. Love 'em all!

No matter how much the media, pop, and rap fans trash it, metal will never die. The combination of low-tuned, heavy, distorted guitars, drumming that doesn't sound as if a human is playing but rather a machine, dark bass lines, and strong, gritty vocal delivery makes metal so great. Metal is so huge, and the fans are so passionate, that there are over 50 different subgenres, each unique in its own way. From the fast and influential thrash metal to the brutality and extremity of death and black metal, the diversity and compassion in the world of metal is astounding. Pop and rap have nothing on metal. Nothing can kill it. Fans will always be passionate about this incredible genre.

Alternative has to be at the top of this list because of the fact that this genre changes a whole bunch. It can go from soft to heavy in a split second. This genre is extremely diverse. Bands such as Radiohead, Muse, Linkin Park, Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, and so many more have changed the way music is.

Alternative does deserve #4 (or possibly even higher) on this list, but not for bands that most people here seem to mention (Linkin Park, Coldplay, Evanescence, My Chemical Romance, Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, etc.). I'm not saying those bands are bad (quite the contrary) or that they are not alternative (I personally would classify them as such). I'm saying those are not the essential alternative bands. The essential alternative bands are bands like R.E.M., U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, The Smiths, The Cure, Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, Stone Temple Pilots, Oasis, Blur, Radiohead, Green Day, Weezer, Rage Against the Machine, and Nine Inch Nails. The thing is, alternative already gained worldwide recognition in the '80s and was at its peak in the '90s, not as late as the 2000s. If you do like the 2000s alternative that is mostly mentioned here, I highly recommend you check out the '80s and '90s alternative.

Alternative is the best genre because it's the most creative. Look at the many famous bands that are considered "alternative": Linkin Park, Seether, Three Days Grace, Green Day, Evanescence, My Chemical Romance, Radiohead, Skillet, Nirvana, and the list goes on and on. What I also like about alternative is that you can't find a band that is only "alternative". Their music must be influenced by some other genre. For example, Evanescence is influenced by gothic, Nirvana by grunge, My Chemical Romance by emo, Green Day by punk, and Linkin Park by nu-metal, etc.

Linkin Park, Three Days Grace, Green Day, Breaking Benjamin, Evanescence, My Chemical Romance, Skillet... And many others!

These guys are on top of the world and are more loved than Shakira, Akon, Eminem, and Britney.

Alternative music is pure art, and it's very difficult to become a musical artist!

You can thank rock 'n' roll for all the rock music that we love. But some people have the tendency to call modern rock music rock 'n' roll as well, which is fine.

Rock and Roll/Rock, Rhythm and Blues/Soul, Blues, Hip Hop, Pop, Heavy Metal, Psychedelia, Jazz, Classical, Electronic, Folk, Country, Progressive, Experimental, Reggae, Disco, Orchestral, Opera, Christian, Gospel, and Art are the only original genres here, and they can all be good. The rest are subgenres or fusion genres. For me, Rock and Roll will always be the best. It was derived from Rhythm and Blues, which is derived from the Blues, a genre invented by African-American slaves as a way of communicating their "blues" through song. Classical is music that is fancy and organized, like Orchestral, Opera, etc. Folk is music made among people. It isn't fancy, but it is real. Country (and few people know this) is just the Southern white people's adaptation of the Blues. So without Black people, Country wouldn't exist. Disco is a more danceable version of R&B, made as a genre for everyone to enjoy. Hip-hop is derived from Disco. It was originally about just telling stories until ...more

This genre, in terms of music in general, probably holds the advantage because it is the most musical. It isn't just an electronically altered voice over a repetitive melody. It takes actual talent to create this music, and the people who create it are actually people, not just pretty faces and wacky costumes that seem to be the only methods those people have for getting attention. Rock artists earn this attention through a mix of hard work and real musical talent. They love what they do because they love music, not attention.

Unlike all the other "big" genres on this list (Classical, Jazz, Blues, Metal, Rap, Pop, Electronic, etc.), rock is the only music genre that can actually be about anything. It can take any shape or form you could possibly imagine, regarding both musical and lyrical content. From the beautiful sound of psychedelic rock and folk rock, to the rebellious spirit of punk rock, to the raw sound of heavy metal and hard rock, to the creativity of alternative rock, as well as everything in between, this genre encompasses every single situation, feeling, or message - everything that one could possibly relate to. It is also the only music genre that can be fused with every other genre. Disco rock? You have it. Folk rock? You have it. Electronic rock? You have it. Country rock? You have it. Blues rock? You have it. Jazz rock? You have it. Rap rock? You have it. And so on and so forth. Put simply, there is a rock song for every occasion. The genius of rock music lies in the fact that it draws ...more

This music makes you feel good and makes you just want to rock out. Rock music is awesome for multiple reasons. One of the best parts about rock music is the guitar riffs. Let's name a few that are awesome:

1. Panama - Van Halen
2. Heartbreaker - Led Zeppelin
3. Money for Nothing - Dire Straits
4. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
5. Time - Pink Floyd

Not only the riffs, but the drums too. The drums make up the beat of the music. They are one of the most important parts of rock because they give it that rock "vibe." Just look at John Bonham. Oh my God, is he amazing? The groove and the feel-good tone of rock make you feel better when sad or make you feel even better when happy. Some of my favorite rock bands are Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Jet, Def Leppard, and Queen, just to name a few. Rock music is amazing and should get more recognition in this day and age.

Rock 'n' roll laid out the way for this, but heavy metal is the progeny of this legendary genre. From Steve Perry to Steven Tyler, from Slash to Angus Young, the creativity and power conveyed by this genre is without question. I love a lot of music. As a musician myself who sings, plays guitar, plays piano, plays bass, and plays drums, there are a lot of different genres and aspects of genre I investigate. My personal preference is always Hard Rock because of their iconic songs that can be recognized instantly. I can almost promise that people recognize Aerosmith and Guns N' Roses before they recognize Metallica. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Metallica. Fade to Black is my second favorite song to play on guitar, behind Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne. Crazy Train, in my opinion, is a mix of metal and hard rock, a hard rock feel with a metal style of guitar playing. But you just don't always get the crowd to feel the same about metal or classic rock as you do with Hard Rock.

All genres have their appeal in different ways for different people, but hard rock has a certain energy to it that has always appealed to me. Of course, the lines get blurred between genres, and hard rock creeps its way into all kinds of music. At the end of the day, who cares about classifications. Just listen to what you enjoy! Rock out!

Hard Rock isn't too hard for you to not hear at all, but it's just hard enough for the amazing sound and music. The songs of this genre have amazing, well-thought-out lyrics. I consider some of my favorite bands to be hard rock. Examples include Linkin Park and Three Days Grace. It has all the good elements required to make a good song.

Pop can be a hit-or-miss genre, but you really have to look for your favorite artist or song if you don't like the mainstream stuff. There is a lot of underrated pop music that is much better than the mainstream stuff.

Why are people instantly criticizing those who put pop as a good music genre? I agree with many on this site that a lot of pop music is not good. However, we are forgetting other points. Good artists like Michael Jackson, Prince, Adele, and OneRepublic sing pop. Also, some of these site visitors did not view the lists made by these people. The same people who put this as a good genre also put Michael Jackson and Adele on the best singer list. We should not say "all pop" is bad. There are bad singers in every genre. Pop music singers get the most flak simply because everyone knows them. In addition, there is good music in the pop genre, like "Where Is the Love?" and "The Man." Generalizing an entire genre is stupid. You don't and won't hear me saying all metal is satanic or all rap is ghetto because I know those are lies. This genre definitely has bad musicians in it. Justin Bieber and Miley should both go on a plane to Siberia and never come back. Not all pop singers use autotune or ...more

Pop is literally a music genre. Even the word itself comes from the word "popular," based on the history of music. And it is the most common and the most famous kind of music genre nowadays. Everywhere you go, there is always a pop song being played, mostly in malls and on radio stations. Even in different countries, there are always pop songs being played because it is the most common and the easiest way to be appreciated by listeners. How did the heavy metal genre become the top one on the list? Most people don't like that kind of genre. It's too noisy and disturbing to listen to.

How is pop getting this much criticism? It's literally number 3 on a worst music genres list. And not even in the top 3 here? Wow, y'all must really hate pop. I love pop artists like Justin Bieber, Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande, and Katy Perry. I also listen to pop-rock like Seven Nation Army from The White Stripes. It's so good. I hate that pop is so hated nowadays.

I actually think that classical is not inherently a better genre than rock and roll, but classical music is old enough that if you are going to listen to it, you are going to listen to what hundreds of years of listening have picked out as the best of hundreds of years of music. We haven't even had a century to pick out what is truly the best of only a half-century's worth of music. I truly think that if Mozart had written rock and roll instead of classical, rock and roll would be just as good as the classical he did write. Rock and roll has its geniuses - The Beatles, David Bowie, and Queen, to name my personal favorites.

Great, some refreshing music! Give me this over metal or rap any day. It is a nice, relaxing, yet tense music style! Making a good classical melody or a huge symphonic song, classical music has rhythm, heart, soul, and time built into it. It may take a very long time to produce, play, and conduct, but it is worth it! Orchestras make great music, conductors are a nice touch to a symphony, and the original producer has to be great to even make a song! So, why do people prefer heavy metal and rap? They are disappointing in my mind. What could have been a new era of classical and jazz turned out to be trash that needs to be taken to the dump. I love classical music! It fills me with endless joy. I can't enjoy it enough!

I love classical music. Do not take this as an attack. Classical music is, in fact, one of the best genres, after rock. But if you like this music just because it is complicated, then you are just appreciating the music, not actually enjoying it. Symphonies have lots of instruments incorporated into them, and most of them are like ten pages long. Most of the instruments have like three different parts. That is why these songs take like six months to write. Rock songs typically have only four instruments (voice, guitar, bass, drums), and pop songs have even fewer. Both genres are usually very simple, so it takes like a week to write them. There are also lyrics in other genres, and most of the thought usually goes there. Songs like Bohemian Rhapsody and Us and Them have lots of thought put into the lyrics.

Wow, well, I guess people tuning into this list really love metal music. I'm not the biggest fan. Anyways, I voted for classical because you can't really fake classical music or just use a computer. You can't autotune classical music (I mean, you can, but it wouldn't be classical music). It also finds a way to express thoughts and ideas without using any words. That may also be why I like jazz. Rap isn't soothing, while classical is. Some people might say classical music is boring, but I think it's boring if you don't understand the composer's intention. In my mind, rap isn't art. Classical is. Remember, this is just my opinion! Like whatever music you like!

I love rock. I used to shy away from it due to my inexperience with it, but I was listening to some rock with my dad on a 2-hour car ride, and I was jamming! It took me back to when I used to play the drums. Good times. Check out some rock!

Rock is, all in all, a good genre, especially hard rock. The riffs, the drums, the voices - all amazing!

I love it. I love bands like Queen, Aerosmith, and King Crimson, but the rest is also great!

I'm confused. This is rock we're talking about, right? How is it so low?

I hate the cocky people trying to act like progressive rock is the "most complex and not trash like the rest." But with that being said, it is my favorite genre. I listen to it because I enjoy it, not because I want to seem above people who enjoy other things.

Progressive rock is the best genre of all. It's the genre that takes the most talent to listen to and the one that requires the best taste in music. It's an extremely underrated genre. You've got bands like Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis, Rush, and King Crimson. What's not to like about this genre? I can't believe pop is above progressive rock. Pop music takes no talent, nor any good taste in music. The same goes for electronic. Progressive rock is very original. You have to really know how to play. I guess people would rather go with what is mainstream, rather than what's actually good. Learn to listen to 20-minute songs with more than four chords. Learn to listen to long instrumental sections like Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Roundabout, Echoes, Close to the Edge, 2112, Supper's Ready, Musical Box, etc., not just three-minute-easy-to-listen-to songs. Progressive rock makes you actually listen and pay attention. It's true music.

This is the most complex genre out there and is better to listen to than one of those easy-to-listen-to 4-minute songs. People should listen to longer songs that are 20 minutes in length, with a bunch of tempo changes, key changes, and many different chords and time signatures, and stuff like that. It takes a lot of talent for someone to make good songs like these, with all the really long instrumental sections and many solos in any instrument, whether it be keyboards, saxophones, or flutes. They are all there. Unlike other genres, this one actually gets you to listen very closely and pay attention to the song to enjoy it. A lot of these songs are masterpieces because of all these things, and I recommend listening to Pink Floyd, Genesis, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Rush, and Kansas.

It can be included within the rock genre, obviously, but there are just so many fantastic bands from this genre that I'm surprised it's at the bottom of the list. Bands such as Yes, Kansas, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Rush, Tool, Mastodon, Jethro Tull, Dream Theater, Queensryche, Opeth, etc. For something a bit more complex and less predictable, look no further. You can pretend to be an intelligent person by claiming you listen to all these bands. People will think, Oh my, he listens to Prog Rock. He's a cool guy. Sadly, there's a lot of posing nowadays - young folks wearing Pink Floyd t-shirts without having even listened to Animals, The Wall, or The Dark Side of the Moon. Other great albums are 2112, Close to the Edge, Selling England by the Pound, Black Clouds & Silver Linings, Moving Pictures...

I grew up listening to heavy metal: Black Sabbath, Metallica, Iron Maiden, you name it. And I thought I was super hardcore because, while all the other kids at school were listening to Linkin Park and Daft Punk, I was listening to "real" music. But as I grew older, I realized how tasteless metal was, being a bunch of grown men screaming and whining about little problems they encounter in life. Don't get me wrong. I firmly believe all music has something we deserve to appreciate, but heavy metal is way too overrated. Although a lot of rap is complete crap (too many artists see narrating a bunch of perfect rhymes over a beat as a way to get rich), when it comes to good hip-hop, no other genre of music in this world can compare to the diversity, complex lyricism, storytelling, and originality of it.

Man, there are too many metal fans on this site. These days, metal hardly prospers in the industry, which, in truth, is a sad thing. Hip-hop, though still in its early stages, has become a sort of new rock because rock, at its time, was a voice against the world and something totally unique. Now rock is a legendary genre, but teens want something that is new and rebellious. It's the same thing as saying that the Beatles came, got attention, and are now legends. In the same way, guys like Eminem have come to get attention and become legends.

Then again, that Atliens guy below me has a point. This is mostly just favoritism.

I'm very picky with rap, and I don't get any rap songs that say the F-word every ten seconds. If you're like me, NF is the rapper for you.

In my opinion, rap is the only genre that is truly beautiful. Aspiring rappers can sit at their desks and write their best lyrics and try their most creative wordplay. Most of rap is misjudged and unappreciated because of people like Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa. Metal depends on 4 to 6 members of a band to utilize all instruments and sound decent. So does rock. Pop is less about the music and more about the money, as is electronic. Rappers like Nas, Rakim, Jay-Z, Biggie, and Common may not appeal to everyone, but they have great lyrical quality, among hundreds of other rappers. Give Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z or Illmatic by Nas a listen, and I'm sure you'll love and appreciate rap more. But listen - rap will amaze you if you look just a bit deeper.

What the hell is wrong with people!? Grunge at 24th place? It deserves to be in the top 10 and not here! Nirvana is a legendary and influential band, and it is a grunge band. It deserves to be sitting at the throne. Kurt Cobain deserves huge credit, especially when it comes to best music genre or whatever.

People, stop voting for that useless R&B and pop music. It rots the brains of the children of this generation.

Oh yeah, I forgot to tell everyone, I'm 15 and I've been listening to Hair/Glam/Sleaze Metal, Grunge, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, and stuff like that since I was 12. Other kids say that people like Justin Bieber, One Direction, Bruno Mars, Jay-Z, etc., are their inspiration or whatever and even say that they are proud as fans. Me? I am prouder as a fan of Kurt Cobain than others are proud of themselves as fans of singers.

People should not allow something so stupid to happen. Grunge should be one of the top five because things like pop are not even real. Rap, Funk (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and the other good kinds of rock, I have no problem with, but boy bands in pop are the last thing I wanted to see. In fact, most of those geeks who can't sing (like Bieber) were probably inspired by grunge. Things like Queen and MC Hammer, I would not care if they are higher, but Pop? Pop should stand for People Only Poop, because that's what it sounds like in my ear. I know everyone has their own opinion, but my opinion is that grunge, like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, and also rock bands, should never go pop. HeyZues 4 Lives.

Best genre of all time! It combines the alt-rock sound with emotional, angsty lyrics, revolutionary singers, amazing guitar riffs, a carefree attitude, and hardcore energy to become the greatest sound to grace this earth. Grunge is also home to some of the greatest bands, songs, albums, and artists of all time. It is the perfect remedy for anyone who feels alone, depressed, fed up with life, or needs to get over a breakup or something. Grunge is the penicillin for a broken heart and deserves more appreciation from everyone!

Pretty much punk or hard rock with a sad undertone. Was popular for like a pretty short time. The grunge quartet is made up of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden. Nirvana killed hard rock with grunge. This combo of plaid, angst, and distorted guitar with catchy riffs and hooks took the world by storm. Nirvana had the world at their feet, and it was rock's last great stand in American culture. Nothing else after the grunge scene was as powerful when considered to be rock. People consider grunge's "death" to be the death of rock, but neither genre died. Also, listen to Mudhoney.

Hip Hop and Rap are the same thing. It's just that Hip Hop is a culture, that's it. So I'm going to say Hip Hop/Rap was, but no longer is, because of how much it sucks now, the greatest musical genre from 1979 to 2009. The first 30 years of Hip Hop were epic. No other genre in history talked about as much stuff as Hip Hop has, and it has always fused with more genres than any other genre ever. And Hip Hop has the greatest beats. People who don't like Hip Hop or R&B just don't know what true music is. If someone says they hate hip-hop because of how it sounds now, then I don't blame them. If they say they hate it, period, then I don't know what's wrong with them. They obviously don't have good taste in music.

Hip Hop has devolved in this day and age. Yeah, there are some diamonds in the rough, as there is for anything. But it has gotten grossly shallow and hedonistic. Before I praise the genre, here is one final prevalent issue: Many young talented artists are dying left and right, and the trash ones are staying right where they are. I'm not saying all good artists die immediately, because there are good artists (Polo G, Kanye West, Rod Wave, etc.). But really talented ones are dropping dead (Juice WRLD, rest in peace). It's really sad.

Onto the praise. Hip Hop can be diverse, clever, catchy, emotional, and many more things. It's a diverse genre. The thought, lyricism, music, emotion, and effort that can be put into a song is incredible. Although that can be true for every genre, hip-hop is especially interesting to see. If you're wary about hip-hop, look at some golden age hip-hop with artists like The Notorious B.I.G. I hope you're not disappointed!

Original and better than rap (in my opinion), it had a culture back in the olden days. Turntables, break-dancing, and graffiti. These built up hip-hop with rap and it still feels fresh looking back on it. Souls of Mischief are a great hip-hop group. Highly underrated and cool.

No, hip-hop is the worst because it ruined music and is constantly being played all the time. It ruined rock music and other genres I like.

Such good music. Where would we be if jazz had never been around? This style allowed for others (pop, rock, and even funk) to become genres. Plus, jazz artists actually write and play their music with instruments. This is unlike most pop and rap artists, who just sing the music they're given. They don't write their music like jazz musicians do. This also shows in their music as the jazz artists really get into their song and go all out. Plus, jazz has more than one genre in it. It has funk, blues, soul, and several kinds of Latin genres. If you say you don't like jazz, I will ask you why and what kind of jazz you don't like. Most people just don't appreciate all that jazz did to shape the world the way it is today.

Jazz music is truly amazing, and people say that it is dying. I love jazz, and if it is dying, then, well, we must revive it. I'm lucky enough to learn the saxophone, and I am going to make sure that the jazz community thrives. It is sad that stars like Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra, among many others, have passed away, but that does not mean jazz will not live on. People need to stop underestimating jazz because it is better than any other music and can't be beaten. Jazz will live on.

I listen to predominantly Hip-Hop music, namely within the underground scene, but I vote for Jazz because of how little recognition it gets in shaping new-age music. People forget its importance in pushing blues music to the masses, which led to the eventual creation of Rock, Motown, Hip-Hop, etc. I find the sampling of Jazz tracks in Hip-Hop one of its most interesting creations. Madlib, J Dilla, Pete Rock, and Just Blaze, to name a few, have brought me to the likes of Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans, Coltrane, Miles Davis, Sun Ra... The list goes on!

How come people like only dramatic kinds of music? Why not just be cool and happy and listen to jazz? Why be angry and listen to heavy metal all day? It makes the world full of bad vibrations, and no wonder that in metal they are talking about hell all the time... they are creating it! America's most real, non-fake music is jazz! Look at the sunny side of the street, not the shady!

With its insane lyrical quality and diversity, there is no doubt that Punk Rock is the best genre of music. Bands like The Clash, The Ramones, and the Sex Pistols may have really made punk rock appeal to the masses, but we mustn't forget hardcore legends such as Minor Threat, The Bad Brains, Suicidal Tendencies, Dead Kennedys, Op Ivy, etc. Honestly, from musical slam poetry to uplifting ska beats, to emo, to catchy hooks, punk's got it all. Oh, and without punk, there wouldn't be Fugazi... Imagine the horror.

All the fight and hating that an angry person (likely a teen) could ever need. Expressive, powerful, and based around drugs, sex, and heartbreak.

People seem to be put off by punk rock, probably because they assume that it is written by angry teenagers. However, what you don't understand is that these teenagers and young adults who make this music have a deep passion and a message. Unlike the musicians of other genres such as pop, rap, or metal, punk bands do not start with the hopes of making money or becoming famous. In fact, that's the last thing they want. Punk rock is the purest music you can find. Why not give it a try?

Many genres themselves have been influenced by punk. In my opinion, it's the most respectful genre because you don't need to have a certain trend or style. When it comes to punk, you just say, I don't need to sing how they want me to. I'll do whatever I want. Plus, it's quite risky - uh, not risky, dangerous - what moves punk bands make with their different and innovative ways of playing. Society will call this the worst genre for decades, but they need to think again.

The genre that gave birth to many genres of today, particularly rock 'n' roll. It may not be easy to listen to, but it's a very respectable genre that did a lot for music.

If you love rock (like me), thank the blues. In fact, all genres of modern music came from this. While it's not the best, I should be thanking it, due to my love for pop and rock.

Everything else in modern music owes this genre. Blues actually grew up in hardship and has the most power to pull the audience into the feeling of the music. Misunderstood to be sad, the blues covers every emotion there is, and defines each simply but to great effect. Improvisation is where the technical and theoretical skills are in blues. The structure is always easy for the listener to keep up with.

I love the blues - they not only kickstarted rock 'n' roll and thus all other versions of pop music (Rock, Metal, Modern Country, Hip Hop), but also sound great. Blues music is based on very generic chord sequences, so it takes genius musicians to make blues what it is - one of the most influential genres of all time.

I love Pop Rock and everyone mentions very newish bands in this genre.

But this genre kind of exists since the '80s.
My favorite Pop/Rock or Rock/Pop bands are Bon Jovi and Aerosmith.

I love Pop Rock or Rock Pop.

My favorites in that subgenre, or what I consider to be in that subgenre, are Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Queen, and Maroon 5.

I love pop rock so much! It consists of many amazing bands like Maroon 5, Imagine Dragons, Coldplay, Fall Out Boy, One Republic, and Panic! at the Disco, and so much more! Pop rock music always seems to cheer me up for some reason. Get this higher, please!

Pop rock sounds way better than rap. Rap isn't really music. Yes, it's an art, but it's not really music. Bad lyrics are bad lyrics, no matter how many times you listen to them. But pop rock is true music. I'm thinking of Chicago. I hate modern pop rock, but '70s and '80s pop rock is more my type. The drums, keyboards, and guitars, especially the bass guitar, are key.

My absolute favorite genre. Tool, Rage Against the Machine, System of a Down, Deftones, Primus, and Korn are fantastic bands. For more info, see my remix of this list.

More lyrical version of metal. Bands like Seether, Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, and Evanescence fall under this category.

I LOVE alternative metal! I love all the bands: Disturbed, Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Skillet - all of them.

Think System of a Down, Tool, or early Linkin Park - an upgraded version of nu-metal with more complex guitar riffs and different lyrical themes (e.g., System of a Down's political lyric themes).

I seriously think that the reason why so many people hate it is that they can't understand it yet. They are not used to concentrating on the melody and enjoying the vibe of the music. I love this genre - of course, it's a wide expression when we're talking about "electronic music" - and even though there are repetitive, lame tracks (as in every genre), this is the only form of music which can give me chills or energy when I need it. It focuses on your vibes and feelings during listening, and this is what I love about it. Without deep/future/progressive house, my life would have a much worse perspective.

Electro is one of the best music genres going. You say it's not music? You're just plain arrogant. Music can be anything, from a rhythm to a beat. You underestimate Electro. Don't be arrogant because you think Rock and Pop music are the most popular. They're not. Electro is the future, you benders. It's the future of music. Future House, Deep House, Electro, Trance, Trap, Dubstep, Drumstep, Progressive, Chill, EDM, Drum and Bass, and Techno are the future of music, whether you like it or not. Rock and pop music will soon die, not just yet, but trust me, they will. Look at all the DJs now. They are slowly getting a good reputation. They will wipe the rest off their feet. You're just being arrogant because you've never given it a chance. Pigs.

This thing is lower than Pop and Rap. What a disgrace of a poll. Pop is higher than Blues and Jazz too. An absolute insult to the genres which have helped me develop as a bassist (jazz) and a guitarist (blues).
Electronic Music is something I can listen to after a sad or hectic day, get indulged in the cymbals, the synth melodies, and have a great break. It's so different across subgenres, unlike subgenres of other genres, say rock (metal, alternative, blues, hard - all are very similar).
Performing EDM live is harder than just pressing play. In my opinion, it's harder than performing live instruments.
With VSTs, the producers simply have an extremely huge catalog of sounds to choose from, and we can't be bored by that.
And if there's someone who can mix unconventional genres with EDM, that's Avicii. Listen to Wake Me Up and Hey Brother to know what I'm talking about. And his classic Levels and I Could Be The One. You can't resist tapping your feet to them or any ...more

This genre of music is amazing. I love it, especially some of the older and more obscure music. People just don't appreciate this genre. This genre also has so many subgenres, and people, I believe, just want the same old stuff. I also believe that Electronic does have a subgenre for everyone. You can also see the extremes of music. One electronic genre is super slow music, while on the other end of the scale, you have fast, aggressive music like Splattercore. This pretty much shows that electronic music has a subgenre for everyone.

I'm actually really surprised to see it so high on the list! This is my favorite genre, and honestly, I was afraid to even say I liked nu-metal because I would get pounded into the ground by other metal fans. But really, the only people who hate this genre are the brain-dead metal fans who hate everything except what they like. Thanks for voting up. Even though you don't know me, I'm happy to see this genre is getting some positive feedback. Korn, Slipknot, System of a Down, and Linkin Park (not really sure if they still make nu-metal) for the win!

Alright, alright, I won't say this genre was perfect or better than heavy metal or metal in general, BUT there were some great nu-metal bands in the early 2000s like Slipknot, Korn, and System of a Down. I'm surprised it's ranked this high at 16, but it was cool how bands from this genre mixed other genres into it. Most notable, from my experience, is System of a Down for using jazz, Middle Eastern, ballad, folk, and more music influences in certain songs of theirs almost effortlessly. Can't compete with other metal, but its great deeds are worth noting.

I find that I enjoy things the most when they're just the tiniest bit off-kilter, and that's what nu-metal feels like to me. Slipknot, Linkin Park (still like their new albums, but their first three are the best, in my opinion), Korn, System of a Down - all incredibly talented groups, along with so many others who put out the most meaningful and darkest music you can find anywhere.

Glad all the metal genres are above pop, but this should be up there with them. It's just so much more powerful than some genres. It has a great combination of rap, metal, and DJing. The list includes Linkin Park, Papa Roach, Korn, Slipknot, Adema, Disturbed, Limp Bizkit, Primer 55, Deftones, and P.O.D.

I like some R&B artists such as Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, and Earth, Wind & Fire. But there are a lot of bad artists such as Chris Brown and Jason Derulo. This genre is good though, especially the classic R&B.

This is literally the best genre. It's just easy to relate to. It's so beautiful and meaningful.

Great love songs I have heard in R&B. Most romantic music. Nothing shouts like other genres.

Claude, Claude Kelly, B5, Jackie Boyz, Chris Brown, are such lovely singers.

R&B can have such lovely tones. It's just incredible. Definitely my favorite genre!

Easily the best music genre ever. Always has been, always will be! Sadly, it's also the most underrated music genre ever. I can't believe it's lower than garbage like hip-hop, metalcore, rap, and electronic! Seriously, people?! Country music is not a bunch of drunk cowboys crying because their cow died or their pickup truck broke down! It's not all about beer and tractors! It's about life! It's about family, faith, friendship, love, hope, God, being proud of where you come from even when people discriminate against you for it, learning valuable life lessons, being a better person, having fun, pursuing happiness, and other things that everyone cares about! There are also some really funny country songs out there! Sure, there are sad country songs, but they're sad because they mean something. They're sad because they're realistic. Country music is amazing because it sounds good, the lyrics actually have depth and meaning, and everyone can relate to them, and country singers can actually ...more

Okay, guys, I know you people think country is horrible. But you guys have to be crazy. You think it's about old guys with southern accents sitting on tractors and drinking beer. But if you would be kind enough to listen to the music, you would know that it isn't. It has meaning (unlike some other genres). Yes, it does talk about tractors and beer a little bit, but it is about love and the USA. It also talks about problems or situations people encounter in their lives. Really, it inspires me. You people don't actually listen to the music. You most likely heard these rumors from some stupid stranger. In conclusion, country is and will always be the best music. P.S. I think everybody should be patriotic to our country and stop changing their lives to be "cool." So come on, people, don't be stupid (like many other people) and stand up for your beliefs!

Country music is basically the root of all other modern music genres. Just look at Elvis. He was a country singer, and he also basically invented rock and roll and blues. Country is also the longest-lasting genre, gaining popularity around the early 1900s. Since country has been around for a while, a lot of changes have been made, mostly for the worst. It's all about drinking beer and saying how "country" they are, but the genre lost what made it special: the ability to convey emotion in the lyrics. Other things that made it great are also gone, like telling a heartfelt story, actually teaching you a lesson, and detailing the struggles of day-to-day life. In conclusion, modern country is crap, and older country, in my opinion, is the best genre. P.S., this is for classic country, not modern.

I can't believe country is 20th on this list! (At least during the time I wrote this.) Heavy metal is number 1, really? How can you guys listen to that crap? It's just a bunch of random screeching sounds and screams fused together. It's excruciating to listen to. Country is where it's at. Being one of the longest-living genres out there, it truly is great to listen to during bonfires, hiking/camping trips, long drives, or even long days at the office when you miss being out of the city. You don't even have to be a redneck or anything to listen to country either. This music is for everybody.

This is the best genre out there, in my opinion. Sadly, it's not mainstream. It was huge from 1965-1969. After 1969, progressive rock came. Psychedelic rock is amazing. There were amazing bands such as Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, The Velvet Underground, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, etc. 1967 was a turning point, with albums like Piper at the Gates of Dawn, The Doors' self-titled album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Velvet Underground and Nico, and Surrealistic Pillow. Psychedelia is just fabulous and does things to your brain that I can't even explain. That's how good it is. I love psychedelic rock. Let it live on!

I like most genres of music before 1995, and occasionally I'd hear a new song that I like, but psychedelic rock is, without a doubt, the best genre. It combined all the great genres of its day, like blues, folk, jazz, rock, classical, funk, Eastern music, etc., and added new elements that made your brain melt as you rode the psychedelic roller coaster. Some of the greatest artists of all time explored psychedelia and opened our minds to the possibilities and complexities of music. Artists like The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Doors, and Phish. It's a shame it's not more well-known. Otherwise, no one would listen to what people call music these days.

Psychedelic rock. This is the best genre out there. It's not mainstream. That's the problem. It was revolutionized by the 13th Floor Elevators in about 1965-1966, then became huge in 1967 with such bands as Pink Floyd bringing out Piper at the Gates of Dawn, The Doors releasing The Doors, and The Beatles releasing Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, among many more. Bands such as Tame Impala are bringing it back, which is awesome, and psychedelic rock was the root of punk, pop rock, and pop. Be grateful for it.

Perhaps one of the most underrated genres of all time. One shouldn't forget that it was the game-changer, which gave birth to progressive rock followed by hard rock, heavy metal, and all...
You can't deny the impact of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, for sure.
Unfortunately, it didn't last for a much longer time. Yet its short-timed impact is simply revolutionary in the history of rock 'n' roll music. I still love this genre among others. After all, music is subjective. Each of us has our own preferences, which makes it special.
(PS. This is just a reference. A few more albums of the '60s are inclusive in my opinion.)

Oh, prog-metal, let me count the ways in which I adore you:

- Excellent musicianship: Prog metal can claim pretty much all the best instrumentalists.
- Variation in tone and theme, but steady in quality.
- Toying around with layers and time signatures makes for music that keeps getting better after each listen.
- Heavy metal fusing with other genres can create funky, majestic, or atmospheric themes, making for a lot of variety.
- Clean singing, melodic grunting, mysterious chants, opera-like performances, upbeat meters, or atmospheric narration: take your pick, and don't be surprised by a refreshing alternation and combination of these sorts of vocals.
- Music unhampered by pop-institutionalized songwriting: haunting power ballads, solid rockers, or soaring epics. It's all there, and often in unique forms.
- Holding music theory high, and thus creating a sonic marriage of science and art.

Of course, there's much more to be said, but I think this alone ...more

Progressive Metal isn't necessarily a style of its own, mainly because bands labeled prog metal range from death metal backgrounds to classical backgrounds. But bands labeled under the prog metal banner like Meshuggah, Dream Theater, Tool, Mastodon, Rush, Dillinger Escape Plan, Sikth, Gojira, Racer X, and Queensrÿche are some of the most technically impressive bands ever and are usually well-versed in other genres. So I think prog metal is easily the second-best rock-styled genre, right behind progressive rock like Yes and King Crimson.

Just listen to bands such as Tool, Dream Theater, Opeth, Meshuggah, and Symphony X. I also heard Rush would be considered Progressive Metal, as it has taken some of those elements of heavy metal. King Crimson's 21st Century Schizoid Man was also considered one of the earliest metal songs and probably the first Progressive Metal song.

This, like Progressive Rock, requires a lot of talent to play. Bands such as Tool, Opeth, and Dream Theater are all great bands, and I've heard some Progressive Rock songs such as 21st Century Schizoid Man by King Crimson was considered Heavy Metal.

Five years ago, I used to listen to meaningless, idiotic songs on the radio.

But then I discovered rock/metal music and its countless subgenres.

I never thought a death metal song would ever make me cry. After listening to "Lethe" by Dark Tranquillity, I cried out loud, and this song relieved me from some of my pain.

I have been a big fan of Dark Tranquillity, In Flames, Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth, and Children of Bodom.

I'm happy to see so many rock and metal genres here at the top! :D
I have no clear favorite... Hard or punk rock? Power, heavy, or melodic metal? Nu metal or metalcore? Or maybe grunge? Maybe alternative rock? No clue :P
But hey, I just voted in honor of one of my favorite bands: In Flames! M/

Embrace of the Endless Ocean by Amon Amarth got me hooked on Melodic Death Metal. The music has the intensity of Death Metal, but the melody expresses more emotion and atmosphere.

Carcass, Children of Bodom, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, At the Gates, The Black Dahlia Murder, In Flames, and many more.
Absolutely beautiful, complex, and powerful music.

This genre is underrated. Look everywhere and you won't find many pop punk songs playing on the radio. I only started listening to it after I googled what genre a song I liked was, and it was this. Now I listen to it all the time. This deserves to be way higher on the list.

I feel like the name "pop punk" contradicts itself. Pop means popular, and it's what the majority listens to. Punk is this rebellious spirit that rebels against the majority and rules. Pop punk is what teen girls listen to to make them feel like rebellious punks, despite actually being preppy. If you want to understand what I'm talking about, listen to Sex Pistols, The Clash, or Bad Religion.

I prefer Hardcore Punk and Classic Punk, but I do like Green Day and Sum 41. There aren't that many good pop punk bands, and the name is contradicting because Punk and Pop are opposites. -DarkBoi-X

What the hell did people ever hear about a band called Blink-182? They're the best band I've ever heard. This genre should definitely be in the top 5.