Ah, I'm not saying that any other forms of music are lesser than metal, I wouldn't even consider myself a metalhead anymore. I still love it, but there's so much music out there I can't contain myself to one genre. Or two. Or thirty. And music skill doesn't come from the physical aspect of the music, nor does the complexity of it. In my opinion, the best music is the music that just sounds good. Even if you're playing at an insane speed, if it doesn't sound good, it's not good. I love some hip-hop, back in the day I used to listen to Jay-Z, Nas (odd combination, right?), Three Six Mafia, The Dungeon Family, etc. It's all good.

And having a complex song structure, riffs, and technique doesn't make you a good musician if you're just wanking the fretboard/drums/keys/vocals. Hell, I've been writing an album (that I plan on releasing here first) of a deformed, ugly cousin of sludge/stoner metal I call Caveman Metal. It's medium paced, simple strong structure, simple beats, gutteral music. What a caveman would listen to. Lyrics that are purely percusive, you know?

And I'll agree that avant-garde experimental music can get really really out there and odd, but it also gets to a point where you have to ask if it's music or not - Godspeed! You Black Emperor for example.. I listened to them a good bit, but I had to wonder: Is the 8 minutes of an airport terminal sounds between actual instruments really music? Contrary though, is thirty seconds of random drums and pissing-on-a-fence guitars really music either?

Good music is good. Not because it's brutal, or underground, indie, whatever you wish to call it. Personally, hand me something that tells a great story and I'm down. Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Modest Mouse, and for some young guys Brand New is amazing. I suspect they'll make some of the best music in many a year.

I agree with minimalism. Alot. I play with alot of different musicians in my area, and I can't stand it! Almost ALL the guitarist I've played with use shitty digital effects that sound like cheese. Yeah, a six second delay with flanged repeats sounds cool in your room, but when you PA that. Ew. Big ew. My guitar chain consists of a gain boost, an EQ boost and a Noise Supressor to get rid of the previous pedal's noise. Simple, but effective. I'll rely on a good tone, good lyrics, and a good vibe to make good music.

That's what matters most I guess, a good vibe.

As I said, I love metal, alot, and I do think it's the most physically astounding genre, but not the best genre by far. In my original response, I should have noted avant-garde styles of experimental alongside Jazz and Jazz-improv. However, not being a genre I listen to alot, it slipped the radar.