Is New Music Just a Lost Cause?
I am asking this question to everyone because later tonight I want to address a certain issue regarding current music and possibly tackle some more issues about current music. Before I post later tonight I just want to gauge other peoples reaction to what they think about current music, I'm not looking for some long drawn out response but if you wish you are more than welcome to do so but I am just simply asking: Is current music any good? If not, is there any hope? Just to let you know I got this idea from Layla's post One Mans Opinion.
posted by Jeff at 7:03 AM
8 Comments:
Jeff, I think the last 3 or 4 years has been some of the best for music. There's been so many great new bands, kids are buying Guitars again and the era of the pretty boy and girl band are temporarily over (which is a good thing, but they'll be back).
I never take note of the singles chart, and mainstream radio and yet I'm constantly finding new music through other media, the internet being the biggest source.
I know record sales are way down in the States (22% in the last 10 years) and that means record companies aren't bringing through many new artists, but in the UK sales are up 10% over the last 10 years. This means the UK labels are more inclined to take a chance on untried talent.
A lot of American bands are coming to the UK to kick start their career and that's great too. They get strong sales in the UK, then return home to hopefully build on the success. Recent examples...
The White Stripes
The Strokes
Scissor Sisters
The Killers
The Bravery
Orson
The last one you may have never heard of. But they're a prime example. They spent 5 years touring and trying to get a record deal in the States and were rejected by everybody. They moved to the UK and have had a number 1 single and a top 10 album and I couldn't be more pleased for their persistance.
Sorry for the long post but all hope is not lost Jeff.
I cant say really enjoy any new music. But then i am only 19 and my focus is on getting through a lot of brilliant albums from the 60s and 70s. I am not interested in anything in the charts, so if i do find myself interested in new music, i will have to look harder. Most of the music i like from the 60s and 70s was in and around the charts. Has the music industry changed? become more commercial? or are my tastes just out of fashion.
Certaintly the great rock n' roll spirit and buzz that i identify with in the music and artists/bands of the "classic rock" era...appears to have dissappeared.
Current popular music (rap, dance, pop) just doesn't appeal to me. I'm a Hard Rock/Metal fan, I need an artist that has the ability to actually play their instruments or actually sing.
Take Justin Timberlake. He can dance, he can sing (somewhat), he appeals to teenage girls.....but does he write his own lyrics and music? Does he play an instrument? Is he a product of a producer and ProTools?
I work with many young people (17-24) and most of them disregard what's on the radio and buy Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd albums.
Good music from actual bands/musicians, no matter what genre, has to be sought out and discovered. I discover new bands daily, past and present. Good music will always rise to the top whereas, in 10 years, we will wonder what ever happened to that guy from that boy band?
I'm assuming you mean current popular music. In my mind, popular music (made for profit) is the only kind we can consider 'good' or 'bad.' When it comes to music that's not for public consumption, it's just a matter of how much effort and passion the performer puts in it.
Popular music - I think things pretty much stay the same. You always have your less-famous but still popular underground acts (like a lot of the indie bands today). You have the acts that have been around forever (Tom Petty). And then you have the utter crap (emo, most hip-hop). But that doesn't change too much over the years. What does change are the genres and artists that fit into the above categories. Today's emo was the 80s hair metal and the 70s disco.
I don't think music is really that bad today. What is bad is the increase of music marketed for business purposes and the downfall of FM radio. Other than that, music will survive.
I think it's out there but is not mainstream so you have to look to find it and I usually don't take the time to look, I am in a bit of a rut but am happy listening to "my music" over and over.
BUT the good news is I read blogs by you and a few others who introduce me to new music that I like! Gran Bel Fisher is one of my faves now thanks to you, also Wolfmother.
But I basically agree that music was better back then - maybe because they were the pioneers of rock?
I like this decade way more for music than the 1990's. I think it has overall been a more fun decade for music and I think rock music has made a comeback to some extent.
Music has always been a business and always be. If you don't like what's being pushed to the masses then you have to look to the underground. There is always going to be good music, you just may to search a little harder to find it.
Ben - There has certainly been some great bands lately. I couldn't agree more with The White Stripes, they are possibly the best band out there right now. Jack White has an unlimitted arsenal of talent.
Anonymous - There was a time when I first started getting big into "Classic Rock" that I refused to listen to anything new. There was just so much I haven't heard regarding "Classic Rock" but eventually the time will come when you've heard most of it. I listen to a lot of current music, unfortunately it just isn't as good.
RhodeIslandRock- Although I want to agree with you it seems that a lot of these really lame boy bands (well what's left of them) have lasted a pretty long time such as Timberlake, he had to have lasted nearly ten years. I think it's up to the big music fans to decide where music will stand.
Russ- I definitely believe that there is a lot of great music around right now, I think it's been much better than it has been over the past few years. I have faith that it will improve and the "popular" music will start becoming a bit better. Also good analogy with "emo."
Layla- I'm glad I was of help in regards to you finding new music. It's always good to expand your musical library, if you have any recomendations I would love to hear.
MetalMark- Little I can say to that because I agree fully.
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