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Is Rock Music Running Out of Steam? - Page 3

post #31 of 44
11/23/05 at 2:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by edstrelow
I am just barely old enough to remember the emergence of Rock and Roll in the mid fifties. It caused a revolution in popular tastes. Things like big band music which had been dominant, went downhill rapidly, and the younger generation hardly listened to such music any more.
Yes, each successive generation brings with it a new energy, and the desire to listen to music that is different than what the old folks listen to.

Quote:
Originally Posted by edstrelow
Then within less than 10 years it kind of hit bottom. Anyone remember Fabian? Even Elvis Presley, according to his biographers thought it was over and that was one reason why he went into movies.

Among other contenders, to knock Rock off were folk music: Harry Belafonte, Joan Baez, the Kingston Trio, Bob Dylan etc.

But nevertheless Rock music (no longer Rock and Roll) was reinvigorated in the 60's by many good US groups and with the help of the Brits and Motown.
Yes, there was another quantum leap in the 60's, fueled by the political struggles of the Civil rights movement and then Vietnam. But I disagree that Folk was trying to unseat Rock, I think Dylan going electric and the
Byrds showed how Rock could assimilate other musical traditions and how Folk bowed to Rock. In the 60s rock also assimilated Eastern sounds (George Harrison) and Jazz (Progressive Rock). Miles also showed the reverse was possible.

Quote:
Originally Posted by edstrelow
I have kids growing up (10 and 12) and they are more inclined to pick up on some of the popular music that my wife and I play. a lot of what you hear on the "oldies rock" stations. Some of the music that works for them are the Beatles, Beach Boys, Doors, Joan Baez. Surprisingly to me, Presley is a complete dud to them but I am impressed by how nearly all young people know and like the Beatles.

My kids check out the Radio (LA area) and listen to some of their friend's music but I am not struck anything out there which approaches the near-universal impact on a large audience that some of the aforesaid oldies groups had in their time. (Last week, Paul McCartney still sold out in Anaheim)

I had expected that my kids would have their own musical revolution to define them, but I don't see (or hear) that happening.
My kids are the same age as your kids, and get their music from bad commercial radio and flashy itunes singles. Check out what they are listening to in about ten years. If they are serious about music when they are 20 and 22, they may have something new to turn you on to.

Quote:
Originally Posted by edstrelow
I have taken a few music history courses and realize that musical styles can stay in place for long periods, even a century or more until some critical mass of people really need something new and someone comes along to fill the bill, whether its Beethoven, Wagner, Stravinsky or the Beatles.
Lets hope music evolves faster than that.

Quote:
Originally Posted by edstrelow
I realize this is a potted history of popular music in the last 50 years, and your favorite group is probably not being given credit, but I think I have touched on some of the main trends.

Am I alone in my discontent ? Are you happy with the status quo? What will be the next big thing and when is it coming?
I don't know if there will be any quantum leaps in the near future; it seems to me that there are so many subgenres and sub-subgenres in Rock that things won't coalesce into "the next big thing" in any obvious way. That being said, I am still finding cool new sounds within the "status quo". So, rock is dead, and long live rock.
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post #32 of 44
11/23/05 at 2:26am
"there were only 13 channels on television"

Anyone who's lived in England would find that one unintentionally hilarious.
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post #33 of 44
11/23/05 at 2:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by VicAjax
dude! don't forget your own backyard!! for the past 10 years, chicago has been breeding some of the best new music in the world (rock or otherwise), including but not limited to the brilliant output from the Thrill Jockey label.
Ha, yea my friend works at Thrill Jockey actually. They put out some good stuff, but most of it just doesn't have enough energy for me. Chicago musicians have always been kinda dull for me, I've usually looked to other places for my favorite music for some reason. But let's not forget Kranky, a Chicago label and one of my favorite labels of all-time...
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post #34 of 44
11/23/05 at 4:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by gratefulshrink

My kids are the same age as your kids, and get their music from bad commercial radio and flashy itunes singles. Check out what they are listening to in about ten years. If they are serious about music when they are 20 and 22, they may have something new to turn you on to.
I remember when I was that age, I pretty much listened to what was "cool". I started diversifying my music tastes away from the mainstream when I was 15 or 16 (I am 20 now) but realized at a early age to do what I like and not what everyone else likes. After losing faith in music (mainly rock but really everything) outside of grass routes country a few years ago, there are quite a few new bands that give me hope, It seems that talent is actually coming back to the rock genre, not really in whats played on the radio but with bands such as Mars Volta which is actually popular with the highschool kids and I have yet to hear anything by them on the radio yet they are developing a large following amongst the teens.

My substitute for ****** music has been "Texas Country". All of these guys are extremely talented and mix many genres such as Polka, Flaminco, Rock, Blues, and classic country. They have great bands and the best lyrics period if you ask me.
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post #35 of 44
11/23/05 at 7:43am
There's a lot of great music about, but who needs labels like "rock"? That's a definition that means very little. Any description of rock music that I've ever heard always left room for the exception that proved the rule. The trouble is there are so many exceptions that no-one knows what the rules are any more.

Music will never die. There will always be times when you need to tickle your ears whilst leaving your eyes alone, but there may be less "serious" listening going on than before, but maybe that's no bad thing.

I guess it depends what you think culture is for, why it exists. In any case, there's room for us all, and for all forms of music, all styles of listening, and every rule under the sun can be broken.
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post #36 of 44
11/23/05 at 8:44am
Their is still alot of great music out their.You just dont' hear much of it on mainstream radio.The thing that I find interesting is the variety of music coming from various areas of the US.The Athens-Atlanta Ga area(or the redneck underground as the music press like to call it)Has produced great bands like Drive By Truckers, IMHO the best american rock and roll band right now.The B52s, Tishimingo,and of course REM.Kentuckys My Morning Jacket,South Carolinas Crossfade,North Carolinas the home of Ryan Adams.I am sure people who live in other areas of the country have their own favorites.Rock seems alive and well to me.
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post #37 of 44
11/23/05 at 12:13pm
Recently, an interesting article in Slate:
Collage Radio

Me myself, Im really jappy with this Music Forum (Davey and markl's posts tend to hurt my wallet alot ) and the Japanese indie scene.
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post #38 of 44
11/23/05 at 1:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aman
Yet you refuse to listen to older music? This doesn't make sense to me...

Rock ran out of steam a LONG time ago. Yes, there are the small few who continue to innovate, but, usually, they do so amongst a tiny, and almost unknowing audience.

The last "Sgt. Pepper" that I can think of from rock music, besides Sgt. Pepper itself, was "OK Computer". That's sad.

But, when you think about it, when was the last time we had a 'Casablanka' movie? Or the last time we had a 'Super Mario Brothers' video game? Maybe Halo comes close, but I'd detest that strongly, and video games have a long ways to go before they die out...

This happens among all art forms. When art forms reach their expiration date among the public, they have to come up with pitiful releases to keep the mainstream still minutely interested - they need to make things more commercialized and 'gimicky'. Yes, that is why the film indsustry accepts releases like 'Dukes of Hazard', and why the music industry accepts artists like 50 Cent, Fat Joe, and Jennifer Lopez.
I don't see how it doesnt make sense, but rock isn't running out of steam. Different types of rock are gaining steam and coming into the mainstream, and what used to be mainstream is dying out, but rock as a whole is going nowhere. It might not be as good as it used to be, but it still has steam and plenty of fans that arent just going to let it go.
I said I don't listen to older music, but I don't refuse to listen to it. I just can't find any older music I like. When I find it, I'll listen to it, but I havent found it yet.
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post #39 of 44
11/24/05 at 7:55pm
Thread Starter 
I see some agreement, some disagreement out there with my position.

It's not that I think that all contemporary rock music is bad, but as a genre it is mostly re-working what has been done before. Not this is bad per se. Plenty of good music has been written at the end of a musical era.

But at some point eras do end and I wonder when rock will fade away just as its early practitioners feared. And if so, what will replace it?

The key element of rock is a strong beat, usually 2/4 or 4/4, hammered out by a drum or rhthym guitars. But this has not always been such a defining element of popular music. It has been now for about 50 years strong.

When this music arrived on the white music scene ( it was mostly a transplant from black music), it largely defined the generation of young people who were its main listeners. I agree with those who think that this form of music continued to evolve through the 70's and still tended to define its listeners then.

In part I feel sorry for my own kids who don't have that same defining experience with musical styles. Not they they have any shortage of music to listen to both contemporary and older/classic rock.
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post #40 of 44
11/24/05 at 10:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by no1likesme
i dont think rock will ever "die" as there are so many different variations and subgenres of it. but the quality will be steadilly going downhill as it will be overshadowed by rap and hip hop
I don't agree with what you're saying, but that's not why I'm posting.

Is there actually a Sault St. Marie in Michigan? Or is that a joke b/c you're in Ontario but kind of close to MI? Inquiring minds want to know.
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post #41 of 44
11/24/05 at 11:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by edstrelow
But at some point eras do end and I wonder when rock will fade away just as its early practitioners feared. And if so, what will replace it?
Rock will never fade away, nor will anything. Classical has been around for hundreds of years!
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post #42 of 44
11/24/05 at 11:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hungrych
As a teenager growing up in this age, I don't think it's an age thing, but while certainly not all music is terrible, a frightening majority of mainstream and widely known music is total crap.
Yeah, I agree... contrast that even to the 80s and first half of the 90s, where mainstream music was still pretty good. IMO things just went utterly south after about 1995.
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post #43 of 44
11/25/05 at 2:14am
80s? Mainstream music? Good? I'll take two of whatever you're having!
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post #44 of 44
11/25/05 at 4:05am
No, 'rock' is not dieing out.
There is now more innovation and creativity then ever before. This is only due to the media that now exists (internet) for this decades creativity is no different then the previous decades creative mindset.
But when you look at 'modern art' you see boxes placed about the room, hardly 'art' to the majority of the people, but when you hear good modern 'rock' music you know it is rock music and you have an understanding of how this music came to be.
I will say that there is a current trend of the de-evolution of music in the electronic scene. They are resorting to digital bleeps and errors to create layered music. It is hard to take it, but one has the same sort of enjoyment of it as the avant garde compositions of the post-war years.

Music is just as strong now as it was in previous decades. Look for it and you shall find it. The popular music of every decade was terrible in comparison to the underground music of the time.
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