Is Rock n Roll almost dead?

[Coltrane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojoman /img/forum/go_quote.gif I saw Jason Isbell last night. For about 2 1/2 hours rock was not dead!

Jason Isbell is amazing.

I don't understand the whole line of thinking where popularity or what is on the radio is even vaguely mentioned as being remotely important when discussing music at all. But then again, maybe some of us have a different idea of what 'rock' means and what they want from it. For example, while I have not heard the new Velvet Revolver, everything I have heard from them so far could only be described as exceedingly lame. Maybe rock is dead for those people.

 

[mojoman]

I agree with you Coltrane.

I gave up a long time ago trying to understand why people like the music they do or trying to influence anyone's taste in music. You are so right that what's popular or played on the radio has nothing much to do with anything when discussing music.

In a couple of hours I'm heading out to collect some more evidence that rock is not dead. Los Lobos is a band I've seen in the 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's and they have never disappointed. I'm not expecting them to tonight.

 

[Comfy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric5469 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is there really anybody to get excited about anymore besides maybe the White Stripes? Look at the top 40 albums in Rolling Stone magazine, week in and week out it's the same ****. ie rhiannon, maroon 5. give me a break. I want to find new music to really like but man it's hard. I find myself listening to americana type groups mostly because there's just nothing exciting besides maybe the White Stripes. Entire albums recorded on Mac computers give me a break! By the way if you want to hear a duo that falls under americana that some of you have never heard of check out Over the Rhine. What are you guys rocking out to thats not hard core? There is not much rock for us guys in that 35-45 range.

Spot on.
You might start the age range from 30+ though, as I'm that old and struggling with the same issue.
My personal objects of interest in current rock music: The White Stripes, Turbonegro, and upcoming releases from the two achieving rock bands in my country - HIM and CMX. The Arcade Fire is another band I really respect for what they are doing.

There is not much to be done regarding classic rock 'n' roll, and in my opinion the only acceptable option is to turn your ears towards progressive rock and punk. Or progressive punk rock for even better results. Rock 'n' roll is meant to be about rebellion and non-conformism, and there is no way to achieve that by just imitating classic rock acts from the sixties or seventies. Those pastiches are by definiton conservative and formal, bound to their own pretensions of remaining true to whatever they consider "old school" and proper.

Rock 'n' roll is about breaking boundaries, not about the sound of a distorting Marshall amplifier and mimicing Keith Richards' pose in front of a mirror. Music that makes your heart throb, your imagination go wild and your spirit soar. Not music to tap your left foot to while gazing numbly at your brew and a shot in a rock bar full of black-wearing morons. Or something along those lines.

(Here are some other current artists that make me feel like rock music should: The Blood Brothers, Joanna Newsom, Bohren und der Club of Gore.)

 

[DrBenway]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojoman /img/forum/go_quote.gif Los Lobos is a band I've seen in the 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's and they have never disappointed.

Not that you asked for a "Hell Yeah," but...HELL YEAH.

These guys are grandparents, and they could out rock any Emo weenie band currently whining in a club near you. Ultimately, their brief moment of national recognition was an accident; they were a perfect fit for the Richie Valens biopic, and the results were great. But they adroitly avoided the trap of becoming a nostalgia or oldies act.

I heard them cover "Cinnamon Girl" as a live encore and it was beyond beautiful. But they have also managed to go in their own, modern direction. As long as there are groups like this -- simultaneously deep in the tradition and constantly innovative -- rock music will not die.