I Hate New Music
Folks, I’m slackin’ on you this week. Truth be told, I’m neck-deep in writing a business model and let’s just say that crunching numbers: not my favorite.
So instead of the usual musings, I’ll be following my own advice. Here goes:
“Before any of you start a band, or join a band, or aid or abet a band, it is better by far that you pump gas for sub-sub-minimum wage, fish pennies out of port-a-pots at NASCAR hoedown’s, change the deep fat at White Castle, go back to school for a degree in pus forming, or poke an ice pick through your tongue.”
— Richard Meltzer from I Hate New Music, the Classic Rock Manifesto by Dave Thompson.
And that’s just the Preface!
He had me at “I Hate.”
Of course, there’s plenty of new music that I, for one, unabashedly LOVE. And certainly, I’ve been known to aid and abet. That said, one can be reasonably sure that talent the likes of Joplin, Hendrix, Lennon, etc. won’t exist again, let alone en masse. Ever.
Now more than ever, what we’ve gained in quantity overall, we’ve lost in quality exponentially. At least that’s the general gist of Thompson’s book so far.
Kind of depressing although, admittedly, quite true. When you get down to the genuine nitty-gritty, the music since then? since back in the day? Nothing measures up. Not even Radiohead.
It’s a tall order: music that stands the test of time… eternally great rock ‘n roll. Greater than great. Can it happen again? Even I’m dubious.
Perhaps it’s all this spreadsheet-ing that’s got me down. Or maybe Sarah Palin.
Tags: CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, KATE BRADLEY, OUTLANDOS MUSIC —
9/15/08
Categories: CUT THROUGH THE NOISE • KATE BRADLEY • OUTLANDOS MUSIC
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hmm. dearie, I actually disagree plenty. I’m of the opinion that we’re in a marvelous, extraordinary renaissance musically… that this era–right NOW– will be one we look back on as an exceptionally creative and vibrant and progressive musical landscape, and an incubator for what’s to come. (Of course, you’d like me to name names, but ain’t no way, not on your life…) Loving “classic” rock doesn’t mean one can’t shake with what’s happening all around you in the here and now, but to tell the truth, if I HAVE TO LISTEN TO PURPLE HAZE OR ME & BOBBY MCGEE ONE MORE TIME I’LL BARF. Give me (insert awesome new song here) or (and, again, here) any day of the week, any time of the day, any minute, etc.
Of course, I love “old” music as much as (more, actually–a LOT more than) anyone (I have a hogpile of 78s, for chrissake), but hell, I’m undone when I go and see someone play a glorious original melody with real, unabashed emotion and charisma, and am as likely to turn to whoever is next to me and say “music is still the best fucking thing on the face of this earth, the bright zenith in this short, short life, by far.” Believe it. I do.
xo
B
I think Grace Potter and Ani Difranco are two of many examples of great music out there today. Why can’t we accept the great artists without comparing them to music of the past? I love Rush, the Who along with the Beatles. But I like Coldplay and Dave Matthews. The Clash is fantastic but I love Radiohead too. Eddie Vedder would have fit in to any generation.
I agree with Marty and Brett. This is a wonderful age of new music, but only if you’re following the Internet blogs and official artist websites. For anyone searching the radio dial, it must feel like a wasteland of dreck and reruns. But, like other aspects of our society, the multitude of choices means that we don’t have 1 or 2 great bands we’ve all heard of and more-or-less agree on as great artists.
Not to mention that there are “old” artists still making good/great music, but because they are so established, they get little attention online (except from their hardcore base) and zero attention on the radio because *new* music by *classic rock* artists just doesn’t fit any of the predefined genre stations. I’m thinking of David Bowie (the terrific album Heathen was well reviewed but quickly overlooked), The Cure, and even slightly newer bands like Nine Inch Nails (with about 5 new albums this year)
and others.
Only the really good stuff from the States made it to Sweden where I grew up. And the ‘good stuff’ would probably fit in Jelo’s clasp purse.
Why does it appear that all the really good, lasting music came from Britain?
Love or hate new music, we live in a time of the celestial jukebox! With digital services such as Rhapsody, you can listen to 95% of the catalog of recorded music for a very small price… quite amazing. Hook up to your Hi-Fi with a system such as Sonos and get away from the screen.
Accessibility to the past may actually be more exciting than the future.