General Music Chat

It has been quite a few years since the creation of a hot "new" genre of music. Maybe I don't get out much but it seems like there hasn't been anything "new" catch fire in quite some time. No British Invasion, no metal revolution, no disco, no punk, no alternative, no rap, etc. Are we done creating something "new?" Are there so many genres to choose from that a new fad that nearly everybody likes is now an impossibility?

A lot bands like to mash up genres. For example our main genre is punk, but that is an ambiguous term; we also bring in elements of metal, rap, funk, hard rock and country. Some people also call us proto-punk or post-punk, but labels are weak.

FYI for those who don't understand the genre punk, it began as a revolt against progressive rock bands in the 70's; young bands just learning their craft couldn't learn or play Yes, Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd. So they went back to their garage roots, all starting with Iggy in the Stooges, then the Ramones, Sex Pistols and Clash. Many people declared punk dead after the demise of the Pistols, yet it has remained alive under the radar. Bands like The Misfits embodied punk for a new generation; then in the 90's a version of punk that was more accessible was born with grunge (especially bands from Seattle like Pearl Jam, Mudhoney and Nirvana). Many pop bands such as Good Charlotte and Green Day have adopted the punk genre because of its street cred.

Punk is not about playing your instrument badly or ripped up clothes - it's an attitude that says "do it yourself", to play music on your own terms, and to go against traditional thinking.

A lot bands like to mash up genres. For example our main genre is punk, but that is an ambiguous term; we also bring in elements of metal, rap, funk, hard rock and country. Some people also call us proto-punk or post-punk, but labels are weak.

FYI for those who don't understand the genre punk, it began as a revolt against progressive rock bands in the 70's; young bands just learning their craft couldn't learn or play Yes, Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd. So they went back to their garage roots, all starting with Iggy in the Stooges, then the Ramones, Sex Pistols and Clash. Many people declared punk dead after the demise of the Pistols, yet it has remained alive under the radar. Bands like The Misfits embodied punk for a new generation; then in the 90's a version of punk that was more accessible was born with grunge (especially bands from Seattle like Pearl Jam, Mudhoney and Nirvana). Many pop bands such as Good Charlotte and Green Day have adopted the punk genre because of its street cred.

Punk is not about playing your instrument badly or ripped up clothes - it's an attitude that says "do it yourself", to play music on your own terms, and to go against traditional thinking.

I loved MC5 a band out of Detroit.. "Kick Out The Jams" is a classic album

The Origin of punk is debatable...It depends what side of the pond your on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8r0dlX4LtQ

Musical preference is cyclical ... none of it is "new" IMO

Placed in a different wrapper and delivered by a different generation perhaps but not new.


Watch the old file film of the Zulu war dance and you will see not the origin but a thread through history of RAP.

Hear the mournful groaning of Gregorian Chant as a direct link to "goth" noise of today.

The rolling log beats of the south pacific would sound awesome to the track of a screaming guitar. Be damn careful in that mosh pit though.
The spears are sharp!

I actually have a theory, and it's just a theory, that popular genres of music reflect what is going on in society at the time. 1940's WW II- Big band era, everybody pulling together as one, largescale cooperation in the war effort, big bands represent largescale cooperation. 1950's WWII over, mainly peace in the world (except Korea)-early rock and roll and do-op, mainly vocal harmonies with syruppy lyrics, blissful harmony. 1960's Civil rights and Vietnam war raging, folk rock with lyrics protesting civil rights abuses, harder rock and metal are born, rebellion against the war and the establishment. 1975 Vietnam War ends civl rights struggle eases. People who have been down for causes suddenly have no causes. Through the 60's into the early 70's there was little attention on individuals. Disco is born. Look at me on the dance floor, fancy clothes, chains, mirror balls. I exist. LOOK at me. Then into the 80's punk emerges. Like Jimmy said, rock had started becoming too complicated, too ornate. A backlash to rock and disco for that matter. It goes on and on...BUT I don't know what social issues today can inspire a musician to create something new in music. Perhaps we won't see another era of a massively popular "new" genre like in the past.

I actually have a theory, and it's just a theory, that popular genres of music reflect what is going on in society at the time. 1940's WW II- Big band era, everybody pulling together as one, largescale cooperation in the war effort, big bands represent largescale cooperation. 1950's WWII over, mainly peace in the world (except Korea)-early rock and roll and do-op, mainly vocal harmonies with syruppy lyrics, blissful harmony. 1960's Civil rights and Vietnam war raging, folk rock with lyrics protesting civil rights abuses, harder rock and metal are born, rebellion against the war and the establishment. 1975 Vietnam War ends civl rights struggle eases. People who have been down for causes suddenly have no causes. Through the 60's into the early 70's there was little attention on individuals. Disco is born. Look at me on the dance floor, fancy clothes, chains, mirror balls. I exist. LOOK at me. Then into the 80's punk emerges. Like Jimmy said, rock had started becoming too complicated, too ornate. A backlash to rock and disco for that matter. It goes on and on...BUT I don't know what social issues today can inspire a musician to create something new in music. Perhaps we won't see another era of a massively popular "new" genre like in the past.

I would suggest that your theory is absolutely correct.
I would go as far as to say that it is a "law" of human nature not just theory.
It also interweaves with my prior comment and a microcosm of said behaviors can be seen in the seasonal changes in the music of primitive peoples.
The sounds of preparation for harvest are different from the sounds of preparation to sow. As the sound of preparation for love ritual is different from the sound of preparation for war.

I would also contend that you could take our ( modern ) music and subdivide it into these various categories.

But then I see black & white ... I do not recognize "grey areas" in life.

Dub-step is the most recent that I know of and it seems to be growing. It's started more like the underground sounds of the past. I'm sure if it survives some producer will get a hold of it to commercialize it until it's no longer an art form.

I think what happens is that someone takes an existing style and adopts modernizes it in some way. Take disco for example, everybody says that style of music died out by the time the 80s came around, but really it just got a name change, now it's called dance-pop and sometimes dance-rock.

For example, compare these songs:

"Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer (70s)
"Lucky Star" by Madonna (80s)
"Believe" by Cher (90s)
"For Your Entertainment" by Adam Lambert (2000s)
"Edge Of Glory" by Lady Gaga (current decade)

That is a fairly astute observation Cliff.

But there is no way in HELL I'm going to listen to those tracks you listed lol:

That is a fairly astute observation Cliff.

But there is no way in HELL I'm going to listen to those tracks you listed lol:

So, you don't like that music. Don't make a big deal out of it.

I actually have a theory, and it's just a theory, that popular genres of music reflect what is going on in society at the time. 1940's WW II- Big band era, everybody pulling together as one, largescale cooperation in the war effort, big bands represent largescale cooperation. 1950's WWII over, mainly peace in the world (except Korea)-early rock and roll and do-op, mainly vocal harmonies with syruppy lyrics, blissful harmony. 1960's Civil rights and Vietnam war raging, folk rock with lyrics protesting civil rights abuses, harder rock and metal are born, rebellion against the war and the establishment. 1975 Vietnam War ends civl rights struggle eases. People who have been down for causes suddenly have no causes. Through the 60's into the early 70's there was little attention on individuals. Disco is born. Look at me on the dance floor, fancy clothes, chains, mirror balls. I exist. LOOK at me. Then into the 80's punk emerges. Like Jimmy said, rock had started becoming too complicated, too ornate. A backlash to rock and disco for that matter. It goes on and on...BUT I don't know what social issues today can inspire a musician to create something new in music. Perhaps we won't see another era of a massively popular "new" genre like in the past.

Actually bob, what you state as a theory is pretty much a truism... Present Music has, and always will be a reflection of where we are spiritually and intellectually in the present... The whole genre of Blues comes from people who were abused and oppressed, beaten and down trodden...It was an expression...done in a universal language...which allows all humans to understand more abstracts of social state of mind.

I contend the best artists (musicians) are the ones who can articulate their stories with precision...meaning they can capture and represent the themes, which they originally set out to express... Anything less than that is just huff and puff with a dog and pony show...

I actually have a theory, and it's just a theory, that popular genres of music reflect what is going on in society at the time. 1940's WW II- Big band era, everybody pulling together as one, largescale cooperation in the war effort, big bands represent largescale cooperation. 1950's WWII over, mainly peace in the world (except Korea)-early rock and roll and do-op, mainly vocal harmonies with syruppy lyrics, blissful harmony. 1960's Civil rights and Vietnam war raging, folk rock with lyrics protesting civil rights abuses, harder rock and metal are born, rebellion against the war and the establishment. 1975 Vietnam War ends civl rights struggle eases. People who have been down for causes suddenly have no causes. Through the 60's into the early 70's there was little attention on individuals. Disco is born. Look at me on the dance floor, fancy clothes, chains, mirror balls. I exist. LOOK at me. Then into the 80's punk emerges. Like Jimmy said, rock had started becoming too complicated, too ornate. A backlash to rock and disco for that matter. It goes on and on...BUT I don't know what social issues today can inspire a musician to create something new in music. Perhaps we won't see another era of a massively popular "new" genre like in the past.

One thing you are missing, Bob (as Cliff mentioned) is dance.
Most music throughout the ages has been about socializing and dancing ... today not so much. Kids have iPods, cell phones and different way of socializing ... and a lot of times it doesn't include music.

That is a fairly astute observation Cliff.

But there is no way in HELL I'm going to listen to those tracks you listed lol:

So, you don't like that music. Don't make a big deal out of it.

In all honesty Cliff, it was intended as a joke.
But sense you can neither accept explanations nor take a joke ... go phuck yourself.

I'll express my opinions without cracker comments from pussies like you any damn time I please.

Don't go away mad ... just go away.


Please

Enigmatic blues