@inna I’m a music dealer Malmsteen is too plain and boring. He is just another ordinary rock guitarist doing nothing unusual and interesting. Check Marc Ribot (often accompanies Tom Waits) FZ tried to revive plain and dumb rock, but didn’t live long enough.
It is alive. Not popular, but alive. So is outlaw country. In both cases, you have to go out and find it for yourself.
On on the bright side, the Internet has given these long-neglected artists a way to be heard. No need for a record label and their interference. No need for radio stations and their reluctance to play anything different. How to make living at it - that’s the trick.
Someone has referred to FZ (I assume the one and only Frank Zappa, my apologies, if not.) as "plain and dumb" I now cast upon you my hocus pocus way out of focus curse on you... "May the Mothers of Invention haunt you the rest of your life and after life." Thus ends this incantation.
...and let us all remember... we're all entitled to our opinions. music, audio equipment and life in general is subjective. Thank you, The Wicked Witch of STL.
After the 60's-80's generation of rock and roll dies, there is no new rock n'roll. For me, rock n'roll (new music/musicians) died in 1995 when producers began the loudness wars (compression, etc). in recordings. No imagination or new music (well among the big "stars" of rock from 1995). I do like electronica such as Yello but they began in the 80s too. I dislike rap and hip hop, so for me, they're not an important form of music. Luckily, there is still new and interesting classical and jazz composition as well as an occasional opera with very capable performers of classic music in those genres. P.S. I also like country music but find most of today's boring.
You all forgot Jeff Lynne, still rockin' and doing concerts. Even John Lennon said Lynne and ELO was where the Beatles were going if they stayed together. No better recommendation than that!
Schubert is 100% correct in posting, “ In the land of Sibelius heavy metal rules , case closed .
Of course Schubert speaks of Finland, where I’m fortunate enough to be traveling to on April 16 from Maine, USA. While in Helsinki Finland on April 18, I’ll be seeing in concert the greatest all original female rock band you’ve never heard of. This would be due to the song lyrics being sung in Finnish. Finnish being the most musical in spoken form of all European languages. The band is Tiktak. Remind me of ACDC with the backing vocals of Def Leppard.
Tiktak were signed to Universal Records when they were all of 14 and 15 years old. Yes, 14 and 15, with their first two albums also released with English lyrics. After disbanding 10 years later, the girls put their free Finnish tuition benefits to use, earning advanced degrees in Chemical Engineering, Education and Architecture. The architect, nicknamed Mimmu, is the fairest and finest bass player in all of Finland!
Tiktak are now back, hopefully for an additional 10 years, at the ripe old ages of 33 to 34. Enjoy.
I always found ELO rather cheezy, but have liked quite a few of Jeff Lynne's album productions. He did one with a real fine female singer/songwriter named Julianna Raye (Something Peculiar), Roy Orbison, Brian Wilson, George Harrison, Tom Petty, The Traveling Wilburys, Del Shannon, and Dave Edmunds (which I didn't like; Dave is a pure Rock 'n' Roller, not Technopop!).
@fleschler, I understanding your being bored by what the music biz is currently pushing as Country music, but there is a thriving underground of real Country you may not be aware of. It is a community of songwriters, singers, and musicians playing authentic Country music, not Pop "Country". Their music is not heard on the radio nor rewarded at the ACA Awards TV Show, so they hold their own Americana Awards Ceremony annually (videos available on You Tube).
The community is comprised of names such as Jim Lauderdale (who has hosted most of the AAC shows), Buddy Miller (and his wife Julie), Emmylou Harris, Iris Dement, Patty Loveless, Marty Stuart, Chris Hillman (The Byrds bassist, his latest album produced by Mike Campbell of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers), Rodney Crowell, John Hiatt, Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury, Johnny Staats, Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, and many, many more.
In addition, many of the studio musicians and songwriters who were the foundation of the late-60’s/early-70’s Country-Rock and Singer-Songwriter music coming out of Los Angeles have relocated to Nashville. Even the great guitarist/songwriter/singer Al Anderson of Rock ’n’ Roll band NRBQ (a favorite of Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, and Dave Edmunds) has done the same, to focus on a songwriting career.
Many of the above can be considered somewhat of "crossover" artists; not pure Country, but rather a mix of Country, Hillbilly, Bluegrass, Blues, and Singer-Songwriter. That is one reason the community has adopted the genre name Americana, the coverage of which is provided on the No Depression website.
Remember, most of the original white Rock ’n’ Rollers were southern hillbillies, who grew up listening to The Grand Old Opry on the radio (there was not yet any television), the cathedral of Country music in the 40’s/50’s/60’s. It was when in the mid-50’s they mixed that Hillbilly music with the also southern rural Blues, that what we now think of as Rock ’n’ Roll was created (ignoring for the sake of this discussion the fact that Big Joe Turner, Louis Jordan, and other black singers were already doing a very similar music as early as the mid-40’s). many of those white Rock ’n’ Rollers---Elvis, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Johnny Burnette---continued to dabble in Country, some even moving over to it completely. Old Rock ’n’ Rollers don’t die, they just go Country ;-) .
Finnish metal is crap, never cared for those, just noise. Sad but true.
How do you like Finnish sung in kinda American fashion (I think): Maarit´s version of classic "Delta Dawn" from 1973 : https://youtu.be/Ka5-Q3F3LVc From her first album which is a stunning pop/rock album by any standards, the best thing is her sweet soulful voice very original sound, no-one like her. And the very finest album from her catalogue. Highly recommend the original 2 Love Records vinyl editions, hard to find though. "Jäätelökesä" from 1978:https://youtu.be/wgaEFvyDlpU
There are too many fantastic performances here to post. She´s still performing today, the guitarist is her husband been married for four decades. Absolutely fantastic woman and artist. I´m not personally into soft pop but she´s something else, just love her voice. I´m very proud of our musical heritage. Thanks for the real music, Sibelius and Co. Enjoy the tunes
At eighty+ I pretty much say what i think . I never heard a note of classical till I was over 30 and a soldier in Vietnam . The Armed forces radio ,which never played classical, that day played a Beethoven song sung by the Great Swedish tenor , Jussi Bjorling, which swept over me in a tsunami of true beauty . I am sure, very sure, that if that had that had not happened I would never , with my 8th degree education , got degrees from top US and German universities , married a beautiful educated women , and thanks to Bach, become a Christian . And many other things .
I was always smart but Classical music gave me something I never had , "Good Taste ", without which intelligence is rather lame .And it does it in all elements of life , not just music ! No other form of music can do that, some do just the opposite .That is why when I hear , "oh, its a just a matter of taste " I think yes, good taste and bad taste .
That's a great story, Schubert. Was it something like the scene in "The Shawshank Redemption" in which Tim Robbins plays an opera record for the men in the prison courtyard?
Thank you bdp24 for the availability of current Country/Americana that I would enjoy listening to. There are some old performers locally in Ventura County that my friend Robert hears all the time. I like the mix of blues with country. I like rock mixed with country and/or blues as well (some great groups from the 70s and 80s did that).
The problem is that most millennials are overwhelmed/overwhelmingly favor yukky music and the good music is shoved aside. The live performances of musicians are where the money is rather than in studio recordings cheaply available on the internet.
schubert, after I met my wife, I was introduced to more modern rock from the 70s and 80s and enjoy much of it now (not so much heavy metal). From my 40s, I was introduced to modern jazz. So, my music tastes have evolved over time. It began with opera, classical, pre-1960s pop and ethnic music from childhood. I have a large collection of jazz now which makes listening frustrating as I have 42,000 LPs/78s/CDs. One day it’s one format, another day another but jumping from one music genre to another. I can’t hear it all.
When I listen to any J.S. Bach, it has to be the last thing I play; no one can follow him. For an epiphany. listen to his Concerto for 4 Harpsichords And Orchestra. The counterpoint is mind-blowing; merely hearing it raises one's consciousness. But his music serves a much higher purpose (the glorification of God and his Son) than does Rock ’n’ Roll. The two cannot be viewed in the same light.
Some Rockers have quit performing R & R for spiritual reasons, most notably of course Little Richard. Others have struggled with their conflicts between the Sacred and the Profane; Jerry Lee Lewis, who was captured on tape by Sun Records’ Sam Philips opining that Rock ’n Roll was indeed Satan’s music. Elvis’ first love was Gospel, which he listened to and performed at home.
bdp , exactly so . I don’t listen to rock for that reason and if I want something on the "earthy plane", after all we are human and can’t praise God 24/7/365, I listen to jazz which is FAR better both on the musical plane alone and the skill and dedication of those who play it . I also hated/hate rock for clearing the airwaves in a year of the "swing" / American Standard Songbook era which was the high-water mark in real musical appreciation among the American general population .
I’d go so far as to say that American Jazz is better overall than American composed classical , bring in the big guns from Europe and you have another story .
tosta , perhaps . I had lost several men and shooting the "enemy" in such a bogus war also heavy on my mind . In short my defenses were low and I imagine that is also so in prison . But I often wonder, since as I said , Armed Forces Radio NEVER played classical , if what I heard was just for me alone which would qualify for a miracle . Not that I know that or claim that .
flesher, what I would advise my grandson in your situation is to stop listening to music at all for at least 6 months , better yet a year .Music is a gift for us to be happy on this vale of tears but with 48Ksounds like you may have taken it a bit far and a vacation might be in order . The recordings ain’t going anywhere and you might get a different perspective on things .
&bdp24 you are sadly mistaken. All Rock ‘n Roll is far from profane or worse. There are some extremist groups who espouse devil worship etc, but the majority is honest, good down to earth music for every person. rap on the other hand is for those who are intolerant and want to radicalize other people to follow a lifestyle of crime and hatred.
Two of our greatest singers---Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin---came from the Gospel world, and were denounced by the flock for their heresy---performing secular music.
Prior to modern times (sometime in the 19th Century, I believe), Classical music---music that has survived for one reason because of it being notated---was purely the music of the Aristocracy, the Kings etc. who were it's patrons. Composers were employees, and wrote the music needed for official ceremonies, as well as for the entertainment of the Royals, who were themselves often amateur musicians. J.S. Bach's day job was as a church organist, and his organ works were written for the Sunday Masses. That they survive as art is incidental!
The music of the proletariat was not written down (notated), but was passed down from generation-to-generation, sitting around fireplaces, at dances and taverns. The songs we now think of as "Folk" music (in not the literal, but rather largest sense of the word) survived by being kept alive by troubadours, traveling minstrels, etc. It was not until A.P. Carter, June Carter's Grandfather (Carlene's Great-Grandfather) notated and copywrote the songs he had grown up hearing the hillbillies in Tennessee singing (music brought to America by the English, Irish, and Scottish, mostly), and subsequently recorded by The Carter Family (considered the First Family of Country music), that that rural music made it out of the mountains and into the cities and towns of the rest of the U.S.A. and beyond. It is that Folk music that was one half of the recipe for making what became Rock 'n' Roll (see below).
It's not hard to understand therefore that at some point people look back, and embrace and celebrate that Folk music, later known as Hillbilly, Country, Bluegrass, Western Swing, and finally, which when mixed with the music brought to America and developed by African slaves and their ancestors---Blues, became Rockabilly---the first integrated music! It was that integration that first got Rock 'n' Roll banned by racist southern whites, who didn't want their kids listening to no n*gg*er music, even if it was being performed by whites (Elvis, etc.).
@sleepwalker65, woah nelly! It is not I who consider Rock ’n’ Roll profane (even if it is, I STILL love it. Well, some of it, anyway), for gosh sakes. That term was used to make a point---that Little Richard, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, other Rockabillies felt a conflict between their upbringing and spiritual beliefs, and their involvement in Rock ’n’ Roll, which the Church considered The Devil’s music, and which IT referred to as profane. I thought that was obvious ;-) .
I am always fascinated by the words "praise" and "worship". If there was indeed an almighty deity, he wouldn't need or desire anyone's praise or worship. We can all love different types of music at different times as our moods dictate. The idea that one type or another has a divine stamp of approval is just silly.
schubert- you are 80+ years old stupid! I would rather die than give up music, even for one day. Music has filled my life since I was 3, Last week I performed for 350 people at the AJU university and tonight I was the videographer of a performance many talented performers including Tovah Feldshuh, Hila Plitman, Emily Bear, Zinovy Goro and Mark Kashper together with the 25th anniversary of the 50 member Los Angeles Jewish Symphony (with many dignitaries present) under conductor Dr. Noreen Green. When your life revolves around music, you don't take a "vacation" from it. Its in my lifeblood. Its part of my culture and religion, music is always present at times of joy and grieving, happy and sad music. But always music.
I never heard a note of classical till I was over 30 ... I am
sure, very sure, that if that had that had not happened I would never ,
with my 8th degree education , got degrees from top US and German
universities , married a beautiful educated women , and thanks to Bach,
become a Christian ... I was always smart but Classical music gave me something I never had , "Good
Taste ", without which intelligence is rather lame .And it does it in
all elements of life , not just music ! No other form of music can
do that, some do just the opposite .That is why when I hear , "oh, its a
just a matter of taste " I think yes, good taste and bad taste .
What's interesting about this sort of elitism is that there are similar adherents for just about every genre of music. The notion that a certain genre is more pure, more intelligent, more tasteful, more worthy, is just a consequence of cultural bias and ignorance.
+1. There is no music more worthy than another. What matters is that people enjoy it and connect emotionally and artistically with it. New art is always contextual - so it changes constantly in response to the prior art.
Rock/folk/jazz is amazing because of the joint group creative element. Classical is often formed in the mind of a single composer. Technically classical is more complex but lacks the spontaneous creativity that occurs when a smaller group of musicians simply jam.
Check out this amazing song that came from jamming
@roxy54 : "
I am always fascinated by the words "praise" and "worship". If there was indeed an almighty deity, he wouldn't need or desire anyone's praise or worship."
While this is 'technically' true it misses the point or worship. Worship is for the benefit of the worshiper and is the only rational response toward an all-powerful and all-loving deity that loves the worshiper and knows what is best for him. I'm not asking anyone to believe this, I'm just pointing out that roxy's if-then statement is a bit of a straw man.
All in all, it’s just not interesting inserting Led Zeppelin CD into the car CD player, because it’s same thing as listening to the radio. In general rock ain’t much of an interest and does get me bored 😐. RnR is dying not only because of jazz or classical music — there are much more creative styles and genres today. Jazz itself has so many evolved variations. Primitive rock tunes might work for a while, but not for long
The Rock artists die just like the Jazz artists , but the music lives forever . Half of Led Zepplin’s music came from deceased Black Americans , so why even ask this question . Music so undocumented that it is “ Arranged by Ledbetter “ ! BTW , Charlie Watts is a living , walking , breathing Jazz Drummer ! He just needs a jacket and a tie ... Cheers You All ..... See you When the Levee Breaks .
@czarivey : "RnR is dying not only because of jazz or classical music"
Jazz and classical have _nothing_ to do with the decline of rock and roll.
And quite frankly despite the hoity-toity appeal that some people ascribe to jazz I find it no more sophisticated or intellectual than a great deal of good rock or even blue grass for that matter.
And if rock is dying, classical is truly, thoroughly dead when it comes to new material and innovation. I am no expert but I go to operas, the symphony etc and own a modest collection of classical music. I love it. But I haven't heard anything written in the last 75 years that interests me. Well, maybe some of Sharon Isbin's stuff but a lot of that is true classical adapted to guitar. But that is pretty esoteric.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking anyone's preference of music. Its all music.
But the premise that jazz and classical are killing rock just doesn't jibe with reality. There are not enough people abandoning rock for jazz or classical to have any impact on rock's life-support.
Where the premise really falls flat is that rock is not dying. It simply isn't the predominant format and it is no longer going to find you. You have to find it. But its out there. And man there is some good stuff out there right now.
Obviously, you are not a musician and haven't been to Los Angeles area concerts. I've been performing new classical and semi-classical music all my life. Although they are generally not well known as the "classics", they are up there as equally worthy music. I'm not talking about atonal music but complex music with hummable new melodies. If you don't think Barber's Vanessa or Ballad of Baby Doe are great operas which are less than 75 years old, you are not a knowledgeable opera buff. The music of Aminadav Aloni, Michael Issacson, Meir Finkelstein (sung as frequently as pop) etc. represent the pinnacle of Jewish choral and cantorial composition.
Just last week saw MUSE @ Little Caesars Arena . They were sold out and nobody was sitting in their seat the whole time. Check out the Blue-Ray Muse live in Rome. Now these guys rock. I'm 74 and have seen most of the good bands.
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