The effects of corporate music

Dunno Slappy, I guess I'm an old man at 44 cause I'm feeling much like Nrchy regarding music in America. You may take a listen to Jim White's music if you haven't heard it. I think he may strike a chord with you if you like those lyrics. I do like White's music. He has a similar sense of humor, but I'd say was a better poet than the dude who wrote Jesus Loves Me But He Can't Stand You. And where do you turn to hear Jim White, Tom Waits, Over the Rhine, Patty Griffin (a few of my favorites), and others contemporaries who are writing meaningful lyrics and are gifted musicians? There are precious few independent radio stations playing the likes of these artists. NPR would likely have highlighted any one of them at one time or other. But for every NPR channel in any given metropolitan area, if you are lucky enough to have one, there are a hundred more channels on by corporate America playing dreck like N'Synch and Marge Simpson (or is it Bart?). Even NPR seems pretty predicatable at times and leaves many stones unturned, but at least it provides some alternate relief. As far as rap, it's pretty primal and basic. I can take it or leave it myself, but I wouldn't necessarily patently dismiss it. I seldom find myself in the mood for listening to RAP so you won't find much in my collection. Guess that qualifies me for the Geritol contingent according to Slappy! BTW, my dad actually bought Beatles albums and enjoyed them when I was a kid. My grandpappy was dead at that point, so I don't really know how he'd feel about that music. I agree with Chris too that there are plenty of good artists out there, it's just that they just get precious little airtime compared to the septic waste passing for music that fills the airwaves. That's not just limited to pop stations either. The classical stations also have an endless loop of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Barber's Adagion, and other overplayed and boring standards. I'm sure it holds true with rap stations and country music stations as well. Maybe it's that people don't want to have to think anymore...they just wanna be spoon fed their processed carrots and have their heart rate regulated by a subwoofer.

Marco

Heh.

Ya know, as much as i hate brittany spears music, every time her video Toxic is on, i have a hard time changing the channel. ;)

that girl is so freakin hot it's annoying. ;)

Nrchy, you hit the nail on the head this time. Blame Clearchannel for destroying radio and Sony for wiping out the recorded music industry. The good news is that with the latest technological advances (eg internet, etc.) many new artists in the US are choosing to forego the established recording industry. Volume of sales is lower, but the profit to the performer is, in many cases, slightly higher since the record companies don't pay squat to anyone but an established mainstream artist. The only down-side to this is it makes great music hard to find if you don't know exactly where to look. The time is right for some enterprising individual to set up a categorized link site for as many of these artists as possible with links to their sites (maybe it already exists?). Anyway, another point I'd like to make is that harder rock-n-roll didn't die, it moved to Finland. And other countries outside the US. Here, listed by country, are a few bands from outside the US that most people in the US have never heard of. Check them out, you may find a new favorite:

Finland -- Nightwish, Thyrane
Italy -- Lacuna Coil
Sweden -- Freak Kitchen, Passenger, In Flames
Croatia -- Ashes You Leave

On a much softer note, check out Holly McNarland from Canada or if you find yourself in a Sisters of Mercy mood, try out The Cruxshadows from that other foreign country---Florida!!! You get my point. Good music is out there, it's just harder to find. That's why we have to rely on each other to find it. I realize this is predominantly a gear site, but maybe Audiogon should/would consider a way for members to list what types of music they prefer. That would make it alot easier to know who to ask for new music recommendations. Just a thought.

Being in education I observe and supervise young people as part of my job. Where before there was some concensus among young people about "good music" and "good bands," this does not exist today. When I mentioned the Doors to a group of students last year, several said they were big fans and had several albums. Others had never heard the band. When I was in school, if someone mentioned the Doors, we would have said they were old and not as good as our current favorites. The students just do not have a common favorite band or type of music. Many no longer listen to popular music. This is not just about getting old, there is something more to it than that.

When chaperoning a dance, the DJ used 80's and early 90's hard rock tunes to get the students going, then switched to more modern tunes. When the modern tunes were played the dance floor was markedly less crowded and less energetic. It did get crowded again later, but I suspect only because the participants wanted the bump-and-grind of bodies that is modern MTV-style dancing and not because of the music. The students did not seem to realize why they enjoyed dancing to the older rock so much and could only bump-and-grind and/or STAND AROUND ON THE DANCE FLOOR to the newer music (yes there was simple standing by some).

When I was younger there were 4 radio stations in my area that played primarily top 40 hits. Today there is only one radio station in the area that plays top 40. This speaks for itself that times and the music have changed. It is not just that we are getting older.

HEY NOW! I didn't say I didn't like LOOKING at Brittany! Isn't that more evidence for what's wrong with commercial muzac? Get a bimbo or bimbob, put 'em in spandex, and process in some real singers to "thicken up" lame vocals. Same story with that country singer Shania Twain. She sounds better on TV than radio.