[laser]

Originally Posted by 7om

History has repeatedly shown that the old-fart perspective was wrong, which is why there is such a rich history of innovation in classical music, jazz and rock.

History has also repeatedly shown that the old-fart perspective was often right, as much as it was wrong. You seem to remember the stuff that was wrong and are selectively forgetting the numerous times it was right. The general feeling, and I prescribe to this, is that the record producers, promoters and the audience of the last 8-10 years are ignoring the best talent in favor of worn out formulas and talentless icons.

Originally Posted by 7om

Lucky for us that Beethoven, Stravinsky, Dylan and the Beatles didn't give a crap about tired opinions.

Yes, but they had something to offer. It's style versus substance. In every generation, there will be a challenge from the older generations to the new styles. Those of substance will most often endure. And that's the point: the recent generation hasn't given us a Beethoven, Stravinsky, Dylan or the Beatles.

It's that musical specialness that endures: It's why I see 13 year olds listening to the Beatles and not Herman's Hermits. It's why I listened to Buddy Rich, Les Paul, Bill Haley and the Comets, Chuck Berry and Wes Montgomery when I was a kid. Forty's boogie will always be well received, a hundred years from now. Elvis' Jailhouse Rock and 60's Motown will pass on from generation to generation. In twenty years from now, people will still be talking about the special richness of the Beach Boy's harmonies. "Dark Side of the Moon" will be played and remembered 40 years from now. Dylan's lyrics will still be admired.

Again, I ask you: What does the 2000's generation bring to the table?

Originally Posted by 7om

It's always been a lame argument that things were better in the good old days. Evolution happens and you're either still contributing to it or your time has passed.

No one is saying that it has to be better. In this case, it just is. The blame isn't the musicians--it's the music producers, the record labels and the general lack of music sophistication from those strapping on the iPODs.

I keep waiting for a musical maturity of the "next generation" to hit mainstream music. When there was that slight flicker of hope in the late 90's: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and some other more musically sophisticated styles (you know, some degree of virtuosity) that were emerging, no one was more prepared to embrace than my peers and I. Nothing could be better than the emergence of another breakthrough genre. Just add a little musicality to it. For pete sakes, there got to be more musical ideas brewing than bad rhymes, 4/4 hammering of power chords with crappy distortion, and slutty teenie-bops with stripper moves singing off key.

Originally Posted by 7om

By all means, let's enjoy the greats of yesteryear, but don't crap on everything new simply because you're unable or unwilling to sort the new wheat from the new chaff

Agree. We're just asking the new generation to let the talented ones rise to the top and then raise the bar higher on those who follow.

Laser