Why does music suck now?

[AC Long]

I'm of the opinion that most songs and musicians these days suck. Maybe I'm old but I can't get over the fact how much better bands like Night Ranger (just an example) could play and sing than the bands of today. Their songs were better too. Their hooks actually hooked you in a good way, not like a fish hook in your eye.

Also, a killer band like The Little River Band would never get signed today simply because of the way they looked. They were ugly as sin, but man, they were amazing!

So is it MTV? Autotune? Music Piracy?

Let me know what you think...

Peace
AC

[tapermark2006]

Little River Band and Night Ranger? Wtf?

[Birdi]

I think you are old and possibly bitter because your band never got signed.

B

[narcoman]

there are loads of bands today that can play better, worse and the same as bands of yore.

I loved the Kinks year go - but hey were'nt great players!

QOTSA are awesome players. Good modern band! Yeah Yeah Yeahs - great guitarist in Nick....

Honestly man - you don't have to look far to find good bands with great songs. Now - tastewise, older music might be your thing...

[moracspace]

My wife is not a musician and thinks the same thing.IMO there are several great bands out there.You must search a little harder now but they are out there.Yes the new musicians are spoiled by pro tools and auto tune

[RBowlin]

This is the kind of thread that will provoke a lot of different responses. But I know what you mean. I do believe there are a lot of good bands and artists playing "todays" music, but for the most part I just don't like it. Half the singers sound like they're twirling and warbling around an octive too high like a bird and other singers have been processed to sound like a kazoo. But when I look back on the 70s there were a lot of crappy singers back then as well, they just had the mojo I liked more than the singers of today.
BTW, my neighbor came home the other day with a LRB cd blaring away. I had an immediate rush of college memories. I walked across the street, borrowed the cd and played it for days. It was great, but now I can't listen to LRB for another 3 decades

-Rich

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by AC Long

I'm of the opinion that most songs and musicians these days suck. Maybe I'm old but I can't get over the fact how much better bands like Night Ranger (just an example) could play and sing than the bands of today. Their songs were better too. Their hooks actually hooked you in a good way, not like a fish hook in your eye.

Also, a killer band like The Little River Band would never get signed today simply because of the way they looked. They were ugly as sin, but man, they were amazing!

So is it MTV? Autotune? Music Piracy?

Let me know what you think...

Peace
AC

I think my Dad said pretty much the same thing to me back in 1986 about 80's music vs 50's music.

Glenn

[henryrobinett]

Originally Posted by moracspace

My wife is not a musician and thinks the same thing.IMO there are several great bands out there.You must search a little harder now but they are out there.Yes the new musicians are spoiled by pro tools and auto tune

OK then, where are they? I know they're out there. But where are they? Which bands can actually play great stuff live with no support, autotune, backing tracks - just play great. Which ones are they? I to an old. Night Ranger and Little River aren't my cup of tea, and I wouldn't have mentioned them as great bands of yore. Little Feat, EWF, Beatles, Allman Bros, Cream, Jimi, Zep, . . .

What are the bands today that can really play? Does anyone know?

[Kris]

For starters Henry, check out The Derek Trucks Band (If you don't have the cd "Songlines", go buy it NOW... I promise that you will LOVE it... and if not, I'll buy it off you! Mine's scratched up ;-) and the North Mississippi Allstars... Then maybe Ween if you can stomach it... My Morning Jacket, Tishamingo, Galactic, etc, etc, etc, etc ... These bands all put on sick live shows.

[henryrobinett]

Cool. I have Derek Trucks - a live DVD. Killer.

[christmasjones]

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

What are the bands today that can really play? Does anyone know?

I'd say the dave matthews band is a band that can really play. I'm not saying i enjoy their music, because honestly i really dont... but you have to admit they can put on an excellent live show.

[henryrobinett]

I like DM.

[Tommylicious]

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

What are the bands today that can really play? Does anyone know?

YouTube - Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - "Let Them Knock" - Live

[+++]

Originally Posted by AC Long

I'm of the opinion that most songs and musicians these days suck. Maybe I'm old but I can't get over the fact how much better bands like Night Ranger (just an example) could play and sing than the bands of today. Their songs were better too. Their hooks actually hooked you in a good way, not like a fish hook in your eye.

Also, a killer band like The Little River Band would never get signed today simply because of the way they looked. They were ugly as sin, but man, they were amazing!

So is it MTV? Autotune? Music Piracy?

Let me know what you think...

Peace
AC

Would you please name some of these "now" bands that suck?

[donsolo]

You know, every generation thinks the next generation's music sucks and can't understand why the previous generation doesn't like their music.

Do you have any idea how odd it was when people started listening to jazz? The music prior to that was all Wagner and Debussy. Then, all of these cats start playing noisy improvised music...

And you always remember the music of your youth as being better than it really was. Just because you remember Little River Band, Widespread Panic, Credence Clearwater Revival, ZZ Top, Santana and Cream, you forget all of those one-hit-wonder crap bands. The 60s were full of them in soul music (We listen to motown for the band, not the singers, some were great but there was crap coming out of the motor city too) there were all sorts of bands that only ever got to open for The Guess Who.

Then in the 80s, just because Yes, Iron Maiden, Van Halen and Ozzy were killer, there's all sorts of bad cross-dressing hair metal that faded into obscurity. The same thing is going to happen today.

The only real difference between then and now is that it's much harder for a band to really get noticed. Production techniques blur the lines between talent and technology and the Internet has made audience attention span shorter and shorter. While this allows for the music to become more democratic and allow a wider range of genre (noone could have imagined IDM in the 70s, except maybe Kraftwerk) to thrive, it has really reduced the concept of a super-star to the likes of britney spears or Jay Z, commercial music forced down our throats.

Some people to check out that need none of the modern production techniques that sound tremendous:

Medeski Martin and Wood
Dave Tronzo
Chris Buono
Brad Mehldau
The Bad Plus

Oh, and Norah Jones is auto-tuned so that crap does extend to jazz as well.

[donsolo]

Originally Posted by +++

Would you please name some of these "now" bands that suck?

Britney
N Sync
Hannah Montana
Good Charlotte
Papa Roach
Limp Bizkit
J Lo
Kayne West
Beyonce

I can go on, but will pass for the sake of brevity.

[feyshay]

You're thinking old. Plenty of great bands out today. Your problem may be that there is too much out there to be able to find what is good.
Check this site out Music-Boxonline.com
Good reviews from a reputable source.
Check out the Drive-By Truckers and Avett Brothers.

[kpaw]

The Little River Band could pull off those harmonies live. Vocally, an amazing band.

There are some excellent bands out there today, but many are not mainstream. Some of the prog rock that is happening now is the equal of Yes, ELP, Genesis, and Renaissance, if that's your cup of tea. But if you're looking for a new pop/soul/rap/country act with Dream Theater chops don't hold your breath.

[Mystic]

I blame George Bu... err... Nirvana.

I think the main problem is that music has become too simple. These cheap musicians these days tend to think that 5 chords = a song, or that 4 sentences ended in words that rhyme = lyrics. People are becoming more and more unpracticed in their instruments and we're becoming more uncreative. It's hard to find guitarists that know how to play a lead like Brian May. Sure, they might be able to rip it up, but a structured lead is impossible for them to create.

I've found a few good bands here and there. Evanescence was a great band once between 98 - 04. If you're into the whole 80's style mixed with a newer, heavier sound, check out The Birthday Massacre. Oppenheimer is another band I've taken a real liking to. Their music puts me in a good mood. e

Point being, there are some good bands out there, but you really have to sift through the shit to get to them.

[narcoman]

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

OK then, where are they? I know they're out there. But where are they? Which bands can actually play great stuff live with no support, autotune, backing tracks - just play great. Which ones are they? I to an old. Night Ranger and Little River aren't my cup of tea, and I wouldn't have mentioned them as great bands of yore. Little Feat, EWF, Beatles, Allman Bros, Cream, Jimi, Zep, . . .

What are the bands today that can really play? Does anyone know?

Bloody hell Henry !! Your normally sane comments are thrown out of the window!!



Let's see...QOTSA, Dirtbombs, Little Fish (new Linda Perry signing with possibly the greatest drummer on the planet), Von Bondies, Raconteurs, Spiritualised, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, the Feeling (yeuch - but they can play , some the best ex-sessioners out there), Coldplay (more yeauch), Amy Winehouses band (okay, turntables), Beck Hanson, MGMT, Dirty Harry (bad songs, great players), Black Pyramid, Rosetta.... there are LOADS of great (i mean really ****ing GREAT live bands) - just dont look to the ruddy charts.
and most of those acts are smalltime sellers - and from many genres (some i hate by the way, but i have to admit they can play!)

[narcoman]

Originally Posted by donsolo

Britney
N Sync
Hannah Montana
Good Charlotte
Papa Roach
Limp Bizkit
J Lo
Kayne West
Beyonce

I can go on, but will pass for the sake of brevity.

everyone one of them, and I mean EVERY ONE of them - is a record company project act. None are bands in the true sense.

As far as being able to play - well Beyonce can REALLY sing, and her band can REALLY play.

[narcoman]

Originally Posted by Tommylicious

YouTube - Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - "Let Them Knock" - Live

It's good. Really good. Cats can REALLY play

but it don't move me at all..... heard it all before, and better.....Listen to any record on the "In the Red" label to see/hear i done better!! (i'll duck the thrown shoes now).

[henryrobinett]

Originally Posted by narcoman

Bloody hell Henry !! Your normally sane comments are thrown out of the window!!



Let's see...QOTSA, Dirtbombs, Little Fish (new Linda Perry signing with possibly the greatest drummer on the planet), Von Bondies, Raconteurs, Spiritualised, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, the Feeling (yeuch - but they can play , some the best ex-sessioners out there), Coldplay (more yeauch), Amy Winehouses band (okay, turntables), Beck Hanson, MGMT, Dirty Harry (bad songs, great players), Black Pyramid, Rosetta.... there are LOADS of great (i mean really ****ing GREAT live bands) - just dont look to the ruddy charts.
and most of those acts are smalltime sellers - and from many genres (some i hate by the way, but i have to admit they can play!)

Hey man! I'm asking, that's all. I don't know. Thanks. I doubt I'll check 'em all out, but if you says so, I guess it must be so! I'll trust you!

[Sqye]

.

the way i see it -

since i'm not listening to anything right now...

music doesn't suck right now...imosvhfo



however, i was listening to the bach orchestral transcriptions by
stokowski earlier - and they KICK ASS...

well, at least they're a lot of fun!


on a side note, my main piano teacher (15 years) came here from israel
because of stokowski and bernstein - his first performance in the states
was at carnegie hall with stokowski.


sorry for the oT
.

[Sqye]

Originally Posted by Birdi

I think you are old and possibly bitter because your band never got signed.

B

i know a bagillion bitter people who's bands DID get signed.

being signed didn't necessarily make them HAPPIER - or even SUCCESSFUL, for that matter...

"signed" doesn't mean sh&t...

.

[+++]

Rufus Wainwright
Willy Porter (YouTube - Willy Porter - In the Studio)
Martin Sexton (YouTube - John Mayer & Martin Sexton Can't Stop Thinking Bout You)
Jimmy Gnecco (Ours)
Ryan Adams
Thom Yorke

Each of these musicians/songwriters are living today and have fantastic collections of work.

I could name a lot more.

+++

[Sqye]

.

big jimmy gnecco fan here ...

.

[narcoman]

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

Hey man! I'm asking, that's all. I don't know. Thanks. I doubt I'll check 'em all out, but if you says so, I guess it must be so! I'll trust you!

Well it certainly ain't 'cuz I say so !! I should have put a smiley in my prev post to ya - i was giving you a bit of joshing ruff n tumble - in the friendly way !

[mopppish]

Originally Posted by Mystic

I think the main problem is that music has become too simple. These cheap musicians these days tend to think that 5 chords = a song

I'm sorry, but this is such a lame sentiment.
I agree with some of the other things you said, but more chords does not equal better music.
I've been playing through this huge Beatles guitar book that my girlfriend's mom has, and am really surprised at how many of their songs have bloody simple harmonic progressions.
Johnny Cash and countess blues musicians have made incredible music with I-IV-V.
Bullet the Blue Sky (probably my favorite U2 song) and Radiohead's The National Anthem don't even have chord changes.
Now, if you're trying to say that a song needs to be MORE than the chord changes, no matter how few there are, I can dig that.
But the belief that a song is defined by a plurality of chords is so junior high.

Now, to add something constructive:

Current bands/artists that CAN PLAY WELL:
Autolux
Battles
Blonde Redhead (last album was lame, but I love this drummer)
Dredg (again, lame last album, but my god are these guys tight)
The Mars Volta (used to dig them, but they've become a case of complexity and chops ruining what they had to begin with)
Mastodon (**** yeah)
Meshuggah
MMW
QOTSA
Radiohead (that rhythm section has truly evolved)
The Roots (?uestlove= badass)
Tool (kind of overstated)
Tortoise

Current band/artists that DON'T NEED TO PLAY WELL:
The Arcade Fire
Liars
Low (she doesn't even really play the drums... but it's perfect for what they do)
PJ Harvey
Portishead (she's out of tune quite often, but I love it)
The White Stripes (not a big fan, but they would not sound as interesting if Meg didn't suck)

and of course, there are countless extremely talented electronic/hip-hop artists that don't play "real" instruments, though in my opinion, the notion of "real" instruments needs to evolve

Aesop Rock's last album was great. I wish I had picked it up earlier.
The Books make incredible music and have admitted that they can't always play the instruments they sample.
I like the last Mouse on Mars album better that any of their earlier stuff.

Much love!

[creegstor]

Originally Posted by donsolo

You know, every generation thinks the next generation's music sucks and can't understand why the previous generation doesn't like their music.

This is true BUT there is a big difference now as that historically it was a case where a cranky old timer who listened to crooners wouldn't "get" Elvis whose own f