Today's Mainstream Music
-
It sucks. It is really dreadful to listen to. If I have to hear about that Bieber kid... Or 1 Direction... Or Nicki Minaj... For the love of god (and music) BE QUIET!!
-
Mainstream music is dreadful, yes. But you don't have to look very far for some good quality music. I think were having a musical awakening and music will be returning to the way it was before. Many new bands I like may be less popular, but they actually make listenable music. here are a few: -Alabama Shakes: "Hold On" is a good listen and "You Ain't Alone" sounds like a cover -Black Keys -Michael Kiwanuka -Vintage Trouble (opener for the who in 2012/13 tour) -allah-las
-
thanx goodness i dont listen to the radio or into whats popular and all mostley underground for me
-
I'm in agreement with Nigel. There is SO much great music being made in this day and age. It seems like everyday now I'm discovering a new indie band or singer that is absolutely phenomenal. They key is finding the right stuff and looking from there. Kimbra (I can't give her enough praise) and The Stepkids are just two of my favorites that are both knocking it out of the park currently.
-
I keep up with current music only to know what production techniques are used the most, despite some music that can be atrocious. The internet provides a floodgate of terrific music that is nowhere near the mainstream. Thankfully, it is no longer necessary to have a major-label deal to have an active, fulfilling career in music. Indies are the new majors, and the stage will always be where musicianship matters the most.
-
I don't listen to the radio anymore either... but recently I read somewhere an interesting point. Today's not mainstream music is not exactly struggling against today's mainstream music. Today's indie music is better on average than mainstream one. If you listen to a mainstream radio station and then search for a random band in a indie place like reverbnation, you're gonna prefer the later 9 times out of 10 or so. okey... so what? But, as I read, why am I gonna to listen to today's indie music when I can listen to the best of all all-time mainstream music in a instant, free and unlimited way. I can type a line on youtube and then listening to all Beatles, Queen, Macca, Mozart, etc.... so anybody, only they'll listen to others, not so different anyway... It's not than indie new artist must be better than mainstream like some said (Justin Bieber, Nicky Minaj, etc...)... is that they must as good as The Beatles and Beethoven. and "we're not there yet", I've listened to all kind of great new indie things but nothing like Beethoven's 9th or like the Beatles best. So that's the real challenge for indie music. Not being as good as mainstream (they already are) but as good as the best music ever. And beyond... well, at first people didn't take rock and roll seriously but they proved they could be better than Mozart or Beethoven. George Harrison said this when Paul used to play Yesterday a lot before of recording: "who do he think he is, Beethoven or so?" that's it... better than...
-
My son turned me onto to the Black Keys. They are AWESOME! I saw them live in Philly when they were touring the ElCamino release, FANTASTIC show. I got hooked when I listend to Brothers. (It reminded me of the old days, every song on the album is great!) Anyone not familiar with the Black Keys, I'd recommend purchasing Brothers.
nigel.thrillington:
Mainstream music is dreadful, yes. But you don't have to look very far for some good quality music. I think were having a musical awakening and music will be returning to the way it was before. Many new bands I like may be less popular, but they actually make listenable music. here are a few: -Alabama Shakes: "Hold On" is a good listen and "You Ain't Alone" sounds like a cover -Black Keys -Michael Kiwanuka -Vintage Trouble (opener for the who in 2012/13 tour) -allah-las
-
I no longer listen to the radio in the car, but do have some stations I listen to on my phone. There is a lot of really good music out there. Twitter is actually a good way to find and try new artists.
-
So a while back I was in my History class and we were talking about the era of early Rock N' Roll we talked about Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Elvis and then we dwelled into the British Invasion and somehow it resulted in the class unanimously declaring The Beatles as a poor band (quality wise). It was literally me against everyone else, even the teacher who hasn't lived through enough history to teach it wasn't on my side. I brought up their solo works, and when I mentioned Wings the teacher and other students had confused facial expressions. The teacher asked who was Wings? I happened to be wearing a wings tee and I showed it to the class, one person recalled the band and hardly mentioned it. I then began to name famous Wings songs Band On The Run, Silly Love Songs, Live and Let Die. I was over whelmed. This is what I felt like. http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj592/ncrudge/SURROUNDED_zps9b93521c.png Maybe music isn't getting back on track, maybe what we consider music will one day be forgotten or ignored. I didn't really know where to post this story.
-
I believe that in order to have enduring name-recognition with 99% of the masses, an artist has to -- somehow -- be bigger than his music. That's just the way it is. The Beatles are big. Huge. But they aren't as big as their music, and quality music is bound to elude the musically pedestrian-types every now n' then. Funny: Everybody knows who Elvis is. Everybody knows who James Brown is. But their "image" is bigger than their music... ...and -- as the saying goes -- that's sayin' somethin'. However, The Beatles' image doesn't quite live up to their lofty music... ...which is also sayin' somethin'. And that's because their music is just so damn good, actually too damn good. It's in the highest echelon of pop/rock, which means not everybody's gonna "get it." That's a good thing in my book.
-
audi:
I believe that in order to have enduring name-recognition with 99% of the masses, an artist has to -- somehow -- be bigger than his music. That's just the way it is.
what about Bach, Beethoven and Mozart? for a start
-
21st Century Paul:
audi:
I believe that in order to have enduring name-recognition with 99% of the masses, an artist has to -- somehow -- be bigger than his music. That's just the way it is.
what about Bach, Beethoven and Mozart? for a start
The average person couldn't name two compositions from any of those three. They recognize their names, but couldn't even begin to speak intelligently on their work. So, my point stands.
-
audi:
21st Century Paul:
audi:
I believe that in order to have enduring name-recognition with 99% of the masses, an artist has to -- somehow -- be bigger than his music. That's just the way it is.
what about Bach, Beethoven and Mozart? for a start
The average person couldn't name two compositions from any of those three. They recognize their names, but couldn't even begin to speak intelligently on their work. So, my point stands.
well, the average person couldn't name 2 James Brown compositions either
anyway I'm not sure of what you mean by "bigger than his music", underrated? not very popular for their talent? On the mainstream there's Queen, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Elton... -
You have to dig really deep to find truly good new music, explore many alternative sources and a lot of people don't have time to delve into it. I heard a song by "Fun." and it wasn't as good as I'd been led to believe, Grammys coming up Feb. 10 and looks like mainly the same old suspects again. Not looking forward to the show much. I usually listen to "K-Love" Christian rock radio station out of Chicago while driving. The songs are sensitive and meaningful, very emotional and intense in a variety of music styles. The lyrics aren't just about shagging and partying. In fact I'd even recommend that Paul Mc. listen to that station for inspiration while composing his new album of originals. that it be one of the stations.
-
SusyLuvsPaul:
You have to dig really deep to find truly good new music, explore many alternative sources and a lot of people don't have time to delve into it. I heard a song by "Fun." and it wasn't as good as I'd been led to believe, Grammys coming up Feb. 10 and looks like mainly the same old suspects again. Not looking forward to the show much. I usually listen to "K-Love" Christian rock radio station out of Chicago while driving. The songs are sensitive and meaningful, very emotional and intense in a variety of music styles. The lyrics aren't just about shagging and partying. In fact I'd even recommend that Paul Mc. listen to that station for inspiration while composing his new album of originals. that it be one of the stations.
I'm an old guy and I don't keep up with much kof anything, but I will go out on a limb and say music quality and the diversity of what's being produced is at as high a level as its ever been. It's just the whole business is wrecked so no new artists are winning except the ones as Audi pointed out, can somehow become famous and bigger than their music. Cause just having great stuff doesn't cut it. It needs to be enormously talent laden
or some gimmick, like Beiber who's a cute kid who can dance and all the 7 yr olds buy it. That's the game. The Beatles were actually a semi rough neck far out band, before they were cleaned up and sold to the kids. And they made a conscious decision at that time to do that, that's what's awesome, at their heart they were artists. That's a difference today too, u have a lot of musicians out there just shooting to be the next one hit wonder. It's not as organic of a music scene. At all. And the music business itself is screwed. It's back to the single baby, the days of Fats Domino and Phil Spector. And Lennon/McCartney -
21st Century Paul:
audi:
21st Century Paul:
audi:
I believe that in order to have enduring name-recognition with 99% of the masses, an artist has to -- somehow -- be bigger than his music. That's just the way it is.
what about Bach, Beethoven and Mozart? for a start
The average person couldn't name two compositions from any of those three. They recognize their names, but couldn't even begin to speak intelligently on their work. So, my point stands.
well, the average person couldn't name 2 James Brown compositions either
Wrong again. Everybody and their mother can name "I Feel Good" and "Sex Machine" ... AND "Living In America."
-
There are not as many bands out there seeking to just flush out sweet melodies. that should be the goal Beiber.
-
I agree todays music is totaly rubbish all this rapping and that nicki girl i may only be 21 but i think id rather listen to propa music
-
audi:
21st Century Paul:
audi:
21st Century Paul:
audi:
I believe that in order to have enduring name-recognition with 99% of the masses, an artist has to -- somehow -- be bigger than his music. That's just the way it is.
what about Bach, Beethoven and Mozart? for a start
The average person couldn't name two compositions from any of those three. They recognize their names, but couldn't even begin to speak intelligently on their work. So, my point stands.
well, the average person couldn't name 2 James Brown compositions either
Wrong again. Everybody and their mother can name "I Feel Good" and "Sex Machine" ... AND "Living In America."
Not at all... not even one of them, at least here in Spain... (when "Sex Machine" was featured in a commercial, people was like "What's that music?")
-
Really? His 2002 concert there was a complete sell-out.
