I'm a librarian and space is such an issue for archives. Also, like the library as a whole, it's an afterthought. We were going to get brand new expanded, state of the art space in the library for our archives & special collections, but after years of planning and fund raising, the university administration decided to turn that space into offices. That's why you encounter burnout among archivists or seemingly disorganized spaces, or sheer panic at the thought of incoming materials.
Rock music isn’t dead. It disappeared from the mainstream music scene when album radio died in the ‘90s.
Once that format for exposure of rock music died, so did the next generation’s consciousness of rock and roll.
But the Foo Fighters are alive and rocking, and bands established online, like Greta VanFleet, are doing well.
The fact that so many heritage rock artists are still selling albums (Zeppelin, Stones, The Who, Van Halen, etc) proves there’s an audience for rock music. It’s just increasingly difficult for rock artists to get established in today’s world of mostly disposable pop music.
Tony Bennett dies...and the music world stops and genuflects for a couple of days. Andre Watts dies...and hardly a blip. No knock on the singer, but are instrumentalists condemned to secondary status forever? Or does this reflect the 3-to-4 minute attention span of most non-serious music listeners and their sway in media?
You indicate unequivocally that you do all your research and writing yourself. So, how do you do it? What's your method? I read elsewhere that you read for an hour in the morning and an hour before you go to bed, and at meals occasionally. So, how do you generate all of the text you publish? When and where do you write? What is are your writing instrument(s)? Word processor, typewriter, digital dictation, legal pad? How do you organize and store your research? How do you keep on schedule, and how do you keep track of deadlines, etc?
Call me crazy but I think bands like Polyphia are still adding new sounds to the canon. Animals as Leaders, Periphery, and Meshuggah before that. I think there are still innovations happening in rock music.
One reason that you neglected to mention for the demise of 'Rock Music' is the appearance of 'Rap.' I like, to the point of revering, the same types of music as you; Jazz, Classical, World. And thinking of myself as a good soul (don't we all?) I have tried to be tolerant of music others like but I don't. Rap doesn't qualify as music, but it has replaced music as a form of entertainment. And it has kidnaped the generation of youth who would probably be creating and listening to Rock. How has this happened? If they asked me I could write a book!
I'd settle for simple musicianship making a comeback, where the performers, including the star, are serious about the quality of the music, and their own playing, instead of merely the potential for making a hit. I continue to listen to the pop music of the 60's and 70's because there were so many great songs written during that period, along with new and interesting progressions, songs that provide even someone such as myself, with extensive formal musical training, an additional source of appreciation and inspiration. And by "interesting," I don't necessarily mean complex, because sometimes simplicity is what makes a musical statement complete and effective.
You mentioned you are a introvert who avoids social gatherings but also that you are a award winning speaker. I am somewhat introverted but got much better in casual social interactions. Still, it seems like I need to build my confidence of speaking in front of an audience by increasing its size one person at a time. It is still shocking to me, how I can make a fool out of my self in front of 50 people in one moment. And trust me, I made it happen.
There's plenty of rock music coming out now. Yes, most of it doesn't reach the mainstream, but even new sounds (ie: not retro bands like Greta VanFleet or 30-year-old bands like Foo Fighters) are reaching a level of notoriety that enables artists to maintain a healthy living.
I could go on. Rock is not dying. It's evolving, just like jazz, hip hop, and the rest of them. The most clear evidence of life is change. To find the newest sounds, you have to look past the mainstream. This has always been true. Don't let the rare moments when the counterculture broke into the mainstream (the mid- to late '60s, early '90s, late. '00s, etc.) cloud your vision. Counterculture is out there. You just have to look a little harder to see it most of the time.
One of the reasons your subscriber list is growing is the sadomachistic killing of Twitter coupled with Austin Kleon (himself a good Twitter replacement) linking to you coupled with the discovery of you having real thoughts while The Rest of the Internet is crumbling into empty “content”.
Ted, here in Washington DC, there seems to be an active Open Mic scene with standout artists like Eli Waltz and Tessa Elaina making unique and compelling music. I assume something similar is happening in NYC, LA, Nashville, etc. Do you have any insight into what's going on in these "minor leagues" and what it portends for the future?
Your answers to the first two questions encourage because: 1) only the narrowing of tastes, thoughts, and culture generally offers any chance of AI taking over everything since creative work needs more than algorithmic calculation; and 2) doing everything yourself works fine (obviously for you) and for many other creative folks. Thanks for encouraging by word and deed.
I think rock came to something of an end with OK Computer (at least for me). Hard to know what's left to do after that album, and incentives in the music industry do not favour investing in rock bands any more. I wouldn't claim it has ended for good, but it seems to be on a long hiatus - maybe a little like old-fashioned rhythm and blues is. There's a long past, but what future?
Rock music isn't dead. I would encourage people to seek out Japanese Metal bands. These young musicians are SERIOUS musicians with crazy skills. Take a look at Band Maid (the drummer is otherwordly), Versaille and Unlucky Morpheus.
I'm a librarian and space is such an issue for archives. Also, like the library as a whole, it's an afterthought. We were going to get brand new expanded, state of the art space in the library for our archives & special collections, but after years of planning and fund raising, the university administration decided to turn that space into offices. That's why you encounter burnout among archivists or seemingly disorganized spaces, or sheer panic at the thought of incoming materials.
Rock music isn’t dead. It disappeared from the mainstream music scene when album radio died in the ‘90s.
Once that format for exposure of rock music died, so did the next generation’s consciousness of rock and roll.
But the Foo Fighters are alive and rocking, and bands established online, like Greta VanFleet, are doing well.
The fact that so many heritage rock artists are still selling albums (Zeppelin, Stones, The Who, Van Halen, etc) proves there’s an audience for rock music. It’s just increasingly difficult for rock artists to get established in today’s world of mostly disposable pop music.
Tony Bennett dies...and the music world stops and genuflects for a couple of days. Andre Watts dies...and hardly a blip. No knock on the singer, but are instrumentalists condemned to secondary status forever? Or does this reflect the 3-to-4 minute attention span of most non-serious music listeners and their sway in media?
QUESTION FOR FUTURE INSTALLMENT:
On average, how long do you listen to a song and/or artist before deciding whether they merit more time? Has this changed over time?
You indicate unequivocally that you do all your research and writing yourself. So, how do you do it? What's your method? I read elsewhere that you read for an hour in the morning and an hour before you go to bed, and at meals occasionally. So, how do you generate all of the text you publish? When and where do you write? What is are your writing instrument(s)? Word processor, typewriter, digital dictation, legal pad? How do you organize and store your research? How do you keep on schedule, and how do you keep track of deadlines, etc?
Call me crazy but I think bands like Polyphia are still adding new sounds to the canon. Animals as Leaders, Periphery, and Meshuggah before that. I think there are still innovations happening in rock music.
One reason that you neglected to mention for the demise of 'Rock Music' is the appearance of 'Rap.' I like, to the point of revering, the same types of music as you; Jazz, Classical, World. And thinking of myself as a good soul (don't we all?) I have tried to be tolerant of music others like but I don't. Rap doesn't qualify as music, but it has replaced music as a form of entertainment. And it has kidnaped the generation of youth who would probably be creating and listening to Rock. How has this happened? If they asked me I could write a book!
I'd settle for simple musicianship making a comeback, where the performers, including the star, are serious about the quality of the music, and their own playing, instead of merely the potential for making a hit. I continue to listen to the pop music of the 60's and 70's because there were so many great songs written during that period, along with new and interesting progressions, songs that provide even someone such as myself, with extensive formal musical training, an additional source of appreciation and inspiration. And by "interesting," I don't necessarily mean complex, because sometimes simplicity is what makes a musical statement complete and effective.
Greta Van Fleet, Blackberry Smoke and Whiskey Myers are all high quality rock bands. They do not sell like pop acts, but rock surely lives on.
You mentioned you are a introvert who avoids social gatherings but also that you are a award winning speaker. I am somewhat introverted but got much better in casual social interactions. Still, it seems like I need to build my confidence of speaking in front of an audience by increasing its size one person at a time. It is still shocking to me, how I can make a fool out of my self in front of 50 people in one moment. And trust me, I made it happen.
There's plenty of rock music coming out now. Yes, most of it doesn't reach the mainstream, but even new sounds (ie: not retro bands like Greta VanFleet or 30-year-old bands like Foo Fighters) are reaching a level of notoriety that enables artists to maintain a healthy living.
Examples:
Pinegrove - https://open.spotify.com/track/7cv8pIeOu1pkwCXW9D4Oef?si=4e3db4acee4b4a78
Big Thief - https://open.spotify.com/track/0ToG55iJZCOzZkcpWbXxpW?si=8246a3530f9d4d42
Blessed - https://open.spotify.com/track/2eCtOHnjLydSU56f4peoO2?si=9292314213eb499c
boygenius - https://open.spotify.com/track/38xXr3MkiKNzNDv4JDJagF?si=dae329b53e89488f
Algiers - https://open.spotify.com/track/4MGMHnYXV1sWJLXpkw7n4z?si=b614bed692f7426f
I could go on. Rock is not dying. It's evolving, just like jazz, hip hop, and the rest of them. The most clear evidence of life is change. To find the newest sounds, you have to look past the mainstream. This has always been true. Don't let the rare moments when the counterculture broke into the mainstream (the mid- to late '60s, early '90s, late. '00s, etc.) cloud your vision. Counterculture is out there. You just have to look a little harder to see it most of the time.
One of the reasons your subscriber list is growing is the sadomachistic killing of Twitter coupled with Austin Kleon (himself a good Twitter replacement) linking to you coupled with the discovery of you having real thoughts while The Rest of the Internet is crumbling into empty “content”.
Ted, here in Washington DC, there seems to be an active Open Mic scene with standout artists like Eli Waltz and Tessa Elaina making unique and compelling music. I assume something similar is happening in NYC, LA, Nashville, etc. Do you have any insight into what's going on in these "minor leagues" and what it portends for the future?
Your answers to the first two questions encourage because: 1) only the narrowing of tastes, thoughts, and culture generally offers any chance of AI taking over everything since creative work needs more than algorithmic calculation; and 2) doing everything yourself works fine (obviously for you) and for many other creative folks. Thanks for encouraging by word and deed.
I think rock came to something of an end with OK Computer (at least for me). Hard to know what's left to do after that album, and incentives in the music industry do not favour investing in rock bands any more. I wouldn't claim it has ended for good, but it seems to be on a long hiatus - maybe a little like old-fashioned rhythm and blues is. There's a long past, but what future?
Rock music isn't dead. I would encourage people to seek out Japanese Metal bands. These young musicians are SERIOUS musicians with crazy skills. Take a look at Band Maid (the drummer is otherwordly), Versaille and Unlucky Morpheus.