Ok.......you keep throwing that out there saying that this new crop of bands only plays music in 4/4 and the same 4 chords repeatedly. I'm a bit of a musician myself and have a degree in music education, so these are not foreign terms to me. I can understand if you don't like Radiohead, many people don't. But your initial argument was that they are whiny liberals and that is why they are media darlings. Now you are arguing that this new crop of bands (which I'm assuming includes Radiohead) only plays music in 4/4 and they only know 4 chords? Have you ever actually listened to a Radiohead album?? You say that all you ever heard about "Hail to the Thief" is that is a political album, but did you ever try listening to it? If every song on that album is set in the standard 4/4 pace, then I must have seriously lost my ear for music. I don't totally disagree with all of your interests, as I am quite a jazz fan myself and played trumpet in a jazz band for many years. But hey, to each his own.....I just think the arguments you have presented for some of these bands is pretty weak.
I've heard three songs from them. That was enough to get the gist of their dull, overwrought music. I did not say that merely disliked them because their political leanings, but I simply did not prefer their music. I think it is overhyped precisely because it sounds "cool" to some and it doesn't hurt they have the kind of political beliefs in lockstep with the writers of RS. I wouldn't like them even if they were a bunch of liberatarians. I just took umbrage with the title aimed squarely at GWB in a silly attempt to make some "statement." You play in a silly rock band for a living called Radiohead, for crying out loud. Like anyone is going to take your political viewpoints seriously! You see a Radiohead album review in RS, it will get at least 4 stars and usually five, along with U2, REM (even though their post-Murmur stuff is gawdawful) and several other faves. And as for my boredom with modern music because of its slavish devotion to the format I've repeated ad nauseum, it doesn't mean that some it is not great art. I guess I'm looking it at the perspective of a mainly a jazz fan who looks at rock music the same way a Bentley owner would look down upon a Kia. There is just no comparison. Yes, they may have four wheels and a steering wheel, but that's about all they have in common. I guess I could use the analogy with me and my wife. My wife just doesn't analyze music the way I do, deconstructing note by note over and over again while in traffic trying to find out what the hell the musicians are doing. To her, it something to play in the background. You just can't analyze pop music in any detail because it is much too easy. And besides, since most blues-based forms (rock/pop/country etc) are drum-driven rather than bass driven (like jazz and reggae), it is much harder on the ears. Drums are made to accent. But in the case of hip-hop, I can accept the bombastic beats because it gets the blood pumping. It is not "old sad b*stard music" to quote Jack Black from High Fidelity like most guitar pop on the radio today.
What's ironic is that many great jazz musicians actually like rock music, even if it's in 4/4 time. They're very open minded.
Tell that to John Bonham or Carter Beauford... As far as jazz fans or musicians looking down on rock/pop music because of the perception that they are too good to listen to it or play it, I'd have to disagree. So would these people: Steve Gadd - a drumming icon considered the best all around drummer since Buddy Rich, he's now playing with Edie Brickell. Max Weinberg - one of the best big band drummers on the scene today, he is also in the E Street Band. Vinnie Colaiuta - one of the greatest musicians to ever pick up the sticks who made a name for himself playing with Frank Zappa (not a lot of 4/4 tunes there) is now touring with Faith Hill. Dennis Chambers - one of the most influencial drummers of our time has also done work with Michelle Branch. Kenny Aronoff - great jazz drummer is now playing for Michelle Branch after years of playing with John Cougar. IMO, what makes a great musician is being open minded to all kinds of music instead of just writing off a certain genre because you think you're "above" it. The same goes for being a fan.
I gave my props to Carter. That guy is a machine and Bonham was a decent drummer. But maybe the reason I bear an animus against pop is the fact that these talentless hacks make tons of money, while great jazz musicians like my best friend and bass player in my combo have to get by on a day job. I know there are some great pop drummers out there, Carter being one, the drummer from Phish being another. Don't take my diss of those folks as being entirely dimissive of pop music as a whole. It's just when those overrated groups (like Radiohead) get constant critical acclaim as if they invented music that draws my ire.
yeah, i gave it a listen and it sucks. like janes addiction, they should have stayed broken up. by the way, is that the original basist on the new l.c. or his replacement? they were much better with the original bassist and if he is not on the new record that would help explain why its not very good. i wonder if corey glover still wears those hideous body glove neon yellow and pink spandex? whats up with all these late 80's/early 90's groups giving it one more shot? do they need the money that bad? the pixies are actually reuniting too. they are going to tour in april and possibly put out a new album. as one of my 3 favorite and most influential bands i really hope they dont embarrass themselves.
Jazz artists listen to all types of music. I bet a lot of them would love to be Lennon or Hendrix. From the biography I saw on Miles Davis, he listened to mostly classical and Spanish guitar. He also played a bunch with Prince. I also read somewhere that Miles had a guitarist he would play with and while playing he would tell him "Just play some Jimi sounding shiit." Bad Brains started out as a Jazz Fusion band. Then they came across the Ramones and Sex Pistols, and the rest is history. Music is music. Personally, I would rather listen to a 3-chord rock band that played with a mighty passion, than some guy with amazing skills that is a bore. A lot of it is theater to me.
When did good music have anything to do with technical proficiency or inovative stylings. I always though of music as a release, a way to relax or have fun or set a mood. If a song has three cords repeated in a 4/4 meter, who cares if it makes you happy?
yep...just ask the aforementioned, Beatles. "she loves you...yeah, yeah, yeah...she loves you...yeah, yeah, yeah." it's not rocket science...it's art. if it reaches you in some way..in any way...then it meets its purpose. entirely subjective.
"decent"??? john bonham!!! what an understatement! thats like saying hitler was only kind of a jerk. or dolly partons breasts are cute. or carrot top is only a tad annoying. or michael jackson saying that he has only had 2 plastic suregeries. the jazz crowd will surely make an argument for tony williams and i wouldnt dispute that, but in my opinion bonham is the greatest drummer ever and probably my favorite single musician ever. tony williams is soooo bad though-ginger baker too. check out moby dick on the live zep dvd. jaw dropping. and whats even sicker is that he was only 21 when that was recorded.
I dont know where to begin. I'll start with the Beatles. I never realized the hype until I sat down and actually listened to them. I mainly listen to a lot of hip hop but the beatles were legendary. I've listened to a few of their songs and it amazes me how good they were. Their songs are still being sampled to this day. As for 50 Cent, I think his music is ok. He'd been on the underground scene for around 5 years. His mainstream album is nowhere close to the underground albums he had. His feud with Ja Rule goes back a few years. I remember my boy telling me he whopped Ja in a fight back when I was in high school. That was about 5 years ago. If you go back and listen to the music he dropped on the underground scene you'll see why Dre and Em signed him. If anybody wants to hear vintage Jay-z go pick up his first album "Reasonable Doubt". Thats the best album he ever dropped. I read where someone said Outkast was overrated and that shocked the hell out of me. Go back and listen to "Southernplayalisticcadal
I messed up and couldnt edit. Anyway go back and listen to "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik", "ATLiens, and "Aquemni". Songs like "Playas Ball, ATLeins, Elevators, Da Art of Storytellin and Spottieottiedopalicious" made them the group that they are now.
Not yet mentioned - Foo Fighters. BLAND. If Grohl hadn't been in Nirvana nobody would know they ever existed.
I really don't get the Beatles either. Good song writers, but I've never been impressed with their music. Elvis, was ahead of his time, in white America. Complete rip off artist. Current Groups, The Fugees, not including Lauryn Hill. Wyclef is a bigger sampler than Puff Daddy. If you think Jay-Z is overrated, you don't understand how to judge rappers. He is the ultimate emcee, when you combine lyrics and Style, Its Jay Z and Nas, and no one else currently comes close. If you guys want to know what the hype is about Jay-Z is, go purchase his first CD. Its absolutely ridiculous. Outcast is Okay now, but they really put their own stamp on hip hop with their first two albums. Their tracks are superb. They brought some originality back to rap music.
wow...you and i are like on the opposite spectrums of musical tastes...i thought learning to fly was one of the better albums any rock group had made in quite some time.
I've never really gotten the whole hang-up with Outkast. Sure, they're good(Though, I think that Nas, Jay-Z, and Talib Kweli are all better rappers), but the most inventive musicians out there? I beg to differ...And, anyway, when did new/inventive start to automatically equal good? Andre or Dre3000(?) definitely went out on a limb this album, but I don't like it at all. I've heard one of Big Boy's songs, and I thought it was pretty good, but Dre3000 was absolutely terrible on the songs I have heard him in(He was also terrible on the awards show I saw him on...AMA's, I believe). I actually like a lot of the bands you listed as favorites(DMB, Police, Marley, Beatles, and some of the R&B acts you listed), I just found your overrated list very odd. As someone who shares a lot of your favorite bands, I like many of the bands on your overrated list.
