What happened to rock music?

HarrisburgDave · Wednesday at 9:10 AM

I am old as dirt, and I am set in my ways, but what happended to rock music?

I read where only one band (Coldplay) has had a number one hit in the past decade. That is hard to believe. Some say that producers will find a band, take the singer and dump the rest, and then package the singer with the producers songs, arrangements, production engineering, and basically take any life or energy out of things. Is that it?

What do the rest of you think?

Big_O · Wednesday at 9:46 AM

A lot of the old bands such as Rush have said they would never make it nowadays. Everything is packaged to produce one hit and the recording industry really doesn’t care about the rest of your music. Nearly all new artists are basically one hit wonders with no staying power.

But it’s the audience that has really changed. Unlike us more seasoned individuals who use to socialize by getting together with friends and listening to whole record albums, the younger people today listen with earbuds to their own individually preferred musical selections. They don’t sit around listening to the stereo, especially since most of them don’t have stereo systems, just a portable streaming device with earbuds. All music is streamlined to this now. For example, my wife’s Spotify 70’s mix is entirely different from my Spotify 70’s mix, even though these so-called mixes have the same name. Spotify adjusts the mixes to the individual. My wife’s mix is easy listening or soft rock from the 70’s. My 70’s mix has a harder edge with bands like UFO, Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, etc.

bbrown · Wednesday at 9:50 AM

HarrisburgDave said:
I am old as dirt, and I am set in my ways, but what happended to rock music?

I read where only one band (Coldplay) has had a number one hit in the past decade. That is hard to believe. Some say that producers will find a band, take the singer and dump the rest, and then package the singer with the producers songs, arrangements, production engineering, and basically take any life or energy out of things. Is that it?

What do the rest of you think?

I think there is a lot of good music still being made today.
Peter Gabriel has a new album coming out, he's releasing new songs with every full moon.
And one of my favorites, Death Cab For Cutie has a new Album coming out.
But yea lots of good stuff out there.

PSU Soupy 615 · Wednesday at 10:03 AM

Tedeschi Trucks Band might be the best Rock Band touring right now.....true blues rock. Not much else out there competiting with them.....perhaps Jack White, Black Keys,............. as Paul Simon said, "Where have you gone Thin Lizzy?"

Midnighter · Wednesday at 11:24 AM

HarrisburgDave said:
I am old as dirt, and I am set in my ways, but what happended to rock music?

I read where only one band (Coldplay) has had a number one hit in the past decade. That is hard to believe. Some say that producers will find a band, take the singer and dump the rest, and then package the singer with the producers songs, arrangements, production engineering, and basically take any life or energy out of things. Is that it?

What do the rest of you think?

It’s being loosely held together by Dave Grohl, Jack White, and still functioning bands from the 80’s and 90’s. I think I heard recently that the most played rock songs on radio are from the ‘90’sand it’s not even close. There is some good new stuff out there - TURNSTILE for example. But, the era of million dollar music videos and major record deals for indie bands is way over. Can you imagine a band like Ween or Meat Puppets getting a bunch of radio play today?

bbrown · Wednesday at 11:28 AM

Midnighter said:
It’s being loosely held together by Dave Grohl, Jack White, and still functioning bands from the 80’s and 90’s. I think I heard recently that the most played rock songs on radio are from the ‘90’sand it’s not even close. There is some good new stuff out there - TURNSTILE for example. But, the era of million dollar music videos and major record deals for indie bands is way over. Can you imagine a band like Ween or Meat Puppets getting a bunch of radio play today?

There are a few stations that will play those bands. WTMD (The Towson radio station) is one of the best I've ever listened too and I still stream them here in NM. Give them a shot or at least look at their playlist to see what they play. It's pretty eclectic but leans toward 80's bands and Adult Alternative. It's also where I hear a lot of new stuff.

https://www.wtmd.org/radio/

JerseyLion · Wednesday at 11:34 AM

HarrisburgDave said:
I am old as dirt, and I am set in my ways, but what happended to rock music?

I read where only one band (Coldplay) has had a number one hit in the past decade. That is hard to believe. Some say that producers will find a band, take the singer and dump the rest, and then package the singer with the producers songs, arrangements, production engineering, and basically take any life or energy out of things. Is that it?

What do the rest of you think?

I will let you know once I stop living in the 90's.

Chumboshifko1 · Wednesday at 11:39 AM

Idiots who have no taste or discrimination.

Steve JG · Wednesday at 12:09 PM

PSU Soupy 615 said:
Tedeschi Trucks Band might be the best Rock Band touring right now.....true blues rock. Not much else out there competiting with them.....perhaps Jack White, Black Keys,............. as Paul Simon said, "Where have you gone Thin Lizzy?"

Strokes

Knickslions69 · Wednesday at 12:11 PM

Chumboshifko1 said:
Idiots who have no taste or discrimination.

Steve JG · Wednesday at 12:13 PM

PSU Soupy 615 said:
Tedeschi Trucks Band might be the best Rock Band touring right now.....true blues rock. Not much else out there competiting with them.....perhaps Jack White, Black Keys,............. as Paul Simon said, "Where have you gone Thin Lizzy?"

none of whom are "current bands" or new entries. All tried and true. I would say at the local and lower level there is a fair amount of rock music that will never make it big thats reasonable for local listening

PSUPetch · Wednesday at 12:29 PM

Big_O said:
A lot of the old bands such as Rush have said they would never make it nowadays. Everything is packaged to produce one hit and the recording industry really doesn’t care about the rest of your music. Nearly all new artists are basically one hit wonders with no staying power.

But it’s the audience that has really changed. Unlike us more seasoned individuals who use to socialize by getting together with friends and listening to whole record albums, the younger people today listen with earbuds to their own individually preferred musical selections. They don’t sit around listening to the stereo, especially since most of them don’t have stereo systems, just a portable streaming device with earbuds. All music is streamlined to this now. For example, my wife’s Spotify 70’s mix is entirely different from my Spotify 70’s mix, even though these so-called mixes have the same name. Spotify adjusts the mixes to the individual. My wife’s mix is easy listening or soft rock from the 70’s. My 70’s mix has a harder edge with bands like UFO, Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, etc.

Yeah...it's too easy to play a song these days. Back in the 70's, you had to work hard to hear a song. First, you needed a receiver, turntable and speakers. Then you had to buy a whole album to hear that one song you liked. Then you had to clean the album (remember Disc Washer?). Then, you played the entire side of the album...not just the song you were interested in. Funny thing...after awhile, you started to enjoy the other songs on the album more that the one you bought it for.

I truly believe that the hard work you needed to do to hear music resulted in a deeper appreciation for music. It's too easy these days to throw on a song for 15 or 20 seconds, and then change it to something else. I feel that music is used as background noise more than anything. To this day, I'd still rather listen to whole albums on Apple Music than just a curated playlist.

NoBareFeet · Wednesday at 12:29 PM

I hate basically all music made after the 1980s. There is one current band that I like (The Lemon Twigs), and I think other classic rock era fans might as well. Their sound is very Beach Boys/Beatles/Todd Rundgren.

But for the most part, yeah, you are right. Music now blows.

Grant Green · Wednesday at 12:41 PM

I have many thoughts about this. Big picture is that rock used to be mainstream music, with rock stars being household names.
Sometime after the 90's, hip-hop (for lack of a better term) and country took over as mainstream music forms. This is why people think that "all music sucks today".

This is not true at all. There are still a ton of really good, young rock bands. Unfortunately, you have to search them out instead of hearing them on radio/tv like you used to. The best way to find them it to go down Spotify or Youtube rabbit holes. If you are stuck on the 60's-70s sound, you may not like it. If you have an open mind, there are plenty of young kids doing cool stuff.

NoBareFeet said:
I hate basically all music made after the 1980s. There is one current band that I like (The Lemon Twigs), and I think other classic rock era fans might as well. Their sound is very Beach Boys/Beatles/Todd Rundgren.

But for the most part, yeah, you are right. Music now blows.

This is a good example. The Lemon Twigs are super talented and play retro style music. I saw them last year and they put on a great show. There are other bands like this. Go find them.

bbrown · Wednesday at 2:09 PM

Grant Green said:
I have many thoughts about this. Big picture is that rock used to be mainstream music, with rock stars being household names.
Sometime after the 90's, hip-hop (for lack of a better term) and country took over as mainstream music forms. This is why people think that "all music sucks today".

This is not true at all. There are still a ton of really good, young rock bands. Unfortunately, you have to search them out instead of hearing them on radio/tv like you used to. The best way to find them it to go down Spotify or Youtube rabbit holes. If you are stuck on the 60's-70s sound, you may not like it. If you have an open mind, there are plenty of young kids doing cool stuff.

This is a good example. The Lemon Twigs are super talented and play retro style music. I saw them last year and they put on a great show. There are other bands like this. Go find them.

I'll add also that many of the streaming services, SOMFA FM, for instance you can find just about any genre of music you want.
Also Comcast offers a lot of different music including an Adult Alternative station thats very good.

Phlebitis · Wednesday at 3:20 PM

NoBareFeet said:
I hate basically all music made after the 1980s. There is one current band that I like (The Lemon Twigs), and I think other classic rock era fans might as well. Their sound is very Beach Boys/Beatles/Todd Rundgren.

But for the most part, yeah, you are right. Music now blows.

They kind of look and sound like I would expect a band named The Lemon Twigs to.

MtNittany · Wednesday at 3:42 PM

There was a time when you almost had to be able to play multiple instruments and sing very well just to make an impression, all without computers and with a little microphone. Steve Walsh/Kansas times.

Those were good sounding times.

Grant Green · Wednesday at 3:50 PM

MtNittany said:
There was a time when you almost had to be able to play multiple instruments and sing very well just to make an impression, all without computers and with a little microphone. Steve Walsh/Kansas times.

Those were good sounding times.

On the other hand, a computer and modest home studio allows so many more musicians to release music into the world. I'm one of them. No need to get a record deal anymore and have record companies control your music. Now, getting paid is another story.

MtNittany · Wednesday at 4:00 PM

Grant Green said:
On the other hand, a computer and modest home studio allows so many more musicians to release music into the world. I'm one of them. No need to get a record deal anymore and have record companies control your music. Now, getting paid is another story.

It's just the endless practice resulting in perfection part of it that's missing. Nothing comes easy. I'd like to think some kids work as hard at the craft as Allen Collins or GC or EVH or Roy Clark did today, but I'm not sure. And like you said - we'll never hear it anyway b/c for us car radio people w/out subscriptions, they're invisible.

Grant Green · Wednesday at 4:14 PM

MtNittany said:
It's just the endless practice resulting in perfection part of it that's missing. Nothing comes easy. I'd like to think some kids work as hard at the craft as Allen Collins or GC or EVH or Roy Clark did today, but I'm not sure.

They do. Trust me. Here is my best (former) guitar student, Tage Garvin. Just graduated from Berklee school of music and moved to LA to play professionally. When he was in high school his mom told me he would play for 8-10 hours in his bedroom on the weekends. At Berklee, he is just one of many like this, and there are other Berklees, so lots of kids working their asses off to be great musicians.

MtNittany · Wednesday at 4:20 PM

Grant Green said:
They do. Trust me. Here is my best (former) guitar student, Tage Garvin. Just graduated from Berklee school of music and moved to LA to play professionally. When he was in high school his mom told me he would play for 8-10 hours in his bedroom on the weekends. At Berklee, he is just one of many like this, and there are other Berklees, so lots of kids working their asses off to be great musicians.

Is there studio work for talented kids like him in LA - not Wrecking Crew volume obviously, but some? I think of LA music, and I go back to The Knack. It took them a few years to even get heard outside of LA, but once they did, well.

Tgar · Wednesday at 4:24 PM

Tik Tok, AI, and a host of other realities have conspired to make successful bands, truly successful bands, harder to find.

Lots of super talented bands out there and some, like TTB are what you are looking for but many others have to tour continuously to make any money as record sales are a thing of the past.

Spotify doesn’t pay artists, the others are stingy as well so it’s hard to survive.

Grant Green · Wednesday at 4:30 PM

MtNittany said:
Is there studio work for talented kids like him in LA - not Wrecking Crew volume obviously, but some? I think of LA music, and I go back to The Knack. It took them a few years to even get heard outside of LA, but once they did, well.

Session music like you think of it isn't as prevalent today, mostly due to home recording studios. Not a lot of guys are punching the clock at recording studios. The guys I know do their recording in their homes and it comes through their own contacts in the music industry - not a record company. Often those contacts might be some wealthy guy that needs a drummer to play on an album he wrote. So, to answer the question, LA provides more opportunity to meet people, but it is up to the musician to make contacts and get work. Gigging and teaching are probably better sources of income.

PSU Mike · Wednesday at 4:32 PM

bbrown said:
I think there is a lot of good music still being made today.
Peter Gabriel has a new album coming out, he's releasing new songs with every full moon.
And one of my favorites, Death Cab For Cutie has a new Album coming out.
But yea lots of good stuff out there.

DC4C was soooo awful live when I saw them with Franz Ferdinand (who was fantastic) about 20 years ago. I think some of their stuff was too ethereal for lack of a better word, which didn’t work with their bass player head bobbing like an 80’s hair band.

I think I have more of an affinity for Cage, Geese, Wolf Alice, Last Dinner Party among newish stuff, and one can argue it doesn’t fit the rock label.

If I hear one more piece of **** that tries to sound overly soulful I’ll puke.

bbrown · Wednesday at 4:52 PM

PSU Mike said:
DC4C was soooo awful live when I saw them with Franz Ferdinand (who was fantastic) about 20 years ago. I think some of their stuff was to ethereal for lack of a better word, which didn’t work with their bass player head bobbing like an 80’s hair band.

I think I have more of an affinity for Cage, Geese, Wolf Alice, Last Dinner Party among newish stuff, and one can argue it doesn’t fit the rock label.

If I hear one more piece of **** that tries to sound overly soulful I’ll puke.

Can’t argue at all about DC4C live shows. But I like their albums and their videos are pretty good.
Another band I like a lot are Artic Monkeys, and Arcade Fire. Also Modest Mouse has a new album out as well as an oldie but goodie Social Distortion and sounds pretty good

PSU Mike · Wednesday at 5:43 PM

bbrown said:
Can’t argue at all about DC4C live shows. But I like their albums and their videos are pretty good.
Another band I like a lot are Artic Monkeys, and Arcade Fire. Also Modest Mouse has a new album out as well as an oldie but goodie Social Distortion and sounds pretty good

I was remarking to my wife-figure that Arcade Fire disappeared from our default station here, so I assumed everywhere. Miss hearing them more.

bbrown · Wednesday at 6:05 PM

PSU Mike said:
I was remarking to my wife-figure that Arcade Fire disappeared from our default station here, so I assumed everywhere. Miss hearing them more.

Yea I think their lead singer was trying to be cancelled. I know his wife, the keyboardist, was sticking up for him plus I think the lead, Win Butlers, brother leaving caused some issue.

Nittering Nabob · Wednesday at 8:19 PM

Knickslions69 said:
View attachment 1347428

Is that the mascot of the Dem party playing guitar?

Chumboshifko1 · Thursday at 4:15 AM

Nittering Nabob said:
Is that the mascot of the Dem party playing guitar?

Did he post a pic of him playing the skin floot?

Kinglando is never wrong · Thursday at 5:05 AM

Didn’t Rush capture this over 40 years ago in Spirit of Radio?

RochLion · Thursday at 5:45 AM

Rick Beato describes nicely how Auto-Tune, starting late 90s, spoiled rock by taking the little imperfections in rock sets and covering them over. Many more singers with poor pitch are able to produce hits. Makes you appreciate singers with near perfect pitch such as Freddie Mercury, Chris Cornell, and Robert Plant.

My 26 year old son and GF pretty much listen to stuff I listened to 40 years ago. VH, BOC, Rush, Journey. Only current band he listens to is Billy Strings.

bwc · Thursday at 6:09 AM

Big_O said:
A lot of the old bands such as Rush have said they would never make it nowadays. Everything is packaged to produce one hit and the recording industry really doesn’t care about the rest of your music. Nearly all new artists are basically one hit wonders with no staying power.

Country music is following essentially the same path. It's not even country anymore, just pop music with Southern accents, especially when it comes to radio play. The exceptions are few and mostly women, otherwise, you have to have failed as a hip hop artist and have a face that looks like a high school desk.

So many great artists and bands get passed by for algorithmic prepackaged junk. I listened to an interview with Charlie Crockett, (old school country sound) he stated that he was originally offered a huge deal in Nashville and the music executives told him they had a whole album of songs and lyrics ready to go with his contract. He refused and it seems Nashville eventually embraced him in spite of it, when they realized how popular he was becoming despite not fitting their current model for success.

Tgar · Thursday at 6:20 AM

bwc said:
Country music is following essentially the same path. It's not even country anymore, just pop music with Southern accents, especially when it comes to radio play. The exceptions are few and mostly women, otherwise, you have to have failed as a hip hop artist and have a face that looks like a high school desk.

So many great artists and bands get passed by for algorithmic prepackaged junk. I listened to an interview with Charlie Crockett, (old school country sound) he stated that he was originally offered a huge deal in Nashville and the music executives told him they had a whole album of songs and lyrics ready to go with his contract. He refused and it seems Nashville eventually embraced him in spite of it, when they realized how popular he was becoming despite not fitting their current model for success.

The great Steve Earl on the state of modern country music :

In an interview that quickly traveled beyond music circles, Earle described contemporary country music as hip hop for people afraid of Black culture. The remark was blunt, provocative, and impossible to ignore. Yet for those who have followed his career closely, it was not a shocking outburst but a carefully aimed observation. Earle was not attacking innovation itself. He was questioning authenticity, depth, and the direction in which country music had been steered by commercial forces.

BTW, love Charlie Crockett.

LionJim · Thursday at 6:23 AM

Fascinating thread, attaboys all around.

Grant Green · Thursday at 12:21 PM

Good examples that rock lives.

Fuzz - Sabbath vibe

Porn Crumpets - edgey

Lenderman - mellow Americana

Tgar · Friday at 5:41 AM

Grant Green said:
Good examples that rock lives.

Fuzz - Sabbath vibe

Porn Crumpets - edgey

Lenderman - mellow Americana

There are a million of these talented bands as well as singer songwriters etc. touring this country. Many living hand to mouth, sleeping on sofas and etc.

we have a new 4000 seat music venue in Pittsburgh along with a 2000 seat theater ( The Roxian ) and Stage AE which can hold from 500 to 3000 folks indoors/ outdoors.

Plenty of space and dates with bands. Many Tgar has never heard of but they have fans that pay for tickets and buy merch. Do any of them become Peter Frampton wealthy? No, but they make enough to keep grinding.

rudedude · Friday at 6:31 AM

Seek and ye shall find it. You just can’t look in the typical “old school” sites. Lots of
Tremendous stuff out there that most folks have never heard or don’t even know that exist.

Bands like these:

HarrisburgDave · Friday at 7:29 AM

It is so hard to make it in music. My son was outstanding at bass and singing and formed a band with friends when he was 15. They all ended up in Philly for college and they continued to play together down there. His one song got play time on the college stations and had 100,000 plays on one of the services. He ended up getting a couple dollars for it, thats all. He had another song that was covered by a touring band, that was fun to hear. He is 30 now and works with the IRS. If I can dig up one of his old recordings I will try to post it on here. Some of the boys he played with were outstanding. There is so much talent that goes unrecognized.

Tgar · Friday at 8:19 AM

HarrisburgDave said:
It is so hard to make it in music. My son was outstanding at bass and singing and formed a band with friends when he was 15. They all ended up in Philly for college and they continued to play together down there. His one song got play time on the college stations and had 100,000 plays on one of the services. He ended up getting a couple dollars for it, thats all. He had another song that was covered by a touring band, that was fun to hear. He is 30 now and works with the IRS. If I can dig up one of his old recordings I will try to post it on here. Some of the boys he played with were outstanding. There is so much talent that goes unrecognized.

Here is one truth. People do not want to pay for music which has led to the influx of AI generated music. The platforms hardly pay musicians anything and one platform pays nothing.

PSU4U · Friday at 8:20 AM

Nittering Nabob said:
Is that the mascot of the Dem party playing guitar?

I think so. He's known as the Wild Desert *** and must be avoided at all cost.

In the Middle East the wild desert *** will attack for absolutely no reason and do it's best to kill you, they cannot be domesticated.

God described Ishmael as a wild ***. Oddly the Democrats in America adopted that symbol

What happened to rock music?

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