It's not really music anymore

[Drunken Master]

I think some of you have to agree that the recent slew of bands that have jammed the air waves, aren't really making music; they're just a shiny new package containing the same formula that other bands have mastered, and made widely popular. I sometimes can't tell one band from another, different look, same music. The past 10 years or so have seen the conformity of the music industry, taking an art form that used to be something expressive, and turned it in to an assembly line, which its sole purpose is to make as much money as possible, by repackaging the same thing over, and over again. I fear that real music has seen it's last days. I remember when most bands wrote their own music, now someone else writes it for them, all they have to do is look pretty holding a microphone. In closing, music isn't about music at all anymore, it's about selling an image, and a lifestyle.

[oNaMiSsIo]

two words: the monkees.

[Bizznatch]

yeah music has strayed towards that nowadays, especially the rap, pop, and country music categories. Most rock bands arent like that, there still are some, but nowhere near the 3 Ive mentioned above. Which is one of the reasons why I listen to rock music, its not as fake all the other music genres.

Trance music is also another one that deserves mention, yes, the beats sound alike, yada yada, but they dont have someone else write the beats down for them, they dont have lyrics, and they are not selling out their own image.

[Shenlong]

Music is in the ear of the beholder...So cliqué... :p

But whatever you think...I'm not usually bothered by any of that "selling-out" shit...None of my favorite bands have ever "sold out", if such a thing actually exsist, and whichever have, I've probably never actually liked in the first place. Sure there's alot of lame shit out there, but that doesn't mean you can't go back to old music...Hell, some of that "new" music is actually good, but hardly a small portion to easily pick out, but still there...

Meh, it's nothing really that really dithers me...If I like it, that's fine, and if I don't, that's fine as well...To me, it's just another thing to listen to, or just another thing to try to avoid. SOme bands that were once good seem to have turned to shit, and rarly vice-versa. I probably can't have inspiration for life's activities without music, so I'm open to alot of stuff, and reject what I don't like afterwards...Some of the stuff I like lots of people especially hate, so I really can't say anything positive nor negative about what music's state is in right now. This is of course with rock music, but this is just what I like. No one can change my opinion of what I like, and I can't do the same with others...

All I can do now is just to keep liking it until there's absolutly nothing to like anymore, whether it's brand spaking new or dinosaur-old. When will that happen? Oh, boy... :)

[Drunken Master]

Pop music was invented to put a pretty face, with absolutely no singing tallent, infront of a microphone, so the music industry could make millions of dollars.

[Bizznatch]

exactly, same goes with Country Music, especially the new crap thats out there. Country music is just a branch off of pop music, its all a bunch of crap if you ask me.

[papadoc]

I would have to agree.
Last week my daughter was here, she's 24.
We were listening to the local rock station.
She knew every band they played.
I couldn't tell the difference from one to the other.
They all sounded the same to me.
Where's the originality that rock bands had years ago?
Where's the "I want to be different" attitude?
Or is it that all the original ideas are gone?
What needs to happen is for someone to come along,
and change the face and direction of music again,
like The Beatles did in the 60's.
This usually happens every 25 years or so.
But as you can see it hasn't happend yet.
So the music industry is due for a drastic change.
Or are all the drastic changes over and what we have
is what we will have forever?
And one more thing that will have to change,
is for the musicians to stand up and tell the record companies
to kiss their ass.
When the music was about the music, and not about
how much the record companies could make,
the music was better.

[Drunken Master]

I agree, there are several new bands out there that are in the music industry from the creative aspect of it. They write their own music, they express themselves, and not an image. I'm not saying everyone should go back to listening to old music, and I'm not saying anyone is wrong for liking the bulk of "popular" music that is out there. I'm simply pointing out the fact that music in general is now a manufactured art form, not a creative one.

[Bizznatch]

Rock music may sound the same, but then again you can only do so much with a guitar, a bass, and a set of drums. The theme created with rock music is what really seperates on band from the other.

[Drunken Master]

I would also like to point out how manufactured music is nowadays. Have you ever listened to a CD and said: "This band is pretty good." Then you see the same band perform live, and you say: "They really suck." The reason for that is, in a studio, a bad performance can be fixed in post production, leading to an inacurate representation of the artist. say the singer is out of tune, no problem, in post production it can be fixed. Am I the only one that finds that to be be fake, or manufactured?

[ShyShy]

today's music is a lot like candy, too much will make you ill, a little bit every now and then is fine. most of the songs i'm searching for now are at least 5 years old, there's a few newer ones out there that i like.

[Shenlong]

Yeah...I think the aspects that seperate one rock band from another is a blend of musical quality and lyrical content...

Stuff like Mudvayne and Slipknot basically sound the same, since they both (IMHO) just make noise and yell...There's not even a guitar beat for that matter, it just seems like the drummer beats the hell out of the drums, guitarist plays random notes, and the lead man yells incoherent stuff...

Incubus and System Of A Down have different perspectives when you listen to them on the other hand, since both bands play in a unique way with different lyrics sung, and depending on what song you look up, some even have meanings...A slight portion of SOAD have political messages, while some songs on Incubus' "Morning View" CD sound like what someone living the lonely life might listen to...Although during S.C.I.E.N.C.E., Incubus sounded more like a hard rock band, they now just have an alternitve rock band sound, while SOAD take the hard rock name...

Ehh...Whatever the hell I'm babbling about, at least with Incubus/SOAD, it's all good to me... :D

[Bizznatch]

Yes, those bands that all they can do is yell and scream really get on my nerves, yes, every once in a while is fine, like with Linkin Park, but bands that scream incoherent stuff like Slipknot, Cannibal Corpse, etc. really do suck, and from what ive noticed, bands like that theme ALL their songs around one philosophy, which really becomes redundant, like cannibal corpse, ALL of their songs (at least the ones ive heard) promote satanism, they all sound the same, and they all suck (even though themeing your band around satanism is reason enough to hate them :p)

Rap music is the same way, almost every rap song I've had to listen to is based around the same old shit: drugs, money, women (or should I say 'hoes'), their 'stuff', money, getting laid/high, about how 'hardcore' they are, money, guns, and 'gangster' life.

Freestyle rap is compeletely different, most freestylers (or at least the good ones) are very talented

[Shenlong]

Bizz, I love you but...PLEASE USE SOME FUCKING PERIODS!!! ;) :p

[oNaMiSsIo]

i wish we could have a kind of litmus test to see how much or an artist's soul was in their music... music would be awesome then.

[FesterHead]

I'm content to listen to 1960s - 1970s Rush, King Crimson, and Led Zeppelin.

For me, early Rush bootlegs define rock-n-roll energy.

[Smeggle]

Originally posted by oNaMiSsIo
two words: the monkees.

Blooming Heck That was quick ..I was just gonna say The Mon.....
they being the first 'Constructed' Boy Band.....:huh: beaten again :(


btw thats what The Monkees were btw The First band to be made for pop music type of thing .....means that 'PoP' music really hasn't gone that far really ........Thank F*** they found RAVE! Now thats Music!

[Shenlong]

Originally posted by festerhead
I'm content to listen to 1960s - 1970s Rush, King Crimson, and Led Zeppelin.

For me, early Rush bootlegs define rock-n-roll energy.

I get up at seven, yeah
And I go to work at nine
I got no time for livin'
Yes, I'm workin' all the time

It seems to me
I could live my life
A lot better than I think I am
I guess that's why they call me
They call me the workin' man

:D

[FesterHead]

Shenlong, at 5 o'clock take yourself out a nice cold beer.

And bring back drunk guy avatar.

[Shenlong]

Aww...My drunk guy avatar was actually liked... :)

Now to find it hidden in a sea full of deep sub-directories... ;) :p

[_Blackdog_]

this is why radiohead kicks ass. they are one of the few unique bands in existance these days. listening to radiohead's albums is a journey... each album is distinctively different. the journey starts off with a mainstream/pop-ish rock. then it delves into electronica/trance and enters a genre which can't be defined. and where will it go next? frontman thom york says that "in two years, you wont recognize radiohead. it will be like nothing we have ever done before, because what would be the point if it sounded the same?"

radiohead is currently the best band in the world. its fresh. its innovative. its unique.

[Fickle]

Except for a few shining moments, the music industry in ALL genres is "Originality is BAD. Buttonholling is GOOD. Making Money is BETTER THAN ORIGINALITY."

I wonder if any music companies realise how fucking shallow they are.

[ShyShy]

they know Fickle, but they don't give a flying horses ass.

[Vie]

I dont know many of the new bands, most of them are SO dire I carnt stand listening to them. (Busted (Who should be))

[apollos]

Which is why Michelle Branch interests me, and the rest is all Greek music where they haven't quite reached the stupidity which is clearly evident in much of the comical music around today.

Originally posted by papadoc
When the music was about the music, and not about
how much the record companies could make,
the music was better.

I really couldn't have said it better myself.

[zootm]

there's as much good, creative music around as there ever was. there's just a lot more shite in between.

[Vie]

Thats true!

unfortunatly most people seem to like most of that crap, I dont know why, maby there masochists?

[Drunken Master]

I never thought this topic would get any responses, I was just bored.

[Raz]

There are enough great bands out there making great music, if all you listen to is the radio and adverts of course you're not going to hear all of it. There are not many bands covered on a radio station. There are plenty of new and original bands around. You just have to know where to look to find them. But trust me, they're there.

[Drunken Master]

No one is denying the fact that there are some really great bands out there, what I'm saying is that music in mainstream society is more about making money, and absolutely not about making music. Music is more than more than just notes on a page, it's about emotion, and most of the mainstream bands lack that fundamental quality. Lets face it, mainstream music is more about tits and ass, than the music itself.

[Raz]

Don't listen to it then. I stopped listening to the radio years ago.

[Drunken Master]

I'm not saying that we are being forced to listen to it, all I'm saying is that it's really sad the direction music is headed.

[Bob the Tomato]

Is headed? There has always been a few really good bands among a sea of bad pop bands. Most of the later we refer to as one hit wonders. Pop music is just that; something designed for the audiences that capitalizes on a fad. Don't worry, they all fade after time, except Michael Jackson. We'll always be hearing his music.

[papadoc]

Here's a problem I see today.
New bands, that care about their music,
more than the money, have a hard time making it into the mainstream.
Why...because they can't get any airplay.
So they turn to the internet.
Or they just grind it out in the local bars and pubs,
hoping someone will wander in and discover them.
Then they have to be cautious of what that discovery will bring.
Will they have to give up on their sound and their looks,
just to get that big record deal?
Will they have to compromise their originality for the sake of fame?
Tough choice to make.

Now this isn't exclusive to today's bands.
This has been going on forever, at least back to the late 60's.
There were very few FM stations back then that would play
"psychodelic rock".
And the ones that did, played what eventually became mainstream.
Other bands, like Quicksilver Messenger Service, Blue Cheer,
Mighty Baby, The Stooges, MC5, Mott the Hoople, etc...
never got the exposure of FM.
Maybe they could have.
But bands like that never compromised their music, for fame.
Their sound was just as important back then as Hendrix,
or Jefferson Airplane, or the others that got the airplay.
And they didn't have the luxary of the internet.
Just word of mouth, and a following of dedicated listeners and fans,
who went to the local record stores and BOUGHT their records,
and showed up at every concert.
Which is why it's so important to keep your fan base,
by staying true to the music you create.
Just look at Madonna and Metallica now.
They've changed so much that they're loosing their fans.

So you see, this debate has been going on since the 60's.
There were those who never compromised,
and then there was "Bubble Gum Music",
which today you call "Pop Music".

[Orgone_Man]

wise words, papadoc.

I too see music as dry and flaky these days. I become nausious when I hear music being played on MTV and/or VH1 (I check back every once and a while to just see what's new). The thing that strikes me is that the throng of blank slates (young kids) are going through the biggest "garbage upload" ever imagined, all while unwittingly passing up any precious gem that one could call original and/or artistic.

[Büddy]

holy shit!someone said king crimson.i love in the court of the crimson king:an observation by king crimson.but thats the only one ive heard.so i guess take it for what its worth

i mainly hang around the 60s stuff the most.

[Rick Heid]

Drunken Master, oh wise one, i sallute u for haven' the guts to speak out against "the machine"! Fruity friggn' loopy lazy can't even play but have the cash and can talk S--t crap bein' cramed down kids throats is a SHAME!!! The sad part is, they don't get the thrill of watching a "talent" grow up into somthing magnifacent :( whew, got that off my chest :)

[marvinbarcelona]

John Peel : A Prince Amoung Men

For those not from the UK, you may not have heard of this guy, but he is the man who has brought new music to the UK for the past...oh, 30 years or so. His show is on BBC Radio 1 a couple of times a week, about 11pm GMT. Lots of new stuff, some I hate, but some I love.

Peel championed so many artists; Joy Division, New Order, Belle & Sebastian, and the list goes on and on and on.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/alt/johnpeel/

[NJK]

the problem is not that there's a lot of shit out now - the problem is the same as our elders had - my dad listens to elvis presly and country and western because that was on the radio when he was young- in my earlier years i always had a radio playing ( grew up in the 80's and still stuck in them) so the 80's music to me is all i need to hear - my son finds me a old man because i can't listen to anything that he likes (trance,house etc)
it's like the saying "" beauty is in the eye of the beholder""

[marvinbarcelona]

I'm 36 and still searching for new music. I grew up listening to The Police, The Clash, The Specials, Susie & The Banshees etc...now I'm listening to Super Furry Animals, Missy Elliot, Outkast, Gangstarr, 4hero, Eminem, The Strokes, Bisso na Bisso and more stuff than I have time mention. I meet so many people who stop listening to new music when they hit 30. They believe everything new is crap.

Okay, so the charts are full of boy/girl bands...this is nothing new. It's always happened. And by the way, you can go back to Motown for manufactored bands and probably alot earlier than that to. Music moves in cycles, just waiting for the new to blow away the old.

[DJ Egg]

There's always been heaps of crud in the charts, but the difference between the UK Top 40 of the 60's, 70's & 80's and that of the last 10 years is that, back then, about 30 to 50% of it was actually listenable, compared to about 1% now (impo).

All the good bands (with real musicians making real music) of the past and present have been swept under the carpet, in favour of a glossy image which appeals to 5-14 yr olds and makes lots of money - fast! Here today, gone tomorrow!

A lot of the old bands/artistes are still going - sure, some split up, some died . . . but they didn't all just disappear into thin air. Everything's gone deep underground, new and old.
There's still a lot of good music being made, but the chances of everyone getting to hear it are becoming bleaker by the day.

The UK charts are at their lowest ebb ever at the mo.
Once upon a time we were renowned and respected worldwide for producing some/most of the best music ever heard. Whereas now, we are nothing but a laughing stock.

Back then, you needed to sell somewhere between 250,000 and 1 million copies to get to No.1 - whereas now you can get to No.1 by selling less than 30,000.
Says it all, really.

The bosses at Virgin, WEA, Sony/Epic, MCA, Island, Polydor, Mercury, RCA, EMI, A&M, BMG, etc etc need their heads examining . . . or preferably, shooting!

[Cylob]

*round of applause*

My analysis exactly DJ Egg. I wouldn't change a word. I just pity the poor sods growing-up without access to the underground. I was lucky to be born in 1970.

[NJK]

fine example - neil young has a new cd called greendale

not a station in the netherlands has played one single track of it yet!!!!!

but you hear stuff by new artist almost every hour

[Cylob]

I don't think I could stomach a mainstream radio station. It's not for me. Shame, Radio 1 (the main BBC station) played some great stuff up until about 1999.

[NJK]

no wonder oldies station are doing so well these days

looks to my cylob you are working very hard today!

[Cylob]

If you stick 10,000+ MP3's in a playlist and put it on random that qualifies as your own personal station. No need for a DJ pressing the buttons.

I'm working Spaceplayradio.:) It just so happens I can multi-task quite well (spreadsheet, winamp, database, winamp).

[Cylob]

Originally posted by DJ Egg
Everything's gone deep underground, new and old.
There's still a lot of good music being made, but the chances of everyone getting to hear it are becoming bleaker by the day.Why is it that only the very worst of each genre makes it into the charts? It's the wrong way round!!!! The best artists stay in the shadows - not through choice either.

[NJK]

:igor:

are you trying to live up to the legend shabaviz55 by re-lauching old thread ??????

[Cylob]

Who the hell is/was shabaviz55?
:D

Alot of these topics will still be relevant 20 years from now.

[NJK]

You spend not much time in GD
member from Iran who was kicked out about 7 times -
first time was because he used copy and paste to make threads- he passed them as the thread were his own.

in the sonique forums he posted the band/name game ( yes your thread) as his own

[Cylob]

Bastard! Stealing threads.:mad:

Anyway, GD is full of weird people with weird threads. And it has NOTHING to do with music. I do look in from time-to-time.

[Spazz333]

You guys are right about most of the good bands being underground now. I discovered that when I found mp3.com. Alot of my favorite bands I downloaded off there. Examples being Burn Season, Spiritfall, and Mary 5e. I find far, far more talent there than on any normal radio station. It's too bad mp3.com is dead now.

[Cylob]

I never tried MP3.com.

Still, you can't beat browsing other people's collections. If I find someone who likes (say Slowdive), they're guaranteed to have similar stuff. Works every time.

Without the internet though I would despair.

[Spazz333]

The nice thing about MP3.com was that Artists put thier shit on there for free. No peer to peer, no RIAA.

[Russ]

This really is a shockingly shameless plug, but give last.fm (http://www.last.fm) a try - you get your own personal radio stream, where you can skip songs. The system then learns from what you like and hate and plays you music it thinks you might like.

The great thing is, independent bands get as much a chance in our system as big-label bands with huge budgets. And it's fully legal.

I only work for them because I think it's a great idea - I haven't been paid in months, since we're on a tiny budget :).

[Spazz333]

What size are the streams? Anything over 33.6 and my computer can't handle it :(

[Russ]

128k, unfortunately. We can't handle any other bitrates because of the nature of the system

[Spazz333]

Ah well, was a good thought anyways. I'll just have to deal with my collection :)