Rock's not dead, but it's refractory period is a bit longer than it used to be. It happens with age.
What made rock 'RAWK', was the mythology of the Rock Star, and his/her ability to help the audience transcend their own experiences through, for lack of a less pompous term, 'musical catharsis'. Bands were akin to superheroes. These days, everyone's got a band, and if you don't, your Wii or Playstation will make one for you. It's all very Joseph Campbell, which is a reference that dates me badly.
There are, of course, lots of good rock bands out there, but the
literal perception of music has changed dramatically in the last 15 years, let alone the last 25 years, and the needs of 'the audience' have changed as well. See Kings of Leon for proof of this. I just don't get them, or their need-a-shower ilk. I can't hear
it in their songs, but I accept the fact that the culture actually processes and internalizes music in an entirely different way than it did in my formative years (say...'84-'94). I generally find today's 'popular' rock bands lacking, but I know that this incarnation of 'the audience' wants something else; something they can call their own, and it's not tied to the aesthetics of the past. The price today's 'artists' pay is in 'longevity'. If the medium really is the message, then today's audience has ADD, and will anyone pine for Kings of Leon to reunite in 20 years? Meh. The age of dinosaurs is over, and now it's just several species of small furry animals running amok.
The industry really is an evolutionary tree, and those of us over 35 have to work at it to keep up, or our branch will just...end. The biggest problem, from my lowly position nestled within the areas of low hanging fruit, is that it's so fragmented; so compartmentalized, that it's difficult for any act to stick around long enough to validate their brand, unless they succumb to the succors of 'pop stardom' from the beginning. I couldn't tell you the difference between Screamo and Industrial, or Black Metal and Death Metal, or Trance and House, or Indie-Pop and Alternative, but I know if you call yourself any of those things, you'll never make any real money, and you'll never be a big enough 'star' to gain longevity. I know
exactly why Nickelback sells so many CD's, and it's not much different than the reason Coke sells so many sodas. For better or worse, the formula for commercial success works, and it ALWAYS trumps artistry. Always.
We all agree that Nickelback blows, but they are a 'rock' band, so how did they get so freakin' huge in an era of cubicles? The answer begs the question.
I really like that Biffy Clyro track, but those aren't 'Rock Stars'. Those are your buddies, recording in a basement. That's not their fault, and they sound great, but they don't have the marketing machine, the stylists, the attorneys, the managers, the producers, the A&R men, and the accountants to turn themselves into Nickelback. Were it not for the consumate taste of Funky Nomad, I would never have heard of them.
It used to be that the music was the product, and the artist sold shirts and posters and tickets to the show, where the audience could perform a mini-bachanalia and release their demons. These days, the artist
is the product, which by definition puts an expiration date on the art, and makes it difficult to foster the long term relationship with the audience necessary to become a legend, or even a standard bearer for a genre, like 'rock', in the industry. Clearly, 'Rock' lives, but the clarion days when Rock Stars represented the angry voice of youth culture are greatly diminished, and very likely behind it. Jay-Z popped a cap in it's ass, so now it's flying, David Lee Roth scissor kick from the drum platform just isn't what it used to be.
Holy shit...sorry for the babbling rant.
PS--The greatest rock song of the last 15 years is clearly 'Song for The Dead' by Queens of The Stone Age. Both Songs for The Deaf and Rated R are fucking stellar rock albums. I did like 'Woman' by Wolfmother, and 'Everlong' by Foo Fighters. I also quite like a little band from Phoenix, AZ., called Bionic Jive. Their record, 'Armageddon in Your Speaker,' is about the only witness I can present in defense of 'Rap-Metal'. Yikes.
End transmission.
Freak out. Far out.
