No, I do not like modern music, although I have some caveats. The first is that I now find myself liking music that I would not have entertained in the seventies (like soul and funk), which may have something to do with feelings of nostalgia. The second is that when I complain about modern music, I find myself sounding just like the old people when I was young, although I resolve myself to it by remembering that they at least had crooners, jazz, swing, country and rock 'n' roll.
There has always been music I did not like at all, such as punk rock (which threw out the baby with the bath water, the bath and all fittings), synth pop (which over-exploited the availability of affordable synths) and acid house (really disco with sampling), but I have never been so alienated by current music. I put most of it down to the enduring appeal of rap, which I assumed would die a death soon after the Sugar Hill Gang. By the time it was announced that rap was outselling rock music, we were deluged with material that had removed singing and continued to rely on sampling.
There was a programme on the TV recently, which showed Steve Lipscombe producing a charity record for an ensemble, and it was not long before I found myself asking, 'Where are the musicians?' These days it seems music is created on a computer screen and sounds as if it was made by machine. Other TV programmes like the aforementioned X Factor reinforce this by encouraging wanabees to believe they are entitled to instant 'success' (publicity, big money and record sales), without dragging themselves around the clubs and playing their songs over and over. This contrasts with The Beatles, Black Sabbath and others, who played three shows a day for years in clubs and bars until their songs and performances were perfected.
Up until recently, I worked fairly hard to listen to new music, such as modern progressive, neo-progressive, progressive metal (whatever it is) and current hard rock bands, but I am close to abandoning this approach. Disappointment usually follows, often because of weak singing and lack of originality. New releases by old bands are not much better; I do not want to hear the new Judus Priest album or the current Joe Lynn Turner project and I am dreading the Pink Floyd album patched together with old tapes.
All is not entirely lost, as Rumer's new single flies in the face of modern female singers and shows some promise. I am also interested in hearing the new Billy Idol album and there are stories that Fleetwood Mac are releasing a new album with Christine Perfect returning on lead vocals. In the meantime, I will continue to become a curmudgeon like the old people of my youth.
There has always been music I did not like at all, such as punk rock (which threw out the baby with the bath water, the bath and all fittings), synth pop (which over-exploited the availability of affordable synths) and acid house (really disco with sampling), but I have never been so alienated by current music. I put most of it down to the enduring appeal of rap, which I assumed would die a death soon after the Sugar Hill Gang. By the time it was announced that rap was outselling rock music, we were deluged with material that had removed singing and continued to rely on sampling.
There was a programme on the TV recently, which showed Steve Lipscombe producing a charity record for an ensemble, and it was not long before I found myself asking, 'Where are the musicians?' These days it seems music is created on a computer screen and sounds as if it was made by machine. Other TV programmes like the aforementioned X Factor reinforce this by encouraging wanabees to believe they are entitled to instant 'success' (publicity, big money and record sales), without dragging themselves around the clubs and playing their songs over and over. This contrasts with The Beatles, Black Sabbath and others, who played three shows a day for years in clubs and bars until their songs and performances were perfected.
Up until recently, I worked fairly hard to listen to new music, such as modern progressive, neo-progressive, progressive metal (whatever it is) and current hard rock bands, but I am close to abandoning this approach. Disappointment usually follows, often because of weak singing and lack of originality. New releases by old bands are not much better; I do not want to hear the new Judus Priest album or the current Joe Lynn Turner project and I am dreading the Pink Floyd album patched together with old tapes.
All is not entirely lost, as Rumer's new single flies in the face of modern female singers and shows some promise. I am also interested in hearing the new Billy Idol album and there are stories that Fleetwood Mac are releasing a new album with Christine Perfect returning on lead vocals. In the meantime, I will continue to become a curmudgeon like the old people of my youth.
âThe fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.â William Shakespeare, As You Like It
