[greendaze5]

I think your assessment is pretty accurate. Once we get more into the 2010’s, the telltale signs will become even more obvious.

About the 90’s, my impression was that they were kind of a throwback to the 70’s. The 1980’s were defined by materialism, over consumption, and a general optimism as everything was ‘big’ – big hair, big baggy clothes, etc. TV reflected that with shows and soap operas about the rich – Falcon Crest, Dallas, Dynasty, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Anyways, I think the 90’s (at least the mid to later part) definitely went against the 80’s. I remember it was chic to dress down and be ‘granola’ – straight hair for girls, scruffy goatees for guys, flannel shirts, Birkenstocks, etc. Music was definitely more down to earth than the 80’s. No more drum machines and synthesizers. Everyone was going back to guitars (think of Street Angel vs OSOTM), and doing the unplugged thing. Lots of cool singer-songwriter female artists doing introspective ‘angst’ music too (think of Alanis Morrisette, Lisa Loeb, and the rest of the Lilith Fair roster).

In contrast, I think about how music in the 2000’s was a throwback to 80’s escapist, commercial friendly music in general. Maybe it was the mood of the times (following Sept. 11) but people wanted optimistic non controversial music. Thus, boy bands and girl bands doing ‘safe’ pop music. About the indie music scene, that’s true. I would say it was because of the malaise in the music business. Since the labels are hesitant to sign new artists (or even established older ones) or to nurture their careers long-term, most are forced to sign with smaller indie labels.

The 2000’s was definitely about gig budget escapist fare, thanks no doubt to innovations in CGI. You can make movies now (yes, like Lord of the Rings) that would have been impossible to before, or would have looked really crappy. There’s only so much you can do with matte paintings, stop motion animation, and puppets (think Yoda back in 1982).

Hmm, maybe the 2010’s will be look back at the early 60’s. Thank you Don Draper.

Roland (newbie Ledgie)