What do you think will define this decade's music?

[xxxmx]

i was hesitant to open this thread, but thanks to the wonders of Ignore, it didn't take that long to read.

if you had asked me this question a few years ago, i would have named a few that just aren't as relevant today as i had expected. and a few years from now, i may look back and completely dismiss the ones i name today. who's to say?

genre preference is such a personal/relative thing, i don't think there's much of a chance that we'll agree on anything. i can't stand the White Stripes, but i'm sure you don't love the Flaming Lips or Gov't Mule. it's all tit for tat. but minus the tit.

sometimes you people make my head hurt.

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by Mari

I think the power of the music industry to push absolute crap into our ears is what defines this decade. There are great bands and artists, but they just don't get the chance, do they? Instead it's Idols crap.

Couldnt have said it better myself.


As for the genre I have been enjoying for almost 25 years (of my 37 year life), heavy metal, the current crop of new artists doesnt particularly work for me - when you have just aggression without ANY iota of substance than you are nothing but 'white noise' to my ears (Watch MTV 2's Headbanger's Ball for many an example of 'white noise').

Smaller metal labels have so many 'cookie cutter' bands out it is hard to find one to enjoy from infancy til they become an established artist. I hope that trend changes...At least the rap (As my 14 yr.old niece has publicly stated "Rap needs to pack it up and leave") has been REMOVED from my music, Thank God/Allah/Whoever!!!!

[Sarah]

Originally Posted by xxxmx

i can't stand the White Stripes, but i'm sure you don't love the Flaming Lips or Gov't Mule. it's all tit for tat. but minus the tit.

sometimes you people make my head hurt.

The Flaming Lips... another group that needs to be added to the list. Not a lot of public recognition - but lots of buzz and love from the alt music scene and critics.

And sorry about your head; I assume it's the fact that there is an actual civil discussion happening. Perhaps you'd rather we go back to endless threads about 7 Wonders or chiffon talk? No thanks.

[trackaghost]

Strand you're right, Bush is an icon, in different sense than what I was thinking though. I think people like Marianne Faithful and Patti Smith are icons too, but I don't think they are necessarily instantly recognisable to all.

Originally Posted by Sarah

The Flaming Lips... another group that needs to be added to the list. Not a lot of public recognition, but lots of buzz and love from the alt music scene and critics.

And sorry about your head, I assume it's the fact that there is an actual civil discussion happening. Perhaps you'd rather we go back to endless threads about 7 Wonders or chiffon talk? No thanks.

I love the Flaming Lips! They are actually one of my favourite groups.

[strandinthewind]

Brittany and Jack - separated at birth

from www.perezhilton.com

[Sarah]

holy wow. britney is totally in her happy place.

[strandinthewind]

She looks bloated and crocked out of her head. I truly wish she would get her act together because I would not wish the place she seems to be in on anyone.

[TwistedGypsy]

My 2 cents on the music industry and this past decade's music...it sucks big donkey balls. Except for a few albums from already established and respected artists i.e. Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie, Lindsey, Loretta Lynn, Annie Lennox just to name a few. Music this decade has been about making the most money as fast as they can and as Stevie said "all the quick cuts on MTV". Theres no substance and it breaks my heart to see todays generation singing along to this crap and having that crap has their annoying ringtones.
Some music that I've been introduced to this decade that I really hope gets out their to the masses is: Shelby Lynne-see I am Shelby Lynne, Identity Crisis and Suit Yourself
Pete Yorn- see Music for the Morning After, The Day I Forgot and Nightcrawler
Butch Walker- Left of Self Centered, only one I can think of right now
Interpol- check out the songs Obstacle 1, Stella was a diver and their newest album is really great

[Sarah]

Originally Posted by TwistedGypsy

Some music that I've been introduced to this decade that I really hope gets out their to the masses is: Shelby Lynne-see I am Shelby Lynne, Identity Crisis and Suit Yourself
Pete Yorn- see Music for the Morning After, The Day I Forgot and Nightcrawler
Butch Walker- Left of Self Centered, only one I can think of right now
Interpol- check out the songs Obstacle 1, Stella was a diver and their newest album is really great

I think you'd benefit from a little digging. The artists you've mentioned aren't exactly underground; they do have their own followings.

A lot of this decade's music has been crap, yes. But that's just the commercial stuff - just like you're wishing on these artists you've just mentioned. Nothing unique is ever accepted by the masses these days, unless it's a watered down version of its former self. Good artists don't have to get HUGE to be important.

Stop listening to the radio and TV, and start exploring new music in genres other than "pop" or "rock".

[TwistedGypsy]

Originally Posted by Sarah

I think you'd benefit from a little digging. The artists you've mentioned aren't exactly underground; they do have their own followings.

A lot of this decade's music has been crap, yes. But that's just the commercial stuff - just like you're wishing on these artists you've just mentioned. Nothing unique is ever accepted by the masses these days, unless it's a watered down version of its former self. Good artists don't have to get HUGE to be important.

Stop listening to the radio and TV, and start exploring new music in genres other than "pop" or "rock".

I'll pass on the digging because I know these people are underground. I was just giving a list of artists who I think haven't hit middle America and who have something unique to contribute. I also know good artists don't have to be huge to be important. We all know that.
And I don't base my musical tastes on what I hear on tv or radio.

[TwistedGypsy]

Originally Posted by Sarah

I think you'd benefit from a little digging. The artists you've mentioned aren't exactly underground; they do have their own followings.

A lot of this decade's music has been crap, yes. But that's just the commercial stuff - just like you're wishing on these artists you've just mentioned. Nothing unique is ever accepted by the masses these days, unless it's a watered down version of its former self. Good artists don't have to get HUGE to be important.

Stop listening to the radio and TV, and start exploring new music in genres other than "pop" or "rock".

I'll pass on the digging because I know these people aren't underground. I was just giving a list of artists who I think haven't hit middle America and who have something unique to contribute. I also know good artists don't have to be huge to be important. We all know that.
And I don't base my musical tastes on what I hear on tv or radio.

[Sarah]

Originally Posted by TwistedGypsy

I also know good artists don't have to be huge to be important. We all know that.

based on some earlier discussion in this thread, i dunno about that last part so much.

basically, i mean people in general should do more digging.. instead of just waiting for awesome songs to fall in their laps via the radio or tv. i just don't want to see the good stuff tainted by middle america, really.. middle america just doesn't have the capacity to fully digest some of the more inventive, interesting music that's out there.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Interestingly, Brittany Spears may be the defining moment of this decade. Think of all the wannabees that came after, jessica Simpson among that ilk. That is a rather sad commentary on the times, but I am unsure if it is an invalid one given that most comments herein have been about the cookie cutter prefab music that La Spears made "glorious."

The only way for her to become iconic now would be if she kicked the bucket. In a way, she's almost on the same kind of fame train as Anna Nicole was.
I actually saw her on her first tour. What a weird show that was. There were some creepy looking older men who just came to the show by themselves. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them showed up on that Dateline Predator show one day.
Anyway, she was in a pink vinyl jumpsuit and a very pretty and clean looking back then. There was a lot of speculation about her getting implants at the time. I'm almost positive she was singing to a backing track, although I never asked the production staff. She danced well.
I never saw any of her tours after that.
What I could never fathom was how she sold as many records as she did.
If she does survive, which I certainly hope she does it will be interesting to see if she can be that Britney again. She is still only in her 20's. I hope she doesn't become a memeber of the 27 club.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Yes, like him or not, Bush is an icon, at least as that term normally is defined, and much in this decade will be defined by him.

How tragic. But hey, we made it through Nixon right? At least that's what I keep telling myself.

[DeadliestPoison]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

What I could never fathom was how she sold as many records as she did.

I think it's pretty simple, actually. When she started out, she was really the only solo female act that had mass appeal with younger girls -- Christina, Jessica, Mandy, etc all followed in her footsteps to varying degrees of success. She'd come under scrutiny later on because of the way she dressed, but it still holds that a large group of adolescent girls looked up to her and identified with that whole small-town-girl-finds-huge-success angle.

Then you had the older guys who bought her stuff for other reasons.

Aside from all that, it's just fun music. Sort of like how Nelly Furtado's latest sold a ton more than her last two records. She just wanted to have fun and let ~loose~, and saw massive success despite her other work (IMO) being far better in comparison. People react to fun, well-constructed music (at least I think it's well put-together, for what it is), and Britney certainly had that down.