Bob Dylan Says Modern Music Is Worthless

estranged4life · #1 08-22-2006, 10:42 PM

Bob Dylan Says Modern Music Is Worthless
Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Aug. 22) - Bob Dylan says the quality of modern recordings is "atrocious," and even the songs on his new album sounded much better in the studio than on disc.

"I don't know anybody who's made a record that sounds decent in the past 20 years, really," the 65-year-old rocker said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine.

Dylan, who released eight studio albums in the past two decades, returns with his first recording in five years, "Modern Times," next Tuesday.

Noting the music industry's complaints that illegal downloading means people are getting their music for free, he said, "Well, why not? It ain't worth nothing anyway."

"You listen to these modern records, they're atrocious, they have sound all over them," he added. "There's no definition of nothing, no vocal, no nothing, just like ... static."

Dylan said he does his best to fight technology, but it's a losing battle.

"Even these songs probably sounded ten times better in the studio when we recorded 'em. CDs are small. There's no stature to it."

irishgrl · #2 08-22-2006, 10:45 PM

and I agree.

ryan8472 · #3 08-22-2006, 10:47 PM

Oh plz.

Sounds to me like Bob has been listening to the wrong records for the past 20 years. Because arguments like that? Are bull****.

goldustsongbird · #4 08-22-2006, 10:52 PM

Thank you for the newsflash, Baaaaahhb.

Für Elise · #5 08-22-2006, 10:57 PM

That's complete nonsense

irishgrl · #6 08-22-2006, 11:07 PM

other artists agree with him, fyi. protest all you want to but the fact remains, rock music is NOTHING like it used to be.

Für Elise · #7 08-22-2006, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishgrl

other artists agree with him, fyi. protest all you want to but the fact remains, rock music is NOTHING like it used to be.

that's not what he said though and its still an opinion

xdreamsunwindx · #8 08-23-2006, 12:13 AM

I love Bob. I may not agree with what he said, but nothing's gonna stop him from speaking his mind. He gets more ornery each year, and it's awesome.

amber · #9 08-23-2006, 12:14 AM

Um.

A) Bob is the man. The Man. Which doesn't necessarily make him right about everything, it just makes him a great lyricist and musician.

B) Wasn't he talking about the quality of recording? That is what it seems to me. Not the content, the actual sounds that result from modern recording equipment, and the resulting sound of the media it is presented on (CD's).

Anyway, I don't know much about recording, so I'm not sure if he is right about the quality and clarity, and how it sounded so much better in the studio. I would think he would know what he was talking about, having been in studios all his life. But you never know.
If he was talking about musicians, and music, I would agree, with notable exceptions.

But then, my tastes are specific and exacting. I don't throw out a wide musical net. I mean, I do, but then I throw most of the catch back. Because it sucks, and annoys.

foxyluva · #10 08-23-2006, 03:57 AM

In some aspects I agree with Bob. Most commercial music is absolute ****, but there are alot of underground artists who are still making fantastic music - it sounds to me like he was just venting...

xxxmx · #11 08-23-2006, 05:13 AM

Quote:

..."Well, why not? It ain't worth nothing anyway."

as an english teacher, i just died a thousand deaths. ain't... worth nothing...

as for the message... eh. i think he's referring more to the quality of and effort put into albums. i'm sure that he's very right about 95% of the albums that have slid off the shelves. a lot of popular music is manufactured to SELL and everything else suffers because of that.

trackaghost · #12 08-23-2006, 05:13 AM

Anyone who agrees with the idea that modern music is worthless is a) an old codger and b) need to find their glasses so they can read that article properly.
Dylan is clearly (to me anyway) talking about the quality of recordings and the CD as a format, not the music itself. Nowhere does he state that no one has written any good songs in the last 20 years (and he's released albums during that time period too and doesn't exclude himself). In fact in the last line he says the songs on his new album sounded much better in the studio than on CD. "CDs are small. There's no stature to it," he says. I bet he hates MP3s then. No iTunes for the Bobster.

This bit made me laugh though: "Dylan said he does his best to fight technology, but it's a losing battle."

He didn't fight that technology when he went electric, JUDAS!!!!

tynan88 · #13 08-23-2006, 05:25 AM

I think in general he is spot on about the quality of sound, although it may be more technically advanced it certainly does lack the warmth of a record.

carrie721 · #14 08-23-2006, 05:48 AM

wait. bob dylan is commenting on the quality of others' vocals? please!

irishgrl · #15 08-23-2006, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trackaghost

Don't worry you can still listen to your old gramophone records (78 rpm of course) while the rest of us move on and enjoy some new music

Spot on Amber.

Ok, I see I missed that vital piece of information. My apologies. However I will say that many artists are unhappy with the CD format and have been talking about going back to vinyl because it has a richer sound (even with the crackles and pops)

ps: each one of you will be an old codger someday too.