Why Is Rock Still Dead?

I don't care what anyone says,on record at least Kurt Cobain was an inventive and powerfully passionate guitarist with a great sound.Maybe technical compared to some he was lacking finesse,but at that time early in the 90's the success of Nirvana totally paved the way for more leftfield bands to enter the mainstream.Even when he was faking it he was real.I think part of the problem today is there is no room for anyone to break out and being a rockstar who can command our fascination,even though I'm too old for fan worship now,and don't really follow the music scene now as intensely as I used to.Also I think a kind of postmodernism has evolved in rock,and the internet,whilst having a democratizing influence,has made music free in a financial sense.I'm sure there are many teens who are into bands I've never heard of and idolize them,but for the more elderly rock fan the whole rockstar thing becomes increasingly passé.

 

No, theres no doubt he had something going on, and yep, he sure did change the face of rock.

 

Historically I'd say the most celebrated rock musicians have been non-conformists, from Elvis to Jimi to Janis to Morrison to KC to Floyd to Radiohead. And the least celebrated (acts like Nickelback) complete conformists in every way imaginable. So I would have to disagree with you there. Breaking conventions and rocking are virtually one in the same thing. Bands like Nickelback just pander to what everyone wants in order to make money and gain popularity, meanwhile singing about revolution. To most people they come off as boobs. I'll admit that they may be good at their instruments, but since a person like Chad Kroger has nothing interesting to say, they should just be an instrumental band. I would respect that a thousand more times than what they are doing now.

You have to remember that rock is literary as well as musical. It just is, because you have to write lyrics. If you've got good music and trite lyrics, you suck. If you've got good lyrics and bad music, you suck. A good lyric is just a genuine lyric. Nickelback should be singing about sports cars and beer. Not trying to appeal to alienated youth who want absolutely nothing to do with them.

Yes I am a musician. And NOT that skilled of one. So I am in the position of actually really having a respect for people who are technically proficient. So it disappoints me when I feel they are dragging themselves down a level to appeal to me, especially lyrically.

 

So, you know for a fact that Nickleback arent writing about what theyve exerienced and feel? Just curious because of your statement..

 

I find your statement kindof funny Neon, because theyve had to struggle the whole time , and made it in spite of mixed reviews etc.. If you think their lyrics are trite, then I dont know what to tell you, other than they are far from it, and their music doesnt appeal to everyone.I have a feeling your dislike is simply personal taste, which is cool. Their words and sound appeal to a lot of peeps.Self included.

 

Admittedly I am not a Nickelback aficionado. I'm just working with the songs I've heard on the radio. Which to me seem awfully generic. They really do just seem like a marketing ploy to me, not a band that genuinely cares about issues. Like when they sing "we're standing on the edge of a revolution" -- they're just singing that to be cool. I don't believe Chag Kroger has a clue what he's talking about. I mean how generic is this line: "What do we want? We want change! And how are we gonna get it? Revolution!" Yeah, WHO THE HELL DOESN'T WANT CHANGE and Chad's solution for change is "revolution"??? It's silly.

 

Well then here's an idea, sing a song about how hard you're struggling as a band. The Clash did it with a great song called Garageland. It is possible to write about things that are actually pertinent to you, which is what inspires a popular appeal, instead of trying to artificially create mass appeal with something you know is going to go over well like a rock song about revolution.

 

Just the songs you hear on the radio...now , what dods that tell you? We dont have anything to do with what stations want to promote when putting out an album. Radio is very proficient at picking, not only the worse songs on an album, they normally end up pjcking the fillers. Perfect example is Mark Knophler Sultans of swing, which is probably THEE WORST song he ever did. Most dont even know just how good he actually is because all they ever heard where the stupid filler tunes.

 

How do you know that he wasnt feeling some kind of way about a revolution? Has he said something about it?

 

That line he quoted about wanting change and revolution is cliché and therefor lame (subjective, but i agree). Stating with which intent it was written seems speculation. An assumption. It sounds like cliché crap so it was probably ment to appeal to the mainstream masses. Could be, but yes the assumption is coming from personal dislike.
But to be honest even if it was written with the most sincere intent, it would unfortunately not change my opinion about Nickelbacks music.

 

God...the last town I lived in they played Sultans of Swing EVERY DAY on the radio. In fact, they played pretty much the exact same setlist every day. Middle of nowhere Kansas. Sultans of Swing was one of the few songs I enjoyed. What about Godsmack? Are you a fan of theirs too? That's another band I can't stand.

Maybe it is just taste, because I literally laugh whenever I hear "Standing on the Edge of a Revolution" on the radio. I didn't even think it was Nickelback at first. I thought it was just one of the hundreds of bands who sound exactly like them. Then I did some research, because I found the song so funny, and sure enough...Nickelback. I was kind of hoping it was someone else, because it gets old making fun of Nickelback.

But what do I know. They could be sincere as hell. Maybe I just want a good reason for hating their music. On second thought I don't think I dislike it so much that I would banish them from rockdom. Really what I want to see is a total free for all. I want Bon Jovi next to Bad Brains. But not new Bon Jovi. I want to see him in his old raggedy stonewashed jeans again. And if Nickelback are just being Nickelback, then I want Nickelback in the lineup too. That would be totally awesome if all the cliques just vanished.

 

And thats my case in point Asmo..they went mainstream in spite of theirselves. I know a lotof guys who dont like them. But I know a lot who do too.

 

http://youtu.be/Zja63r8O2jU


Here, listen to his good stuff.


Omg you poor guy..they brainwashed you with Sultans. Lmao

 

http://youtu.be/ILRCfeITBns

 

http://youtu.be/m3oIsYKWu8k one more dose to counteract the filler symdrome..

 

I dont believe I've heard the NB song about revolution you speak of..by the sounds of it, I'm grateful I havent.

 

Count me out of that festival...!

Cliques, and/or subgenres are not always that bad. I have enjoyed a lot of performances better when there's a concentration of likeminded music fans (even when they're elitists hey elitists are far less annoying when you all share the same preferences )

 

Lol thats funneh.

 

Lol oh yeah..I like some of Godsmack's stuff. But normally, I dont like everything any one band puts out anyway. One or two songs ..every so often, three.

 

The Dire Straits are awesome. This marks the first three songs I've heard by them that weren't that MTV song or Sultans of Swing. Thanks.

Agreed they're useful. But I'd just like to see all these artists just once give a big fuck you to everyone who expects something of them.