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Ummm Is there really such a thing as "rock music" nowdays ?!?!? Last real rock music i heard was back in the 70's !

I imagine "rock music" has always been difficult to define, as - inherently, I think - it's such a great mix of so many different musical styles. Philosophically and intellectually and silly-ly, the question of what real rock music is has always been something that stumps me and the guys in my band. I don't know if I can define it, but I'd like to say:

Yes, it does exist.

But, I'm curious: What exactly was the real rock music you last heard in the 70s? Philosophically and intellectually and silly-ly, but also passionately, though perhaps naively, I'm willing to bet that my band'll crush any of that stuff from the 70s. And that's rock.

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Hi Stephen (again)

I am sure real rock music still exists and your band plays well but let's be realistic here.All the great names emerged from the sixties and seventies and even those who still exist today,were on their peak during the seventies.
of course,this is just my opinion and since you're in a band that means you are enjoying and love what you're playing and i share your enthusiasm because very few of us can do what we like or want ! have fun buddy,allways !

Hi Yiangos.
Yes, I don't think I'd keep doing it if I didn't think we were good - or if it stopped being fun - and I do realize that (a silly) part of being in a rock band is thinking that no one can touch you on stage - at least, for me, I always want to destroy all other bands. Musically - in performace - that is.

But I'm really wondering about something else: Which bands are you talking about? I'm just curious about who these bands are - in your opinion - that played real rock music and were at their peaks in the 70s.

Please let me know.
Thanks.

Wow, tough term to define for myself, let alone inflict that definition on others.

Just from watching friends and acquaintances, I think the most frequent issue is that music is dynamic and evolves, while some people don't.

I'm sure you know plenty of people who toss off the old line, "They haven't made real rock music since I graduated from high school..."

Usually, it's that the music has marched on without them.

I have a theory:

Just like ducklings in the egg, many people "imprint" their musical taste during a certain period of time. After that time, they don't bond to newer sounds or styles and tend to think great music stopped being made after the expiration of their imprinting time. This would explain those friends you have who only listen to the classic rock station and their music collection dates only to a certain range of time. For these people, music is a form of nostalgia, really. They want to relive the same experience over and over.

In contrast, some people have an open-ended imprint time, and keep finding new styles, sounds, similarities of expression and new ways of looking at music as they go. The door remains open, so to speak. They are the people whose collections continue to grow and incorporate new experiences into a more open ended lexicon of sound. Those people use music as a continued source of new experience and continue to incorporate new sounds into their music listening habits.

That was a rambling and diffues answer, apologies. Bottom line: I don't think it's that rock music isn't as good as it used to be, it's that some expect it not to change - which thereby turns you into your parents.

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A related thing:

Acts with longevity are the rare rare exception. When we use them as examples, we are filtering and ignoring the incredible majority of music from a given era that stank or was worthless. All we are left with to hear on those tragically common "rock" stations is the stuff that's lasted. Just like "literature" - there were more books written that are now in history's dust bin than we find on the "Literature" shelf at Borders - the vast majority of music from the rock era was schlock and is deservedly forgotten.

I think it's the rose colored haze of recollection that makes so many people think the previous eras were superior.

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I have a theory:

Just like ducklings in the egg, many people "imprint" their musical taste during a certain period of time. After that time, they don't bond to newer sounds or styles and tend to think great music stopped being made after the expiration of their imprinting time. This would explain those friends you have who only listen to the classic rock station and their music collection dates only to a certain range of time. For these people, music is a form of nostalgia, really. They want to relive the same experience over and over.

In contrast, some people have an open-ended imprint time, and keep finding new styles, sounds, similarities of expression and new ways of looking at music as they go. The door remains open, so to speak. They are the people whose collections continue to grow and incorporate new experiences into a more open ended lexicon of sound. Those people use music as a continued source of new experience and continue to incorporate new sounds into their music listening habits.

That was a rambling and diffues answer, apologies. Bottom line: I don't think it's that rock music isn't as good as it used to be, it's that some expect it not to change - which thereby turns you into your parents.

I think this was a great answer. I agree with you. And it can happen to anyone, regardless of age. I've seen it happen to lots of my friends; they just get stuck listening to the same music, thinking nothing can be better than what they loved in high school, nearly thinking that no music has even been made since they left high school.

It happened to me, to a degree. There was a brief period after college when I pretty much stopped searching for new music, altogether. It was a girlfriend who finally introduced to me to all sorts of great new stuff. Luckily, I've been able to keep the interest going, even after our relationship ended.

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A related thing:

Acts with longevity are the rare rare exception.

Robert Baird and I were discussing this when we saw Billy Joe from Green Day on the cover of Rolling Stone last week. I loved Green Day when I was in high school. Now, my 11-year old sister is a huge fan of theirs. That, I think, says a lot about a band. I've often thought that success for a rock band has a lot to do with longevity. If you can just stick around long enough, doing your thing - while growing and learning - you'll reach certain people.

I guess that idea extends further than just the success of rock bands.

And then there are exceptions. Not that I have anything against Bon Jovi.

For me the bar was set in the seventies by Springsteen (born to run), Petty(Damn the torpedoes), and Seger(night moves. Now that Directv is carrying XM, I'm looking forward to having the opportunity to listen to some of the recent music that you have applauded in the other threads. Anyone know which XM station specializes in recent rock. Otherwise, I will try them one by one each night while working in the den.

By the way, I love XM so far. I think my FM tuner is now obsolete.

Regards

http://directv.com/DTVAPP/see/MusicChoice_chandescriptions.jsp

Can't see to find a printable list from DirecTV... but here are the descriptions of the various channels.

Oooops, no soup for me. I for got to log in before typing that last post about The Replacements, now under the by line Anonymous. Ok,Ok, I'll go suck on a .45

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Hi Stephen ,
Sorry for the delay in replying. how about "Pink Floyd" or "yes" or "ELP" ? There are hundreds more i could mention , even some groups i do not like their music but i believe you got the point

I wanted an idea of the bands you enjoy in order to better understand what you meant by "real rock music." So, yes, I think I get the point now. I wonder if bands like Dillinger Escape Plan or The Mars Volta - both very current - might impress you.

I'm not a fan of either of these bands, by the way. I actually kinda hate them. Here are some other current bands whose musical skill leaves me shaking my head in awe (that I actually enjoy listening to):

Sonic Youth
Rye Coalition
The Black Hollies
Magnetic Fields
Sufjan Stevens
Tris McCall

The three I saw play together this weekend:
Feist
The Magic Numbers
Bright Eyes...

There are tons.

I can remember my dad shaking his head while I listened to the 70's rock groups. He considered it noise. Naturally, he could listen to Buddy Holly or any number of 50's rockers all day long. Every once in awhile , he would like something I was listening to and ask me who it was.

I suppose this is where I'm at with modern rock/pop music. There isn't much that gets my attention, but every now and again I like something I hear on the radio.