Funny, I've been wondering why, and then I stopped because I've got better things to do than care what kids aren't doing today TBH YouTube
May-I propose a beginning of answer ? "Communication".
This period was the one where people began to travel easily across the world, and musicians were able to bring back what they discovered elsewhere, the period where records were suddenly distributed on all the planet, producing the same effects ? A period where people were trying to live more in a community spirit (groups) than in individual egoisms ? A period where people were more interested by innovations than achievements, fun more than money or glory ?
Love and peace, sex drugs and R'n'r. Can-we imagine Bob Dylan or John Lennon, at "The voice" ?
I remember the reason why I left studio productions. It was when musicians began to come-in asking-me to make their guitars to "sound like" Mark Knopfler or Jimmy Hendrix. Before, it was exactly the contrary: "Try something new, I don't want my guitar to sound like ..."
Led Zep made their reverb in one of their first albums in using a speaker in the stairs of the studio building, with a mike at each stage.
Nowadays, musicians are hundred times more virtuoso and cultivated than the ones I used to meet at this period. Thousand times less creative and inspired, too much references.
We can find the same spirit in work, here ... people thinking "in the rails", flaming each one trying an original approach in electronic design... Academic science or technical culture as a religion and unique reference ...
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And one thing. I don't know how it is in US, but, watching the French version of "The voice", i'm always stunned by the talent of many of the young singers, when they arrive. They are dead, after those weeks with their coaches. Swept, washed, annihilated, robotic, soulless. Perfect interchangeable consumer products.
The whole idea is to sell the yute the notion of romantic love.......so they produce more consumers. If you wonder where they are, they're working 12 hour shifts to pay the rent
Watching The Voice and expecting originality is like watching The Apprentice and expecting a display of business acumen.
Uhh, I dont know about that... But I have seen enough American Idol episodes to know there is sooooo much talent out there. The problem is that without good song writing and producing it is useless. Only a couple winners of those shows ever went on to have an album worth a damn after. Generally what they put out after sucks bad. I have no doubt that a huge part of their failure is from producers/higher-ups trying to make their albums into something top40, or their own ego trying to make their own songs that suck into an album - really couldnt say which but there is something totally wrong.
A lot of the younger talent will never be known well. When they record it is total ****. It is because they cant afford to do it well at all. They cant even afford decent gear for live gigs. It is a problem of our grossly inflated economies since the 70's.
The best thing you can do is try to catch live performances. This means house shows and small venues. Some will suck, some will be unforgetable.
I wouldn't expect others to like everything I do. I think the ground that was broken by the likes of Joni Mitchell is now producing abundant crops of smart, original, talented, young female singers/songwriters. Lorde for example, or Feist or Janelle Monae or whoever my teen daughter is listening to these days. Since she streams her music I don't get to see the album covers.
When she plays she covers Joni and writes her own songs, sometimes I lose track...For myself I really like Spoon, and Arcade Fire, and Wilco (Nels Cline is one of the most talented and original guitarists working today). Arctic Monkeys. Esperanza Spalding again. Bruno Mars is an act I would love to see live!
The world is full of talented and original musicians. Sadly, many of them have a hard time making a living, and we could fill two worlds with boring unoriginal hacks. The 1960s produced tons of absolutely terrible music, and the industry keeps churning out the dreck.
You are entitled to your opinion of course, but you will forgive me when I say that is a ridiculous statement. It is very sad that you can't enjoy current music. I am a 60s - 70s kid and I hear good music every day. I guess it's agood thing you build audio gear, since you can only listen to old records.
(Reminds me of the John Mayall album "Jazz Blues Fusion", where someone in the crowd yells out a request for one of his songs, and he replies "That's all way in the past. What did you come here for, to hear an old record or something?")
You know what I meant. Yes, electric guitar were used in Jazz orchestras since the early 30th. But, it was just to try to amplify the sound of acoustic guitars in the middle of horn sections.
I was talking of a *new* instrument used for what he can do,
an infinite palette of new sounds, you know, sustain, larsen, distortions: Cream (Clapton), B.B king, Hendrix, Ry Cooder, Larry Carlton etc. And not to forget, of course, Pet sounds of the Beach Boys and the beatles ....
Same thing for Hammond organs, originally used to try to mimic church organs. So hard to carry on all the R'n'roll stages and used in a totally different way and spirit. ;-)
Man, you should expand your horizons.
Last week I was listening to a local FM station playing blues tunes. It featured Robin Trower's new recording, it was very good imo. Robin is in his 70's now, but he was one of the first concerts I went too. Boston opened for him on their deput tour. My ears and head were ringing for days, folks were smoking that black gooey stuff in a chilim, the Maple Leaf Gardens was a smokey place that night. The good ole days
It's Ed we're talking about here! Nothing is done to half or even *just* whole measures.
Nezbleu -- We overlap a decent amount. Spoon was definitely my favorite concert. Tons of fun. Haven't run into them in Portland, yet, unfortunately. I enjoy the "new Americana" or whatever you want to call it. Josh Ritter and other such (oftentimes smaller) artists that you'll see recommended are worth the while, IMO.
But I also listen to a ton of my parent's music and grunge/alternative 90's! The latter being the ever formative early teens years, so no surprise.
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