I thought i'd raise this subject based on my Off the wall thread. That album seems to be a timeless classic. You can still listen to it today and it doesn't seemed to have aged much. It sounds disco-fied at times but even still people can still get into it. Are there any artists from today that you think we'll still be listening to 25 years from now? Will Ushers "confessions" cd last? How about Beyonce's music? My guess is hell no! Too many young artists are trying to go with a sound that is very current and hip. Therefore their stuff will sound played out in about 2 years, especially all that lean wit it rock wit crapola!

What do you think is the key to creating a timeless album?

dancerella said:

So, have you actually bought the Off The wall album?

As for artists of today and listening to their music in 25 yrs time, well there are a few original artists around in spite of the dire state of music. I think I can listen see my 4 yr old son listening to Outcast, India Irie or Alicia Keyes 20 yrs from now, but then again it will probably depends on the kind of music that he ends up feeling very passionate about. It would be ironic if he too turns around and says "Off the Wall" is one of the best albums ever made 25 yrs from now. The album would be about half century by then.

I wouldn't call Off the Wall timeless, since it is pretty disco at times like you say. But some music (like Off the Wall) is just good enough to last. 1999 is another example. It's very 80's but it's so strong people will keep listening to it, like the Beatles, who were very 60's.

I guess it also depends whether you're talking about the music or the recording.

I think timeless music maybe isn't so trendy, or maybe it's so trendy people continue copying it for years & years, like Miles' Kind of Blue. Beethoven is another example. Beethoven is still the standard for your basic classical music, like Miles is for jazz.

Some people like Tom Waits aren't as trendy, but they create music that could have been written any time within the last 100 years. That's fairly timeless. In a way, Lenny Kravitz is timeless, because he's reaching back through history, and still his music appeals to people today. The White Stripes are kind of doing the same thing, as is lesser known Badly Drawn Boy. Some of the Neo Soul singers are trying to create that, with some success.

whatsgoingon said:

Yeah I ended up buying it yesterday. it's great and very funky. I think the titale track is my fave so far. I wish i would have bought it when I was about 5 though. Some how it feels like an album you should have grown up with.

I think you're right. I could see people listening to A. Keys and Outkast for years and years to come. Maybe it's also about not jumping on the band wagon and trying to get the "hot producer" of the year. I bet your kid will dif off the wall when he grows up too. It probably has that much staying power.

dancerella said:

The title track Of The Wall is so underrated, it's a brilliant track I even perfer it to "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough".

Forget the album, let's just pick a song.

1. Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones - 1965 - Timeless because we are still having war today, so the lyrics ring true.

2. Flashlight - Parliament - 1977 - Timeless because the music transcends time. When this song comes on, people scream and hit the dance floor.

3. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin - 1971 - The scales of alone makes this song timeless. Everyone plays it and loves to sing it. I do some of my best air guitar on this classic.

4. Voodoo Chile - Jimi Hendrix - 1968 - The guitar. Check out Ben Harper's live version cover of this classic. When I saw Ben perform it live at the Riviera, I felt Jimi in the room.

5. When Doves Cry - Prince - 1984 - The bassless track is amazing and why people enjoy listening to it. "Purple Rain" may be considered the Timeless album by music critics.

6. NWA - NWA - 1989 - This can be the timeless album of Rap because it was the beginning of gangsta wrap. My favorite line, "I wanna F*** you, Easy! "I wanna f*** you, too."

7. Off The Wall is a given.

NDRU said:

I don't know, NDRU. Off The Wall isn't classic, but Lenny Kravitz is?

By your description of Lenny's music, couldn't that also be called "derivative"?

Suppose, playing 's Advocate for a minute . . .

one argued that Lenny didn't reach any further back than his own decade to jumpstart his own career. Let Love Rule was often criticized as a Princely ripoff when it came out.

Let's just take the last 20 years. I'd submit a few:

I think Prince's KISS and Stevie's SUPERSTITION are timeless.
Paul McCartney's YESTERDAY could've been written yesterday.
Bobby McFerrin's DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY doesn't sound aged at all.

namepeace said:

I think you misunderstood me.

I said Off the Wall wasn't timeless. It's way more classic than anything Lenny ever did. But I think it still sounds like the year it came out (1979 or so), it just happens to sound great today, too.

But Lenny didn't really sound like 1989 (or whenever Let Love Rule came out). He sounded like any time since 1967 or so. That's why I called him more timeless.

I guess I'm using a different meaning of timeless, maybe.

whatsgoingon said:

talking about timeless music:



I think Rumours is one of the most timeless albums ever made. It is the perfect pop-rock album. Very accessible music and it sounds after thirty years amazingly fresh.

NDRU said:

I think understand you better now. I think the context in which you use the word is different for OTW than the context in which you use the word for Lenny. To me, Lenny has been a "throwback" musician with a few timeless songs ("Always On The Run," "Are You Gonna Go My Way," "If You Can't Say No") as opposed to a "timeless" artist per se.

But I think I get you now. Sorry for the mixup.
[Edited 8/20/06 11:10am]