I was thinking about the directions rock has gone since its inception in the 50's and it seems to me that one of the main reasons why most rock is so dull, lifeless, and just plain uncreative (is that even a word?), is because most guys in rock bands nowadays only listen to rock. Back in the 50's, 60's, & 70's, most of these guys were listening to blues, jazz, soul, classical, or something else, in addition to rock, but now, it seems like todays rock stars are weaned on a steady diet of good old boring rock, which they're doomed to repeat and regurgitate again and again. Same lyrics, same chords, same attitude, different decade. What do you think? Does this sound plausible? What do you guys think are some of the reasons why rock is so lame these days?

I understand WHY you feel the way you do, but don't entirely agree. There's a lot of crap out there and it's being heavily promoted. There's also a lot of great stuff that we sometimes have to search for. I'll give ya one big reason rock is still alive: 'Songs For The Deaf' - Queens of The Stone Age.
Pop that in and see if you still think rock is lame.

It seems like the corporate schlock-rockers are bastardizing the sound Nirvana made famous and the "cool" retro-rockers are simply taking advantage of tenny-boppers' ignorance of genuine punk bands that preceded them 25 years ago.

I don't doubt good stuff still exists, I am just slow to embrace rock. It took me 10 years to discover Nirvana's genius.

rock and roll is alive and well. there's plenty of great stuff out there.

namepeace said:

Yeah, I didn't really get into Nirvana until a few years ago too. There's nothing like the real thing.
I also don't get all the hype surrounding these so-called "emo bands", especially The Strokes. I enjoyed Rooney's album much more than theirs. Heck, you can also add Grandaddy's 'Sumday' to my list of favorites last year.

Rock is dead? But it is now officially the biggest selling genre again, after years of banishment to dance.

Dead, or not to your taste?

If you can label it "rock" it probably sucks. That goes for any music that fits neatly into one of these corporate genres. Don't buy into it.

I agree that a lot of musicians/people's perspective is limited and it effects what they think is cool. Quite sad.

IMO, Queens of the Stone Age is the new voice in Rock & Roll.

I think there's so much talent in the world that it takes some effort to find music that isn't being played on the radio.

Slave2daGroove said:

Queens of the Stone Age are AWESOME!

I was out one nite a week or so ago, I've always kind of let the white stripes pass me by, but after seeing one of there songs on the video jukebox a couple of times i decided to buy'Elephant'.

I'll say this now, Rock is very much alive.

One reason it isnt : Monster Magnet(new album next month)

I understand the rock is dead thang.The style of all music has changed in the last 30 years many times.The 70's take Van Halen and take Alice in Chains for the 90's.Both fan favs during there time.Look at all the growth between these to groups.Both rock bands in diff. times.That old sound the stones,the who,kinks,zepplin had has just turned into something else.

I understand the rock is dead thang.The style of all music has changed in the last 30 years many times.The 70's take Van Halen and take Alice in Chains for the 90's.Both fan favs during there time.Look at all the growth between these to groups.Both rock bands in diff. times.That old sound the stones,the who,kinks,zepplin had has just turned into something else.

Rock sucks today because the record companies only want these sissy bitch bands like Blink 182, Jet, The Strokes, Good Charlotte, etc. There are hundreds of good bands that will never get play cuz they don't conform to all the bullshit.

EvilWhiteMale said:

Hasn't that always been the way, though?

rock is not dead, it just smells funny.

medoc2003 said:

Thats
Jazz..

SquirrelMeat said:

I mean dead as in creatively. Little new has happened in the jazz world since the 80's and jazz still sells. Not huge amounts but it still sells. Just because it sells doesn't make it fresh. The Backstreet Boys sold tons of records but they were basically a slick copy of every singing group since the 50's.

OdysseyMiles said:

I've heard other people say the same thing about the Queens. I thought the single was definitely original but not great. I'll have to check out the rest of the album though. If it's better than the single, there's hope!

I'm not saying I don't LIKE any new rock, I'm just saying that it really isnt all that creative and it's basically people using the same chords to say the same things in the same ways. how about a little more ability in my headphones?

Can you guys recommend any more stuff?

guitarslinger44 said:

i agree. you could say the same thing for hip hop and a million other genres.