Is there a kind of music that currently exists that actively thrives on the energy of youth and intimidates the older generations? Or is such a thing an impossibility, since the generation that pissed off its parents with Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry are now grandparents, and the generation that freaked mom and dad out with Frank Zappa and Jimi Hendrix are now middle aged moms and dads themselves? Now that the first couple of generations raised on rock music are the older "established" parts of our society, do kids feel like there's anything left to rebel against anymore?

Anything that's considered "rebellious" anymore is derivative and safe. Even someone like Marilyn Manson is considered more silly than scary anymore - I've always seen him as more of a grumpy Boy George than a modern-day Alice Cooper. Anyway, if you can get a band's name on a hoodie at the local mall, it ain't transgressive, folks.

During the last Bush administration, we got stuff like Body Count and Nirvana - music that reflected the anger and alienation of people growing up during those times. What did we get this time around? "I'm A Slave 4 U"? Greeeaat....

So what's out there pushing the envelope, musically, artistically, politically? Anything at all? Or is everyone having to resort to digging through the old shit to recapture some of that angst and rebellion? Or is there even a need for those feelings in music anymore? Have we finally become completely complacent? Is American Idol as good as it gets these days?

Rock is just in a very sad state right now. It's time for a new wave of musicians with some balls. Gotta wash this sissy rock away.

BUSTED ROCK!

Clay Aiken knows how to play guitar?

rock ha sbeen dying since the end of the 80'
in order for me to get my dose of rock i have to listen to my old doors and Led zepplin C.D.s

Everything dies-- except funk that is . Classical..... gone. Jazz..... gone. Rock.... rap.... gone....gone. Or are they? Music like everything else evolves and many of its various forms are used to birth new ones. Needless to say, the likes of Led Zeppelin won't be seen again anytime soon and that's good because rock as we know it has run its course.

The guitar is an old, outdated relic-- it's been the tool of choice for young "bad-boy" musicians since the old blues/early rock guitarists and it's time for something new. Where are the damn innovators? If I weren't into my classes and painting I'd try to do something myself-- though I'd probably better stick to painting.

Hasn't every generation felt this way, though? That it's all been done before. And then something comes along and proves that notion wrong. We're just waiting for that something.

CarrieMpls said:

Yep. Ever since Elvis went into the army, fans and critics alike have concluded that rock music is dead in every era. There are always resurgences of some form or another...and we're all getting old.

Haven't you heard? It's been ressurected by the Darkness.

Nashville pussy,The wildhearts(My baby is a headfuck!)

These bands kick ass.

sinisterpentatonic said:

I think so to but that my Darkness CD, which is collecting dust, begs to differ!

Anxiety said:

I think those are the Ah-ha Teens.

sinisterpentatonic said:

Tribal Disorder

sinisterpentatonic said:

Dont worry, rock will b resurected by me in a few years, (im 15) and then u will all worship me 4 bringing it bak

Anxiety said:

I think about this a lot. I always wonder what's "left" to do in music, or where it could develop from here, and if it will be something completely unheard of before. This includes stage antics and new ways of performing onstage.

I'm waiting for the day when artists start doing things like taking a shit onstage, and having that become the "norm". Only then could I say that I felt like a boundary has been broken again by music and crossed over into something that has never been done before. (Not that I'd like to see that sort of thing )That would be funny though. Because right now, it everyone seems to be rehashing what's been done before.

I think Queens of The Stone Age put out a great record with Songs For The Deaf. All I gotta do is plug my guitar into an amp and play those three friggin' chords to "Go With The Flow" and I'm reminded that the state of rock is not in shambles. Keep in m mind that rock is a deverse art in itself. People can say what they want, but I still love Foo Fighters. Seeing them perform with a legend like Chick Corea at the Grammys was strange, but it rocked. You guys gotta remember that rock isn't always about pissing off your parents, or railing against the establishment. It's also a feeling, an attitude, a spirit. That spirit is alive in the art. Don't wait on record companies to push the next big thing on you.

OdysseyMiles said:

Wiser words have not been spoken.

whodknee said:

I hope your classes include "Clue" classes because you are in need.

minneapolisgenius said:

You've never heard of G.G Allin?

this cat use to eat a package of Ex-lax before a show and then take a shit on the stage, he'd also mutilate himself on stage. I know he did a show here and after he took a shit, he started flinging it at the audience. He talked about commiting suicide on stage, but he overdosed before he could pull off his final perfomance.

Slave2daGroove said:

there are still great rock bands out there.

Radiohead and The Flaming Lips are both phenomenal bands putting out amazing albums.


Of course, they are more experimental. But hey, they're still rock.

sinisterpentatonic said:

G.G. Allin is who I was thinking of when I posted that.

But you know, that trend just never caught on, did it?

hip hop has done what rock n roll once did for the last twenty-odd years. its become more complacent now but its still not 'totally' the establishment (not totally, lol).

At least it's not on the charts. It's not popular. I guess it IS somewhere of course, as long as there are fucked up things happening, there'll be people singing against it.
Back then there was Sly&The Family Stone, but now...
And I don't think that rebellious music has to be rock. Can be HipHop, Funk...

I'm not too familiar with them, but I guess one of the very few NEW acclaimed mainstream pop/rock bands with a serious political message would be Travis.

sinisterpentatonic said:

Yeah, I remember g.g. allin, and that's a good example. It just seems to me that ya shouldn't have to work that hard to push the boundaries. I think it was important that g.g. existed, just so there's an extreme by which we can measure things.

I dunno, to me, when rock really works, someone's out there doing something that ruffles everyone's feathers, then twenty years later their kids can look back on it and go "what was the big deal???" Twenty years from now, stories about g.g. will still be grossing everyone out...but in a fucked-up yet ultimately successful kinda way, that's sort of a testament to his legacy.

Anxiety said:

How many times do I have to tell you this? Powernoise!