Idiots like himself...

Sure...

In other words...

You look like I'm tripping...

there is some dope shit out there and you are not going to find it on the radio. find a music website online you respect and check out their best of the year lists.

new eno is great as well.

Problem is...without radio support those artists that are so "dope" aren't going to be able to make a good living.
They will mostly go unnoticed by the masses while Justin Bieber and Kanye and Beyonce make hundreds of millions of dollars and live like Kings and Queens.

Could you imagine if Jimi Hendrix were to be just starting out in 2015?
We would NEVER even know he existed because he wouldn't have any venues to play at that could actually further his career, nowhere on the radio to play his songs to spread them to the masses, and no big concerts to perform at (because he would be unknown) to make him a legend.

Just think about it. :( You can replace "Jimi Hendrix" with any other great musician/legend and it would all be the same outcome.

Hell...Robert Plant, Mick Jagger, etc. wouldn't even make it past the auditions of American Idol because they don't sing according to the "formula". :(

Reality is, the music industry started becoming homogenized over the years and now it's pretty much hit rock bottom.
With the industry pretty much decimated (bands used to sell a MILLION copies of their albums right out the gate on the first day)...there isn't any room for people to take a chance on a guy like Jimi Hendrix, or The Beatles, etc.

They just go with the formula. Does it have a "producer" who comes up with good "beats" and a marketable face on the clown talking and auto-tuning over the "beat"?
Then it's a hit.

Real musicians and real singers who can write songs and know how to actually entertain a crowd without a stage full of "backup dancers" aren't even part of the equation anymore.

Ill Communication is another one of my favorites. I really like last few songs Shambala and Bodhisattva Vow. To The 5 Boroughs is really good too and vastly underrated. They're all good.

You're a funny guy. I can see why you like laughing at yourself. What makes you think I give a shit about the Kardashians? They don't make music. One of them ruined Lamar Odom and one of them ruined Paper Magazine. They are trash.

Well, maybe not popular music as a whole, but he's already had a significant influence in hip hop. A positive influence. Check this out.

West's third studio album, Graduation, garnered major publicity when its release date pitted West in a sales competition against rapper 50 Cent's Curtis.[60] Upon their September 2007 releases, Graduation outsold Curtis by a large margin, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart and selling 957,000 copies in its first week.[61] Graduation once again continued the string of critical and commercial successes by West, and the album's lead single, "Stronger", garnered the rapper his third number-one hit.[62] "Stronger", which samples French house duo Daft Punk, has been accredited to not only encouraging other hip-hop artists to incorporate house and electronica elements into their music, but also for playing a part in the revival of disco and electro-infused music in the late 2000s.[63] Ben Detrick of XXL cited the outcome of the sales competition between 50 Cent's Curtis and West's Graduation as being responsible for altering the direction of hip-hop and paving the way for new rappers who didn't follow the hardcore-gangster mold, writing, "If there was ever a watershed moment to indicate hip-hop's changing direction, it may have come when 50 Cent competed with Kanye in 2007 to see whose album would claim superior sales.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanye_West

If you liked their early stuff, check out "There Was a Time" from the Omega album. Starts out slow...kinda' has a medieval sound - but 3/4s into it Carl Palmer's drums kick in and amps up the song.

Features all four of the original members.

The old school radio airplay payola scam was just as stifling if you ask me to artists and "classic rock" that made it to the radio was not necessarily the best of what there was to listen to by any stretch. Today bands have plenty of social media tools at their disposal to help get fans and sell music and support tours. Plenty of people know the story of Macklemore by now. Vampire Weekend is another band that generated their own success in the beginning through social media and the labels came to them rather than vice versa. Then there are also bands like Pearl Jam that spent time studying the Grateful Dead model so they could exist well beyond the fads and trends of radio's whims.

There is good music out there. Whether we find it or it finds us, great songs will always resonate and find their audience.

Still, for what it is worth, I have to admit that I didn't mind the booty shaking back up dancers at that Katy Perry concert I went to... all the young hotties jumping around while she sang about drunken threesomes wasn't so bad either...

There may be a difference between songwriting and music making but all of it can be entertaining, even if it isn't necessarily inspiring.

Neither does kanye west.


What's interesting is that you seem like a normal guy, coherent in your speech and expression; just all the more bizarre that - what seems to be a grown ass man - is defending a complete jackass. Have you actually listened to that turd speak?

:2 cents:

Love Paul and used to like Kanye's flow. He's a lot easier to ignore nowadays with his shit lyrical content. But hey, since every generation is getting dumber, this is what is needed to make money right? Sell out by appealing to the retarded mass. Oh and catchy beats that repeat 20-30 times a song.

Ever since the Taylor Swift incident, I have no respect for this overgrown child. And no, even if he did this all for publicity to make more money, FUCK him. Don't claim that he's smart or a marketing genius. When you're this disrespectful of a person, you're the scum my my shit, even if you make bank.

not really, there are still many independent, well respected and quite famous young artists..at least in my country...who just found their way and year by year they got more fans

I LOVE Close To The Edge (both 'sides'). I saw a van once - just once - when I was twelve in my hometown. It had the album cover painted on one side and the Yes logo on the other. I will never forget that van. LOL

But when it comes to needing some extra 'help' with listening to a record I vote for Tales From Topographic Oceans. LOL That 2 disc set is one of the best "bad" albums ever made.

Now THIS I want to check out! Thanks! :)

(And, to me, a TOTAL travesty that Jon Anderson is not making music with Yes anymore. Insanity. 'Magnification' is, with the exception of a single song, one of the greatest things Yes ever did. And amazing while stoned, too. LOL I always loved the rock/classical hybrid like Electric Light Orchestra or The Moody Blues and 'Magnification' is like those bands, only Yes. Awesome shit. I will check out the Asia track (and CD) for sure!

(Does anyone under 40 get any of my references AT ALL? LOL)

Another Quote because Robbie has NAILED it - and not just with big-titted pornstars, either (although that too). Your analysis is perfect Robbie. It breaks my heart actually because what you are decribing is a societal loss as well as an entire Industry (music) being devasted.

The saddest thing is while JimmyCooper here is obviously finding the best in what is out there (Katie Perry, Kenye, etc) he also knows the older stuff or is open to it. This makes him in the top 5% out there so congrats to you JC!! :) What breaks MY heart is many today don't even know what they are missing. They don't know they aren't missing out on something, something important that helped shape a culture, influence soceity in a positive way and, yes, changed the world. Fortunately the music will never die and is still out there for people like JimmyCooper to find and appreciate.

http://www.pornnerdnetwork.com/gfy/JohnLennonWall.jpg
The John Lennon Wall in Prague.

I was reminded when I was in Prague recently how it can be argued that The Beatles defeated Communism. Their music was banned but somehow people kept listening to it, smuggling in records, pirate radio, etc. Once the music was inside the people's heads the change followed, the people could not be stopped. Maybe this will happen again in some wonderful future I am praying for. LOL

I think it was actually Far-L who admitted going to a Katy Perry concert. :winkwink: That being said, and seeing as how he had the balls to admit that he went to a Katy Perry concert, I'll go ahead and admit that I too have seen her live. It was at the Victoria's Secret fashion show 4-5 years ago and I was surprisingly impressed with her performance. My opinion on it may be a bit skewed, though, because tickets were free, there were smoking hot girls all over the place (both on and off the catwalk), and I dropped a tab of ecstasy before heading into the Armory (cool venue, btw).

The Beatles may have sown the seed, but I think Metallica may have also had a hand in ending Communism. Check out the crazy energy in the crowd.



...and, of course, no discussion about how music helped end Communism would be complete without mention of the most popular man in Germany for many, many years....the one and the only David Hasselhoff. And If you look closely, you can see a young MaDalton dancing in the crowd.

I saw Katy Perry sing right here in Vegas.

But I still have my "street cred": She was singing on "Beast Of Burden" with The Rolling Stones at The MGM Garden Arena here in Vegas in 2013. :)

And her tits & ass looked awesome. lol :

BWAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! :1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

Cool pic, btw. It looks like a Basquiat. lol
Prague is fun. Had an internship there for a few months at an ad agency in Vinohrady right near the park. Good times.

Yeah, she's got a great rack.

Yeah, and she was looking pretty thick that night too with a big ass to go along with those big tits (which I like)

Sweet times in Prague! I spent a couple weeks there fucking the most beautiful girls in the world (and I hope you did the same).

That John Lennon Wall is cool because it keeps changing, artists keep adding to it. I've been there 3 times and it was always differant. But you know that having spent months in CZ (jealous!).

:thumbsup

You like bit tits????? I had no idea! :1orglaugh:1orglaugh

And a big ass to even it out. lol

That is soooo possible :helpme, and that just really creeps me out... and you know what... all the talk of "user-friendly", "one-stop shop" "one-click button solution" of this present day marketing environment leads upon this "road to p....."

So we should be looking also in our own backyard, so to speak, and start doing something against this disease called stupidity.

Communism was pretty much out, all over Europe, before '91.

I think there is a big renaissance of song craft in the "Americana" movement.

There is a great roster of so called indie "Jam Bands" that can be incredible, like Umphrey's McGee, which I think are more "new school prog rock" but I agree that the music is out there and live music that involves actual song writing and not just laying down beats but actually playing music with instruments and not just playing back tracks is alive and well.

Lol. :)

Was listening to Queen tonight...I'm sorry, but a guy like Freddie Mercury and the band Queen just aren't out there amongst all these new bands.
Nor is there another Hendrix, or Wilson sisters of Heart, or Beatles, or Rolling Stones, etc.

I know there are some pretty good indy bands (and hell...aren't all rock bands "indy" these days?), but show me a band with the talent to write and record "Bohemian Rhapsody" or have a guitarist as gifted as Hendrix or with the ability to lay down tracks like Jimmy Page did with Zep...or be able to do what The Beatles did.

There's a pretty big difference in the level of talent between the bands I'm referencing and the bands of today.

Of course talent like Hendrix, The Beatles, etc. may only come along once in a lifetime. But the current state of the music industry certainly isn't helping to foster it.

Again, total agreement. The problem is definitely generational. "Kids today" - including young musicians - want everything NOW. They aren't interested in "paying their dues". Besides, as we know in porn, who pays for anything? Heh.

But I AM shocked there hasn't been even a SINGLE artist on the level of the artists you mentioned in 25+ years. Shocking to me! Where are all the great singers and guitarists and drummers? I used to be lament being able to buy only 3-4 LPs with my allowance then and would have to put records on a list (a long list). Fuck man I am OLD! LOL

Music really really sucks now a days! what happened to musicians actually playing instruments? and learning how to sing in tune!

Maybe not your genre, but I'd argue that Metallica and Iron Maiden have been on that level. Both have been around since early 80's and have amassed HUGE fan followings. Sure, neither were as close to "mainstream" as The Beatles or Rolling Stones. Nevertheless, as far as metal bands go, there have been few other bands that worked their ways into the mainstream audience's hearts as well as these two have. ESPECIALLY Metallica.

COMPLETE agreement. But I consider Metallica, Iron Maiden, even bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana to be from that 'last wave' of great bands. Remember, "25+ years" is getting to the early nineties! LOL

But yeah both those bands are amazing. :)

Both Metallica and Iron Maiden are still going strong and both have undergone gradual changes to their sounds. Some people, like me, will always prefer early Metallica and Maiden. But their younger followings tend to be more skewed towards their more recent works.

As for waves of great bands, I think the problem lies primarily in distribution. Back when say MTV was still about music and not reality shows, the record companies were busting their asses to make killer music videos and get them played. They were bending over backwards to promote new bands and new sounds by getting them radio airplay. BUT those bands had very little indie competition. So if a band was signed, you could hear their music, if not, well...

Nowadays ANYONE can record a song and even a video and have it up on YouTube in a minute. But no one is promoting them, the way labels used to promote their artists pre-iTunes. At the same time the labels have become even more selective with that they choose to promote, since they can no longer rely on record sales alone to recoup their investments. Not only that, but they also kick in less funds for promotions.

My point is, nowadays you have a shotgun approach. Or rather said, a bunch of shit throwing itself (LOL) at the wall, to see if it sticks. Among that you have the occasional rifle bullet. Back in the day you had A LOT of high-accuracy sniper shots being taken. Most of them used to land too. Even if the artist sucked, at the end of profitability only came down to how much money you can throw at promotion, because there wasn't a whole lot of competition, compared to nowadays. Few really bummed, the worst issue used to be how good of a ROI they'd make, not if they'd turn a profit.

:2 cents:

sorry there is still incredible shit being made. most of you heave let your ears get old ; )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUjVpeHpkQ0

As I remember my grandpa loved Paul McCartney's songs...didn't know this guy is still alive :1orglaugh

Name ONE band with the talent level of a band like Queen. Just one.

My ears are old. Doesn't mean that they don't still work.
I know great musicianship, great songwriting, and great singing. What I hear these days is mostly crap with a few good bands. None of them "great" or anywhere approaching the talent level of the bands I mentioned.

Hell, just look at black music too.
Black musicians were always some of the best in the world. Theolonius Monk, Miles Davis...singers like Marvin Gay, etc.
Now young black people no longer are looking to hone those skills and become true musicians and singers.

Instead they strive to come up with beats, nursery rhyme sounding melodies, and then rap over the top of it.

It just seems to me that our entire culture both black and white has been dumbed down to the lowest common denominator.

Have you heard of Matt Bellemy from the band Muse? He is easily just as good as hendrix or page. I will take flack for that statement but its true.

Never heard him before. But just went to Youtube and watched a live video of the band featuring him doing a guitar solo.

From that vid...I would say he's not even in the same league as a real good rock guitarist like Steve Stevens...much less anywhere close to the skill, playing, soul, and creativity of Jimi Hendrix.

He's proficient enough...about the same as me and a thousand other guitarists playing the big clubs in the 1980's were. But honestly..I didn't see anything closely resembling the level of Hendrix or Page in the live video I just witnessed.

It looked like a common "paint by the numbers" guitar solo (basically musical masturbation) that a million guitarists have done.

I don't know man...I just don't see that kind of talent out there.

Every once in a while I hear someone that seems really good. But nobody earth-shaking like the giants that came before them.

That's what I'm saying is missing..musicians/artists that are out-of-this-world talented and have the "total package" of creativity, skills, charisma, and a message.

Don't get me wrong...I like "fluff" music too. I definitely find an appreciation for new music when I'm at a club watching girls twerking their ass on the dance floor.
I'm just saying that in the midst of the fluff and bubblegum shit...there aren't any musicians who will define this era as a great one for music, at least not yet.