OT Classic Rock

[esplanade91]

I'm 25 and listen to classic rock almost exclusively. Didn't have anything to do tonight so I started watching The Band's The Last Waltz. I was in a fraternity at State and by all accounts Led Zeppelin is still the coolest band of all time based on my peers' taste then. At what point does 60's and 70's rock's shelf life expire? Is that era so great it is still popular amongst my children?

 

[DudyDog]

I went to State from '75-'79. To me, and I know I'm biased, the 60's and 70's produced the best music of my lifetime. To me, nothing else compares.

 

[Palos verdes]

I would agree about the 60's and 70's, but I would also include early 80's. There isn't a single genre of music that defines the current generation. That's unfortunate because kids these days don't know that natural high from buying a new album from the record store, and having it blow away your expectations.

 

[JungRebel]

Built to Spill's new album say rock and roll will never die. To my ears they have the riffs to prove it. But proof is a matter of taste here, and the kids growing up on electronic music, good as it may be, might struggle to relate to the music that inspired it. Now, if they really want the essence of rock and roll, soul superstition included, they should be listening to Tool.

 

[Drewbowski]

I'm 28 and grew up listening to music mostly from the 70's. I agree about the death of music stores. Ease of access to music today is pretty cool though.

 

[J-Dawg]

I'm 27, but as far as I'm concerned, decent rock music died after 90s grunge movement. There is a ton of stuff I listen to regularly that spans the length of rock n roll up until the early 90s, then pretty much stops. The only exception being some bands with heavy influences from earlier eras like Govt Mule or Widespread Panic who, to me, identify much more with the Allman Bros, The Band, Grateful Dead and such.

I pretty much haven't been able to identify more than a couple songs/artists on Top 20 stations since being introduced to classic rock as a young teen by my father. 90% of what I listen to is 20+ years old.

 

[thf24]

What the 17 is "classical" rock?**

 

[The Peeper]

I'm in my 50's, 2 kids in their 20's. They listen to some of that crap from today but know the words to more from the 70's than today and they love The Beatles so throw in the 60's too.They agree w/ me that their kids will never even hear of the "artists" playing today but will know plenty of 70's music. I was only 8 when the 70's started but acquired the taste as I learned about music years later.

 

[Digging dog]

I can proudly say that I got to see a lot of "classic rock" concerts. Segar and Clapton to start.
Pretty sure when my kids get older, they will be listening to the same songs that we consider "classic rock" today.

 

[Seinfeld]

There isn't a single genre of music that defines the current generation.

Actually, there is. It's called "Crap"

Ok, ok... I half kid. There's some catchy stuff out there today every now and then, but the difference to me between the era of music that you guys are talking about and today's stuff is staying power. From Hendrix, Zeppelin, and Joplin to Van Halen, Aerosmith, and GnR. Those songs will be playing til the end of time. Now, of all the new music that's out today, what are we still going to be hearing 20 years from now? My guess is essentially none of it because while it may get you ready for a night out, there's no depth or staying power

Anyway, my particular sweet spot in music runs from the early 70s through about '92, but you guys are right in that it all started in 60s and it's some of the best music ever made.

 

[tired]

I listen to the good old stuff too. Is there any good rock out there today? If so, who are they?

 

[johnson86-1]

Actually, there is. It's called "Crap"

Ok, ok... I half kid. There's some catchy stuff out there today every now and then, but the difference to me between the era of music that you guys are talking about and today's stuff is staying power. From Hendrix, Zeppelin, and Joplin to Van Halen, Aerosmith, and GnR. Those songs will be playing til the end of time. Now, of all the new music that's out today, what are we still going to be hearing 20 years from now? My guess is essentially none of it because while it may get you ready for a night out, there's no depth or staying power

Anyway, my particular sweet spot in music runs from the early 70s through about '92, but you guys are right in that it all started in 60s and it's some of the best music ever made.

There will be stuff from today that people are listening to 20 years from now, it's just not the chart toppers. Saw an article looking at just this topic, and it pointed out that a lot of the top songs from the 60's and 70's were just as much crap as the stuff today. A lot of the stuff we think is so great today, while popular, was still sort of second tier as far as popularity (Beatles being an obvious exception and there were others, but can't remember which).

The author's guess was that because the internet and pop culture has made it more of a winner take most market, but also allowed niche markets to thrive, the stuff that has staying power from today will be relatively obscure compared to the stuff with staying power from teh 60's and 70's.

 

[fishwater99]

I listen to the good old stuff too. Is there any good rock out there today? If so, who are they?

Foo Fighters and Blackberry Smoke.

I saw The Who last weekend and they still brought the heat...

 

[JungRebel]

Active now:

Spoon
Built to Spill
Modest Mouse
Tool
The Strokes
Guided by Voices
My Morning Jacket
Franz Ferdinand
My Bloody Valentine
Spiritualized
Jack White
Wilco
Arctic Monkeys
Widespread Panic
Drive By Truckers
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
Phish
Interpol
Colour Revolt
Cursive
Tame Impala

"Recent" but no longer active:

Pavement
Slint
Nirvana
Libertines

There are bands that use elements of rock and roll but aren't rock bands:

Hot Chip
Ariel Pink
Arcade Fire
Neutral Milk Hotel
Radiohead
TV on the Radio


"Classics" who still make good music:

David Bowie
David Byrne

---

Weezer is still active but only their first two albums are worth the listen.

 

[Drewbowski]

+1 for Pavement

 

[Rockydawg]

Wolf People. DO IT.

 

[Junction John]

Jeez, dude, we should be friends. Good list.

I would add Kings of Leon, but like Weezer - first three albums or so were the ****. They've become too over-commercialized for me.

Like Jack White, the Black Keys do work with only a guitar and drums.

Since you mentioned Arctic Monkeys, I would add some other Brits: Blur (again, first couple of albums. especially Leisure), the Konks, Kaiser Chiefs, Fratellis

In America: American Hi-Fi is/was awesome. Cold War Kids have put out some good stuff. I love Rise Against. And Say Anything is one of my favorites, even if Max Bemis is bat **** crazy.

 

[DancingRabbit]

I would add The Black Keys, maybe my favorite current rock band

Was born in the 50s and grew up with rock and roll. My favorite band of all time is the Allman Bros.

Also not on your list, I like some of the stuff from Ryan Adams, Old 97s, 3 Doors Down, Coldplay, Kings of Leon.

 

[rem101]

The Last Waltz will never expire. If there wasn't a good late night after the bar, Last Waltz went on at the corner of Maxwell and Lumus.

 

[jakldawg]

No love for The Hold Steady?
Just a good old-fashioned bar band.
There are some people who can't get past the lead singer's "singing" style.

You good people might like Cage the Elephant, too but they're not as "old school" sounding as some of the other listed bands.

This study seems appropriate: People stop listening to new music at age 33.
Basically, you discover all sorts of new music from 14 to 25, then slow down from 25 to around 33, where it plateaus.
Then you're too busy telling kids to get off your lawn and take that dubstep with them.

 

[bsquared24]

this may be my favorite thread since Howland coming to town, I love some of these suggestions for "modern rock" but I have to throw Cake in there.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Jack White is as close to the good stuff as you're going to get. He was definitely born in the wrong decade. Wolfmother is another good one to listen to.

 

[Digging dog]

Guess I'm getting older and slower. Sturgil Simpson & Jamie Johnson are my two go-to's these days.

 

[RedDawg_98]

If your children like good music then they will listen to 60's and 70's. That music's shelf life will never expire.

The last Waltz has to be one of the best concerts ever. The Band in itself is great but add in Ronnie Hawkins, Dr. John, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison... Not to mention Scorsese directed the movie.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Them Crooked Vultures and Queens of the Stone Age

.

 

[JungRebel]

Wasn't a huge fan of QotSA until their last album. One of the best of 2013.

 

[PBRME]

It's not just rock. It's the entire music industry. I listen to most genres and 99% of it is 70-90's.

 

[Hankp22]

There is a ton of great music out there right now

It is an awesome time to be a fan of music.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I liked Era Vulgaris.

 

[fishwater99]

Check these guys out

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2015/04/blackberry_smoke_chases_their.php

 

[Dawgzilla]

+1 for Black Keys and Cage the Elephant, and add Vampire Weekend...

One could argue the last two are not "rock" bands, but then we get back into the schtick in the 90s where everyone tried to cubbyhole every band into a unique genre. ("They're set of a Hep Cat, jump Blues band with a big band jazz influence...")

I concur with another post in this thread: there's lots of great music out there right now, they just aren't the chart toppers. I listen almost exclusively to "alternative" channels, but I've been listening to alternative music since I was in High School. I don't know why Jack White, the Black Keys, and even The Red Hot Chili Peppers are considered "alternative", but that's where you find them.

 

[esplanade91]

Jack White is as close to the good stuff as you're going to get. He was definitely born in the wrong decade. Wolfmother is another good one to listen to.

Disagree. Not a big Jack White fan. I don't think he could hold Jim James' jock.

My Morning Jacket is an "all time" band for me.

 

[SanfordRJones]

music died after 90s grunge movement.

I pretty much haven't been able to identify more than a couple songs/artists on Top 20 stations.

The quality and quantity of music has never been better than it is today, but you aren't going to find anything good on the radio.

 

[SanfordRJones]

Slint is awesome. They were major influences on a lot of stuff I listen to.

I wouldn't exactly call them or Nirvana recent, though. They haven't released anything new in over 20 years.

 

[DawgsOnTheWing]

The 70s encompass all my teenage years. They were all spent listening to WZZQ. Can't begin to tell you how great it was to have a station pumping out all that now classic music 24/7. To answer the OPs question, not sure what the shelf life is, but it's crazy that some of the stuff is 40+ years old and still gets significant airtime, use in movies, etc.

 

[JungRebel]

Recent was in quotes for that reason, I agree. Spiderland is incredible from start to finish. Storytelling prog excellence.

I got to see them last year and I was blown away. Breadcrumb Trail is a time signature roller coaster. Main riff is in 7/4, but it breaks into a waltz and there is a bridge that goes 4/4, 4/4, 7/4, 7/4, 7/4, 5/4—a composition perfect for the song's content. And they played it note for note.

 

[rem101]

Yep. Rap from 90's to early 2000's is much better than today as a whole. Country is definitely worse than it was. I listen to about 3-4 country singers now. I do like looking at Carrie Underwood though.