For decades, singles were the main money-maker and albums were released afterward with not much expectation of success. Buddy Holly and the Beatles started releasing albums without filler material, and that became the standard mode for a while. Led Zep, Pink Floyd, the Stones, etc, could pull off an entire album of decent, coherent music, but I doubt any bands today can. The overall degree of talent is just completely different now, and I'm frankly shocked to hear even a single decent song anymore.
Truth be spoken, I'm not sure it matters anymore. Maybe I'm wrong. Does anybody know any albums that can compare with the greats of the past?
As went classical, so went pop music. It's just finished, and all the artistic people seem to have shifted to video games, which just keep getting better and better.
Led Zep, Pink Floyd, the Stones, etc, could pull off an entire album of decent, coherent music, but I doubt any bands today can. The overall degree of talent is just completely different now, and I'm frankly shocked to hear even a single decent song anymore.
Don't mistake the pathetic state of pop for the state of music overall. There is loads of great stuff, perhaps more than ever - the difference is that little of the good stuff gets on the radio because the traditional music industry is killing itself, and is now in its death-throws.
I predict (or at least hope) that the web and a resurgence of live music will bring about a new golden age of sound (for all - not just those who make the effort to dig up the good stuff).
Edit: I'm not being allow to reply to mynameishere's request, "Name some", presumably because I've made too many comments in a short space of time (though I can't imagine there will be many spammers with 400+ karma). Anyway, here's what I was hoping to post:
It depends what genres you like - music is now extremely diverse and fragmented, and I am generally interested in less mainstream stuff, so I don't know about many great artists working in the traditional pop/rock genres. So here is a random, eclectic selection of groups that use guitars and that spring to mind (though I am a little out of touch for the past couple of years): Mars Volta, Deerhoof, OOIOO, Lightning Bolt, Strapping Young Lad, Mogwai, Neurosis, Godspeed You Black Empreror, Tool...
There are a host of other interesting genres with amazing artists and a lot of creativity you wouldn't hear from if you didn't look, like IDM, Dubstep, Hip-Hop...
I will readily agree that there isn't much like Hendrix or Led Zep and similar - but I would argue the current pop industy climate effectively prohibits the emergence of those sort of rock-stars.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse, Queens of the Stone Age, The Bravery, Spoon, Rilo Kiley, The National, Interpol, Modest Mouse, Arcade Fire, Shiny Toy Guns, Foo Fighters...
The real problem is that ClearChannel has dominated FM and sapped all of the good content out, replacing it with the McNuggets and more advertising. Solution: get XM radio. Worth every cent.
Abbey Road - The Beatles
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin
Let It Bleed - The Rolling Stones
Live/Dead - Grateful Dead
At San Quentin - Johnny Cash
Ummagumma - Pink Floyd
The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground
Yellow Submarine - The Beatles
Yes - Yes (debut)
As time goes on, cherry-picking the list of amazing albums becomes easier, since you judge not just the music, but those albums' influence on all the acts of the next 30 years.
That said, 1969 surely was a watershed year for rock music, and there are few years that can compare.
Just because a band isn't the Beatles or the Stones doesn't mean that they're not any good. I used to think that modern music was horrendous, but I've recently discovered that it's just FM radio. Once you get past the Britney Spears and Timbaland Top 20, things start looking up.
>> As went classical, so went pop music. It's just finished, and all the artistic people seem to have shifted to video games, which just keep getting better and better.
Ever heard of a reality tunnel? Because I'm just not seeing this.
Led Zep, Pink Floyd, the Stones, etc, could pull off an entire album of decent, coherent music, but I doubt any bands today can. The overall degree of talent is just completely different now, and I'm frankly shocked to hear even a single decent song anymore.
Truth be spoken, I'm not sure it matters anymore. Maybe I'm wrong. Does anybody know any albums that can compare with the greats of the past?
As went classical, so went pop music. It's just finished, and all the artistic people seem to have shifted to video games, which just keep getting better and better.