Somehow, somewhere, musicians have just lost their touch.
It has gotten to the point where I can listen to a selection of so-called “popular” modern bands and hear virtually no difference between one group from another. The only difference is whether you want to listen to the the nasally, whiney singers or the throaty baritone voices.
What happened to that individualism of 1960s rock ‘n’ roll?
The blues precursor and chaotic time period gave rise to a generation of musicians with their own voice and message to be heard. No one wanted to be the same as any other.
Now, some bands are so eerily similar, one begins to suspect a degree of creative infringement. It is my theory that the recording industry has latched on to a sound that sells records and dozens of lemmings holding microphones, guitars, basses, and drums ran off the musical cliff searching for a buck.
The lyrics are simple and meaningless, mass produced and homogenized. The instrumentals are reduced to background noise while the listener is held hostage by empty words.
Let’s go back to the days of the Beatles, when lyrics actually meant something, back to the days of the Doors, when musicianship was uncompromising, back to the days of the Rolling Stones, when a spectacular show was guaranteed.
Let’s go back to the days of Led Zeppelin, when music did more than just entertain, but actually moved people.
I could go on and on, but that would be frivolous. The days of true rock ‘n’ roll have long since passed, and it would be unfair and self-contradictory to expect more of the same.
Musicians, however, can learn from these groups, as well as others, without completely imitating each others’ sound.
Music should be performed for the sake of music, not the promise of getting rich. That rationale leads to the archetype of identical songs, marketed with different titles, throughout the discography.
Some performers, however, continue to push the envelope with the same inspiring individuality and artistry that music should be.
Muse creates their sound, in part with the driving guitar underneath Matthew Bellamy’s haunting vocals, similar to the sound of another older favorite, Nirvana, except without the depressed edge of Kurt Cobain.
Similarly, the White Stripes and the Arctic Monkeys deserve recognition as well for making the world of alternative music a fascinating genre to explore.
Leaning more towards folk rock, Jason Mraz truly exemplifies moving songwriting and musicianship, especially with his new single, “I’m Yours.” Essentially a one man act, Mraz plays guitar and sings at the same time, a feat not easily accomplished. Just ask Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix.
Music is all about performance and self-expression, so the better genre is entirely subjective, even though people will try to tell you otherwise.
This pluralism should be embraced for the sake of art and creativity, and to avoid having to listen to all those groups that sound the same.
Go find your own unique lyric, riff or beat that moves you.
