Comments on: WSJ and Music

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:11:20 +0000

I’m a #1 Muffs fan too and it’s weird how a band can be so consistently great and not really make the big time – they do have a tune in the Rock Band game so maybe the youngsters will get wind of their excellent songwriting, 6 great albums, amazing live shows and interesting history playing with the Pandoras, Redd Kross, White Flag, Beards, NOFX, etc.

Tom Petty is simply grandfathered in because he was famous before the decline of rock on the radio/charts.

Few new rock bands have been invited into the club in the post-grunge era…White Stripes, Jet, Strokes, (who are probably only famous because of their publicity stunt), Kings of Leon, etc. but the quality of the rock music on the charts is inconsistent and arbitrary. There are amazing bands everywhere today, just not many on the billboard charts or radio.

By: Lexington Green

Lexington Green — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:55:05 +0000

I saw a 13 year old kid in an Aerosmith t-shirt last night. That kid was born in 1994. Aerosmith were on the radio when I was 14 years old working at my after school job in in 1977. There is a subculture of long-haired adolescents who have been listening to the same old crap for 35 years, with new stoner losers joining the ranks as others grow up? It is pretty weird.

Hell, even Black Flag / Henry Rollins = 30 year old music.

We are as far from the beginning of hardcore (1979-2009 = 30 years), as Minor Threat was from Patti Page and Bing Crosby (1949-1979 = 30 years).

The story of American popular music is one of a youth and creativity explosion that started in the mid-50s, was stopped by the music business circa 1959-1963, that exploded again in bottom-up fashion 1964-1968 or so, with two secondary explosions circa 1975-79 (punk and disco) and finally the small scale rattling of hardcore which never touched the big time in terms of sales or influence. The bad guys won and music has been increasingly programmed and commoditized since circa 1980. Innovation and excitement happen at the small scale and local level. Bands lose money, and cannot keep it up forever. You have to find them during the few years that they are driven by youthful energy and the excitement of playing and being creative. After a few years they realize they are going to starve if they keep it up and they stop. Word of mouth, via the Internet, is the best way to find out about below the radar developments during their brief existence. The major media sources for music treat musicians and their product like the launch of a new line of automobiles — my daughters are into the Disney singers, who are totally packaged. There is a lot of money at stake, and they do not leave anything to chance.

Both charts show the same picture: Stasis.

By: Dan from Madison

Dan from Madison — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:07:38 +0000

No Henry Rollins/Black Flag in any form anywhere either – fail. But then again, how do you put something like this together to satisfy everyone. Your matrix certainly has more impact today than the “dinosaur” matrix of the wsj. I mean Tom Waits? Bob Seger? Really?

I am always amazed when I hear “classic rock” on the radio, that there is actually a business model for that music anymore. I just have no clue why Freebird, Old Time Rock and Roll and Brown Eyed Girl can be played over the air – and make a radio station money.

By: Valjean

Valjean — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:44:04 +0000

“It’s only rock and roll. Disposable crap that won’t mean a thing in ten years.”

– Tom Petty, as interviewed in Rolling Stone, Feb. 21, 1980.

By: Carl from Chicago

Carl from Chicago — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:47:40 +0000

From the WSJ side I think they were looking at “acts” that were still touring. From my side I also wanted acts that were still touring so Husker Du is out. The Pixies obviously tour (we saw them, was great) but didn’t put out an album, but now it looks like they are actually writing a new one for 2010 which means maybe I should have included them.

By: Dan from Madison

Dan from Madison — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:45:51 +0000

On the WSJ – No Husker Du? No Pixies? No dice.

By: Carl from Chicago

Carl from Chicago — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:34:45 +0000

30-40 years ago these guys were probably the bomb. We just need to focus some on the past and some on the future. I saw the Police at Wrigley Field on their comeback tour and had a great time.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:33:48 +0000

I saw some of these artists 30-40 years ago. A lot has happened since then. Neil Diamond wasn’t one of them.

By: Carl from Chicago

Carl from Chicago — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:23:06 +0000

I actually did think about them crooked vultures but I haven’t seen them play yet. Figured since I had QOTSA and Foo Fighters up there I was 2/3 done

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:50:05 +0000

Elton John. Warren Buffet. Notice how you never see them together? Nah, it couldn’t be. And yet…

By: Lexington Green

Lexington Green — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:46:47 +0000

This page has a bunch of good Muffs songs. Hard to pick one, but maybe start with "End it All Now" -- OK, two: and "Honeymoon".

By: Lexington Green

Lexington Green — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:33:30 +0000

If you don’t know the Muffs yet, you are in for some good stuff.

You are a lucky guy.

(As it happens, “Lucky Guy” is a great Muffs song.)

By: Peter

Peter — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:47:31 +0000

there is a perfectly-positioned blank spot where you can put Them Crooked Vultures.

By: Nicholas

Nicholas — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:07:06 +0000

Your grid is definitely much better than theirs. I would have put different bands in some cases but hey everyone’s tastes are different.

By: tdaxp

tdaxp — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:21:27 +0000

Carl, excellent post

By: Carl from Chicago

Carl from Chicago — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:27:22 +0000

Haven’t heard of the Muffs. I looked on wikipedia and I saw they were associated with Redd Kross. Those guys made a mash up of the white stripes album adding bass, which is funny.
Do you like my little grid with the pasted heads? That took a while. I am not very good at arts and crafts projects anymore.

By: Lexington Green

Lexington Green — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:51:45 +0000

The Muffs are making a new record. I don’t know where they are on the grid, but they are in my all time top ten — and they are the only band that still exists that is in my all-time top ten.