Friday, November 9, 2012

And the Band of the last decade is??

Maybe this post is a little pre-mature because time is the ultimate test for any band.  However, I can not stop wondering what band will be the defining band of the 2000 era?  Who are the bands that a new, young ear seeks out to develop their musical pallet? 


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In the 60's there was the birth of The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, CCR, The Grateful Dead, Hendrix and The Doors.


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In the 70s we were introduced to was Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Bob Dylan,
The Ramones and Queen.


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The 80's gave us Michael Jackson, Guns N' Roses, Motley Crue, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and a splash of Hip-Hop.


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And then there was the 90s....don't get me started (Well, if you were curious: Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Green Day, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, 2pac, Biggie, Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, Pantera, Nine Inch Nails, Incubus and Tool). 

These are the bands that we grew up with and they were from a time before me (except the 90s).  And the current generation of music listeners will still hear them as they all have stood the test of time.  They have defined their decade of music and, no matter what the current trend is in the industry, the majority of music lovers will experience what they have created.

So the question is, who are those bands from the 2000 decade?  What band will still be listened to by new music lovers 10 years from now?  Which ones will it be that will still sell out stadiums 15 years after their prime?

The reason I pose the question is because it don't think there is an easy answer.  I have no idea which group, if any, will step up to fill that role.  So far I think here are the candidates:
  • Kings of Leon
  • Coldplay
  • The Strokes
  • Nickelback
  • Arcade Fire
Scary right.  Am I missing something?  There must be a band that is willing to take the reigns for this decade as a representative to future generations of what quality music is.  Or maybe no one will.  Just maybe rock is being pushed out and the attention is going elsewhere not giving rock bands a fighting chance.  It might be Country Star like Kenny Chesney, Hip-Hop successes like Kanye West or pop sensations like The Black Eye Peas that have to carry the torch.

Nothing against them but I hope not.  I want to be able hear the kids of my family and friends get excited about the new _____ album from a group that stared when I was 22 years old.  Maybe I wont be such a drag that they will let me go with them?  I doubt it.  However, unless someone takes control for the rock fans of the 2000s that is a reality that may never be.

9 comments:

  1. Perhaps the switch from cds to ipods was too much and killed creativity as we know it..

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    1. That is a good point man. That shift in the industry probably causes bands to focus on putting out a few goods songs to sell on itunes than trying to put together a complete album.

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  2. Also you have to define the perspective you're coming from. Commercially successful yet still worthwhile rock is just about dead, as your post said. But more underground rock and metal had a fine decade in the 2000s. How about QOTSA? or Clutch? Here's their 2000s output:

    Pure Rock Fury
    Blast Tyrant
    Robot Hive
    Beale Street
    Strange Cousins

    Plus 2 killer live records.

    Also, Mastodon has put out great stuff throughout the 2000s, and I'm predicting they are just about to take off (stadiums in 2 years, book it), but I guess that doesn't quite apply.

    System was probably gone for too long, but hard to argue with Toxicity and Mesmerize/Hypnotize, plus they were headlining stadiums by the end (and still are now).

    Some others that aren't necessarily my favorite but are probably in the discussion: White Stripes, MMJ, Foo Fighters

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    1. White Stripes, Black Keys and Mastodon def should have been on that list. I think the other bands, even though found a lot of success in the 2000s were 90s bands (at least going off of the first album they released).

      Hopefully no matter which way you classify those late 90 early 2000 groups they will be able to carry the rest until there is a resurgence of worthwhile rock.

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  3. I agree with Frank that there's still a lot of quality music that came out in that decade - only to your point Neil, none of it seems to have the broad commercial appeal (the stadium sell out/superbowl half time/etc) that the other decades had.

    Anthony had a great point about ipods. Also even going back to what you said in a prior post - maybe rock is just branching off a lot into sub genres, so specific, that their audience is smaller.

    The only band I would add to the conversation is My Morning Jacket. Otherwise, I agree that its small list.

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    1. oops, Frank already said MMJ. so yes, I agree with Frank.

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  4. Em, I think thats the first time you called me Anthony....like ever

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  5. Yes, I'm just now reading your Nov 9 post. So sue me.

    Not that I'm a big fan of music from the 2000s, but there is also...
    Skillet
    Modest Mouse
    Linkin Park
    Gorillaz
    The Strokes
    The Killers

    (crickets) You're right, nothing we'll be singing in 10 or 20 years. That was the Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Michael Buble decade. Bury it.

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