Why is good music so
hard to find?
Michael Petitti
The dilemma
So, this question I ask “Why is good music hard to find?”
Is it a
”great question?” Probably not, but it’s important to me, so I’ve decided to
use my website to answering it. Over the past few years music that is easily
classified as “sugary-pop” has been invading the airwaves and TV. Is there any
problem with such music? Of course not, everyone’s entitled their own opinion
and because of this I’ve been afforded the opportunity to create a web page
containing mine, and perhaps, just maybe, some people who have been in a “funk”
due to the banality of current music can find an “escape” through some of the
music I’m going to be focusing on.
My situation
Since my Junior year in high school (I’m currently a Freshman in college) I have been listening to music that one could classify as “indie rock” (short for independent rock), but if you don’t like that label “non-mainstream music” could work just as easily. I found that I liked rock, still do, but that the rock I was hearing was not to my liking like the rock of the past that I grew up on and loved, such as Pearl Jam and Nirvana. I also found that the current music sweeping the nation “teeny-bopper” music, if you will, was definitely not I enjoyed, so for a period I just started listening to my fathers old records. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Who, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, the Kinks and numerous other classic rock staples of the past became my “new” favorite music, but there was something about it that didn’t quite fit. That of course being that it was years, in fact decades, old. I wanted some music like this, only that was new, that was fresh, that was for my generation, yet the radio and Mtv was not providing such music. The new rock I was hearing on the radio was just clones of my favorite rock bands (ex. Creed=Pearl Jam), only not as fresh or talented, so I could not turn there for any help. Feeling like I was destined to just wait year to year for the next Pearl Jam or Weezer release to save me from the dullness of current rock music I stumbled across a band called “Modest Mouse.” I first heard them on this compilation CD that came inside this magazine I purchased. Listening to this song, a 9 minute epic, called “The Stars Are Projectors” I was rather stunned, to say the least. I found that this music not only was fresh, but it harkened back to certain elements of classic rock. It was music that made me think, but it also had a very enjoyable quality to it, as well. It was perfect for driving, reading, writing, or just plain enjoyable listening. I did some investigating on www.amazon.com and found out about them and their music and shortly after I purchased their “The Lonesome Crowded West” an album released in 1996 that was considered their masterpiece that is until “The Moon and Antarctica” was released in 2000. I thought, “Well if I don’t like this album all is lost” and believe or not I hated it. I was ready to go return it for a discount that very day, but held off on it because I remembered how long it took me to enjoy “Ok Computer” by Radiohead and that ranks in the top 5 albums of the 90’s by me and most any other music aficionado/critic you talk to. So, I listened to it again and again and again until one day it clicked, well I’ve since gone on to purchase all their albums, though I recommend their major label debut, from Epic Records, “The Moon and Antarctica” for anyone who thinks they might be interested in their music. After that things just became easier and easier, I found out about bands by the dozens every week through a newfound website dedicated to “indie rock” called www.pitchforkmedia.com and eventually I was discovering all these bands that would go on to change my musical life forever. So, do I still listen to the radio or watch Mtv? Yes, of course I do, I am still liable to find a good pop song that is as far from “indie rock” and I’m not ashamed to admit it. It’s just that N*SYNC and Brittany Spears don’t really seem original to me, but there are bands that make what I would call pop music out there that I like, Weezer being one and there are other genres I like; including hip-hop and hard rock. It’s just that indie rock is the most important type of music in my life, currently, but my favorite band is still Pearl Jam (and they are quite far from “indie”) and I still love classic rock (there have never been better lyricists/musicians since Dylan and the Beatles in my mind). A quick side note is that “indie rock” or even just “rock”, which until recently seemed to be diminishing in favor of these various genres/hybrids of rock, are making a major reemergence into the mainstream. Bands like Modest Mouse, Built to Spill and …and you will know us by the trail of dead are all now releasing albums, and generally their best works at that, under major labels. Plus bands like The Strokes, The White Stripes and The Hives are garnering huge success making music that is just plain, simple, stripped down rock music. I’ll conclude my website with some information on these bands and websites where you can find more, though www.pitchforkmedia.com seems to be the premiere website for all things “indie” that I’ve found.
The Bands
Modest Mouse:
Formed in 1994 in Seattle Washington.
Members:
Isaac Brock (Vocals, Guitar)
Eric Judy (Bass)
Jeremiah Green (Drums)
Facts:
One of the premiere bands in “indie rock”, known for their hyperactive sound and extended jams on previous works and as “The Moon and Antarctica” known for changing up the format of “indie rock” to include banjo, sleighbells and introverted drum beats.
Highlights:
“The Lonesome Crowded West” (1996)
“The Moon and Antarctica” (2000)
Side Projects:
Ugly Casanova-Sharpen Your Teeth due out May 21st on Subpop Records (Mr. Brock’s solo project with varied help).
…and you will know us by the trail of dead:
Formed in 1993 in Austin, Texas.
Members:
Conrad Keely (Guitar, Drums, Strings, Vocals)
Jason Reece (Drums, Guitar, Vocals)
Neil Busch (Bass, Vocals)
Kevin Allen (Guitar)
Facts:
Known for their live performances in which they take their post-punk sound and turn it into literal carnage (often threatening the health of the band members and their instruments). “Source Tags & Codes” marks their major label debut and with any luck “rock” music will never be the same.
Highlights:
“Madonna” (1998)
“Source Tags & Codes” (2002)
The Strokes:
Formed in 1998 in New York City, New York.
Members:
Julian Casablancas (Vocals)
Albert Hammond Jr. (Guitar)
Nick Valensi (Guitar)
Fabrizio Moretti (Drums)
Nikolai Fraiture (Bass)
Facts:
2001’s “breakthrough” band, they brought stripped down, bare bones, rock back into the mainstream and instantly became critical darlings/targets. Their debut album “Is This It” was fueled by the first single “Last Nite” and has since reached Gold record status in the U.S., chances are you or someone you know owns this one.
Highlights:
“Is This It” (2001)
Eels:
Formed in 1992 in Los Angeles, California.
Members:
E (Guitar, Vocals, Piano, Horns and Master Manipulator)
Butch (Drums)
Facts:
One of the bands passed off as an alternative rock rip-off with their first album “Beautiful Freak” went on to record two albums about death, “Electro-Shock Blues”(after head man Mark Everett, “E”, became the only surviving member of his family within a year), and about life “Daisies of the Galaxies”, but neither album would prepare fans for “Souljacker” a non-themed album that proves these guys can rock when they want to, even if the lyrics are still biting and hilarious ditties about Dog-Faced Boy’s and Friendly Ghosts.
Highlights:
Electro-Shock Blues (1998)
Souljacker (2002)
The White Stripes:
Formed in 1998 in Detroit, Michigan.
Members:
Jack White (Vocals, Guitar)
Meg White (Drums)
Facts:
This duo, that tells the press they are brother and sister (even though they are an ex-married couple), has along with The Strokes been resurrecting simple rock back into the mainstream. Their latest album, they’ve had three unlike The Strokes, “White Blood Cells” is a collection of 16 tracks that reads like a cliff notes guide to rock music; including sections on Blues, Americana, and Punk.
Highlights:
De Stijl (2000)
White Blood Cells (2001)
The Hives:
Formed in 1995 in Fagersta, Sweden.
Members:
Howlin’ Pete Almqvist (Vocals)
Chris Dangerous (Drums)
Nicholaus Arson (Guitar)
Vigilante Carlstroem (Guitar)
Dr. Matt Destruction (Bass)
Facts:
Formed in the mid-nineties in Sweden as a group of teens these 5 Swedes, along with hidden sixth member Randy Fitzsimmons (who apparently pens all their songs), have helped in bringing back garage rock at its finest. Short, sharp and direct are all the songs off their latest album “Veni Vidi Vicious.”
Highlights:
Barely Legal (1997)
Veni Vidi Vicious (2002)
The Anniversary:
Formed in 1997 in Lawrence, Kansas.
Members:
Josh Berwanger (Vocals, Guitar)
Justin Roelofs (Vocals, Guitar)
Adrianne Pope (Vocals, Keyboards)
James David (Bass)
Chrisitan Jankowski (Drums)
Facts:
This band had emerged from the shipwreck that is “emo” music with a fresh album “Designing a Nervous Breakdown”, an album filled with melody, catchy hooks and moog synthesizer. When they released “Your Majesty” they took on a completely new form, mixing their previous abilities with the ability to craft a great 60’s/70’s rock song in modern times.
Highlights:
Designing a Nervous Breakdown (2000)
Your Majesty (2002)
Grandaddy:
Formed in 1992 in Modesto, California.
Jason Lytle (Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards)
Kevin Garcia (Bass)
Aaron Burtch (Drums)
Jim Fairchild (Guitar)
Tim Dryden (Keyboard)
Facts:
This band has created consistently funny and amazing music throughout their careers. Never so much as hinting at a wink when they sing serious ballads about robot boys who drink too much alcohol and short out, these guys are truly music for the next century.
Highlights:
Under the Western Freeway (1996)
The Sophtware Slump (2000)
Radiohead:
Formed in 1992 in Oxford, England.
Members:
Tom Yorke (Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards)
Jonny Greenwood (Guitar, Keyboards)
Colin Greenwood (Bass)
Phil Selway (Drums)
Ed O’Brien (Guitar)
Facts:
Old faithful, this band (which is fairly far from indie rock) has released three of the best albums of all time, in many critics opinions (I’d agree). They create music that’s bold, it’s rock, yet it’s vulnerable too and that’s it’s strength. Their music is hard to describe and even harder to force on the uninitiated, but once you become a fan it’s well worth it.
Highlights:
Ok Computer (1994)
Kid A (2000)
The conclusion
The conclusion is simple: you decide what music you like. Honestly, like most of the other questions we’ve tackled in our class this year this one is highly opinionated and since I’ve been given a chance to voice mine I have, but again it’s my opinion which doesn’t make it the right one. Hopefully, for some of you (if there were any) that were lost for the answer to their music troubles you can start off with some of these bands and see where that gets you. I can pretty much guarantee that at least one of the bands here that I’ve talked about you will like, so try it out and see what happens. And have a great summer everyone.