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For every one of those decades I could name several rock bands who were commercially successful and whose music also represented a major, youth-oriented cultura

For every one of those decades I could name several rock bands who were commercially successful and whose music also represented a major, youth-oriented cultural movement which challenged the status quo. I am hard pressed to name a single band like that which started recording in the 21st century. Interpret it as you will but I think he has a point that the stuff that gets into the top 40, certainly within the rock genre, is not as politically or culturally relevant as it used to be. If that kind of music is still out there, people aren't buying it anymore.

agumonkey 11y ago
It also has to do with cultural and social boundaries. Every time a new "genre" came (no odd new music genre came since long ago AFAIK) it was felt. Every time a new medium (from radio to LP, Video Clips, CD) came it was felt. The odd part is that the web didn't recreate that. I feel this generation is diluted by too large market, too much technology, not enough structural pressure (limited places and market means competition, not always bad even with the drawbacks) and maybe the shadow of the past media hysteria around multimillion albums artists.
k-mcgrady 11y ago
>> "For every one of those decades I could name several rock bands who were commercially successful and whose music also represented a major, youth-oriented cultural movement which challenged the status quo." Take a look at some of the big EDM acts. It may not be your thing (and it's not really mine) but it's undeniable that acts like Swedish House Mafia and Avicii changed youth culture. If you take a listen to popular music from the 2000's it was all indie rock and then there was this dramatic shift late in the decade.
- eropple 11y ago
  Yup. And in terms of politics, there are a pretty decent selection of young rap and hip-hop artists (similarly--with rare exceptions, not my thing either) who are speaking to the concerns of an unheard segment of the population in the United States. Limiting this to "rock" cuts out a lot of people, both in the U.S. and out.
  - ssharp 11y ago
    "Rock" has essentially transformed to any music that sits in popular culture, and particularly youth-oriented culture. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame thankfully recognized this and have now inducted several artists who wouldn't fit into the traditional definition of "rock".
Someone 11y ago
But rock is the status quo; with anything rock-like, you run the risk that your parents will like it. That makes it hard for rock to challenge the status quo. When I hear "major, youth-oriented cultural movement which challenged the status quo" I think about house, hip hop, and rap.
- wyclif 11y ago
  The problem there is that young parents now like rap, too. People that were kids when It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back or Run-DMC's first album have families now. So nothing's safe.

agumonkey 11y ago

It also has to do with cultural and social boundaries. Every time a new "genre" came (no odd new music genre came since long ago AFAIK) it was felt. Every time a new medium (from radio to LP, Video Clips, CD) came it was felt. The odd part is that the web didn't recreate that. I feel this generation is diluted by too large market, too much technology, not enough structural pressure (limited places and market means competition, not always bad even with the drawbacks) and maybe the shadow of the past media hysteria around multimillion albums artists.

k-mcgrady 11y ago

>> "For every one of those decades I could name several rock bands who were commercially successful and whose music also represented a major, youth-oriented cultural movement which challenged the status quo." Take a look at some of the big EDM acts. It may not be your thing (and it's not really mine) but it's undeniable that acts like Swedish House Mafia and Avicii changed youth culture. If you take a listen to popular music from the 2000's it was all indie rock and then there was this dramatic shift late in the decade.

eropple 11y ago
Yup. And in terms of politics, there are a pretty decent selection of young rap and hip-hop artists (similarly--with rare exceptions, not my thing either) who are speaking to the concerns of an unheard segment of the population in the United States. Limiting this to "rock" cuts out a lot of people, both in the U.S. and out.
- ssharp 11y ago
  "Rock" has essentially transformed to any music that sits in popular culture, and particularly youth-oriented culture. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame thankfully recognized this and have now inducted several artists who wouldn't fit into the traditional definition of "rock".

Someone 11y ago

But rock is the status quo; with anything rock-like, you run the risk that your parents will like it. That makes it hard for rock to challenge the status quo. When I hear "major, youth-oriented cultural movement which challenged the status quo" I think about house, hip hop, and rap.

wyclif 11y ago
The problem there is that young parents now like rap, too. People that were kids when It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back or Run-DMC's first album have families now. So nothing's safe.