Transformation of music
 

As I've been scouring various websites such as youtube, pandora, and grooveshark, I have been noticing that the music being produced more recently is what I like to refer to as music, and not the garbage that has been clouding the radio stations for the past 15 years. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy flippin to an oldies station now and then, but i yearn for new music. And what I am seeing is that the music being produced is once agin taking musical talent and less autotune and tech work. I am glad that this is the case and hopefully music is heading in a solid direction, with less mass produced tunes, and more quality, talent-oriented songs. Just my :2

Has anyone else noticed this trent?

Some of my recent finds have been:
mumford and sons
The Decemberists
Juzzie Smith (youtube sensation with true talent)

Just thought I would share :=:

Re: Transformation of music
 

They have been out there in the last 15 years, but have to look at early stuff of John Mayer, Nora Jones, Ben Harper, Amos Lee ("Arms of a Woman" - gets two thumbs up for me!), Jack Johnson. A lot of good singing talent was in the gospel genre (particularly like Selah and Jaci Velasquez). Mainstream stuff did suck, IMO. The ones listed above were mainly billed as folk singers, though several went mainstream. New groups have a tough time, because there's not (yet) a good source for them to get their music to the masses via radio waves. YouTube might very well be the break-out source of the future, IMO.

I'm mainly an old rock and roller from the 60's, 70's and very early 80's, but find many new(er) groups/artists I can enjoy. For a good mix of sounds, try Cadillac Sky. Kinda a country/folk/southern rock group (my definition). I also like Zack Brown Band. I've about lost touch with Country music, since it seems every act tries to be exactly like some other group. Guys all sound like George strait or Kenny Chesney, Woman all have to be glamor queens for the videos, and sing cookie-cutter songs and sound like Faith Hill. May be unique acts out there, but I doubt you will find them on the radio waves!

I'll give a listen to those you have listed. Maybe I can add to my list of newer acts that are worth the time to listen!!

Re: Transformation of music
 

good music has always been out there, if you haven't found it, you must have been looking at the wrong places. There are plenty of bands, like two of my favorits Foo Fighters and Skunk Anansie, that made wonderful music the last 15 years.

Re: Transformation of music
 

I agree that it has been there, such as David Grohl and the Foo Fighters, who is an amazing musician, but as a whole, I think music, and I am more or less referring to tunes I hear in everday culture, such as radio. I guess I might also be referring to society as a whole too...those who are not aware of the differences between talent; i.e. Foo Fighters vs. Nickelback. And I believe that as a whole, maybe those people are starting to enjoy music that is more talent oriented.

I will definitely check out Skunk Anansie, as I do like new things I haven't heard...thanks for the suggestion!! :tu

Re: Transformation of music
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCHeJshN82U check this and tell me Skin (the singer of Skunk Anansie) isn't talented. Also check Amy Winehouse, ****ed up in the head, but very talented.

Re: Transformation of music
 

Very talented indeed, the only ptoblem I find is that I, nor none of anyone I talked to today have heard of Skunk...perhaps its the difference in location, or maybe we're too sheltered or unaware of various other styles of music, and I have listened to a good amount of Amy Winehouse before, and quite the voice...I do enjoy musicians who are able to perform live, and actually sound similar to their albums. Thanks for the suggestions. :tu

Re: Transformation of music
 

Great thing of living in Europe, we get music from all over the world, not just American bands and U2

Re: Transformation of music
 

That's most likely the problem for us here...we don't!! haha We get these poor abilitied children out of Los Angeles that get into the spotlight through contacts and the entire radio nation jumps on their bandwagon.

Re: Transformation of music
 

The Reign of Kindo
Band based out of New York that blends together Rock and Jazz (Fusion). Awesome group.

Avett Brothers
Having quite a bit of success. Similar to Mumford & Sons.

Fang Island
Electric guitar driven instrumental music. They refer to it as "similar to giving the whole world a high 5 at once." Happy, happy music.

I'm sure there's others. I'll check my recently played list tonight and update then.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Transformation of music
 

Decembrists are one of my favorites too. I credit my kids with keeping me up to date with good new music. Without them I might just stick with what I know. Apart from my kids I find the best place for discovering new music is the local college station. You never know what you'll get when you tune in - garbage or greatness - but it's something new all the time and only a little of it is top 40 crap.

Re: Transformation of music
 

I really enjoyed listening the Avett Brothers today, as well as Reign of Kindo. It is bands like these that I hope have continuing success, although I know that is not what music is all about. It would be nice to hear more songs like this on the radio, and for them to have a strong following, so that others will want to pursue music similar to what they are creating!!

Re: Transformation of music
 

Alright, now that I'm sitting here with my music folders opened, I'll pick out my top 5 (past those above) Bands (and CD) that I think any given person may not have heard of: ((I'll also hyperlink to a youtube recording of one of their songs))

GRUM - Heartbeats
Grum is a band not entirely unlike Daft Punk. They are more mash-up oriented than anything, but this album is downright fun to listen to.

Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains
Cymbals Eat Guitars is a hard rock band. The first song on this album will likely sell you on the raw power of this band, and especially of the lead singer's voice.

Sabaton - The Art of War
Sabaton is a Polish (I believe?) band that creates music designed to bring up national pride and adrenaline. Their song 40-1 would make a dead man feel ready to take on the world. This is some heavy stuff.

Jamiroquai - Emergency on Planet Earth
Easily one of my most consistently loved CDs. The funk feel in all of Jamiroquai's music would will make everyone tap their toe and move their head. Something about funk makes it really hard to feel sad...which is always a good thing.

Other awesome groups:
The Pop Winds - The Turquoise
This Will Destroy You - Young Mountains
The Rest - Everyone All at Once
Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
Jack Conte - Video Songs Vol. 1
Chronic Future - This and of That

Sorry, I'm a music kinda guy. :banger

Re: Transformation of music
 

Alex, thanks for the update...I can't wait to check these out!
"I'm a music kind of guy" <---- Do you play instruments or simply enjoy in the listening and history of it all?

O...and I've been listening to the Avett Bros. all evening. :tu

Re: Transformation of music
 

I don't much hear a whole lot that I like in a countdown...especially on a radio where people are casting their votes based on bandwagon judgement. It's cool that you take to music that your children listen to because I find that I enjoy so many bands that my parents used to listen to in the 60's and 70's...I still think the overall quality of music was far superior then...

Re: Transformation of music
 

I sang in the Chamber Singers choir at my school when I still went there. I also took a couple of semesters of voice lessons.

I have an old acoustic guitar sitting in the corner that I've been meaning to pick up, but I'm having trouble finding the desire to make time to learn it haha

Re: Transformation of music
 

Listening to Reign Of Kindo right now. Very good. Thanks Alex for the recommendation.

Some of what I've been listening to a lot lately.

Porcupine Tree
Blackfield
Riverside

PT is Steve Wilson's original band, with Blackfield and Riverside being some of his side projects. Definitely worth checking out.

Re: Transformation of music
 

I blame American Idol.

We are being conditioned to accept the least common denominator in every aspect of our lives. Thank God there are artists out there who are truly talented and thank God we have the internet to find them!

BTW, Riverside is not a Steve Wilson project. PT is pretty cool though!

Riverside is a polish band, some of the best ProgRock I have ever heard.

Re: Transformation of music
 

There is (and always has been) a ton of really rad stuff out there. Turn the radio off people. Go to your local record store and listen to some stuff. Ask the employees what they like. Quit listening to this horseshit douchebag rock like Nickelback, Puddle of Mudd, Creed etc. It is all garbage. I will stop now, cause I will get mad.

Re: Transformation of music
 

check out Adult Swim bumps on youtube. I have some that I have created below, but the originals are the best.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG2Gfp4VMfY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXW74...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDsR_...eature=related

Re: Transformation of music
 

If you want to see a transformation in music, you should expand the window that you're looking at. Start in the Baroque Era, and work your way forward

Re: Transformation of music
 

Well my initial intent was to look at the immediate transformation rather than the overall progression. Don't get me wrong, I do have an appreciation for classical as well (I play the double bass in my free time), but I was simply more excited about where music is heading.

Take for instance the Grammy's the other night...people haven't heard real music in a performance like Mumford and Sons and the Avett Brothers for awhile. It seems as though everything has been autotuned to the max, and hopefully we are getting away from that trend.

Re: Transformation of music
 

Unfortunately, the trend that I have seen is redoing what has already been done ad nauseum. But, I remain open-minded. (I have to as a musician, director, and music teacher.)

Re: Transformation of music
 

I listen to lots of different types of music in many different genres. If you're looking for something new and good I recommend:

Kurt Vile "Smoke Ring for my Halo" - Great singer/songwriter in the indie rock genre. Lots of soul and depth in this acoustic offering
Blut Aus Nord "777 Sect" - Excellent new Doom/Death metal offering
The Black Keys "Brothers" - One of my favorite albums from 2010. Rockin' Blues!
Airs & Lunaire "Split" - A refreshing take on both experimental Black Metal and Shoegaze. It took me by surprise
The Gaslight Anthem "American Slang" - A great American rock band with elements of punk. Basically take Springsteen and mix in the Clash and you've got The Gaslight Anthem
Before the Dawn "Deathstar Rising" - One of the best Death Metal albums to be released so far in 2011
The Cave Singers "No Witch" - Really good alternative folk mixed w/ Psychedelic rock
E.S. Posthumus "Makara" - Epic Orchestral release from this amazing duo
Adele "21" - Fantastic Indie Soul release from the best thing to come out of the UK in the past few years

These were all released late 2010 to early 2011 so they're all fairly recent. Give them a listen and see if any resonate with you :)

Re: Transformation of music
 

LCD SoundSystem played their final show last night. Makes me sad :(

And E.S. Posthumus is freaking awesome :tu
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Transformation of music
 

BAM!!! I checked them out a couple months back on your suggestion. Took me the last week or so to remember who they were and where I heard about them. bookmarked.

Re: Transformation of music
 

Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed them.

Some other really good new releases that have been released so far in 2011:

And So I Watch You From Afar "Gangs" - excelllent post-rock album with great instrumentals
Fleet Foxes "Helplesness Blues" - groove influenced folk/indie. Just inspiring
Key Losers "California Lite" - Classic American lo-fi with a lead singer who's smokey sultry voice melts me.
Amon Amarth "Surtur Rising" - another fantastic offering from this Viking Metal band from Sweden. Epic
Alestorm "Back through Time" - Power metal featuring great riffs and punk influenced choruses.
The Civil Wars "Live @ SxSW" - This indie-folk band had me hooked on the first song. Their live rendition of Disarm is probably the best thing I've heard this year. Imagine anguish and regret embodied in music form and you've got their performance of this Smashing Pumpkins song.

Re: Transformation of music
 

Oh, forgot:

Deep Dark Robot "8 Songs About a Girl" - Linda Perry's (4 non Blondes) new album about a new lover. There's a reason she's been such a successful songwriter for the past 2 decades. The girl has range.
Black Label Society "The Song Remains Not the Same" - Zakk Wylde's acoustic offering. His best album since The Blessed Hellride
Enslaved "Axioma Ethica Odini" - Pure F'n amazingness! Metal's best album so far this year

Re: Transformation of music
 

This Will Destroy You "Tunnel Blanket" - Post-rock instrumentals. While this album is WAY darker than their previous albums, it still holds up fantastically well.
And So I Watch You From Afar "Gangs" - LasciviousXXX mentioned this, and it is EASILY my favorite album of the year. Great pick - been jamming to it for the last few weeks.
Low "C'mon" - Really simple music. Low is a fantastic group with quite a few albums under their belt, so there is always something to listen to with them.

I believe that all of these are 2011 releases as well.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Transformation of music
 

I think pop music used to be something most people liked. Now it is exclusively marketed towards tweens. Therefore it doesn't have to include anything that even resembles a singer or include actual musical talent. It just has to be catchy and/or launched by a show that airs on the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, etc.

I know there are knocks on country music too, but I've found most of what I like that is new is in the country genre. I guess I relate to it more. Most of the artists can sing, and a lot of them write their own stuff. Still, I love old blues, classic rock, hard rock, some metal, classical, jazz (not contemporary), and even a few select raps songs; so pretty much a little of everything. But, today's pop music, by-en-large is CRAP. Very little of today's "rock" is even palatable. To me, most of it sounds like Disturbed wannabes.

Just my :2

Re: Transformation of music
 

Checking out gaslight anthem... I like!

Re: Transformation of music
 

Their best album by far is "The '59 Sound". Check it out! Its always on constant rotation at my place.

Re: Transformation of music
 

"Animals as Leaders"

The best way that I can describe this is that this group is that they are similar to Dream Theater but without any lyrics. It is fantastic.

Re: Transformation of music
 

Led Zeppelin still stamps the prerequisite for the next ground breaking music. Sorry but it hasn't happened yet. Everything else is either pop or cult. Hey opinions are welcome right? LOL.

I have found various genres interesting here or there, but IMHO to call it great music is debatable. Let me try and break my shell and mention something outside of the 60's and 70's.

SRV
Ben Harper
Govt Mule
Derrick Trucks
Radiohead
Cold Play (They are pussies, but talented)
Nickleback (Ha! JK)
Dave Grohl is a mad man
Sublime in their prime
Metallica before Cliff died
March Violets (close friend of mine)

Like I said music is very based on perspective. I think the trade was at its prime before TV and internet were there. Most of these bands now have it easy on building their fan base. Nobody touring like they used to.

You realize that Led Zeppelin toured for the first 2.5 years non stop? Look at old bootlegs and see where the blood, sweat, and tears were. Can't say that about most bands nowadays.

Re: Transformation of music
 

Dream Theater is awesome! Check jason Bonham's new band. The new touring rock band. I need to google it, but I think it is "Black Creek Revival"