When I was younger, I was amazed most people tended to stick their defined genres and the songs they knew. While, I'm still on the lookout for new bands, I am starting to see that point of view. I'm 26 now, own a house and a dog, have a girlfriend and a full-time job that keeps me busy. No matter how much of a music fan I am, I just don't have the time I used to to search out new music.
In addition to that, I've noticed myself on a heavy 90's alternative kick lately. It harkens back to times when life was simpler and less stressful even if I wasn't happy at the time. It's funny how the human mind remembers the glory days of yesteryear without the downside.
Rock and Roll is a young man's genre. The greatest part about it is the angst involved. Once that disappears, it loses a little feeling. Time after time we've seen bands start off with a few good albums only to fade to obscurity.
Dying young is the best thing that can happen to an artist from a commercial standpoint. Release a few good albums, die of a heroin overdose, become famous. It's a tried and true method. There's no downslope to the career. Growing up, Nirvana was popular, but Pearl Jam and other similar bands were just as popular (at least where I lived). One gunshot and nearly 15 years later, Kurt Cobain is a rock god and Pearl Jam is a run of the mill band. Maybe this isn't quite a fair comparison since not much will top Nirvana in terms of influence, but they had a breakthrough album, one more album and a posthumous live set and left people wanting more. No missteps, no burnouts, just great music then a succinct end. If Eddie Vedder had died immediately after releasing Vs. and Nirvana had gone on to release some commercial flops, would history look at the two bands differently today?
It's better to burn out than to fade away. Ironically sung by one of the few rock heroes who did the latter. Mr Young could not have written a more accurate lyric though. My My Hey Hey.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
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