JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum What do you think of popular musc theses days? (all genre's)

Mike You are pretty much right on the money. I have one or two minor disagreements but they do not really affect things. Yes we have had crap over the years. However we have had many many great groundbreaking bands, songs, and songwriters and styles the crap was in the minority. Nowadays it is mostly all crap with very little decent stuff. Even the decent stuff offers very little new or mindblowing ideas.
Given the advancement in recording techniques, instruments and gear and communication and distribution in the PC age music should in general be a lot better. Sad fact it isn't.

I think good music is out there - just have to hunt it down.

For instance, I was just looking at Richard Soos' Eartaste site this morning and he has a blog about Wampus Multimedia:

http://wampus.com/

I clicked on 5 or 6 songs at random on the Wampus iPod. Good thing I just do this for fun or I would pack it in

I do NOT find much in the mainstream that interests me these days. No worries - I had my time in the sun for listening - let the kids have theirs.

I DO wonder sometimes though if it's not all me and maybe something else is at play. Specifically, I wonder if the emphasis on video has lowered the quality of the music. Before video, a songwriter had to make people see images in their mind - that's not so much needed anymore

Scott

Hi Jim

Yes that's exactly what I was saying with the balance of things. Every decade has some crap but also has astonishing things (that were popular) that is the key word in this discussion (popular). There was some cheezy sad music in the 1960's yet it may very well be the greatest decade of popular music of all.... I always battle back & forth between
the 60's & 70's

Technology had advanced in many positive ways, even though I'd trade all I have for a 2" Tape 24 track Tape machine.

What I was saying in fairness is basically things need a whole new approach to be that groundbreaking. New instruments and such. Like the way the electric guitar has evolved in mainsteram music. All the way from good to GREAT to where it is now
which is not bad but far far far away from Hendrix, Page, Beck, Clapton,Van Halen (in a way John Mayer is trying to keep that end alive but his style is very, been done)

I have to ask you why Mike. Do you think it would allow you to make better music?

It seems to me the problem is age. Our age. I don't see young people saying the music sucks.
Rap is a totally new concept in music yet we say there are no new music ideas since the 70's.
I don't like RAP but that does not mean someone else does not think it is great.

It seems to me you guys are stuck in the past and anything new sucks. You don't give new technology or technics any credibility.
I don't believe there is no good music out there. I think the delivery of that music is changing in a big way and that may be more the problem.
I spend a lot of hours driving from Michigan to Tennessee every month and listen to the radio all the way. I do also play CD's but mostly it is the radio.
Why, because I am interested in getting my songs cut and I want to be able to write what is selling.
The biggest complaint I have is I keep hearing the same songs over and over. Very little variety.

Hey Bill Go on then. Write a rap song!!! There is a challenge FOR YOU well you got the guns and attitude all you need is a bit of drum and bass, a track suit several sizes too big, a headscarf and a big mouth. IT IS BOUND TO BE A HIT. LOL

You can believe that if you want Bill, but I don't. Rap is hardly totally new, it has been around for longer than you may realize. It just got more formalized in the 1970's and has grown into a moneymaking machine for some people since then. It has a very danceable beat. If you want to energize your listeners give your music a very danceable beat.

I do find some new music that I like okay from time to time, but it mostly does not get the airplay. I can give details of what I don't like about much modern music on the radio, but do you want to hear a laundry list? There are still very creative people, there always will be, and maybe someone will come along and reinvent what we think of as music. It could happen, but I can tell you it will not gain immediate acceptance, it will have to survive a trial by fire, and a phoenix would have to emerge from it. Do not mistake trends with real invention. I do favor melody and harmony over monotone delivery. I do see that a few people can deliver a very rough production, but have such a unique message, or unusual approach that it is powerful. I try to make my mark with small subtle things, I don't worry about changing the world.

I happen to agree with Mike about tape over digital. It is not because tape is inherently better, although a true analog signal IS better in a fundamental way, just not as flexible. It has to do with the ambience that tape delivers that was lost in the digital age of recording. Listen to the old recordings and see if you cannot hear and feel a different quality emanating from your speaker. Sure there might be a little tape hiss, or pops on the old vinyl, but there is a quality there that is lacking with today's music.

Most of the good music I've heard lately has come from unsigned, indie, or local artists. Tha vast majority of "mainstream" stuff I've heard lately {in ALL genres} blows!

Some of it is good, some of it is bad... just about the same as popular music has always been.

I think what changes is people as they grow older. They tend to think that what was hot in their day is the standard and everything falls beneath that standard as time marches on. It's a normal, natural process of aging! LOL

Very very true Natalie.

That is the norm for most people, like our parents they never really listened to our music. They just loved "there time" but for me I know my parents music far better than they did and I know and listen to what's happening now I often work musically with kids.

It's difficult to throw in a cool guitar riff where it can be musical. However, it's even more of a challenge to create great riffs and songs that are original yet be able to be popular. It's a delicate balance. The good or the bad of it with my playing is its branded in my DNA and is recognizable. That's a bit of a catch 22 until it's well known.

Absolutely! I agree 100% with that.
I know how hard it is as well. I have been very successful working in cool guitar & bass parts & riffs into songs,especially when it's other peoples songs. I have a harder time with my own. I think maybe cause I'm more conservative with my own. Always putting the song first.

I know you always play for the song Jody and that's always a good thing

PS- By the way Jody I love "Spiltmilk" Jelly Fish- Wow!

This post is for those aren't seeing or getting it... These are pop songs and very good ones.The problem most people have is as soon as you think pop or commercial you think Britany, Timberlake, P Diddy, Hanna Montana, all very good industry people but not deep in musical abilities sorry to have to fill some people in on that Let me point you to better popular music. Something anyone would be proud to have written or been a part. All LIVE performances to keep it more honest.

Here are 5 recent people with hit songs that are excellent .. check it out it's LIVE from Abbey Road Studio. Watch enjoy, gain perspective be humbled and learn something

James Morrsion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTTuD_45w-c

Nerina Pallot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCdpcQAcBZ0

John Mayer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEgUUTkqRRQ

Natasha Bedingfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxOPkejZctg&feature=related

Jamiroquai - Runaway Live from Abbey Road (just because it's killer)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzyj3Wxhjr4&feature=related

Mike and Jody. I think most people agree that in general most music nowadays is way below the standards of yesteryear. That does not mean that there is not any good music out there now it means that there is far more throwaway crap and the good stuff is scarce. I do not think it is and age thing. I have been in the business for a very long time and see all standards. There is a lack of originality and technical ability generally. More people are going the sample and techno mix route. Guitar bands seem to lack the basic skills and imagination. Considering the technical achievements and gizmos available music in general should be better however in general sadly it is not.

Hi Jim

I agree! The better older stuff and there was bunches of it completely levels anything
now. The Rolling Stones in there prime alone just one band, is far better than anyone
now. We can add to that list 50 more easy... The Who was better in every regard than any band today especially live. But I know every Who song inside out every single song. I know Zeppelin so well I can give you the times of each song (for real)
I have every Earth Wind & Fire Album talk about hugely commercial & GREAT..
I know pop songs so well I would go on one of the game shows and get rich easy.
I'm like a human jukebox, I freak my wife out every time those half hour music box set informercials come on TV. She say's "But you weren't even born yet" how do you know every single song from then as well?
Because I love music sweet, sweet music
Long as it's swinging
All the joy that it's bringing (The Ojays)

But that was yesterday and just like the great classical music of centuries ago
[b]It Is Gone[/b If we really love music we will try to find some enjoyment for the present and future. I bet you didn't watch even one of these videos I posted

Sub,
Thanks for the links!
Incredibly talented people.

I did not watch the videos because I am already aware of this material. Some of it I like, some is OK, some I am not too impressed with. However as you say they are all miles better than the ususal. You mentioned sound quality and recording skills. Despite huge leaps in technology from when you and I first entered a recording studio I am amazed that the standard recording nowadays is in my opinion way below acceptable and certainly not up to the standards we had with far more primitive gear. That is one thing I cannot get my head round.

BTW I watched half time with Petty. I was not that impressed. I am not a big fan anyway but thought it was bland and lack lustre.
I also thought the sound was muddy and unbalanced.

Hi Sub
Thanks for those links. Great music.

But I still can't understand a single word John Mayer says in his songs. It's like he is speaking a foriegn language. I think I heard "you can't win a weeor" or something like that.
Maybe that's something needing to be invented. Instead of a pitch corrector a translator.

I just finished watching Nelly's video, Say What You Want(still don't know what she was saying or point she was trying to make), it's a nice dance beat(if you can dance that way, I can't) I guess the message is secondary, I couldn't get all the words because the music was overpowering the words,I guess the music up front is important with a dance tune, who cares if the words make sense or not. It's not my type of music but I guess the kids it's aimed at will love it and buy it and from a business point of view, that's what counts.

Personally, I think Mayer is a really decent guitar player, but I frankly cannot stand it when he sings. I would like him much better if he was the sideman in someone else's band.

Did someone say "sideman"?

Big Jim
I just read your last post.
Now as I understand it you think all the American Idol winners are bad Karoake singers. All of today's music is crap.

But you think John Mayer's singing is as you say


seems a bit of a contradiction there.

Everett:

Title: Powerless (Say What You Want)
Artist: Nelly Furtado
Written by Nelly Furtado and Anne Dudley, Gerald Eaton, Trevor Horn, Malcolm McLaren and Brian West

Paint my face in your magazines
Make it look whiter than it seems
Paint me over with your dreams
Shove away my ethnicity
Burn every notion that I may have a flame inside to fight
And say just what is on my mind
Without offending your might

Cuz this life is too short to live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless what are you gonna do
So say what you want
Say what you want

I saw her face outside today
Weatherworn, looking all the rage
They took her passion and her gaze and made a poster
Now it's moccasins we sport
We take the culture and contort
Perhaps only to distort what we are hiding

Cuz this life is too short to live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless what are you gonna do
But say what you want
Say what you want

Hey you, the one outside, are you ever gonna get in, get in
Hey you, the one that don't fit in, how ya, how ya gonna get in
Hey you, the one outside, are you ever gonna get in with your
Broken teeth, broken jaw, broken mojo
Yeah, this life is too short to live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless, what are you gonna do

Cuz this life is too short to live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless, what are you gonna do

Bill Nope read my posts again. Generally is the big word and I tried to qualify my statements but did not go into so much detail. Most in my dictionary does not mean all. John Mayers is not a particular fav of mine he is OK but nothing special. Even he is better than most however WHICH proves my point about mediocrity.

By definition, "pop music" is what is popular now, it isn't what was popular in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, or even 5 years ago. A lot of that is called "Classic Rock", "Classic Country", Motown, or "Old School". Pop music will also not often stand the test of time as it's very "fashionable" music and quickly becomes dated.

Since there is so much MORE music available via Internet and radio and TV stations, there IS more crap as well as good music. There were so many mediocre and forgetable artists when I was growing up as well. We had "bubble-gum" music - talk about crap. Today, there is an abundance of non-melodic rap which is also totally forgetable. I would be very surprised if very many rap songs are remembered in five years. Just as so many songs that made the top 10 in past decades are also totally forgotten.

It seems that there have ALWAYS been manufactured artists and those riding on the coatails of succsessful artists. How many Beatles clones were there besides the Dave Clark Five. How about the Monkees? Before that, there were a number of Elvis clones; before that how many Tommy Dorsey sound-alikes were there? What used to be called "hearthrobs" (Shawn Cassidy and Ricky Nelson come to mind) are just as likely to be female today and are simply called "bimbos". Why would someone think it's any different with packaging and marketing today? It's just more expensive.

Just to show that there was good and bad all along, how about the string of one-hit wonders listed on the VH1 site:

http://www.vh1.com/shows/series/the_greatest/one_hit_wonders/

I think there is a lot of good music out there, but I think that a lot of it doesn't make it to the mainstream radio, but is produced by the indie artist. The record industry has always marketed their music to the 12-18 years olds. That's not me. I think we simply have to find the needles in a much larger haystack.

Rather than constantly saying how bad things are how, about we start pointing out what artists could be found to be brilliant? The negativity based on a preference is starting to get old.

As for John Mayer, I've had the pleasure of playing with him for a couple of songs. He and the band he had at the time was probably the best band I had been on a stage with. There is no doubt he can play. To top it off, he is extremely nice and cool. To state that he is mediocre is stating a preference. John has been one of the few major acts of late to be able to change directions in his music and still remain popular. That's no easy feat.

Natasha is another artist who's ideas I really like as well. Along with stellar production on her tunes.

The Super Bowl chose Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers for one reason. The songs. He was hugely popular in the 80's and the pub I was at yesterday for Super Bowl XLII was shouting/singing along to every word of every song he played in that performance. Not to mention that the cameras showed some teens on the screen that were also singing along live at the Bowl. The mix we heard wasn't muddy and was well balanced, I could hear every instrument and his voice along with a pub full of patrons mimmicing him. I know his songs because my dad loved him.

Since I brought up the idea of looking for good/great music, I'll give a shameless plug to promote a blog I do. I post it all at www.singleoftheday.com where I showcase a different song by a different artist every day of the year.

I've got a lot of good music there, that has direct links for being able to purchase it.

What do you think of popular music these days?

There's so much different popular music, from all genres, and the countless music sites.

I congratulate those singers and writers involved for having hits, in any genre. Bet they love it!

There is lots of GREAT music out there right now. Sometimes you have to look a little harder to find it though. Here in Nashville, there are always great undiscovered music being performed in small venues. The Basement is one of my favorite spots.

I feel like a lot of people do a lot of complaining about the music that is popular. The only way to change it is to write better music than what's out there.

This world is a pretty big place and we can all contribute something positive.

Couldn't agree more. People who complain should do something about it. Write better songs OR put your money where your mouth is and support emerging artists who you think have talent. Check out www.sellaband.com and support an act that moves you.

seems like one of the problems with music today is that a lot of people aren't willing to do that.

Long live Beck!

Heck, BOTH of 'em.

So why do people complain when record companies hedge their bets and invest THEIR money in cookie cutter acts that will make money?
Change starts from within. We all talk the talk. Let's start walking the walk. Invest in better music.

Jim,

I usually let your 'he's no good,' 'she's no good' remarks go by, but I gotta say, sometimes I think you just put things out there to see who will take the bait and get their hackles up...

As for the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' halftime show, what you saw as bland and lacklustre was actually a polished and tight performance by one of the last truly great rock and roll bands within a set time limit and the choreographed moment by moment action of a half time show. It was the precision of a band that knows when to go out on a limb and when to perform it straight.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (like anybody) are certainly a personal taste as far as like or dislike, but there is no questioning that they are respected for what they do. The fact that folks like Dylan, Orbison, Harrison and Lynne, wanted to work with Petty speak volumes. You can find Benmont Tench as producer on many releases. You'll find Mike Campbell's guitar work and production work on many releases as well.

These guys certainly don't need my defense, but I consider it a fellow Floridian type of thing...Their work speaks for itself, while yours is non-existent - especially on their level. I'm a nobody, but I don't make a habit of belittling nearly every musician or song not to my liking.

While you may choose to show Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers disrepect, they are respected by many in the industry.

As for muddy and unbalanced, that might be your hearing or TV...

Nathan you say There is a lot of good music out there and THEN you say that the only way to beat the crap is to write better music than the crap. MMMM kinda doesn't make sense. If the lots of good music out there you are referring to is better than the crap then why is it not charting or being discovered at least?
Perhaps because the suits are not interested in good music or talent. They are only interested in producing endless cloned conveyer belt crap that tweenies buy.

Perhaps if we did not support mediocrity by buying the crap records and dowloads etc the suits would get the message and start giving good music a chance.

In order to change something that is wrong or bad you must first admit it is bad. I fail to see why I should take stick for stating that most music nowadays is mediocre and we deserve better. Where I come from if something sucks we say it sucks.
Otherwise we kid ourselves on that it has some sort of merit therby we lower our standards.

We mainly play covers for a living and to illustrate how bad modern music is we have not added a modern song to our playlists for some time. We also have not had any requests to learn or play chart stuff for some time either. That says a lot for the popularity and quality of modern music. I may add that we have been playing for many many years and try to keep up with the trends.

Steve I take nothing away from Tom Petty. However I am not a fan I stated that. His music is not my style. That said I genuinely did not think much of his half time show. It was fairly mundane and lack lustre in my opinion. I also had issues with the sound. Perhaps it was my cable I do not know but it was muddy and unbalanced. If the Petty fans liked it great. I can assure you that I enjoy a joke or two but I do not post controversy just for kicks. I did not mean to offend. I just stated it as my opinion. He is maybe not so well regarded in the UK as USA.

There are lots of great artists making great music that does not chart, who are also making a great living.

At the same time, there are great artists making great music that DO chart that don't make as much money as the ones that don't chart.

At the same time as that, there are artists who make lots of money from music that may not be as good, because they are better at the business side of things.

Unfortunately, the music business is a business and if we are going to be creative people then we should be both creative in our efforts to make music as well as in our efforts to sell the music.

I am not saying that we should try to "beat the crap" by making better music, but i'm saying that if we focus on making the best music we are capable of, then we would spend less time complaining. There are a lot of people out there who make bad music but somehow think they are deserving of stardom because their music is somehow "artsy", when in reality it might not be very good.

I enjoy a lot of music. Some of it is popular, some of it is not. I think it is important to realize that just because i do not happen to like a certain type of music that happens to be popular doesn't make it bad.

Really Old.

I'm with Jody 1000% on this subject.

That is why I also posted a couple of video links to popular artist that were very good.
That is why I posted 2 threads one taking it from being a songwriter musician & producer myself. And one from from being a lifelong music nut a fan just like sports fans. We know the difference because we are much older and expierenced, not so many kids may know Dylan was great. But I will say this for many kids today they are actually more opened minded then some of us older folks really!

NO ONE can deny along with a lot of cheesy not so great music in the past we had GREAT music. Today we have the equal amount of cheesy not so great but not the equal amount of GREAT in the mainstream. Get it? Got It!
In other words if the decades could put gloves on and fight or play in a superbowl
it would be a blow out No one could match up with The Eagles today.

In every single style or category the past decades would destroy today just as they would in the Heavyweight Boxing World. It was the time for that and we should feel lucky to have seen it and lived it.

Beethoven may never be matched and neither will The Beatles or Ali or Bruce Lee
or Sinatra or Hank Williams or etc.... isn't that part of what's so special about them and the whole thing?

I loved Bruce Lee and I knew he could take David Carradine of (Kung Fu) apart.
But I still loved Carradine in (Kung Fu)

Loved The Odd Couple when I was a child still do but I also watched Gilligans Island as well, Maryann c'mon! lol... I still watch the Odd Couple all the time but had to let some of those other shows go.. Get it" Let kids enjoy what they want just like music it's all pop culture. later they may know what's great and what was just fun for the time.

It's okay to say I listned to Deep Purple when I was 10 years old and I really liked Redbones "Come And Get Your Love" to.

We still have Abba's today (Dancing Queen) we are just missing the Deep Purples Treasure the past but don't limit yourself to it....

Peace

I generally agree with most of what Jody and Nathan have said. I had mentioned earlier, and will be redundant by stating it again...if a particular artist, genre, style, etc., isn't to your liking, find something that is. And allow those who do enjoy what you do not, to have their pleasure without casting a dark cloud over it.

One of my very best friends here at JPF...and a personal friend outside of JPF, Bill Robinson, feels that Taylor Swift is teeny bopper with little to no talent. I personally like her music. But, I do not cast condescinding remarks about Bill's taste simply because his is diametrically opposite of mine. Heck, I don't care if he likes her or not. I am not, and never have been a Johnny Cash fan. But, the guy was beloved and admired by millions...just not me. But why would I want to trash him just because he wasn't my cup of tea?

Everyone is entitled to their likes and dislikes. I never feel the need to defend my tastes. If you disagree with me, it certainly isn't going to change my life...or yours! If it does changes your life...you have bigger things to worry about than taste in music! Likewise, I never feel the need to call into question someone else's opposing taste.

For those who do not like what's on commercial radio, buy a few CDs of someone you do like. Or fork out your 99 cents for each track that you would like to download. I currently own 5 CDs of JPF members and love them. Plus, I don't have the same stale commercials to listen to reduntantly. Most people these days have a CD player in both their house and their vehicle...or a portable player (iPod anybody?). If you can't find any music to listen to that you like...it's your own damned fault!

Again, just an opinion...but I'm comfortable with it.

Al

I just wanna go back to having Pink sing the Sunday night football song instead of Faith Hill!! I thought her song "Hard Work" (I think thats the title) was just brilliant. And through the decades I have found artists who seemed to carry the flame forward. Don't want to try to name all, but there's always someone picking up the torch- I thought glam rock had killed every thing then there was Springstein and Elvis Costello and the Pretenders. Some artists like Prince are hit and miss for me. The Clash brought it back again. The Jagged Little Pill was a bombshell. The Chieftans and the Cranberrys - strangely enough I never got into U2 that much, but they are giants. Enough at some point I get a pass for being an old F#$%!!

Pete

OH yeah I like Humpty Hump

Well said Al.
Just to clarify I never said Taylor Swift had no talent. What I think I said was she does not deserve to be Elevated to the stardom she is getting...YET. another five years probably.
She has a good singing voice but immature she writes good teeny bopper songs but immature. She definitely has the looks.

As far a todays music being crap I just don't buy it. It is like saying they don't build cars like they use to. 50's and 60's muscle cars were far better. The bumpers were thicker, they had thicker metal, they were bigger, had more horsepower, Todays cars are plastic, less horsepower, smaller, etc.
Well a car in the fifties needed a tune up every 12,000 miles or it wouldn't start in the winter. You were lucky if it lasted past your last payment and loans were typically 36 months. But they were better. Sorry, no they were not.
And neither is the music. different yes. inferior no.

Sorry for the misquote, Bill. I should have gone back and reread from a couple days ago. My bad!

Also, agree with everything else in your last post. I did like the car styling better back then. I had both a '57 Chevy convertible (bought 2nd day back from Vietnam) and a 66 Mustang GT Convertible with 289 Hi-Po, factory air, in dash 8-track player (big deal back then), pony interior, rally-pak, trumpet exhausts and mag wheels. Man, do I ever miss those two cars!

But, as you said, tune-up every 12K - 15K (for the youngsters out there...a tune-up back then meant replacing the plugs, points and condenser; and adjusting the air-to fuel ratio on the carburetor). Fuel milage on my Chevy was about 17 mpg and on the Mustang it was about 15 mpg. That was considered reasonable back then. The suspension really sucked! Todays cars are built technically much different.

As an analogy, Country Music in the 50's and 60's was very rarely more than 4 predictable chords and full orchestration was usually four instruments. Lyrics were a little more believable and down to earth...but also lacked significant depth in many cases. Todays Country is more refined, has many more options and gadgets but is much more technical in the studio engineering, mixing and mastering.

So, both eras have their pluses and minuses. And each listener has decide for himself which one has the more pluses for his taste. But, that doesn't make the other bad...just different.

Take care, Bill. Give our love to Sylvia.

Al

Mike,

You turned me on to a new talent. Jamiroquai blew me away. The bass player and drummer really rock! Thanks for that wake-up!

Al

Hi Al,

Wasn't that slamming? A real throw back to the 70's.

Actually there a few years old now from the 90's. My group opened up for them in 1995 at The Manhattan Civic Center. I of course knew of and loved the bass player when i bought there first CD. The singer writes mostly some really off the wall sometimes silly kinda lyrics, but he is wonderfully musical and the band just kicks butt period.
It's about the music and groove for sure

As for posting these videos I wanted to add that I would give an arm or leg to be able to write and create a Song's In The Key Of Life or a Sgt Peppers
"Dark Side Of The Moon" "Tommy" Who wouldn't?
Who could? except those special artists.

But I would be very happy, proud and professionally satisfied to have done or been involved with any of the things I posted up there in any regard. Writer,Player,Producer, Singer,Engineer or assistant.

When you click on Jamiriquai go to the other videos from them on you tube that say Abbey Road. They did 2 other songs that smoke as well.

Glad I got you into it.. you deserve to smile

Yeah, Jellyfish are amazing. Well, were. It's sad they never broke out huge. Great music in the wrong era I suppose. I read an interview with their former guitarist Eric Dover. He mentioned that he would come home nearly in tears from rehearsals because Roger and Andy were so hard on him. Boy did he ever turn out to play some of the best pop ever. Eric then went on to be a fantastic front guy and singer for a few other things.

I got to meet Eric one night. My band opened for his band once. I ran into him backstage. I couldn't believe I got the chance to talk to him. He stuck around for my sound check and started asking me all kinds of questions about my gear, the amp, the guitar. Telling me he really dug what I was doing. It was surreal.

The same thing happened when I got the chance to play with John Mayer. His band asked me all kinds of stuff about my gear too. My favorite thing said by John was "we don't have enough 7 string guitar in the band."

That's one sign that a player really has their stuff together, they love to talk gear. Love to share why they spend so much time looking for certain sounds and such. I'm the same way. Love it!

Hi Jody

It's so funny cause I sent you a PM and then 2 seconds later came back to the boards and read your last post. It was like you read my PM LOL.....

I was saying the same thing about Jelly Fish it was kinda sad they got kind of buried in there prime. That story of what happened with you meeting Eric was AWESOME.
That is sooo cool. And The Mayer one too that's what I PM 'd you about....

You're so right about talking gear and yes those guys are into it... Like you I have starred into the Jelly Fish CD cover with that gear all over the place and just dream
Dream is the nicer word lol....

So many people diss the 90's I enjoyed alot of stuff from that decade. I liked it better than the 80's overall. I loved Jelly Fish, Collective Soul, I still have a place in my heart for hard rock and I found the rock
much more appealing and far better than the pretty boy hair bands of the 80's. RThanks God for "So"..... But STP was killer and Soundgarden as well as AIC where very good. This obscure group called "Eleven" had a CD I really dug as well.

I loved the ladies in that era as well, with all respect to the 80's ladies. They were pretty much leveled by the 90's IMHO.
I loved Paula Coles CD and Gabriel is on it as well..... she is inspired by him for sure.
"Working On The Road To Dead" And The Indigo Girls were fantastic.
There's a whole bunch more of course.....

For a moment there I figured you were talking about a band called Finger Eleven. :-) I bought a couple of their songs on iTunes a year ago. Very nice easy songs with great builds and melodies.

Here's a link to one called "One Thing"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnOvGGGf6qA

That's one where I would have liked to have written it. Alas it's already done, and done well.

Hey Mike,

Again, thanks for the wake up call. Discovering new music that one thoroughly enjoys is a real treat!

Most of the songs that I have recorded over the past 3 - 4 years, some of which I have posted here at JPF, most of which I have posted elsewhere at one time or another, ranges from Easy listening Rap to Reggae to Smooth Jazz 60's Rock to every possible type of Country Music there is. But, up until about 5 years ago, I played NOTHING but traditional and contemporary music. Until I was 50 years old, I played nothing but Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Webb Pierce, Carl Smith, Gene Watson, Buck Owens, Ray Price, Faron Young and the like. All big to moderate stars of the "Old" Traditional Country Music. NOTHING but that...literally. And I loved it...still do.

But, a guy named Joe Rudd, who has gigged off and on with Paul Simon over the years, turned me on to so many other genres of music. In each of the "new" genres, I found good and bad. There's an old saying that you have probably heard..."No matter what you are looking for; if you look long enough you will find it". So, if you sit down to listen to something looking to find nothing but a way to pick it apart, you will probably be able to do. How about sitting down and saying "Man, I really hope to find something good here...I'll be listening for it".

My favorite music is still Western Swing. Asleep At The Wheel knocks my sox off every time I hear them. But, if I used them as a reference for everything else, I'm probably going to be really disappointed most of the time. I try to use no reference other than the quality, not syle, of the music. If the quality is there, I'll give it another listen and see if the style works for me. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. Of the hundreds of genres of music, I have found but a handful that I simply cannot manage to enjoy in any way, shape or form. That's a pretty low percentage.

All those years that I played straight country, and nothing else, i used to get so pissed when I would hear people say "If it ain't country; it ain't music!", or something to that effect. I say bullcrap! My thought...if it ain't country; it might be something else that's pretty darned godd, too. Maybe not...but maybe so. A closed mind is a roadblock to improvement and learning. For me, listening to the same music over and over is much like eating the same meal everyday.

Enuff said for a while, I guess. Again, just my opinion; but I am comfrotable with it.

Al

I like country music.
After all, there are so many other countries (besides the USA) with so much to offer.