I think I know the post you're referring to.
Yeah, I'm not sure. Since the 1950s, rock and roll has been
the mainstream genre of music. That was until about 6-8 years ago. It has become more and more marginalized in the mainstream to the point where it is rare to see a rock single crack the top 20 on the Billboard chart and if it does it is even rarer to see it in the top 10 (and if it is, rest assured most of what makes it have a "rock sound" is gone).
I mean since Elvis Pressley, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis rock 'n roll has been the defining genre of every decade. Think the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Nirvana, etc. Even the different subgenres had their huge stars with Elton John, Billy Joel, the Ramones, Alice in Chains, Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, etc.
The thing is the new generation is just not plugging into that. Honestly, hip hop is moving into the mainstream as that is where the most innovation seems to be happening. Since the '90s it has become culturally accepted as the new aesthetic in music and what is new is cool. MTV and music labels market in cool. And you are seeing booming growth with the crunk music scene from the south, hydi(sp?) from Oakland, etc. The influences of rap and blues are fading into it. I'd say the biggest musical hits of this decade are easily Jay-Z and Beyoncé--music ****ing royalty. They've crossed the mainstream and are seen as trans-cultural and don't appeal to any particular class. Right under that would probably be Eminem and Kanye West, even if they are **** heads, their music is influencing a new generation. Now more kids want to be the next star or "American idol" not the next rock star. So more are pushing there.
But it also is a bit of reaction to how the music industry has been pimping rock. There is no grunge this decade. No punk revival. No college alternative. It is trying to appeal to those who listen to simply the softest pop (think Kelly Clarkson, Avril, Pink--who has some hip hop influences--Britney, etc.). That leads to Gavin DeGraw, Incubus, The Fray, Jonas Brothers, Nickleback, Daughtry, etc. They have a very generic and safe sound. They recycle a certain sound that promises soft safe feelings and if they don't (say, Nickleback) they promise the exact same sound again and again so there is no worry about ever having to risk not liking it. Daughtry who showed up recently has copied the latter formula.
The biggest new rock artists that don't subscribe to those routes? Very theatrical. While glam rock was wonderful for Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Queen, etc. this is appealing to a specific audience. They are reaching out to rich angsty suburban kids. The record companies have Dashboard Confessionals, My Chemical Romance (who are actually quite talented), wear make-up dress in all black and sing just to that audience. While it promises great success with an upper-middle class white audience, it alienates the rest of rock listeners who are above the age of 18 or have real **** to deal with in their lives.
Therefore the biggest rock albums of the decade are sold by bands who have been around forever. U2, Aerosmith, Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, Green Day, etc. And notice how though I am a fan of the last one, I will admit the trends of the music industry has forced them to start dying their hair straight black (or Billie Joe anyway) and wear eye make up (well Dirnt still refuses to at least). BTW speaking of existing bands, anyone notice that while Linkin Park came around as one of the crappy Numetal bands popular at the turn of the decade, they have gone further into generic rock with more dance friendly rap infusing in their music to survive?
Quite frankly the record label to appeal to audiences has sanitized rock to the point where there is not much room for growth unless you were a big sensation prior to this decade.
And if someone does come out with a new sound, like the would-be Stripes that are the Killers, they're moving with the latest trend in hip hop which are fun, bland dance beats. The latest album is pure dance club pop--but that is the direction. People apparently just want to dance, because that is all we ever hear on the radio. Even Eminem is struggling compared to past success because he raps about **** that is meant to be felt, even in his now bland shock/satirical songs. Why listen to that when Flo Rida just brought back a ****** '80s song with a great beat? Apple Bottom Jeans? Riding Dirty?
Look at simple pop with Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, Pink, Justin Timberlake, etc. they are all going in that direction. Hip hop infused dance beats. I mean Nelly Furtado went from singing "I'm like a bird, gotta fly away," to "Promiscuous Song," which is about trying to get laid at a club.
But it ain't all bad. I love me some Muse. The Killers' first album still kicks ass. Kings of Leon seem pretty ****ing cool and are one of the great new acts of the year.
So it is not the end of the world. I think hip hop is going in the wrong direction currently, but it is cyclical and I imagine it will recover. At least it is not violence obsessed, but it can still be more meaningful. Rock is stuck in a rut and needs to be reinvented for the pop mainstream. Only time will tell what band will come around and do that (if it ever happens). I'd hate to see rock become marginalized more.
On a side note compared to all the straight pop and hip hop numbers at the MTV awards last week (though Beyoncé as usual rocked the house) Green Day just doing a straight kick ass rock number looked unique, rare for that audience and therefore awesome.
