Why is modern rock music so whiny?

[Noot]

Hey, I wanted to ask you guys who lived in the 60's, 70's or 80's and also the younger guys why do you think modern rock music so whiny. The melodies are slow and rainy, the lyrics are always complaining about something, etc. I have been going to auditions and jams lately and almost every time they start with the whining music. I want to play energetic, inspiring, get-out-there music that makes you feel good and want to have some fun, but I feel like a freak sometimes for wanting to do that. If I compare the feeling of Led Zeppelin and the feeling of today's known rock bands, it's a total downer. Is this a reflection of the people's state of mind? I really want to understand what happened so I can have some peace of mind.

[Lonesomedave]

well....here's my take for what it's worth

while there were a lot of great bands back in the late 60's and early 70's, there was a whole lot of crap then made too....just listen to some Captain and Tennille for example.

there are some good groups & some good music now, but i definitely think they are few and far between....those that come to mind are Joe Bonamassa, Primus, the Black Keys, Jack White, and i'm sure there are others.

the difference is, back then you couldn't throw a stone without hitting some great music...NOW?....you have to really dig for it.

why?

don't know, but everything runs in cycles...we are well overdue for an explosion of good music

[hibachiduck]

It's easier to write throwaway whiney music. What it seems the progression of a modern band is: write good music and play your butt off until you get signed -> write disposable crud and perform like crud because either way your record label is going to push your stuff and people will think you're talented. Labels do market research on what types of songs sell and get their producers to push bands to write to that as well. Local bands are effected by this too because they then listen to a deluge of cruddy over-produced cookie cutter songs, and you tend to write songs based on what's familiar to you in some way.

But, that aside, there are a LOT of good bands out there if you look hard enough. A LOT. Most of them are independent or on independent labels, but the major labels have signed some good stuff too that you may not have even expected them to sign. I spend a lot of time online just digging up bands to listen to.

[Arial Bender]

Because we have a whiny society. My take.

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by Arial Bender

Because we have a whiny society. My take.

Much agreed.

[NickTej22]

Because you're listening to the wrong kind of rock. Emo believes it connects with the youth off the country and every day problems(realistically though, that's how they get the money). I can't stand that music though.

[4001]

Originally Posted by Arial Bender

Because we have a whiny society. My take.

+1
And a hypersensetive, knee Jerk and overly P.C. society.
All of which I do not subscribe to.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by Arial Bender

Because we have a whiny society. My take.

BINGO! WE HAVE A WINNAH!

[VanillaThundah]

Originally Posted by Arial Bender

Because we have a whiny society. My take.

/THREAD

[Mushroo]

"I Can't Get No Satisfaction" is the dictionary definition of 'whiny'!

[socialleper]

Music goes through phases like that, but it is also a sign of the times. People don't feel good right now, and there isn't a lot to look forward to in a broader sense. Cultural emotional trends tend be be reflected in the art of the time.

Easily accessible radio rock is also a dying breed. The stuff I hear on the radio that is called rock barely meets my criteria for being anything more than synth-pop with some guitars thrown in. Its all very bland, even though I see a lot of groups scrambling around to look and sound retro in a 40's 50's sort of way, it comes off as highly disingenuous (lame @$$ hipsters.) They are trying to put a spin on it by adding a look or mystique, but in truth its just re-runs.
The digital age has rewritten the play book for rock in that people can now find what niche they are looking for and not have to rely on radio or record sales. The niche stuff is often less whinny but you actually have to look for it, its not as easy to find or to listen to.

[tdub0199]

It's called "The Pussification of America"

[Hamlet7768]

I'll bet many artists have the mistaken notion that music (and for that matter art in general) has to tug on your heartstrings, or else it's sellout party crap.

[4001]

Originally Posted by Lonesomedave

.....back then you couldn't throw a stone without hitting some great music...NOW?....you have to really dig for it.

why?

Because sometime in the early 80's there seemed to be some kind of a revolt to more complex music that led to hair bands and then an 'alternative' music scene that completly thumbed their noses at music education, learning, and practicing and favored less soloing probably because these new kids had no concept of how to do that because they didn't want to take the time to really learn their instruments due to the gotta' have it now attitude. They expressed that in their 'image' as well, IMO. The music became more simple and less reliant on challenging musical ideas and more attention paid to increasing youth rage fueled by prozac and heroin drugged kids wearing flanel shirts with bad, greasy hair playing music that sounded like a beginner music school concert would perform.

Music and music education was kicked to the curb because the new generations of kids were impatient and it showed in their music and lyrics.

Many of these kids hated "old geezers" that kids in the 60's-70's grew up with. At least those "old geezers" put a bit more emphasis on music and pushing themselves to be better musicians instead of promoting a culture of 'I don't care".

I worked at a music store in the last few years and it was really stunning listening to kids struggling with simple riffs by AC/DC and Nirvana when I remember kids in the 70's and early 80's learning and blazing through complex pieces like Genesis and Yes tunes.

Oh, I don't know, go ask Jeff Berlin. Oh, that's right, he's not here anymore.

Some young, know-it-all kids that didn't want to really learn their instruments and the basic fundamentals of music composition helped drive him away. What a shame.

No wonder music is so 'whiny' and simplistic these days.

Kids need equal time with X-Box, pills and skateboarding and then maybe some time trying to capture the vibe of music that shunned learning vs. the middle finger.

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by tdub0199

It's called "The Pussification of America"

Keep in mind that metal gets even more br00tal-er as time passes. So, kids are generally pissed or crying.

[4001]

Originally Posted by socialleper

Music goes through phases like that, but it is also a sign of the times. People don't feel good right now, and there isn't a lot to look forward to in a broader sense. Cultural emotional trends tend be be reflected in the art of the time.

People didn't feel too good in the 70's either with events like the Vietnam War but Yes managed to produce "Close To The Edge".

I blame an over-perscribed pill popping generation fueled by parents that have no control over their kids and have no business being a parent in many cases these days.

I remember how it was when I was growing up. You obeyed your parents and didn't smart off. You learned.
These days the kids tell their parents where to go stick it and the parents are powerless whimps. The kids turn out to be tyrants that want to write their own rules, like how they want to learn and 'write' music, for example. Whiny, pussified crap.
Auto-tune, because they cant sing and less attention to detail because that takes time and 'it's too hard'! Waaah!

Now, these kids are in protest movements like "Occupy", wondering why they cannot get work with their liberal-arts degrees and crying for their 'fair share' while they crap on police car, rape underage girls and completly destroy public parks with their garbage and puddles of urine. And they want to be taken seriously, like the music they produce. No thanks.

[HolmeBass]

Originally Posted by 4001

Because sometime in the early 80's there seemed to be some kind of a revolt to more complex music that led to hair bands and then an 'alternative' music scene that completly thumbed their noses at music education, learning, and practicing and favored less soloing probably because these new kids had no concept of how to do that because they didn't want to take the time to really learn their instruments due to the gotta' have it now attitude. They expressed that in their 'image' as well, IMO. The music became more simple and less reliant on challenging musical ideas and more attention paid to increasing youth rage fueled by prozac and heroin drugged kids wearing flanel shirts with bad, greasy hair playing music that sounded like a beginner music school concert would perform.

Music and music education was kicked to the curb because the new generations of kids were impatient and it showed in their music and lyrics.

Many of these kids hated "old geezers" that kids in the 60's-70's grew up with. At least those "old geezers" put a bit more emphasis on music and pushing themselves to be better musicians instead of promoting a culture of 'I don't care".

I worked at a music store in the last few years and it was really stunning listening to kids struggling with simple riffs by AC/DC and Nirvana when I remember kids in the 70's and early 80's learning and blazing through complex pieces like Genesis and Yes tunes.

Oh, I don't know, go ask Jeff Berlin. Oh, that's right, he's not here anymore.

Some young, know-it-all kids that didn't want to really learn their instruments and the basic fundamentals of music composition helped drive him away. What a shame.

No wonder music is so 'whiny' and simplistic these days.

Kids need equal time with X-Box, pills and skateboarding and then maybe some time trying to capture the vibe of music that shunned learning vs. the middle finger.

This is a very whiny post.

[Hamlet7768]

Originally Posted by 4001

Now, these kids are in protest movements like "Occupy", wondering why they cannot get work with their liberal-arts degrees and crying for their 'fair share' while they crap on police car, rape underage girls and completly destroy public parks with their garbage and puddles of urine. And they want to be taken seriously, like the music they produce. No thanks.

This is an unfair generalization both of my generation and of the Occupy Movement. I disagree with Occupy in many ways, but they aren't the whiny ruffians you seem to think they are.

[Richland123]

[Hamlet7768]

Originally Posted by Richland123

Sorry...