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More proof Rolling Stone Magazine knows nothing about music

#41
Hoover said:
Um...

I'm a late boomer (born in 1960) and I honestly do not recognize any of the songs on that list. None of 'em. I have no idea who their target audience is, but it sure ain't me.

edit: Thumpbass1 beat me to it.
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Yeah, I thought the same thing and you both beat me to it. Demographically, I'm a late boomer (born 1960 also) but I am totally blank for all of those songs and at least half of those artists.

There is a bottomless trough of great music out there, some old, some new. A top 40 list (which AFAIK is where that RS list comes from) is the last place to look for it.

Like I said, I guess it depends on your listening preferences. I listen to rock, jazz, funk, blues - I have a list of music I want to hear that is longer than my arm. I don't need a list of the most popular current songs or artists to maintain a collection that interests and inspires me.
 
#42
I know a couple of those people. Seeing as how I've lost almost all connection to what's "popular" nowadays I won't really try to say whether or not this list qualifies for what's the best in pop music.

I'm not sure why people would think such a mainstream magazine would have anything outside of what's popular today.
 
#44
7. Bruce Springsteen. One of the most overrated artists in American history. As another bassist recently stated on another board, when he sings it sounds like he is straining to have a bowel movement.
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You're kidding right? He is one of the best song writers in American History. Millions of albums sold to prove it, millions of fans atest to his legendary live shows.

Outlaw Pete is a great song, and Working On A Dream is a very good album. I dont think every song on it is excellent, but there are a number of real gems on it.

For example,



Then again, many people did not like the Beatles so I guess I shouldnt be surprised. :o
 
#45
Flanning said:
They aren't trying to appeal to the people who listen to specific genres. Those peopel tend to be divisive and very strict about what constitutes that specific type of music. Their magazing appeals to the vast majority of people who
(A) aren't musicians so they don't care about overt virtuosity
and
(B) will listen to whatever genre they like as long as it's catchy

To the credit of Rolling Stone, they didn't just pick from the list of songs that hit top 5 on the Billboard charts. Even if you don't like the music, at least they listened to music and made a decision instead of just looking at sales.
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There are better representations of every genre than they have, there are more popular choices, and there are simply "better" choices.
 
#51
I got to give the Miike Snow listing some props, that album is great. No real bass on many tracks but some great bass keys especially on songs like Black and Blue.

ex.

Probably one of my favorite new groups. Lead singer is some random american musician named Andrew Wyatt the other two guys are a production group know as Bloodshy and Avant.
 
#52
iamlowsound said:
Most of that list isn't exactly mainstream. Lady Gaga, Miley, U2 and Springsteen are, but after that it gets progressively less. I was surprised that TV on the Radio didn't make the list, but that album might have came out in 2008.

lowsound
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It did I think September. I remember because I drove out to see them and Bloc Party one night after the other in Calgary in early September and they plugged the album as coming out that month.
 
#53
Rocker949 said:
I've heard of about half of those artists. However, I'm not sure if I have heard any of those songs listed. This is what I can say about the artists I know something about.

1. Miranda Lambert. I'm not a country fan at all. But as far as I know, I have heard that Miranda Lambert is the real deal. For someone liking country music, this may actually be something good.

2. Franz Ferdinand. My first impression of them was not good because the song they were doing sounded almost exactly like Modest Mouse. I cannot stand Modest Mouse. Maybe some of Franz Ferdinand's songs are better than the one that sounded like Modest Mouse. I hope so.

3. Black Eyed Peas. Not interested in that genre.

4. Lady Gaga. I have heard a few of her songs. I didn't like any of them.

5. Pearl Jam. I have never listened to Pearl Jam very much. As far as I know, they're a good band but I haven't heard that song.

6. Miley Cyrus. I'm sure she is fine to listen to if you are 12.

7. Bruce Springsteen. One of the most overrated artists in American history. As another bassist recently stated on another board, when he sings it sounds like he is straining to have a bowel movement.

8. U2. I have tried really hard to give U2 a chance through the years, but have never liked their music. It sounds really bland.

9. Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. The genres they're in is of no interest to me at all. I have listened to several Alicia Keys songs. That first hit she had was pretty good. But everything I have heard since then sounded uninspired.

On a personal level, though, I have nothing against any of those artists. I honestly wish all of them well, although they seem to be doing fine without my support. I do have to say, though, that Miley Cyrus gets on my nerves because of her immaturity. I do make an effort to avoid her completely. She is the only artist on there that I have no tolerance for at all.
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Don't hold back! actually the comment about Bruce Strainsting is hilarious
 
#56
Back when it came out, RS panned the snot out of a Huey Lewis & The News release, giving it 2 stars and a brutal ho-hum review. The record still hit big, and a few issues later Huey and the boys were the cover story, telling the tale of their "long trip to the top." That was 25 years ago.


So, what was your question about Rolling Stone again? Something about how they don't know anything about music, and this is supposed to be shocking in some way?

Since Trouser Press folded back in the 80s, there hasn't been a single major music review publication that wasn't completely full of crap.


And can someone answer this question for me: How come so many of the participants in this thread equate "not to their taste" to "worthless"?
 
#57
bigfatbass said:
And can someone answer this question for me: How come so many of the participants in this thread equate "not to their taste" to "worthless"?
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In regards to RS...

Because many of the musicians that frequent RS magazine are in no way pushing the musical envelope, rather, many of them are playing it safe and basically copying past musical acts almost note for note - and the few that actually are the exception to my previous statement have already made it big in the public eye and RS feels safe promoting them because they won`t lose face doing so.

In regards to personal level...

If someone listens to a band (and actually tries to study them) and finds that they can`t find anything worth emulating from said band then it`s understandable that they may find them worthless to themselves.

All IMHO, of course.
 
#58
well jay z deserves to be where he is on that list. im a punk/thrash/hardcore kid and that album blew me away. ive never heard of half of those songs. never heard of a lot of those artists. weak. sauce.

and that gaga single has been out maybe a month. the last one was much bigger.
 
#59
Lots of indie love on the list

Nice to see Pearl Jam on the list, although I think "Just Breathe" is a much better song than "The Fixer"

I just heard Pheonix a few weeks back, great stuff though

Animal Collective I have been following for a few years, definitely something different

Nice to see Oberst on the list, one of the best songwriters of the modern era

I don't know much about Jay-Z, but I believe Alicia Keys has one of the best voices in music.

There's my limited input
 

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