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Who is moving music forward today?

OrionManMatt

OrionManMatt

Feb 17, 2004
1,574
5
Houston
#1
I know this is a rather subjective thread insofar as it assumes a lot of things from the get-go, but for the sake of discussion:

[a]re there bands that you feel are actually moving music forward today?


I have a few in mind but will hold off for now.
 
#2
Yes...in an ideal state, it's the bands that resonate with true passion, minimal irony, and no cynicism filter. That's what floats my boat. I don't care about the technology of it, I care about the feeling...feelings that are true, from beauty to brutality, move forward culture.

Moving forward is highly subjective. I'm not very savvy with that. WHat I am savvy with is things that kick ass...or at least kick mine. I can't really approach music these days in any other way than as a fan, even in the role of A&R for Dangerbird. My days of conjecture and analysis might be behind me. I seem to have become a reborn, passionate, simple music FAN.

Arcade Fire - they are very earnest and that makes me happy.
My man Alex doing Edward Sharpe. Again - they are real, they have the fire.
M83 - because I know have subjective experience of the inner workings and genius. And we're making a sick record.

Other great stuff I love of late:

Best Coast
St. Vincent
Active Child
Washed Out
Sufjan
Chk Chk Chk
Neon Indian
MAJOR LAZER!!!!
Caribou
School of Seven Bells "Disconnect From Desire" has about four songs on it that are so amazing that it justifies having the whole thing.
Dillinger Escape Plan - jesus that new record is crazy amazing
Vitalic
Beach House
Some new beats I just came up with using the modular

JMJ
 
#3
OMG and PLEASE PEEP THE NEW MEAT BEAT MANIFESTO RECORD IT's bananaz!!

Jack Dangers is a godlike genius, people.

The bass on that record will shred your mind...and speakers.
 
#8
You guys are on point.

For instance: just went to eMusic and peeped Protest the Hero. It's slightly derivative to me (Volta/Tool/etc), but it kicks ass and feels real and exciting. Jack White: he goes for BLOOD. You can feel it. That's soul. Muse: can't really get down with it. But when I hear it, I sense their commitment to pushing things around and and pushing their own personal envelopes as creative artists.

You can find merits with almost anything you listen to...you just need to get to the core of things with so many artists even if you don't dig it...it's in there, except in the many very disappointing cases, which are far too common these days.
 
#11
Besides some of the ones that have been mentioned so far, I feel like Brian Eno has been this abiding presence and influence in music for decades. It's hard for me to really grasp his effects.

Beyond him, it's pretty impressive to see what Radiohead has accomplished commercially whilst still being so dang creative. Their music is hard to box in.
 
#12
Muse is purely epic in my opinion. And I mean that in a bad way. They have nothing going for them except the fact that they attempt to move people with epic lyrics and music. I don't mean epic in the modern "that was soooo epiiiiic" use, I mean crescendo's and lyrics about political upheaval. After that (which got old after the first album), they're flat on their faces.
 
#14
I have a recommendation about this particular thread, humor me:

How about we find something to LIKE about every artist mentioned here? No joke. Find something to admire. It's fine to be bummed out about something, but if you choose to mention that, then in the same entry, please also attempt to mention some redeeming aspect about what they do. And if you can't, then maybe abstain from commenting.

This is an experiment; I'd like to actually turn this this thread into finding things to ADMIRE in artists that we think might be moving music forward. I submit to you: that might be actually how one moves music forward...honestly.

Humor me.

JMJ
 
#15
i think i'm done caring about new bands moving music forward. i like so many bands that haven't moved music forward at all that i just don't think i care anymore as long as the music entertains and moves me.

like some, i've lamented the death of rock and roll over the last few years, but then ac/dc came out with an album that sounded just like every other album they've done, with derivitave and trite lyrics, simple melodies and chord changes, and an absolutely unrepentant attitude about rocking balls and nothing else...and i loved it!

always room in my world for a good envelope pusher, but if they don't move music forward, i don't care anymore as long as it has commitment. i know nobody asked me, but that's what these forums are all about ;)

btw, i love jack white and am not crazy so much about qotsa, but in keeping with justin's wishes, josh homme is quite a good guitar player and played drums for the eagles of death metal, so he's cool by me. plus even if he has a 102 degree fever and been puking for 3 days, he'll still b***f*** a guy in front of all his friends:

 
#16
JimmyM said:
always room in my world for a good envelope pusher, but if they don't move music forward, i don't care anymore as long as it has commitment. i know nobody asked me, but that's what these forums are all about ;)
Click to expand...

Gotta agree, I don't really care if the music I am listening moves music anywhere, I just want it to move *me*

That said, Justin mentioned Edward Sharpe, and man, "40 Day Dream" is a superb tune. It doesn't sound old or new to me, just timeless.

I heard it as I was driving out of town and I literally took a detour to park outside a coffee shop so I could snag it off iTunes and have it for the drive I was taking.
 
#18
OK: I heard that AC/DC record in a car on the way from Mexico City airport to my hotel last year, and it was f*&#ing fun as SH&t. Moving things forward? Nope. Unrepentant badassery? Yup.

Gawd that Josh HOmme footage is embarrassing and funny. "Dickless turd" is so hilarious. You know, sometimes you just break. If I had a dollar for every time that I've been hit with something while playing a Euro festival (including that very one in the link) I'd be...well, maybe a couple of hundred dollars richer. Bring it. Abuse me.

In Germany one time I jumped off the stage, crossed the photo pit and attempted to kiss this kid who was spraying water on me. Didn't work out. But I certainly had him running scared.

Speaking of which: I'm ready to tour now.

JMJ
 
#20
honest to god, justin, i don't know how you guys take it without snapping. i would have mf'ers thrown out and arrested right and left. concerts used to be fun...now you're taking your life in your hands if you're within 15 feet of the stage. and i'm always surprised some performer hasn't been killed by these "dickless turds." spraying water on a dude who's holding an electric instrument should be considered attempted murder, or at least felony battery. kiss him? you're a better man than i ;)
 

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