History of Rock Final Exam. LET'S GO.
Thrust (1974)
"Actual Proof"; fender roads, 16th noted, highly syncopated, Chick Corea, world music
Dark themes about depression, suicide, murder, alienation
"Alive"
Black Market (1976)
"Black Market", simple bass line, many colors of layered keyboards
Other hit singles
"Come as you are" "Lithium" "Lithium" "In Bloom" "In Bloom"
Master of Puppets (1986)
"Master of Puppets"
Donna Summer
"Queen of Disco";Hit "Love to Love you Baby" (1976)
Songs Heard : - Chic, "Good Times" - Blondie, "Rapture" - Queen, "Another one Bites the Dust" - Sugarhill Gang, "8 th Wonder" - The Furious Five, "Birthday Party" - Spoonie Gee, "Monster Jam" - Incredible Bongo Band, "Apache" - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five "Freedom" - Sugarhill Gang, "Rapper's Delight"
"The adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel" (1981) - 1 st single capturing a live dj mix with three turntables
First video, 12:01 am on August 1, 1981
"Video Killed the Radio Star" The Buggles (1979)
After effects of disco
"dance music" replaces devalued term "disco"
The mid to late 60s saw the proliferation of unrefined, amateurish
"garage" bands
Cartesian Dualism
"high art" appeals to the mind, low art purely to the body
Minimalist aestheic: sparse instrumental arrangement, scratchy rhythm guitar
"intellectual" approach and lyrics
Heavy Metal culture
"subculture of alienaion" - Ani-established authority - Dis-interest in mainstream
Rise of Blockbuster albums
(e.g. Frampton Comes Alive 1976, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours (1977) )-attract large multi-national corporations to buy up record labels
London Calling
(uk 1979, us 1980). • Success in US
While the actual subculture closely tied to gays and ethnic minorities, they put a straight, white face on it
- Appropriation? - White-washing? Straight washing?
" (You Gotta) Fight for your Right (to Party)
- elements of punk
Tom Moulton
- An influential producer who pioneered the disco sound in the early 70's with his innovations - Created "disco mixes"/"megamixes", sides with multiple songs blended together into one long set, — longer, more danceable tracks. - Created the first "breakdown" or "disco break" section, breaking down the arrangement by stripping away vocals and solo instruments until only the drums or rhythm section was left.
EX. "Cum on Feel the Noize" Quiet Riot
1 st metal song to break top 5 pop chart, 1983
Bronx as marginalized area
1520 Sedgwick Avenue, 1973 Parties in parks, clubs, houses, abandoned buildings
Pre-1980s examples of popular music on screen
1940s-"soundies" featuring jazz, jump blues bands and others: Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Louis Jordan, fats Waller
Movies
1940s-Holiday Inn, Cabin in the Sky 1950s- Blackboard Jungle, The Girl Can't Help It, Elvis' Star vehicles 1960s- Beach Party, A Hard Day's Night other Beatles films
Michael Jackson
1964- begins career at age 5 with Motown group the Jackson 5 Shifts from Motown to teen-oriented pop to disco-style dance music
MC5
1969 Kick Out The Jams- title track starts with screaming profanity at the audience - Affiliated with radical leftist group The White Panthers - Actually had a more polished studio sound, but live were known for very raw, aggressive approach
Other precedents
1970s Jazz/Soul Artist Gill Scott-Heron often included spoken word pieces in between in his conventionally sung songs e.g. "The Revolution will not be televised" (1974 ) • The Last Poets-Percussion and poetry ensemble, associated with civil rights movement, protest of social degradations that happened in the 70s (When the revolution comes 1970) • Comedian Rudy Ray Moore's 70s "party records"- funny stories with musical background (Recommend "Shine and the great titanic")
The Rocky Horror Show
1973 Written by Richard O'Brien who identifies as either transgender/third gender Explores themes of transgression of sexual, gender norms, conflict between conservatism and liberation Homage to 50s science fiction, many retro rock, r&b, doo-wop elements in the score Example: Sweet Transvestite
The Clash
1977
"Allison" from
1977 My Aim is True
"Pump it Up" and "Radio Radio"
1978 This Year's Model
Kurt Cobain's death
1993 In Utero In Utero released Sept 1993 released Sept 1993 #1 #1 MTV Unplugged MTV Unplugged (Dec) (Dec) #1 #1 1994 1994 April 8, Kurt Cobain found dead April 8, Kurt Cobain found dead Suicide Suicide
1993, indie label Matador, achieve some success / achieve some success / popularity popularity
1997 "Little Honda" Cover of the Beach Boys song Cover of the Beach Boys song about a motorcycle about a motorcycle
MD Free Fusion
8th rock rhythms in late 60s, electric instruments and free sections; took elements of free jazzfrom 60s and combined w/ rock rhythms and electric instruments of the fusion era to create memorable and controversial records
Other Late 70s Hard Rock
AC/DC (australia)- Lead guitarist Angus Young imitates Chuck Berry's duck walk • Aerosmith • Foghat-Uk band known for touring heavily, heavy use of electric slide guitar • Blue Öyster Cult- irst to use the "metal umlaut" • Most of these bands retain more connecion to the blues and the roots of rock and roll than NWBH. Oten don't get discussed as much because they were not seen as innovators
Rise of FM AOR (album oriented radio)
Advertisers, corporations pressure broadcasters into more streamlined, standardized song lengths, styles, make room for more ads, appeal to lowest common denominator
Bands that just rocked
Aerosmith-American Led Zeppelin, cross btwn LZ and TRS, Toys in the Attic (1975), Walk this way AC/DC-bag pipes, ripped off Jumping Jack Flash by TRS, It' s a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll (1975) Van Halen-Eddie and Alex (Ringo of the group), Eddie had own custom guitars, David Lee Roth one of the best frontmen of all time
Toasting: speaking rhythmically over beat
Afro-derived practices throughout Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica
"I'm Eighteen"
Ala My Generation By the who Somber tone of the Doors Raspy, screaming vocals, prefiguring punk-rock
Rock as Theater
Along with the many other ways rock music is "expanding" in the 1970s, one of the ways is more elaborate, sets, costume and staging. Progressive Rock/art-rock, Funk, hard rock all had increasingly "theatrical" elements. Musical Theater composers and producers began to incorporate rock and R&B styles = > Rock Musicals.
Britpop
Alternative British bands that achieved mainstream success achieved mainstream success in 1990s in 1990s Very similar trajectory to U.S. Very similar trajectory to U.S. Grunge bands Grunge bands Reaction against the Reaction against the dominance of American grunge dominance of American grunge Drew influence from previous Drew influence from previous British rock British rock Brit invasion bands Brit invasion bands Glam rock Glam rock Punk rock Punk roc
1990s
Alternative to what? Is "alternative dominance" an oxymoron? Grunge is classic example, becomes massively commercially successful Grunge is classic example, becomes massively commercially successful Alternative becomes a commercial genre and radio station Alternative becomes a commercial genre and radio station "indie" used to distinguish less commercially successful bands from the mass of hugely "indie" used to distinguish less commercially successful bands from the mass of hugely successful alternative successful alternative bands bands Tension between DIY values and mainstream popularity of performers Tension between DIY values and mainstream popularity of performers
1960s Garage Rock
Amateur bands - Limited technical abilities on instruments - Or, deliberately harsh or amateur sounding - Or Both!
Television
American Bandstand , the Ed Sullivan Show , The Monkees , Soul Train
Socio-political themes
Ani-establishment - Warfare, alienaion, horror, madness
Focus on celebrity to the exclusion of music and dancing distasteful to many underground disco participants
Appropriation?
Producers, Euro Disco
As with the Brill building and Motown models, in disco producers reassert themselves as the main creative force on disco recordings • Many prominent disco producers were from Europe Jacques Morali (The Village People) Giorgio Moroder (Donna Summer) • European style arguable decreased the funky elements = less syncopation, more rhythmically straight forward
Nik Cohn "Tribal rights of the new Saturday night"
Based a lot of his description of fashion, dancing on British mod culture
"Rock Box" (1984)
Beats by DJ Jam Master Jay - Rock riffs by Eddie Martinez - 1 st rap video on MTV
nfluences wide range of indie bands, often blending with noise bands, often blending with noise rock/pop influences rock/pop influenc
Beck, Neutral Milk Hotel, Yo La Tengo, Modest Mouse, Of Tengo, Modest Mouse, Of Montreal, The Shins Montreal, The Shins
"Horses" (1975)
Begins with spoken word - Includes references to early rock and roll
Issues of Appropriation
Best selling rap album of 1980s - 1 st rap album to reach #1 on Billboard Charts - Parody of whiteness; blackness and punk as markers of teen sexuality and rebelliousness
"Enter Sandman"
Big hit, Metallica are "sellouts"
California
Black Flag (LA) - Arguably the irst hardcore band (1979) • The Dead Kennedys (San Francisco)- Jello Biafra's very operaically silly sense of humor, poliically charged saire (e.g. Holiday in Cambodia, California Uber Alles)
Become Hugely Popular in UK
Blitzkrieg Bop (1976) -simple verse, no chorus, 3 chords high energy, high speed, and amateur qualities
Other hard rockers
Blue Oyster Cult-Dominance and Submission (1974) Thin Lizzy-The Boys are Back in Town (1976), Irish Budgie Breaking all the house rules (1975) Biggest hits not always best songs or artistic peak or innovative
Lo-fi influences on britpop
Blur is influenced by American indie "lo-fi" American indie "lo-fi" sound sound 1997 album 1997 album Blur Blur Hit single, "Song No.2" Hit single, "Song No.2" U.S. success U.S. success Listen for: Listen for: Lo-fi quality, Lo-fi quality, amateurish sound amateurish sound Heavily distorted Heavily distorted guitar in chorus guitar in chorus Grunge-like dynamic Grunge-like dynamic contrast between contrast between verse & chorus
David Bowie
Born David Jones, studied dance, theater, mime, graphic art, design as well as music Musically influenced by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, folk-rock, later becoming interested in early electronic music Adopted a series of personas, often each album was a self- conscious stylistic reinvention: Ziggy Stardust, The Thin White Duke
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Born to Run 1975 Darkness at the edge of Town (1978) The River (1980) Born in the USA (1984) Americana, heartland rock, urban working class, dad rock, nostalgia, blew up in the 80s
The Cars
Boston band • Background playing early rock and folk rock • Many early new wave hits
Much of these bands derisively nicknamed "corporate rock"- highly professional, good musicianship, but not much "edge".
Boston, Foreigner, Journey, Kansas, Styx, REO Speedwagon, ELO
12 '' records
Both largely invented (or at least popularized) by New York producer Tom Moulton who worked for MGM, others • The 12'' vinyl single allowed for extended running times (most vinyl singles were 7 to 10'', LPs were usually about 12'') • Wider groove spacings than LP allows for louder levels and wider dynamic range • Had roots in extended singles produced in Jamaican music scenes: mento, ska, reggae, rock steady
Hip hop style parties begin to spread
Breakdancing
Public Enemy
Bring The noise (1988), Fight the Power (1990): Harsh dissonant collages with samples from many different sources, lyrics about challenging the political status quo
Grunges ushers in era of Alternative Rock Mega Success
Brit Pop Post-Grunge Post-Grunge Poppy post-grunge Poppy post-grunge 3 3 rd rd Eye Blind, Matchbox 20 Eye Blind, Matchbox 20 Skater (pop) Punk Skater (pop) Punk Blink 182, Green Day Blink 182, Green Day
John McLaughlin
British guitarist, virtuosic gutiar tone, also played vina-seven string Indian instrument, guitar w/ two necks
Dominated by white males, working class
Brotherhoods of metalheads
1990s Mega Success
By 1990s, Grunge launched into massive mainstream into massive mainstream success success Hollywood movies, TV shows, Hollywood movies, TV shows, even high fashion even high fashion Antithetical to original Antithetical to original aesthetic of the music aesthetic of the music Alternative genre comes to Alternative genre comes to dominate 1990s rock
Dance Remixes
By Late 1960s Moulton often called upon to make specialized mixes of dance songs popularizes special "dance mixes" : • Also Had Jamaican precedents Dub- special substyle of reggae highlighting such instrumental remixes, come to refer to similar electronic music from other material • Lee "scratch" perry, King Tubby - Jamaican Producers, pioneer of these affects
Commercialization of Metal
By mid-1980s, heavy metal breaks into mainstream - Dominates 1980s Rock Big Hair/Glam Metal Pop Metal Guitar Shredders
Philly Soul
Centered around Philadelphia International, independent record label founded by Production team of Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
Identified as much (or more) with punk
Cited by later "thrash" and "speed" metal arists as inspiraion
Managed by Malcolm McLaren
Clothing store owner whose shop SEX became hugely influential for punk fashion
"In Bloom"
Cobain's commentary on the mainstream misunderstanding and shallowly enjoying grunge
Indie Rock Distribution
College radio stations Fanzines and other publications Fanzines and other publications College Music Journal College Music Journal (CMJ) (CMJ) Extensive touring Extensive touring Low-budget album releases Low-budget album releases Internet distribution Internet distribution
"Bad Girls" (1979)
Common disco features: - "4-on-the-floor" bass drum on every beat - Fast, syncopated pattern on the hi hat - R&B style horns and strings
F Tha Police
Controversial because it seems to advocate criminality, misogyny, homophobia - Defenders say they are affecting a character and/or making a frank examination of inner city reality - However some other rappers, commentators like Spike Lee argue that gangsta rap has become a new form of minstrelsy
"Ashes of American Flags"
Country-esque acoustic guitar Verse-chorus, but unconventional Verse-chorus, but unconventional "vamps" "vamps" Built from small sections Built from small sections Reused but not in the same order Reused but not in the same order Electronic sounds, Bells, "wind," Electronic sounds, Bells, "wind," ambient noise ambient noise End section, which leads to next End section, which leads to next track track Odd snare drum in chorus Odd snare drum in chorus
The Endless Beat
DJs played diverse range of music - But Dominated by R&B/Soul/Funk - Anything that could keep people dancing for a long time
Sampling continued
De La Soul was one of the first hip-hop artists to sample white artists (1989's 3 Feet High and Rising) like Steely Dan and the turtles, were sued, established legal precedent that sampling should be credited and compensated. (For the most part no one cared when hip hop artists were sampling music by black artists) • Producers find creative ways to layer and collage multiple samples from several sources e.g. Public Enemy's Bomb Squad
Blondie
Debbie Harry lead singer, her and Christ Stein guitarist wrote most of the songs • 1975, become regulars at CBGB
"To be feminine is the most masculine display possible"
Dee Snider, Twisted Sister
Glam's place in Rock History
Deliberately or not, the performers helped challenged accepted conventions of gender, sexuality Exemplified the growth of rock and roll as an artform in terms of extramusical characteristics: theater, staging, costuming, visual arts etc. Continued to have an influence on the cosmetic and sartorial aspects of rock performers particularly in the 80s: Prince, Boy George, Motley Crue, Twisted Sister While some glam bands had more arty/progy leanings, musically a lot of Glam-rock was a precursor to the distilled simplicity of punk-rock
Rise of cable television in the 1980s
Deregulation of entertainment and communications industries 1980s
Lo-Fi
Describes sound quality of early recordings, amateur recordings recordings, amateur recordings 1990s 1990s Bands inspired by the informal Bands inspired by the informal qualities of 1970s bootleg qualities of 1970s bootleg recordings recordings Attempt to achieve a similar Attempt to achieve a similar sound/aesthetic sound/aesthetic Economic necessity Economic necessity Valued for lack of studio "slickness" Valued for lack of studio "slickness" Authenticity and simplicity Authenticity and simplicity Pavement, Guided by Voices, Pavement, Guided by Voices, Elliot Smith Elliot Smit
Other US New Wave Groups
Devo - (de-evoluion) - Sairical humor, sci-i - Pioneering music videos - "Whip it!" (1 The B-52s - "Rock Lobst
Code of authenicity
Devotion to music, "selling out"
Albums
Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999, Purple Rain, sign O' the times, Around the world in a day, Lovesexy
"Heart of Glass" (1978)
Disco and Euro-pop inluences • Punk-style "One Way or Another", "Call Me"
New School- Rap starts to become more main stream, rely less on disco, sampling, more original music
Drum machines-Roland TR-808 - Elements of rock
Late 76, they swear during a live TV interview
EMI dropped band in resulting scandal • Public outrage
Punk Scene in NY
Early 1970s, a local New York rock scene emerges - Distinct sound, aesthetics - Becomes "Punk"-defiant youth
Prog ish (prog lite)
Electric Light Orchestra-Jeff Lyne (UK) Can't Get it Out of My Head (1974)-derivative of Beatles Boston-More Than a Feeling (1976), solid musicianship, very accessible, not as cerebral so as to not alienate audiences Journey-Don't stop believin, separate ways,lights, Kansas-Dust in the Wind Foreigner-Feels like the first time, cold as ice, double vision Styx-Come Sail away, Lady Rush-Tom Sawyer
British New Wave
Elvis Costello and The Attractions
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
Emerges in late 1970s - As early metal bands and punk rock bands decline and new wave takes over - Takes inspiraion from punk in terms of faster tempos, more energy - Also progressive rock in terms of musicianship, complexity esp. Iron Maiden and Judas Priest
Heavy Metal
Emerges out of Hard Rock - Inluences from classical music • Bach: improvisaion, Wagner: epic, bass, and deep heavy so unds
Queen
English band Influenced by hard rock, prog, music hall, vaudeville, trad jazz, musical theater Freddie Mercury lead singer and pianist- born Farrokh Bulsara another classic rock vocal virtuosity Brian May used distinctive chorusing affects, overdubbing on his guitar All members wrote songs, Mercury's often had subtle (or not so subtle) gay undertones, camp sensibility
T. Rex
English rock band led by singer, songwriter Marc Bolan Had roots playing folk-rock, acid- rock, settled on a more straightforward, retro-ish Rock and Roll sound Openly embraced sleaze, eschewed any pretentions of being profound Performed in early 70s with glitter, satin somewhat influenced by mod culture and fashion
"Staying Alive" 1977
Falsetto - 4 on the floor - "I'm a woman's man" as opposed to "you can hang out with all the boys"
Madonna
Famous for provocative, challenging sexuality Much-debated figure among feminists Objectifying the female body, selling sex? Claiming sexual empowerment?
Studio 54
Famous, influential nightclub, opening 1997 • Known for wild parties, celebrities and wealthy clientele
Blondie song "Rapture" (1981)
Features rap section - Names figures Fab Five Freddy and Grandmaster Flash
1977 appearance on SNL
Fills in for Sex Pistols
Wilco
Formed 1994 in Chicago Former members of Alt- Former members of Alt- Country band Uncle Tupelo Country band Uncle Tu
Beastie Boys
Formed as hardcore punk band in 1981, adopted hip hop (as a joke) in 1984 • Hired Rick Rubin, who later co-founded Def Jam Records
Roxy Music
Formed in 1971, Brian Ferry lead singer and pianist. Brian Eno was their synth player/programmer for their first two albums Had a lot in common with Art/Prog, but were more dance-oriented than most prog bands Heavy use of synthesizers, electronics Huge influence on rock bands of the 80s: Talking heads, Duran Duran, The Cars, Depeche Mode
Patti Smith
Formed in 1974 to play rock music - started in spoken-word poetry performances • Becomes resident of CBGB - Along with Television - Club gets attention
The Sex Pistols
Formed in 1975
The Clash
Formed in 1976
Metallica
Formed in 1981, Los Angeles • First 4 albums garner large fanbase and criical acclaim
Radiohead
Formed in 1985 as On a Friday Radiohead in 1991 Radiohead in 199
Pearl Jam
Formed in 1990, former members of Green River and Mother Love of Green River and Mother Love Bone Bone
Arcade Fire
Formed in 2001 in Montreal
Russell Simmons
Founder of Def Jam Records; Rev Run (Joseph Simmons) from Run- D.M.C. is his brother
Origins of Disco
French discothéque (library of discs) • Paris jazz night clubs in occupied France in WWII had to play records because there were restrictions against live music, jazz • By the 1960s "disco" as shorthand term catches on to refer to any nightclub that played mostly recorded music instead of live music • Often played the most uptempo and/or grooviest R&B/Soul/Funk records • James Brown other funk artists began to release multi- part singles with extended running times to cater to dance clubs
Alice Cooper
From Detroit. Played in the same club scene in Detroit as "proto-punk" bands MC5, Stooges. Started as name of band, became stage name of Band's lead singer Vincent Furnier Influenced by the generational rebellion/defiance of the who, the darkly poetic style of the doors Like Black Sabbath inspired by gothic horror Became a major influence on punk, heavy metal. Term "shock rock" coined in reference to them Often included elaborate skits and magic tricks: Alice in a straight jacket, Alice getting decapitated by a guillotine
Run DMC
From Queens emcees Run (Joseph Simmons) and DMC (Daryl McDaniels), producer Russel Simmons, DJ Jam Master Jay
The Stooges
Frontman Iggy (later Iggy pop) known for screaming, incoherent lyrics, wild stage antics - "Loose" from album FunHouse (1970)- 3 power chords, thick distorted sound, screaming vocals (inspired by Howlin' Wolf)
Pathbreaking "Billie Jean" in 1983
Funk/disco elements Striking visuals Lighted tiles Innovative dance moves
Later 70s funk and rock artists influenced by the disco sound
Get up offa that thing- James Brown • Let's groove - Earth Wind and Fire • Don't Stop Till You get Enough - Michael Jackson
New wave rockers embrace hip hop
Graffiti into art galleries - Hip hop djs to downtown clubs
Grandmaster Flash
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five - Transition to studio recording, difficulties
Early Seattle Grunge Bands
Green River (84-87) Mudhoney (88 - Pres) Mudhoney (88 - Pres) Mother Love Bone (1988- Mother Love Bone (1988- 1990) 1990) Pearl Jam Pearl Jam The Melvins
Private loft parties
Grew from rent parties and psychedelic parties - David Mancuso and The Loft • Private non-commercial party • Attendance by invitation only
Dub music in 1960s
Grew out of reggae. Lee "scratch" Perry - Remixes that isolate and emphasize rhythm (bass and drums) as well as adding echo, isolating and sequencing particular breaks, intros, hooks etc.
Key Characteristics
Guitar is central: Songs are Rif heavy • Heavy distorion, extended, virtuosic solos, power chords • LOUD
Beginning in 1970s, cable develops specialty channels
HBO
Rock Musicals
Hair (1967) Andrew Lloyd Weber's early works were rock operas: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Jesus Christ Superstar (1970) Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror show (1973) Grease (1971) Alan Menken's Little Shop of Horrors (1982)
"My Best Friend's Girl" (1978)
Hand-claps - Rockabilly-style guitar licks - Occasional "hiccups" in vocals - Early rock theme of teenage romance
Sonic Characteristics
Heavily distorted guitars Contrasting dynamics (loud/soft sections) Contrasting dynamics (loud/soft sections) Gritty / growling vocals, apathetic and angst-filled lyrics Gritty / growling vocals, apathetic and angst-filled lyrics Rejection of theatricsm= "dressing down" Rejection of theatricsm= "dressing dow
Album Ten Ten released in 1991 released in 1991
Huge 1992 success One of the highest selling rock One of the highest selling rock albums ever albums eve
Short, fast songs, few chords, not even guitar solos! • Surly, silly, lyrics and personas
Humor, lack of pretention - NOT particularly political or confrontational
Jazz
Improv, complex dissonant harmonies and form
Free fusion period albums
In a Silent Way, B's Brew (controversial, sold million copies)
Thrash Metal
In part Reacion to Glam Metal, commercializaion of metal
Sampling
In the early days DJs were using existing records to make "new" music because they couldn't afford instruments: made a new artform out of isolating and sequencing excerpts from different songs together • Likewise sampling in the early days was a way for people who had no musical training (often owing to budget cuts in inner city public schools) to make music, express themselves musically • ALL other types of music making involve quoting, adapting or modifying earlier compositions to varying degrees • Sometimes samples are only very spare isolated elements: a drum beat, a riff, a bass line.
Hardcore rap/ gangsta rap
In the late 80s, Artists like Boogie Down Productions, Public Enemy, NWA , craft a more deliberately confrontational, angry, anti- establishment style, analogous to punk-rock
(1991) "The Black Album"
Increased commercial success - Sparks debates of "selling out" Arguably helps demarcate point at which "metal" becomes something truly disinct from hard-rock
What Happened? Shifts in Music Industry Shifts in Music Industry Digital Age
Increasing access for DIY recording recording Internet Sales & MP3 Internet Sales & MP3 Devastating for some Devastating for some Demise of record stores Demise of record stores Democratizing Force Democratizing Force Evens playing field Evens playing field Internet buzz and blogs extended Internet buzz and blogs extended beyond "College" crowd
Dance clubs continue
Increasing trends toward faster beats, synthesizers, and drum machines - EDM, techno etc. all grow out of this
Major labels suffer, while...
Indie fans continue to support their bands their bands
2000s- today
Indie rock largely means "modern" or contemporary rock A lot of the more cerebral rock influenced music from the 90s onward is started to be A lot of the more cerebral rock influenced music from the 90s onward is started to be referred to as "post-rock" referred to as "post-rock
"One" 1988
Inluenced by Deep Purple's "Child in ime" - Ani-war lyrics about Soldier losing sight, limbs - "Epic" structure that builds from slow, quiet opening - Marial "machine gun" afect with palm-muing and double-bass drum - Uses footage from "Johnny Got His Gun" (1971)
Iron Maiden
Inluences from prog rock - Heavy rifs and horror imagery
The New York Dolls
Inspired by British Glam and NYC Drag Queens Harsh, aggressive, and defiantly sloppy sound Either "proto punk" or an early example of the punk sound While dressing and acting effeminately, arguably had a more "masculine" sound than many other Glam- rock bands
"Love's Theme"
Instrumental filler track becomes disco hit (1973)
Ok Computer 1997
International critical acclaim Expanded sound, ambient and Expanded sound, ambient and electronic influences electronic influences Themes of modern alienation Themes of modern alienation Often compared to Pink Floyd, other Often compared to Pink Floyd, other 70s prog influences 70s prog influences "Paranoid Android," "Karma Police" "Paranoid Android," "Karma Police" "No Surprises"
Jamaican music
Jamaican musical styles in the 1960s were greatly influenced by American R&B, Soul would in turn influence a great deal of rock and R&B in the 1970s and Beyond
Synthesizer-dominated sound ("synthpop")
Kraftwerk Uses Vox AC30 amplifier to distort the voice, mimic early broadcasting Technological, "futuristic", but lyrics express nostalgic regret for the past
Nirvana
Kurt Cobain Sub Pop Record Label Sub Pop Record Label Bleach Bleach (1989) (1989) " " About a Girl About a Girl "
Disco Underground/Underground dance scene NYC
LGBTQ- even at gay bars in 1970s, often still harassed, arrested, had to find even more removed places to pursue nightlife - Black - Latino
"Disco Sucks"
Large backlash against disco by Rock enthusiasts Why?
1977 album Talking Heads:77
Later albums incorporate funk, afro-beat, african drumming, would recruit former members of King Crimson, Funkadelic
"Walk this Way" cover/remix of Aerosmith's original
Later's Career was floundering - Collaboration in video is a comeback for band - Run DMC version charts higher than original - Renewed interest in Aerosmith - Increasing exposure of Rap to mainstream audiences
Nevermind (1991) (1991
Launches grunge into national attention and huge commercial attention and huge commercial success success Sparks "Alternative" Rock Sparks "Alternative
Personality Crisis (1973): back to basics rock n' roll Produced by Todd Rundgren
Lead singer David Johassen influenced by Howlin wolf, Mick Jagger More aggressive screaming vocals Precursor to Punk-rock
1999:
Lead vocals passed around like many early Sly & The Family stone songs
Early Heavy Metal Bands
Led Zeppelin- dynamic contrasts, "epic" structures, acousic interludes • Deep Purple- extreme vocal range, classically inluenced musicianship • Black Sabbath - Gothic horror elements, - Darker sounds
"The Trooper" 1983
Listen for - Doubled guitar lines - Rapid bass line interplay - Heavily distorted and fast rhythm guitar
"Ace of Spades" 1980
Listen for • Very distorted guitar • Fast, amateurish, punk feel • Power trio
Along with MJ one of first black artists to have heavy rotation on MTV:
Little Red Corvette
Girlschool
Longest running all female rock band • Punk-inged Metal • Collaboraions with Motörhead
Alice Cooper Albums
Love It to Death, Killer (1971) School's out (1972) Billion Dollar Babies (1973) Welcome To My Nightmare (1975) - Alice's first solo album
Barry White
Love Unlimited
Get it On (Bang a gong): simple mid-tempo rock groove
Lyrics openly sexual, celebrating being "dirty and sweet"
Vocals: Range from Screams to Operaic. Usually very t echnically proicient in contrast to punk
Lyrics: Dark and explicit, range from death, war, sex, myt hology, fantasy Virtuosic bass playing, oten double or interplay with guitar
5 elements:
MC, DJ, Graffiti, Break Dance, Beat Boxing
1983, Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean"
MTV refused to play Michael Jackson because he was black Or they thought that they're predominantly white audience would not want to black artists
Glam Metal (Hair Metal)
Make up, big hair, cross dressing, shock rock
Alt Rock in the 80s
Many bands have strong followings on college campuses, often called "college rock campuses, often called "college rock" Some bands started on indies would later sign to majors
The name sticks with the music scene
Many don't like it - Also, play into it
Thriller, 1982
Many hits, promoted with music videos
Pop metal
Many of the same musical and cosmeic characterisics of Glam - Catchy choruses/hooks - Emoional power ballads But w slightly emphasis on make- up, feminine clothing, etc.
Epic threatened to pull all of their artists of MTV if they didn't air Jackson's video
March, 1983, video airs to enormous success
What is Grunge?
Mark Arm (vocalist for Seattle bands Green River and Mudhoney) first used "grunge" in 1981 to describe his band Mr Mudhoney) first used "grunge" in 1981 to describe his band Mr Epps and the Calculations Epps and the Calculations
Malcolm McLaren
Melody Maker writer Caroline Cloon popularize d "new wave" to refer to bands that weren't exactly punk but were ied to similar approach, aestheic, scene, subculture, manager of Sex Pistols
Indie Labels...
Merge Arcade Fire Arcade Fire Saddle Creek Records Saddle Creek Records Connor Oberst (Bright Eyes) Connor Oberst (Bright Eyes) Cursive Cursive XL Recordings XL Recordings Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend Sigor Ros Sigor Ros Wilco Wilco Hugely influential Hugely influential Helped usher Indie into new Helped usher Indie into new mainstream success mainstream succes
Big 4
Metallica - Megadeth - Slayer - Anthrax
Many artists, including rockers like Stones and Kiss, record disco- influenced songs in late 1970s
Miss You- Stones - Do You think I'm Sexy- Rod Stewart - Train in Vain- The Clash
New Techniques
Mixing two songs together - "beatmatching"- adjusting playback speed so the beat doesn't change between songs - Remix- studio manipulation to extend the song - Isolating bridge sections, intros, rhythm breaks, other attention grabbing instrumenental parts, sequencing together
3 rd album, Parallel Lines (1978)
More pop oriented sound • Disco, reggae, even rap
Miles Davis
Most commercially successful jazz musician, Merged jazz and rock to create fusion
Alt-Country sound increasingly experimental and diverse experimental and diverse range of sounds range of sound
Most often identified as "Indie Rock" Rock
Dominates the metal scene in early-mid 1980s
Moves even further away from Blues
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Movie based on an (largely concocted, fraudulent) ethnographic article about New York's discothèque culture Establishes disco's mainstream popularity Bee Gee's soundtrack hugely popular
"Thriller" 1983
Much anticipated video 13-minute short film Included a plot and spoken dialogue $500,000 budget (an absurd amount for a music video at the time)
Cultural Assumption behind this:
Music for listening is more intellectual than music for dancing, and thus higher status
Gangsta Rap
NWA, Ice-T others emphasize the harsh realities of inner city life, often lyrics from the perspective of criminals. Style becomes known as "gangsta rap":
The Velvet Underground
NYC - Connected to Andy Warhol - Experimental music (minimalism) - Lyrics about junkies, misfits, transvestites, other outsiders to mainstream culture - Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
More CBGB
New York club, founded in 1973 - CBGB & OMUG • C ountry, B lue G rass, and B lues - (Other Music for Uplifting Gormandizers) • Becomes Center of US Punk scene • Important for Punk and New Wave music - Punk: Ramones, Patti Smith, Television - New Wave: Talking Heads, Blondie - Television ??
Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa
New musical techniques • breaks, punch phrasing, scratching,
Nationally prominent grunge bands
Nirvana Pearl Jam Pearl Jam Sound Garden Sound Garden Alice in Chains Alice in Chains
1991
Nirvana still figuring out what "grunge" is....
Authenticity?
No relationship between live performing musician and audience - Not artistic, not political, not real "just" about dancing - Not cerebral - Fabricated, commercial, mainstream
Yo La Tengo
Noise Pop Typically more melodic than Typically more melodic than noise rock, related to noise rock, related to shoegazer rock shoegazer rock Yo La Tengo formed in 1984 Yo La Tengo formed in 1984
Helped cement music videos role
Not only as promotion, BUT Art form in its own right
1998 album In the Aeroplane In the Aeroplane over the Sea over the Sea title track, pg. title track, pg. 488
One of most acclaimed indie releases of 1990s Listen for: Saw and flugelhorn Saw and flugelhorn Deliberately strained, nasally Deliberately strained, nasally "amateurish" vocals
Most Band Members are multi -instrumentalists -instrumentalists
Orchestral strings Accordion Accordion French horn French horn Harp Harp Hurdy-gurdy Hurdy-gurdy
The Bee Gees
Originally a popular rock band, in the 60s very close to the Beatles stylistically. • Turn to Disco in mid-70s • Barry Gibb adopts R&B influenced falsetto • Catapulted into popularity with their soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever
Musical/Other characteristics of new wave
Oten less crunchy, sparer guitar sound • Usually not as hard rocking, or at least more varied • More rhythmic, formal complexity (more than 3 chords, bridge secions, dynamic contrasts) than punk in its rawiest, stereotyped form • Greater emphasis on musicianship , interplay e.g. T elevision, The Police • More keyboard, synthesizer, later on drum machine sou nds • Retro in sound and visuals: Rockabilly, R&B, Surf rock • More relecive, intellectual, ironic in mood and feel than the anger/aggression/deiance of punk • In the 80s blends with "synth pop" helps deine the mainstream 80s pop/rock sound
Aggressive, Even Faster Tempos, shredding and highly staccato/ percussive rifs
Palm-muting
Guitar Shredders
Poppy, metal sound • Emphasis on explosive Guitar virtuosity • Tendency toward prog- ish or "serious" and instrumental composiions • Van Halen, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen • Ex. "Erupion" Van Halen
Elements of metal, punk, pop, and glam
Power Ballad
Motörhead
Power trio Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister-bass, lead vocals, main songwriters
Prince
Prince From Minneapolis, born Prince Rogers nelson Modeled self after Stevie wonder in terms of demanding full creative control, self-producing, writing and playing everything Had an multi-racial, gender band ala Sly stone called the Revolution One of the most prolific and eclectic solo artists of all time Followed DIY approach on many of his early albums.
Purple Rain
Prince's first film, from 1984. Also the name of the soundtrack album. semi-autobiographical
Fight The Power samples
Production team "The Bomb Squad" include samples from over 14 different songs. Similar to musique concrete
"Space Oddity"
Psychedelic production affects Mellotron Folkie acoustic strumming Science fiction inspired storyline Androgynous dress, makeup style
The Punk Community
Punk Magazine (1976) - Music press in comic book format
Etymology of Punk
Punk is a word that's centuries old, often had sexual connotations of rape, sodomy • Shakespeare used it to refer to prostitutes • Subsequently referred to one who was on the receiving end of prison rape • In early 20 th century referred to the younger partner in a criminal apprenticeship (connotations of pederasty/catamite) • In 1920s, sometimes was used innocently to refer to inexperienced youth • By mid-20 th century comes to mean young, worthless delinquents, hoodlums • Mid 1970s, becomes a self-identifier for a particular recalcitrant youth subculture mainly in the US, UK
Bands
Quiet Riot, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Guns & Roses
1980s pop-dance music increasingly important
Record companies create videos Video by black artist launches MTV's mainstream success
Despite Success, maintain alternative aesthetic and attitude alternative aesthetic and attitud
Refuse to adhere to music industry practices industry practices Interviews, traditional videos Interviews, traditional videos Boycott and testify against Boycott and testify against Ticketmaster Ticketmaster Maintains authenticity? Maintains authenticity
Greater stylistic range
Reggae, dub, ska, and rockabilly, bo diddley
High energy and DIY approach valued in both music and print
Reinforces sense of subculture community - "fanzine" and photocopying allow for circulation of hand- made magazines
Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
Reprise Records After paying to make album, After paying to make album, decides not to release it decides not to release it Band renegotiates to keep rights Wilco streams album on internet for free in 2001
Emerges in mid-1980s Seattle
Response to the 1980s mainstream
Relationship/Similarities w/ Funk
Rhythmically, melodically distinctive basslines • Strong open-ended, sustainable grooves above all else • Percussive rhythm guitar • Staccatto horn riffs
Lip sync issue
Rock fans critique Rise of music video and the increasing practice of pop stars lip-synching during performances
Glam Rock (Glitter Rock)
Rock musicians who performed with flamboyant makeup and costuming, sometimes drag
Licensed to Ill (1986)
Rolling Stone review: "Three Idiots Create a Masterpiece
Roxy Music's albums
Roxy Music (1972) For Your Pleasure, Stranded(1973) Country Life (1974) Siren(1975) Avalon (1982)
Homophobia? Racism?
Saturday Night Fever removes disco from its underground gay roots... BUT - Disco questions for many the expectations of male sexuality • But Robert Plant, and Bowie, Freddie Mercury are accepted in Rock circles, right?
1987-1989
Seattle indie label Sub Pop Sub Pop popularizes the term as a musical term popularizes the term as a musical term Describing the band Mudhoney
Who's watching?
Selling MTV and who's watching? Initially, most success in M idwest MTV sold advertising
Britain in the early 70s
Severe economic recession • Class tensions-Britain traditionally more class conscious culture than US • Strikes, riots • Bleak future prospects • Youthful alienation, despair, and rage
Punk Philosophy
Sex Pistols and many subsequent bands presented themselves as extremely hostile, angry, petulant and anti-establishment • Creates association between punk and anarchist, and nihilist philosophies • Nihilism-the belief that there is no objective, absolute meaning to life, no one absolute moral code • Anarchism- Belief that human society does not need a state apparatus/government to function • NOTE: Neither of these philosophies necessarily advocate being a jerk to everyone else or engaging in violent, destructive behavior • Punk and the Sex Pistols in particularly contribute to the vulgarization of these philosophical viewpoints
Key punk musical characteristics
Short running times • Fast tempos • Fairly simple, usually only 3 or 4 chords • More amplified and distorted sound, a la acid rock, hard rock • Often (but not always) somewhat distanced from the R&B and country roots of rock (no piano, horns, twang) despite being in many other ways retro • Often sneering, screaming, or just "unrefined" lead vocals
Neutral Milk Hotel
Signed with indie label Merge Founded by band members of Founded by band members of Superchunk Superchunk Wide range of musical styles Wide range of music Influenced by lo-fi
Women in Punk
Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees • The Slits • Poly Styrene, X- Ray Spex - Proto-riot grrrl
Inspired by Punk & Heavy Metal
Small clubs, DIY, antimainstream, anti commercial
Older artists adapt to MTV, synth pop
Some artists who first started in the mid to late 70s had their greatest commercial success in the 80s: Bruce Springsteen (Born in the USA), the Talking Heads, the Police etc. Some of the more theatrically inclined artists adapted naturally to the artform of music video e.g. Peter Gabriel: "Sledgehammer" Artists who had tinkered with synth sounds in the 70s also became involved in the production, engineering side of things for 80s artists: Brian eno of Roxy Music produces U2, The Talking heads, others MTV helps establish the expectation that music videos are a vital part of promoting one's music. MJ others set expectations that a music video should be more than just a simple live performance
Hardcore Punk
Some bands following in the wake of punk and new wave decided to even further emphasize the aggressive, intense quality of punk • Very fast, very loud, even more screaming • Two major centers are Washington D.C., LA • Popularized moshing/slam dancing - pushing and slamming against each other on purpose (usually not hatefully)
Encompassed wide range of styles
Some owing to the loud, aggressiveness of hardcore punk e.g. Husker hardcore punk e.g. Husker Du Du OR the more introspective, side of new OR the more introspective, side of new wave/no wave/post-punk wave/no wave/post-punk OR Avant-garde Velvet Underground OR Avant-garde Velvet Underground influenced "noise rock"-Sonic Youth influenced "noise rock"-Sonic Youth Just goofily eclectic bands: the Meat Puppets, Just goofily eclectic bands: the Meat Puppets, the Minutemen (SST) the Minutemen (SST) REM one of the most successful Alt rock bands REM one of the most successful Alt rock bands of the decade of the decad
Hip-hop as Afro-diasporic practice
Sound systems and street parties
David Bowie Oeuvre
Space Oddity (1969)- first big hit, science fiction themed, folky acoustic strumming mixed with psychedelic sound affects Rebel Rebel- celebration of genderbending, transvestitism groove inspired by Stones' satisfaction The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from mars (1972)- Concept album/rock opera about an androgynous extraterrestrial rockstar Other albums to recommend The Man Who Sold the World (1970) Aladdin Sane (1973) Diamond Dogs (1974) Young Americans (1975) Berlin trilogy with Brian Eno Low (1977) "Heroes" (1977), Lodger (1979)
"Louie Louie" (1963) from The Kingsmen
Sparks "garage rock" e.g. ? And the Mysterians, the 13 th floor elevators
Loud, constant drums
Speed, power, and precision • Double bass pedal in thrash
Bands Starting to make music in the vein of American groups like
Stooges, Ramones
Philly soul was...
String-heavy but with fairly straightforward insistent tempos grooves (easy to find the downbeat, dance to
The O'Jays, "Back Stabbers"
Strings - Latin percussion - Smooth vocal harmony
Talking Heads
Students from Rhode Island School of Design • David Byrne, lead vocals guitar, Tina Weymouth, bass • CBGB 1975
Jazz Rock Fusion
Style which combines the jazz musicians improvisatory approach with rock rhythms and tone colors; developed in the 1960's. can also include rhythms from other nations like Spain and Brazil Evolved in the 70s more popular than acoustic, caused controversy
Seattle-based Indie labels:
Sub Pop; C/Z Records
What is Grunge?
Sub-genre of Alternative Rock
Mainstream Success
Success of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" launches Nirvana and Spirit" launches Nirvana and Nevermind Nevermind into mainstream into mainstream commercial success commercial success MTV Sparks interest in "Seattle Grunge Sound" Grunge Sound" Kurt Cobain & struggles over Kurt Cobain & struggles over mainstream success mainstream succes
Debut album Pablo Honey Pablo Honey (1993) (1993)
Surprise international hit "Creep" Remained off Britpop radar
"Smells like Teen Spirit"
Surprise success in late 1991 Helped by music video Helped by music video January 1992 displaced January 1992 displaced Michael Jackson's Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" at #1 on "Dangerous" at #1 on Billboard Billboard
"Open Your Heart" (1986)
Synthesizer-infused dance music Takes on Video Objectifying female body, setting damaging expectations? Exposing and defying the male gaze? Claiming sexual empowerment Commodifying feminism?
alternative/indie rock
T erm describes small, independent record labels erm describes small, independent record labels mid-1980s mid-1980s Indie and alternative are used interchangeably Indie and alternative are used interchangeably Refer to various music styles influenced by Do-It-Yourself approach
Early albums produced by Tony Visconti
T. Rex (1970) Electric Warrior (1971) considered watershed albums for glam rock
MTV
Teen would tune in, but for 24/7? Promotional Videos sponsored by record labels
Focus on assumed audience, white teenagers in Midwest
Tended to play videos exclusively from white rock musicians
Costello
The 1 st Briish new wave rocker to enjoy success in US
Hip hop as art form
The Critics "It's just noise" It's reliant on sampling, is therefore musically less original ergo inferior There's no real musicianship involved It advocates criminal behavior, misogyny Rebuttal People said similar things about rock, jazz. Any unfamiliar sounds are often dismissed as "noises" to people who aren't used to them Sampling can be highly creative (layering, collage, pitch-shifting, changing context). Not all hip-hop uses samples. Regardless the artistry is often in the lyrics. Plenty of hip hop artists use live instruments, and/or are actual bands in the proper sense: Stetsaonic, The Roots, Outkast, Blackalicious That mostly applies to gangsta rap which doesn't represent all of hip-hop and even then one could argue it's more of a persona, more tongue and cheek than usually acknowledged
Connections to other genres
The DIY approach, use of synthesizers, and fashion sensibility of new wave inluenced many of the Soul/funk arists of the 80s esp. Prince, Rick James, Debarge • Many progressive rock bands "reinvented" themselves through the ilter of new wave in the 80s: King Crimson, Yes, Genesis • Several post-punk styles to some extent reacted to the perceived taming/domesicaion of punk that new wave was perceived as: Hardcore, No Wave
Other Bands
The Jam- greatly influenced by The Who, the Kinks, Beatles, bassist/songwriter/lead singer Paul Weller also a big fan of Motown, other soul music The Damned-first UK punk band to release a single in 1976 (New Rose), heavily influenced by the Stooges The Buzzcocks- like the Sex pistols minus the attitude and politics and more focused on "traditional" pop songs/love songs
The Ramones
The Ramones • Inspired by Paul McCartney's use of "Paul Ramon" as a traveling pseudonym, all the band members have stage names ending in Ramone
"Rappers Delight"
The Sugar Hill Gang, 15-minute song, 1979) becomes break out hit Bass player asked to reproduce the bass line from Chic's disco hit "Good Times" (1979)
Other precedents
The dozens: competitive exchange of playful insults among Black street kids (insults called "snaps") • Rock & country songs that emphasized rapid, rhythmically tricky turns of phrase: Chuck Berry's Maybelleine, Bob Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues, Bob Wills' Ida Red • Bo Diddley's "Say Man" (1955)- spoken comedic story telling over band accompaniment • 50s and 60s Beat poetry often had bongos, other percussion accompaniment, emphasized rhythmic The dozens: competitive exchange of playful insults among Black street kids (insults called "snaps") • Rock & country songs that emphasized rapid, rhythmically tricky turns of phrase: Chuck Berry's Maybelleine, Bob Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues, Bob Wills' Ida Red • Bo Diddley's "Say Man" (1955)- spoken comedic story telling over band accompaniment • 50s and 60s Beat poetry often had bongos, other percussion accompaniment, emphasized rhythmic precision
the hippie aesthetic/ aesthetic of ambition
The rock musician is an artist who has a responsibility to produce sophisticated music using whatever means available that withstands repeated listening and has lyrics that deal with important themes or issues.
The Police
Trio: Sing vocals & bass, Andy Summers guitar, Stewart Copeland
Some bands
Twisted Sister, Mötley Crüe, Poison
The Stooges, MC5
Two bands that cultivated a very loud, aggressive, confrontational, somewhat sloppy, style of hard rock • Often had noisy meltdowns/freakouts a la other acid-rock bands, also influenced by the more noisy side of avant-garde jazz (Albert Ayler, Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra) • At one point these bands had the same management (DMA), played same venues as Funkadelic, cross influence
The Bends (1995) (1995)
UK success; mediocre in US "Fake Plastic Trees," "High and Dry" "Fake Plastic Trees," "High a
Reggae, jazz, prog inluences
US success comes in early 1980s
Impact of Grunge
Ushers in era of 1990s Alternative rock Alternative to what? Alternative to what? Include groups like Smashing Pumpkins Include groups like Smashing Pumpkins "Post-Grunge" "Post-Grunge" mid-late 1990s mid-late 1990s Foo Fighters Foo Fighters Bush Bush Matchbox 20 Matchbox 20 Creed Creed Like so many other movements struggles with perception of having Like so many other movements struggles with perception of having been co-opted. Eventually "indie" reemerges as the term for rock that is been co-opted. Eventually "indie" reemerges as the term for rock that is outside the mainstream. outside the m
Other developments
Vinyl remained the dominant physical medium for popular music until replaced by casettes in the mid-80s, in the mid-80s, By the end of the 90s CDs had eclipsed casettes By the end of the 90s CDs had eclipsed casettes By 2008 single track downloads was the most popular form of (legal) music consumption By 2008 single track downloads was the most popular form of (legal) music consumption By 2013, the fastest growing sector of the music business had become subscription streaming By 2013, the fastest growing sector of the music business had become subscription streaming Retrophilia: Rock and R&B have accumulated a great deal of history and many modern rock artists craft Retrophilia: Rock and R&B have accumulated a great deal of history and many modern rock artists craft images, styles closely modelled on their predecessors; John Legend emulates Stevie Wonder, The images, styles closely modelled on their predecessors; John Legend emulates Stevie Wonder, The Darkness emulates Queen, Bruno Mars emulates 70s soul and funk, Lady Gaga emulates Madonna, Darkness emulates Queen, Bruno Mars emulates 70s soul and funk, Lady Gaga emulates Madonna, Radiohead emulates Pink Floyd and 70s prog Radiohead emulates Pink Floyd and 70s prog Canonization: The 80s sees the establishment of the Rock and Roll Hall of fame , 90s sees the rise of Canonization: The 80s sees the establishment of the Rock and Roll Hall of fame , 90s sees the rise of Classic rock radio. Magazines like Rolling Stone, Village Voice, Creem, Melody Maker help shape the Classic rock radio. Magazines like Rolling Stone, Village Voice, Creem, Melody Maker help shape the genres self-reflective history. genres self-reflective history. Institutionalization: More and more courses on the cultural, social significance and history of rock have been Institutionalization: More and more courses on the cultural, social significance and history of rock have been accepted as part of curricula in universities. Researchers in cultural studies more comfortable specializing in accepted as part of curricula in universities. Researchers in cultural studies more comfortable specializing in the meaning, significance of rock and other popular music the meaning, significance of rock and other popular music Unlike Jazz though, the performance and compositional practice of Rock music is not yet taught alongside Unlike Jazz though, the performance and compositional practice of Rock music is not yet taught alongside western classical music in most music schools western classical music in most music schools Rock and R&B have proliferated around the world, diversified to such an extent that it's now quite a Rock and R&B have proliferated around the world, diversified to such an extent that it's now quite a challenge to define and equally challenging to cover everything: Kraut Rock (Can, Kraftwork), challenge to define and equally challenging to cover everything: Kraut Rock (Can, Kraftwork), Scandanavian Metal, Latin Rock, J-Pop, K-Pop, Afro-beat, Fusion
Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols (1977)
Virign Records
Music videos setting expectations of perfection?
Visual perfection? Live performance perfection? Increasing attention and importance of the visual
Signs with Nonesuch records (another label owned by Warner) (another label owned by Warner) who re-bought the album who re-bought the albu
Warner pays for album twice! Indie fans long supported Wilco Indie fans long supported Wilco Record does very well for indie Record does very well for indie release, reaching #13 on Billboard release, reaching #13 on Billboard
Solo career begins in 1975
Well known for dancing and stage choreography
Uk and US press used punk and new wave interchangeably (early on)
When the CBGB scene started to gain naional atenion.
Bad Brains- (started as fusion group Mind Power)
Would play extremely mellow dub reggae for contrast
The first punk song?
You really got me- The Kinks • My Generation- The Who • I Can't Explain- The Who • Everybody's Got Something TO Hide Except For Me and My Monkey- the Beatles • Communication Breakdown- Led Zeppelin • Under My wheels- Alice cooper • Basically Any simple, straight forward, uptempo hard rock song might Qualify depending on who you ask
Fela Kuti
a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre, human rights activist, and political maverick
Pearl Jam cont.
a bit closer more aligned with classic hard rock with classic hard rock Helps promotes Alternative rock to Helps promotes Alternative rock to radio and national mainstream
Initially, music industry viewed rock as ...
a fad , expected to fizzle out
Sex Pistols scandal and #1 success sparked
a large number of punk bands • Many were contemporaries of SEX and Sex Pistols scene • Encouraged other groups
While the early 70s was in many ways a diversification of styles
a lot of the disparate trends began to blend together as the music industry began to corporatize
Garage rock is often viewed as
an early manifestation of the ethos of punk rock
CBGB
an important club where many bands associated with Punk and New wave started
Toyed with or defied gender norms:
androgyny, transvestitism, drag, often connected to LGBT/queer culture
White Panthers
anti-racist white Americans, ally to BP, MC5 associated w/them
Fleetwood Mac "Go Your Own Way" (1976)
appealed , lowest common denom of rock fans, not too loud, to earnest, bluesy, first album v different
collage
artistic composition of materials pasted over a surface; an assemblage of diverse elements but musical
Peter Gabriel "Sledgehammer"
artsy, stop motion music video
Helpful for other punk bands in UK and US
as "punk" suddenly seemed less scary
As with Glam Rock, albeit to a lesser extent, what defines "punk" is
as much the image, presentation, culture than the actual musical sound
1970s disco develops parallel to, and in dialogue with,
aspects of early hip hop
1978
band breaks up
"God Save the Queen" was
banned in the UK
"The Dance of Maya"
bar of 3, 3, and 4 moves into rootsy blues section 28 time cycle dissonant, angular, avante garde, violin melody experimental rhythmic structures
Fashion
black, leather, studs, band t-shirts inluenced by biker culture but also BDSM and LGBT - Rob Halford of Judas Priest
Art vs commercialism
both
Head Hunter (1974)
cemented Hancock's place in jazz rock fusion era
The Inner Mountain Flame
debut; "Meeting of the Spirits", hyper technical drummer
Giorgio Moroder
disco producer, father of disco music
David Mancuso (The Loft)
disco, hub for 70s night life
Had trappings of psychedelia
drone affects (venus & furs), odd sounds, writing about drugs (e.g. Heroin), extended jamming
Breakbeat
drum solo in hip hop or type of dance music , characterized by lack of four on the floor beat
"In a Silent Way/It's About That Time"
ethereal, melodic, spaciousness, improvisation, keyboards, dissonant, dark, abstract, soprano sax solo (ISW) groove of soul, instrumentation of rock, improv of jazz
Ska, Rock steady, Reggae
exist on a fluid continuum in the early years (mid60s-early 70s), shared emphasis on offbeats (skank guitar).
"The New Wave"
first used in reference to the music that came out of the "underground" music scene in New York, as far back as the Velvet Underground and the New York Dolls
Lester Bangs and David Marsh
first used the word "Punk" in reference to this kind of music, applying it in hindsight in the early 70s
Weather Report
formed in 1971 by Joe Zawinul (piano/ keyboads) and Wayne Shorter (tenor and soprano) Incorporated elements from a variety of "world musics", improvisations more limited
Mahavishnu Orchestra
formed in 1971 by McLaughlin, very fast, technically demanding melodies, other rhythm section parts also complex
Post Modernism
genre of art and literature and especially architecture in reaction against principles and practices of established modernism
1979 album Outlandos d'Amour
includes hit "Roxanne"
Indie Rock Labels sell, so
indie becomes modern rock in 2000s
Hip-hop and rap are...
interchangeable when used to refer to a music genre. They are not two different types of music. A lot of people mistakenly confuse "hip -hop" with contemporary R&B that is influenced by hip -hop.
Critical reaction to BB
jazz traditionalists wary, Grammy award in 1971, commercially successful, dissonant avante garde over R&B back beat
...became common feature of disco music
lush orchestration; reminiscent of Curtis, Gaye, Isaac, philly soul
Investors chasing after the next blockbuster, or radio advertisers chasing more ad revenue,
made music business more risk averse, caused a lot of the varied trends of early 70s to blend together
Origins of Punk-Rock
many artists in all substyles often found it refreshing to return to a more back to basics approach from time to time, some artists specialized in that. - Short songs, usually fast - Fun - Youthful rebelliousness
Metal comes in
many,many different forms
Variety of sounds from
more straight-forward rock with retro leanings, to more arty/proggy experimental
Heavy Weather (1977)
most commercially successful, Jaco Pastorious features, "Teen Town", "Birdland"-most commercially successful single, bass line played on synths, catchy upbeat melody
Herbie Hancock
pianist, keyboardist, composer, bandleader; member of Miles Davis's band
Double Bass Pedal
probs has something to do with four on the floor kick drum beat
By the 1970s, Many of the trends in rock music have moved away from dancing as the primary focus:
prog, singer-songwriter, hard rock
a lot of the earliest examples tend to be classified as
proto punk
Song "Straight Edge
referring to the "edge" he had over people who drank and used drugs
"Anarchy in the UK"
released 1976 by EMI
B's Brew
released 1969 trumpet, soprano, structure not clearly defined, free sections, out of time, tense sounds, "surprise" crashes, "screaming" alternating w/ rock groove sections
Rock
rhythmic groove, electric instruments and effects, simpler repetitive harmonies , electric guitar, bass, tape splicing, electronic effects and editing capabilities
"Chameleon"
rooted more in funk and R&B, layered keyboards, simple repetitive melody, jazz improv, neo soul
Camp sensibility
self- consciously theatrical/exaggerated
"Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975)
several contrasting sections, influence of opera, choral music, hard rock Influenced by Prog bands, Beatles,
Subsequent rave culture shares
similarities with disco
Remake Remodel, Amazona
start off as straightfoward dance tunes, sudden transitions into contrasting sections or novel instrumental sounds (or both)
Minor Threat
started by Ian McKaye (later of Fugazi)- cemented, ied to straight edge culture
KRS-one adds
street fashion, street knowledge, street language, street entrepreneur realism
helps establish the genre commercially
success of hip hop videos on MTV
MTV becomes crucial to hit single promotion
surpassing FM radio
Many promoted the term as a "rebranding" of punk because...
the word punk was seen as stigmatized or limiting marketability Came to refer to bands who were more musically, lyrically subtle, complex or not as focused on the "chainsaw buzz" sound typiied by the Ramones, Sex pistols • Ambiguous Examples: Television, The Jam
Political protest
the Clash were "socialists"
hip hop can also refer to
the overall culture surrounding the music: Turntabling, break dancing, graffiti spraying, beatboxing
Rap refers to
the specific style of spoken word used within the music KRS-ONE: "rap is something you do, hip hop is something you live" (Song 9 Elements
From 2000, "Indie" emerges from independent record roots to become
the term for "modern" rock
DJ Kool Herc -born in Kingston
toasting and sound system culture to South Bronx
The Suburbs
won Grammy for Album of the Year in 2011 Album of the Year in 201
DJing becomes a new kind of musicianship
working the turntable like soloing on an instrument, remixing eventually becomes its own kind of composition