This top 100 band list is BOGUS - RUSH lower than STP?

[deacongreg]

Originally Posted by jbk

Quite: "Well, someone truly listens to some real music. Return To Forever, Stanley Clarke, Al Dimeola, David Sancious, Wendell Irvine, George Duke(before the Duke/Clarke project) are all people I love. Now Jean - Luc Ponty, has got to be one of the baddest musicians out there. I never thought, he got the acclaim he should have. But, that is always true, for jazz artists anyway. Unless they have crossover success like George Benson, when he started doing more singing, and less playing."


It seems that Jazz has taken a back set to rock since the mid 1950's. I think this is because many rock songs reflect some relevant feeling(s) or message(s) that a generation relates to in some way. The songs in some way capture how we felt.. for example "I saw her standing there," "I can't get no Satisfaction," "I ain't got you," "Communication Break Down." They had a message that they could relate to at the time. Our parent could never understand us, right?! I remember sitting around with my friend listening to music. More on this later.

Jazz vocals and Jazz don't provide that connection for example: John Coltrane and Johnny Hartmann which not many teens or pre teens will be caught dead listening to under any conditions. How many of the rockers would appreciate Patricia Barber or Diana Krull? Peel Me a grape, french me a fry....

As for Jazz, I love it. My first jazz album was "Bitches Brew!" Some way to start becoming interested in Jazz. Then there was The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Coltrane, Methany, Benson, DiMeola, Evans.

Today, I buy blues and jazz recordings to fill in my collection of vinyl and cds. My daughters see me just sitting and listening to my music. They tell me that I'm the only person they know that just sits and listens to music!!! For them, music is sonic wall paper or back ground noise.

Today's music listeners have become the iPod generation. Sonic wall paper and low resolution music. I'm concerned that the music industry and technology have killed of much of the creativity in music and high resolution recording. Jazz is and will remain a niche market.

I don't believe that we will ever see a music transformation like we did in the 60's to early 70's for rock music. Groups like the Yardbirds, Beatles, Stones, Moody Blues, Mayall were due to Blues music being discovered and repacked. Forty years from now will disco and metal be repackaged?


As always your thoughts would be appreciated..

jbk

This is just great. Someone who shares my sentiments exactly. And I`ve been saying this and feeling this way for a while. How many people do you know, go home from work, take a shower, eat, spend some time with the wife and kids, then either get their pair of high end cans, or sit down in front of their equipment, turn the lights low, maybe a candle, and get excited about listening to music, for musics sake? No one.

And yes, I also believe that the music/av industry and technology have definitely contributed to the sign of these times. No one really enjoys music for music sake anymore.

The one exception would be, if your kids played an instrument young in school, its said they appreciate music, a lot more. Outside of that, what do we have? And as you know, you always here that the boards of ed are always trying to cut music out to save a few dollars. I played clarinet, alto and tenor sax growing up. I still have my tenor!! And I understand what you say about music with vocals, but there is a lot of great instrumental jazz, fusion, (Do I hear Weather Report, HeadHunters by Herbie Han****) out there. All, which should be given, in my opinion, the AIX or DVD - A/SACD treatment.

[deacongreg]

Originally Posted by j.arend-denko@adelphia.ne

As someone else mentioned there is Rick Wakeman's Six Wives of Henry Vlll, also his Journey To The Centre Of The Earth, and also White Rock. Keep in mind the last one was written for a movie soundtrack of the Innsbruck Winter Games. He is a genius, and not to be missed.

I will go online and check some of these out, and get back to you. Thanks.

[j.arend-denko@adelphia.ne]

I also played those instruments in school, and more. My Senator (Patrick Leahy) agrees with me that music should never be cut from the budget. I would not want to be the one who has to live with that task.Thank God my daughter has shown an interest in guitar and piano, I'll give her my clarinet if she wants it.
Younger people have a harder time appreciating good music because they are so far removed from it, they are force fed whatever is on the radio, and that's mostly S***, they never get exposure to the good stuff unless we pull out the vinyl or you were lucky enough to find it on cd. There is no more anticipation of when an album comes out and you rush to the store to get it, so you can go home and listen to it hundreds of times, tick off your parents, and pore over the liner notes until you know them by heart. They're plugged into iPods, they don't even listen to music with their friends anymore, there's no more interaction. Many a band was formed by a group of kids sitting around someone's bedroom listening to Led Zepplin saying"I want to do that!"

Originally Posted by deacongreg

This is just great. Someone who shares my sentiments exactly. And I`ve been saying this and feeling this way for a while. How many people do you know, go home from work, take a shower, eat, spend some time with the wife and kids, then either get their pair of high end cans, or sit down in front of their equipment, turn the lights low, maybe a candle, and get excited about listening to music, for musics sake? No one.

And yes, I also believe that the music/av industry and technology have definitely contributed to the sign of these times. No one really enjoys music for music sake anymore.

The one exception would be, if your kids played an instrument young in school, its said they appreciate music, a lot more. Outside of that, what do we have? And as you know, you always here that the boards of ed are always trying to cut music out to save a few dollars. I played clarinet, alto and tenor sax growing up. I still have my tenor!! And I understand what you say about music with vocals, but there is a lot of great instrumental jazz, fusion, (Do I hear Weather Report, HeadHunters by Herbie Han****) out there. All, which should be given, in my opinion, the AIX or DVD - A/SACD treatment.

[deacongreg]

Originally Posted by j.arend-denko@adelphia.ne

I also played those instruments in school, and more. My Senator (Patrick Leahy) agrees with me that music should never be cut from the budget. I would not want to be the one who has to live with that task.Thank God my daughter has shown an interest in guitar and piano, I'll give her my clarinet if she wants it.
Younger people have a harder time appreciating good music because they are so far removed from it, they are force fed whatever is on the radio, and that's mostly S***, they never get exposure to the good stuff unless we pull out the vinyl or you were lucky enough to find it on cd. There is no more anticipation of when an album comes out and you rush to the store to get it, so you can go home and listen to it hundreds of times, tick off your parents, and pore over the liner notes until you know them by heart. They're plugged into iPods, they don't even listen to music with their friends anymore, there's no more interaction. Many a band was formed by a group of kids sitting around someone's bedroom listening to Led Zepplin saying"I want to do that!"

Man, you are so right. Congratulations to you about your daughter. That is good to hear. My daughter from my first marriage is aspiring to be a concert violist. I could not be happier. Though, she never heard me play, I`m just so proud and surprised that this is what she is pursuing. Currently she tours with the all state Westchester County Orchestra, and teaches young children music. I always wondered, if I went to Music and Art in Manhattan, instead of De Witt Clinton in high school, where I would be now.

Well, I hope your daughter continues to move forward in music, and enjoys it. The I - pod. I`ve kinda took a deaf ear to it. However, I must say, if anything, its a great archival tool. If we had something like the I - pod coming up, all our music would be stored on it. They all seem to be more concerned about how many songs they have on the I - pod. Not for listening of course, but just to say I have more than you. I see him changing tunes everyday, Why?

And as far as losing the whole experience in buying music, you are so right.
I do not know where you live, or how well you know N.Y. but, Tower Records, an institution here in New york, just recently closed its doors. No more talking to knowledgeable staff who love and KNOW their music. No more excitement, like you said, about looking at the liner notes, artwork, etc. on the LP. What, can I tell you. Nothing is important or sacred, anymore.
Check this, I asked my stepson`s friend, if he knew, that there was an original "War Of The Worlds" movie, his answer was no!! What does that tell you??!!

[Saki]

HEAR ME OUT BEFORE YOU DISMISS WHAT I HAVE TO SAY

Though I am quite happy with the top 100 list and couldn't agree more with most of the top bands, something still must be said. Am I the only one who knows about the existence of Asian rock bands (specifically Japanese bands, commonly referred to as "Jrock" bands) that deserve to be on this list? Patricularly "X Japan". They're considered to be one of the greatest rock bands that ever existed in Japan. Their songs written in both Japanese AND English. I may be 100% American, but even I can admit that they really are amazing and deserve to be at least taken into consideration by the judges. It really is a shame; sadly, Japan seems to import more music than they export, so that would explain why most people havn't heard about some of these great rock/metal bands. I just have to stick up for what I know is great talent and music which deserves recognition.

X Japan was formed in 1982 under the name "X", but changed the name later to avoid confusion with an American punk band of the same name. They disbanded in 1997, and sadly, their lead guitarist, Hide, died in 1998... but the band actually announced a reunion July 4th, 2007. (Which, on a side note, had me literally dancing with joy when there were rumors heard of a U.S. tour being planned, which is plausible considering their drummer/band leader now lives in L.A.)

In 1993 they released a single entitled "Art of Life" which particularly blows my mind. It's widely considered to be the "Stairway to Heaven" of Japan. It's 29 minutes long, is entirely in English (for those of you who aren't open-minded enough to appreciate lyrics not in your native tounge), and is definitely one of the most amazing songs I have ever heard in my life. It was performed live only twice, but there is footage from one of those lives that I've seen. Watching and listening to it leaves me completely awe-struck.

I can go on and on... but hopefully I've already peaked someone's interest enough that I don't have to. I strongly feel "X Japan" could have ranked strongly with these "top 100 bands" in every single catagory but one...U.S. sales...heh, oh well. Though they have made plenty of international sales, for the most part, import CD and DVD costs are too expensive. Maybe after their reunion tour they can release here in the U.S under another lable...I'll remain hopeful.

For anyone interested enough to check them out, here's the wikipedia page about the band.
X Japan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Look up and try to get your hands on some of their songs or albums. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

[JerryDelColliano]

I love this.

I have never even heard of J-Rock.

This is so great.

The purpose of this excercize was to get people thinking about music in passionate ways and it seems to have worked. Since the original article posted in late June of 2006, it has been a top page view element of the site.

REST ASSURED - we are NOT DONE with this topic.