Is there still "vital" music being made (define that term how you will)?

Question

Is there still "vital" music being made (define that term how you will)?

Answer 1

1. Not really. Everything that can be done with rock and metal has already pretty much been done in the last 60 years. Now there are some bands that are certainly talented but their music is lacking in overall uniqueness and originality, they mostly just play similar stuff to earlier bands, i.e., thrash metal and grunge are both back now and are really big, but the new bands starting out aren't really doing anything different from the '80s and '90s bands that started the genres and influenced the newer ones.



2. Lamb of God and Mastodon are two great modern bands that I like.



3. They've both done a few unique things, but still aren't not that different from other bands from earlier decades.



4. I'd love to say I was very optimistic, but pop and rap have so dominated the mainstream music industry today that it's hard to be too optimistic for the future of rock and metal,. Another reason is because of what I said before, rock ahs been around so long that most everything has already been done and people are simply starting to run out of ideas for anything new or creative.

Answer 2

Yes. There's plenty of music now that has, in my opinion, much more life and "personality" to it than most of the stuff that was around 20-50 years ago.



MQ2: Since I haveso many, I'll just pick one off the top of my head. they may not necessarily be my favorite, but I think they're a great band. Kylesa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF_uecAA0M4

MQ3: they match up fine, aside from a smaller discography.

MQ4: very. I Feel music has only grown in diversity, and have not seen any drop in "vitality" or creativity since some sort of "golden era"



edit: another great modern band who I would call "vital" (though I'm kind of hesitant to use the term at all, it seems a bit ambiguous) would be Russian Circles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j7JsIsqdzI

Answer 3

Absolutely! People just like to mope that all modern music is dead and uncreative, because of crap bands like Nickelback.



MQ2: Arctic Monkeys, although MGMT is starting to get up there as well.

MQ3: Well, obviously their respective genres were created before, so it's not like there's going to be any "groundbreaking, genre-defying" music out there. But both have brought enjoyable, talented, creative, and really memorable music to this decade.

MQ4: As far as mainstream music is concerned, it's dead, and will be dead-er in the future. Lesser known music may have some potential; there's been some really cool stuff going on with experimental music. Going back to my "groundbreaking, genre-defying" statement, I think Animal Collective may have achieved some level of that, with their combination of psychedelic, electronic, and nature, and it's really sparked a trend in music, so there's definetly going to be some hope going into that direction.

Answer 4

I think so. Vital in the way that certain styles of music are preserving the integrity of their respective genres, and improving upon them in some way. And certain genres nowadays like experimental and noise rock are like thumbprints, it's almost like no two bands are ever the same. Those are the genres I seem to gravitate towards, the ones that are literally "vital" to my enjoyment of most modern music in general.



MQ2: Animal Collective

MQ3: Early Animal Collective is actually very rooted in krautrock influences, similar to early Can and Cluster, which is what I'm all about, so Yes.

MQ4: Very optimistic.

Answer 5

i agree with ridethelightning, i think rock has reached saturation point. there are so many established styles now that it's hard to come up with anything genuinely new. there are only so many different sounds and moods you can combine a guitar, bass, drums and vocals into, and i think we might have already taken it as far as it will go. i think every good idea has probably already been exhausted, so it's up to some musical genius or new instrument comes along and prove me wrong. i can't think of a single band of the last 10 years that has had the impact of, say, a metallica or a jimi hendrix.



fave artist of last 10 years? probably matisyahu or avenged sevenfold.

neither compare to my favourite artists, metallica.

i am pessimistic about the future of rock, but am interested to see where other genres go.

Answer 6

Good afternoon King Crimson :)



For me, 'vital' music is like 'vital' poetry ~ it is always there, but it is different things to different people.



I'm sure that to many of today's teenagers, the music currently filling the Pop charts is what they would call 'vital' - the sounds of their lives {they live in the moment, unable to even consider what could be happening to them 5 years from now}, the songs that mirror their existance in a throwaway, self-obsessed, manufactured society.

To me, that is the sort of music I could very happily avoid forever!





My 'vital' music is that which connects with me on an emotional level. It is music that endures with me ~ that I will still be regularly listening to 5 or 10 years from now, rather than the handful of 'in-the-moment' songs I also love. It can be from any genre, any era {new bands, or older bands making new songs}, complex or simple, a soundscape or a stripped-back acoustic, lyrical or instrumental.



A common thread in recent 'vitals' seems to be reflective back to the Folky days of the early-mid 70s, in music and/or lyrics. However, I wish to state here that I'm not big on 'Nu-Folk', which is often actually Indie bands or acoustic singer/songwriter artists incorporating Folk themes. I've found a song here or there that I like, but I'm not sure just how much those songs will endure with me.



If I'm being honest, I'm not sure I've come across any of *my* 'vital' music very recently, but I always know it when I find it...





MQ2: I'm wary of the term 'favourite', but a few acts I'm currently enjoying a selection of songs from are:

Saltfishforty {Scottish trad} [18 songs from 3 albums]

The Owl Service {English Folk} [14 songs from 2 albums]

Els Berros de la Cort {Folk /Medieval /World} [1 album and 2 songs]



MQ3: Ooo... working with real 'favourites' from 'The List' here :~

*Saltfishforty = closer to Old Blind Dogs than Capercaillie, this fiddle & guitar duo are very much 'themselves' and bring their own personalities to the music of Orkney.

*The Owl Service = there are moments listening to them when I can hear elements of Sandy Denny and Fairport Convention, and it does seem they are a big influence on the band. There are also feelings of the soundtrack to "The Wicker Man" {original}, and they have made a couple of songs I feel will endure with me.

*Els Berros de la Cort = a Spanish street-theater ensemble, I heard one of their songs on a World music radio show and at once thought of Blackmore's Night. Their music is more 'pure' in Medieval terms - no electric guitars here! - but they sound so enthusiastic in the playing that it matters not.



MQ4: Everything goes in cycles {as is evidenced by the current surge in 1970s Folk influence!}, and there will always be someone out there making great music which will be found by its intended audience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtLV_jmaMTY&fmt=18

Answer 7

Your question is, what is success? To me the best definition of success I’ve heard is from Earl Nightingale who defines success as “the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal” He said, “if someone is working towards a predetermined goal and knows where he or she is going, that person is a success. If they are not doing that, they are failures. Hence a success is the teacher who is teaching school because that’s what he or she wants to do, the entrepreneur who starts his own company because that is his dream – that’s what he wants to do”. For me success is a journey and not a destination. Success is not only about material acquisition. To me, life is made up of eight vital areas: spiritual, health, family, career, financial, self-development, personal needs and contribution to the society. In other words, to achieve success is not just to be financially wealthy, but also to become wealthy in the seven other areas. Thanks for reading me. Varun

Answer 8

Hmm, I think every single band I listen to, is from this decade, so unless I have a really sh*tty taste in music, I guess "vital" music is till made :)



MA: Red :)



MA2: Hmm, let's see, Breaking Benjamin did form in 1998, but I still prefer Red, but Breaking Benjamin is my 2nd favorite artist :)



MA3: I have high hopes, probably because I love new music, and the bands I like will likely release good albums :)

Answer 9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSsXZirNUbs



Yep, pretty vital



MA2: Epica

MA3: Favorably

MA4: I'm not optimistic about the future on anything. Especially with the truly astounding levels of sheer poltroonic doltery I see every day

Answer 10

Well, by "vital" I'm going to respond as in "music that is important in how it shapes the future of music" in which case the answer is "yes". Think post-rock, shoegaze, and dream-pop. All of them are influenced by ambient music, and it's becoming quite the force. There are still ambient bands kicking around, but they've shaped those three genres, which, in turn, are having a profound effect on the kinds of music coming out now.



MA2: Hm. This is rather difficult. I guess I'll follow the previous post-rock motif and go with Hammock, who formed in 2004.

MA3: Well, if I keep to the post-rock theme, I'll go with either Explosions in the Sky from 1999 or GYBE from 1995. I love Hammock, but I don't find they hold a candle to either band.

MA4: I'm quite optimistic, in all honesty. The world turns, and as it does the face of music will change from good to bad to good again. We just have to wait for it.

Answer 11

Yea there is, it's just harder to find unlike before.



MA2: Arctic Monkeys. I also forgot about Arcade Fire.

MA3: Radiohead is better.

MA4: I'm pretty optomistic, there is some good talent coming our way, I can feel it.