Posted in: Rock by Timothy T Haines on October 23, 2008 | 4 Comments
Of the few things with the ability to cure a soul, music has to be the most cathartic. Fads come and go but the one constant is: Rock ‘N’ Roll.
Many would debate the date of its actual birth, but a great argument can be made for the 60’s. Trapped in this nation’s most tumultuous decade were the world’s best poets in history. Emotional and social songs of love, hope, and equality exuded from a plethora of musical royalty the likes of Dylan, Lennon and Joplin. In the midst of riots and social injustices they chose to fight back with their hearts as the words poured out, conjured by troubles.
If the 60’s is the father, then the angst of grunge rock in the early 90’s has to be its offspring. Divided within itself and charged by heartache and loneliness, bands such as Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, and Rage Against the Machine encapsulated the grief of the 60’s and bottled it up until it erupted and healed decades worth of temporary wounds. Even drug use and fatal overdoses couldn’t derail the multitude of musical brilliance.
Today’s flood of musical mediocrity cries for a new dawn, and just in time a grandchild is born into a whole new basket of social and personal pain issues. Healing today’s scars while holding true to their transcending roots, Staind, ColdPlay, Chevelle, Seether and 10 Years all take part in paving the way for a new voice; One which knows what it wants to say and doesn’t have the artistic barricades of its fathers. The triangle is complete and the rock gods have spoken. Open your ears and bare witness.
RJ Chamberlain October 24th, 2008 at 1:52 am
This is a fantastically written piece and I totally agree with all of your opinions. Long may rock live. Well done.
Mamie October 25th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
I like the theory behind the thought. For me rock and roll is hard tos sit and listen to the words that are created in the music. To me the bands are usually playing to loud to appreciate the words. But, reading them as a poem I agree they too have a lot issues and emotions that are spoken.
Pat Largo October 27th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I wanted to throw one more band in the mix. Ironic Daze. A Florida band, they could rock it whether sober OR fueled by the “devils urine,” known as Yager!!! Very well written and well expressed. A quote from Eddie Vedder. “I change by not changing.”
C. Jordan October 28th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Really intersting read. My own take would be that rock’n'roll started in the 50’s and became rock in mid/late 60’s. But what’s in a date? – the point is that rock is still here now.