"Popular" Music

Isn't it amazing how things have changed with rock music today. I remember as a youth, recording songs from the radio on tape, trying to be the 1st of my friends to discover a great new band, or a great new song. Now when you tell people you listen to the radio, you tend to feel a little embarrassed. Why, because what is played on the radio today is shit. I'm not just one of those people who say, "Back in my day music was great, and now it sucks." I still keep up with today's "scene," and know "who's, who." It just seems as if bands today, even one's from my generation, are not trying anymore (with a few exceptions).

Take the ever popular Red Hot Chili Peppers who have released a new album. How many songs can you write about California? Apparently for the Peppers, an infinite amount of songs. Granted, the Peppers got sober along the way, and maybe that is part of the problem, but every song they put out these days, follows the tune, style, and feel of "Scar Tissue," the song that really put RHCP's back on the top of the charts. They found a formula, and just duplicate it over and over. But they are not alone, yes I am looking at you Dave Matthews, Godsmack, and Nickelback.

Speaking of Nickelback, they partially have an excuse as they were never good to begin with. Yet there they are, top of the charts with similar sounding hit after hit. Take their newest release, "Rock Star." Nothing new there musically, and the lyrics are a cliche, about a cliche lifestyle. I guess that is to be expected from a cliche band.

So who are the new saviors of rock music today? Fall Out Boy, C'mon, even gay people think they are fags. The Vines, Strokes, Jet, fad has already worn out. 3 Days Grace is the new Godsmack (you know weak lyrics and repetition) and My Chemcial Romance do a bad impression of the Cure while John Mayer is the poor man's Dave Matthews. Hinder has a hit with "Lips Of An Angel," though listeners have yet to realize it is about cheating not true love. Papa Roach should be killed, along with Five For Fighting, All American Rejects, and 3rd Eye Blind (this crap is all topping the charts, check Billboard).

So is there anyone putting out decent rock today? Audioslave, Tool, Rise Against, are definitely in that pack. Disturbed could garner respect if you can get the lead singer to stop barking during his songs. The jury is still out on Panic! At The Disco, Avenged Sevenfold, and AFI.

I know I know, there is always great music out there hidden underground, but we are talking about what hits the charts. In order to make a change, radio fans have to demand one. Form your opinions not from MTV, or what the radio tells you to like, but from researching searching for that next great group. Request songs your station doesn't play, or hell, send burned CD's to the radio station with what you want to hear. If one DJ is influenced by that CD you could create change. Of course, if you like repackaged shit, just keep humming along to songs on the radio that are so catchy you'd almost think you had heard them before (which you probably have from a million different, yet oh so similar carbon copy bands).