Most people stop listening to music after high school. After this, the familiar moaning begins – “new music sucks!” “what happened to all the good music?”
Music does change, yes (and it should) – and it’s true that once we hit our early 20s, our tastes in music are pretty much cemented. However, as a contributing member of what’s left of the ‘music business,’ I always roll my eyes a little when I hear these familiar mantras. It suggests to me that people just aren’t opening their minds and they just aren’t opening their ears to new experiences.
The fact is, with recording equipment more accessible and less expensive than ever, everyone and their dog can make a record … err CD … err album … err … well, you know what I mean. Add on top of that the internet and possibilities of connectivity thanks to social media, people are making and sharing more recorded music than ever. Just spend a few hours trolling Youtube, Bandcamp, Soundcloud and Spotify searching keywords that interest you and you’ll be surprised not by the embarrassment of riches, but by the embarrassment of content.
It’s my firm belief that there is more good music being made today than at any time in recorded history. There’s also more bad music being made. The truth is, there’s just more music being made than ever and some of it I rank among my favorite artists of all time.
What's important is to constantly challenge yourself and to constantly push out of your comfort zone. It's very easy and comfortable to fall into your established 'tastes,' but what you risk from complacency is the chance to expand and discover something truly remarkable. It's of utmost importance to shift your preconceived parameters or else you're at risk of letting your musical spirit die.
Admittedly my tastes are slightly peculiar and slightly left of center, but I think there’s something out there for anyone and everyone. From my personal collection, I recommend Bent Knee – Boston’s premier art rock sextet who combine the theatrics with a decidedly modern edginess and occasional outright pop appeal. They can also be really beautiful and dynamic too.
Also, Jack o’ the Clock – imagine indie Americana folk crossed with dark electronics presented through a modern chamber music idiom. Both of these bands have one thing in common – they write amazing songs that stick with you and having incredible staying power. From the UK, The Moulettes – electronic modern pop led by three female voices, featuring cello and bassoon – and New Jersey's Thank You Scientist another band that is nearly impossible to describe. Imagine classic Chicago horns mixed with punk, Frank Zappa, mariachi music and soul – with Michael Jackson-esque vocals to top it off. This stuff is irresistibly fun.
Hailing from South Korea, there's the incendiary Jambinai. Jambinai are a heavy, crushing post rock band who draw heavily from Korean folk instruments and traditions, while Switzerland's hypnotic Sonar have ignited my imagination with their minimal, trance-like take on modern rock music.
I could go on.
All of the artists I mentioned above have played lots of gigs (Bent Knee and Thank You Scientist are two of the hardest working bands around) and have a somewhat established, but young fanbase. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention some of the people I’ve worked with personally, who are far from established. Nick Prol is an avant garde pop composer from Arizona who lists The Beach Boys and Henry Cow among his chief influences. The version I’ve linked is a demo version, but you’ll get the idea.
Also West Liberty students Nate James – who can break your heart with a song or warp your consciousness with abstract composition in equal measure (sadly none of his stuff is online yet) – and Dan Evick. Dan is making a record right here on West Liberty’s campus that demonstrates the best of his folk-blues songwriting.
The bottom line is, it’s important to keep discovering. It’s good for you and it’s even better for modern musicians to have an actual audience to play to. Musical discovery doesn’t have to be limited to ‘new’ artists, either. I spend a large portion of my time going back through music’s history, picking up on some of the stuff that was either lost in time or fell through the cracks of my discovery.
Most recently, Cardiacs – the best band you never heard in your life, who play a rehearsal-intensive, but totally bonkers version of progressive rock on punk steroids. It’s high energy, it’s mad, it’s irritating, it’s beautiful. If this sounds appealing to you in any way, what are you waiting for? Unfortunately Cardiacs are unable to perform any longer, but their albums are all back in print and they are set to release an archived recording from their ethereal alter-ego, the mystical Sea Nymphs in November.
So keep listening! Discover. Grow.
