With my impending birthday and unfortunate, plodding advance into soon-to-be middle age old-fartdom, I couldn't resist sharing this article with the rest of you. It's what most of us have always suspected:
LONDON (Reuters) - Comforting news for anyone over the age of 35, scientists have worked out that modern pop music really is louder and does all sound the same.
Researchers in Spain used a huge archive known as the Million Song Dataset, which breaks down audio and lyrical content into data that can be crunched, to study pop songs from 1955 to 2010.
A team led by artificial intelligence specialist Joan Serra at the Spanish National Research Council ran music from the last 50 years through some complex algorithms and found that pop songs have become intrinsically louder and more bland in terms of the chords, melodies and types of sound used.
The study, which appears in the journal Scientific Reports, offers a handy recipe for musicians in a creative drought.
Old tunes re-recorded with increased loudness, simpler chord progressions and different instruments could sound new and fashionable. The Rolling Stones in their 50th anniversary year should take note.
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by oldhometown
on Jul 26, 2012 at 03:58:35 pm
OtherComments: 19
It's been funny to hear old 1970s guitar pop hits on oldies radio and to realize that if they were released today, they'd go straight to the Country demographic and not be considered pop at all. I'm beginning to think I lived through some sort of golden age of radio, because now the variety is gone, and the new releases are just dance pop/autotune fluff (with mandatory rap segment).
posted by viola
on Jul 26, 2012
at 04:37:34 pm
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3 people liked this
this may be true but i would highly recommend seeing these two bands. the first is a cincy based band that has not toured in sometime though some of them have played as the twilight singers. dark and moody with a great groove, they will be playing cleveland among other places. check out their albums gentlemen and 1964, both top notch; the second is a great 2 sometimes 3 lead guitar band playing at our very own mick finn's. start with any song from keep it like a secret but go to any of their albums - they are all terrific. GO TO THESE SHOWS
The Black Keys, Clutch, and White Wizzard are still putting out top quality rock and roll (Nickle Back is not rock and roll).
Singer Songwriter/American Folk is seeing a huge revival With Mumford and Sons, Old Crow Medicine Show, Avett Brothers, and The Civil Wars but you will not find any of that on the radio.
BTW I'm going to the Milan MI Bluegrass/Folk Festival this weekend, always quality music to be found there.
posted by dbw8906
on Jul 27, 2012
at 01:59:33 pm
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did not kow that milan had a bluegrass fest - thanks for the heads up. keys and avett are both on heavy rotation. wilco is best touring band for my money.
rumor of paul being dead was merely based on back to the egg... chaos and creation proved he is very much alive
As for the OP, remember they're talking about "pop" songs. Take a look "at the Billboard Top Pop Songs": chart this week and tell me how sonically different the latest from Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Rihanna, Carly Rae Jepsen, etc. are.
posted by oldhometown
on Jul 27, 2012
at 02:37:15 pm
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enjoyeverysandwich - you named off two great bands! I'd be at that BTS show if it wasn't a Tuesday; the downfall of most good shows that come to town is weeknights...
And SensorG, I'm assuming you're being sarcastic? Bands like Nickelback and Bush are made for radio bands firmly in the alternative category. The Black Keys were/are widely seen as a bluesy return to rock.
posted by idinspired
on Aug 27, 2012
at 10:04:23 pm
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Bands like Nickelback and Bush are made for radio bands firmly in the alternative category. The Black Keys were/are widely seen as a bluesy return to rock.
Well, the Black Keys seem to be a staple on Sirius/XM's Alt Nation station. So, someone is considering them alternative.
The guy from Black Keys sounds too launch like Jimmy Page, it's creapy.
posted by SensorG
on Aug 28, 2012
at 07:21:10 pm
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I feel sorry for the kids who listen to the dumbed-down crap that passes for "music" today. I doubt most of them could define what a melody is much less recognize one. Either there isn't much talent left in the music world, or it's become way too easy to make a few quick millions without having to exert much effort...or maybe it's because the good stuff has all been written.
posted by shortysmom
on Aug 29, 2012
at 12:48:07 am
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I really enjoy the Black Keys. They played in Toledo 4 years ago at the Toledo Civic Theater at the Erie Street Market - don't expect that to occur again real soon. Probably not new News for Black Key fans but Dan Auerbach from the Black Keys recently produced Doctor John of Louisiana fames latest album called Locked Down. Here's a teaser: (You'll see Dan in the studio clips) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxAmqxTyxe4
When I think of classic “Pop” I think of artist in the old days such as Neil Diamond or Elton John to name a few. I've recently been on a big Elton John kick listening to almost all of his studio albums from the early 70's in the last few weeks.
I think the biggest difference (IMO) between today's Pop and that of periods such as the early 70's is that if you read a little about musicians such as Elton John, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond or Joni Mitchell you find out they were musical prodigies from an early age. They studied music, they played music and they lived and loved music. After all of that work some; very few became stars. Their looks, dancing and personal charm were secondary groomed later by the industry. Today it seems like a lot of newer artist want that star factor first before the 25 years of study and playing.
posted by Danneskjold
on Aug 29, 2012
at 01:49:43 am
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Shortysmom, there are still some talented bands out there. The problem, in my opinion, is the recording industry and radio itself. When you have cookie cutter stations across the country playing the same music (heck, the same DJs), there's not a lot of room for innovation.
That's one of the reasons I like satellite radio, because while I'm hearing bands like the Black Keys, I'm also hearing things that would never be played on Toledo radio. Even their classic rock stations play tunes that I had forgotten about, because they're not in rotation here.