MY PROBLEMS WITH ROCK

Before I get started with this, let me just say that this is not a verbal assault on rock music, as I for one am a rock and roller by heart, it's just that I have had a more personal connection and relationship with hip-hop, which explains my artistry, but most of it has a rock influence.

I over the last couple of months, have been turned off by most rock and have only listened to classics more (same with hip-hop). For example, I have 2 Zeppelin albums (I and IV), Joy Division's debut (Unknown Pleasures), The Downward Spiral (NIN), Rage's debut, Tool's Aenima, and countless others filling up my iPod cuddling with hip-hop classics.

However, it appears that over the last couple of years, I haven't looked at rock the way that I use to. Here's why.

1. NO IDEA'S ORIGINAL

It is safe to say for hard rock, the radio has destroyed it as we know it. Post-grunge bands (Nickelback, Seether, Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin) can pump out great tunes, however, I really don't know anyone that would put their albums on their most anticipated lists, as they have made it comfortable for bands to go a formulaic route when it comes to albums. In other words, none of these bands on the radio are pushing the envelope creatively, and it makes a genre that I love very very dull.

2. TOO MANY EMO BANDS

There are many exceptions for this rule. For example, I am a supporter of Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Paramore...or even "progressive emo" as I like to call it (Underoath, Chiodos). However, there are so many of these bands, that when I hear their songs, well, let's say that I can't really tell a "All Time Low" from a "Cobra Starship". Be original. Form your OWN sound. It's aight to wear your heart on your sleeve and praise Morrissey to the death...but sound good while you do it, okaaaayyy???

3. MY FAVORITE BANDS ARE BECOMING REDUNDANT

There are only five bands that I will still support no matter what and those are Deftones, Tool, The Mars Volta, Nine Inch Nails, and Slipknot. Other bands that I had been a major fan of before, I can't even get into their music now, because they too have either ran out of ideas and have become bland, or they don't exist anymore.


I guess when I really think about it, I have become pretty much a fan of albums more than artists. For example, Illmatic is THE album that made me become a better lyricist. I however HATED Nastradamus. I don't think that makes me more or less a Nas fan (or stan) but more of just a fan of great quality music. I mean I don't like being a casual fan to everything, but when an artist can't keep it consistent, what do you expect? Like I love band T-shirts, and I have a Smiths T-Shirt with "The Queen Is Dead" cover, however I only have the Singles album. Or does it make everything wrong, when I have a Maiden T-Shirt, and only have the best albums instead of EVERY album? I don't know, but with that aspect I just do what I do, I'm not gonna buy merchandise if I didn't have at least one album of a band, that wouldn't make sense.

But either way, I love rock and hip hop, like it was one in the same, but c'mon...I go for quality, and that is why as an artist myself, I'll mark for your album, but I WON'T mark for you.