Select Truths About Rock and Roll Music

If you read enough rock and roll criticism, you will read what appears to be consensus opinions on certain music and artists. Below are my contrarian thoughts on some of the accepted truths of Rock and Roll.

Elvis Is Not The King Of Rock and Roll

Yes, Elvis was there at the beginning and played a crucial roll in popularizing the new genre. But the argument can be made that Chuck Berry had a much bigger influence on rock then Elvis. Chuck wrote his own songs, pioneered rock guitar, and his lyrics were full of the cars, sexual innuendos, and middle class themes that would drive the music into the present day. He also broke down the racial barriers of era and was an intelligent spokesman for the early days of the music.

The Rolling Stones Are Better Than The Beatles

Yes, every Beatles album is a classic. Yes, the Beatles created music that encompassed many genres and transcended them all. Yes you can hear their influence in today's artists. But the fact remains that while the Beatles music often sounds dated or tired, much of the Stones catalog sounds fresh and even dangerous to these ears. Yes, Beatlemaniacs can deconstruct every song and tell you how it was recorded and the trivia behind it, but the fact remains that many Beatles songs are more interesting to hear about than actually hear.

Certainly, the Stones have recorded their share of crap, and their recent albums aren't up to the output of their work in the 60's and 70's. But have you heard Paul McCartney recently? While the Stones still can fire up a worthy song or two on each album, McCartney's albums sound like he spent about 10 minutes writing AND recording them. And McCartney's recent tours are essentially oldies reviews, with Paul playing faithful reproductions of his hits night after night. The Stones play their oldies too, but they mix them up, play rarities, and inject a passion and fire into their playing that is amazing for guys approaching their 70 years-old.

Pearl Jam Puts Me To Sleep

I certainly respect Pearl Jam's love of classic rock and their desire to make sure that their fans are well served. But can I respect that and still say the music is a snooze? Pearl Jam is the 90's version of the Doors, with a first rate set of musicians fronted by a guy with pretentions greater than he can pull off. Eddie Vedder's voice is overwrought to the point of parody, and the lyrics often sound like ones you'd find in a high school notebook of a kid who fancies himself more of an artist than he truly is. Give me Nirvana any day.

Aerosmith Sucks

Think Aerosmith is a great band worthy of their very own Guitar Hero game? Dream On. Aerosmith has recorded one and a quarter great songs. The version of Walk This Way is killer, and Sweet Emotion is a real kick until a minute in when the worst front man of a popular band opens his yap and tunelessly "sings" the song.

There are dozens of rock stars that can't sing, but Stephen Tyler takes an inability to carry a tune to new heights of suckitude, imbuing each song he sings, from a song about an abused child getting revenge to a ditty about a guy who looks like a chick with a passion not seen since John Travolta romanced Lily Tomlin in the cinematic classic Moment by Moment. From Rag Doll to Love in an Elevator to Crazy, every Aerosmith song sounds exactly the same, lousy.

Disco Didn't Suck

Hard to believe now, but in the 70s, people burned disco records and had rallies to proclaim death to disco. But listening to those classics by KC and the Sunshine Band, Donna Summer, the Bee Gees and others reveals some incredibly produced sonic masterpieces that are magical in their ability to get your butt moving. While disco may have been beaten down, it never truly died, living on in artists from Madonna to Justin Timberlake.