First, some business.
Music to Listen to: Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder
You can’t talk about what I’m going to discuss without including Stevie. You can’t mess with that guy.
A few days ago I talked about seeing the excellent movie Almost Famous based on the fictional rock band Stillwater in 1974.
The overwhelming theme for me while watching it was how great the music was during that era and the lack of quality we have in 2009.
Here’s what was happening during a five-year period from 1970-74:
-Led Zeppelin stakes their claim as the greatest rock band ever with the release of five sick albums, Zeppelin I-IV and Houses of the Holy. All of their classic songs that you hear on classic radio outside of Kashmir and Black Dog today are on those five albums.
-The Rolling Stones gleefully enter the second phase of their career post Paint it Black and Satisfaction with the release of Exile on Main Street.
-Marvin Gaye changes R&B forever with the release of What’s Going On, arguably the most soulful and socially conscious album of the entire 1970’s. He transforms himself from the clean cut Motown golden boy to the most transcendent artist of the 1970’s.
-Bob Dylan completely accepts going electric and even his misses are better than many other successes by his contemporaries.
-Joni Mitchell releases the Blue album and inspires an entire generation of singer-songwriters.
-Parliament ushers in the funk music, which developed into elements of disco, which in turn provided much of the musical content for rap music.
-Eric Clapton emerges from Cream and starts his solo career. One word, Layla.
-Black Sabbath starts their career and may not literally invent heavy metal but have a tremendous say in it. War Geezer Butler!
-Neil Young releases After the Gold Rush, does a transcendent acoustic tour, records Old Man, which I want performed on my funeral by the way and even has time to record a rockabilly album. Good times.
-Crosby, Stills and Nash continue to do their thing and record Ohio, maybe the most popular and well known protest song ever.
-Iggy Pop and The Stooges release Raw Power, which is a tremendous album.
-The Jackson 5 may have started in the late-1960’s but they still are making solid music. Michael Jackson even has time to record “Ben” and win an Oscar.
-The Beatles release Let it Be. Along those lines, you see John Lennon really get to spread his wings as well. We had to deal with Yoko but it is what it is. Paul McCarthy records some music and the surprising development is George Harrison bringing it with some excellent solo work, including While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
-Deep Purple begins their career
-Elvis Pressley is still alive and even though his career was winding down, it was still frickin Elvis.
-Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings are recording excellent music.
-We’re introduced to Elton John or Reginald Dwight as I like to call him. For those of you who only think of Elton for his goofy glasses and diva antics, listen to his first few albums. You will thank me later.
-Lynyrd Skynyrd ushers in non-country southern rock to a more secular audience.
-Stevie Wonder releases Innervisions and similar to Marvin Gaye, sheds his clean image and develops his own sound. Listen to Higher Ground above again if you don’t believe me.
-David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust.
-James Brown releases The Payback album which is tremendous.
-Pink frickin Floyd releases Dark Side of the Moon and Meddle, which contains Echoes, which may be the definitive song of tripped out rock.
-Simon and Garfunkel break up. No, but it’s ok because Paul Simon launches his solo career which I’m not a big fan of but its good music.
-Creedence is in full swing
-Al Green is making great music.
-The Who release Tommy and Who’s Next. Once again, all of those Who songs that you hear on classic rock radio today outside of My Generation are on those two albums. Pete Townsend, maybe the most underrated songwriter ever.
-Velvet Underground was doing work and this was before Lou Reed’s uninspired solo career. Sorry to say it but its true.
-Brian Eno and T. Rex are doing good work and if those bands were out today, they would be respected a lot more because look at the era they were releasing songs. Its like Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkley performing during Michael Jordan’s playing days.
-Sly and the Family Stone are recording their best work.
OK, the point of all of that was to state how good the music was. However, I was born in 1981, so I wasn’t alive during any of that stuff. I said in the previous post that the music periods of 1982-87 was good but I was a little kid during that time. The best music period in my lifetime that I can remember was 1991-96 and that music influenced my tastes today greatly but it can’t compete with the early 1970’s.
However, I want to look at 2009. Today’s era is very weak and I’m going to explain below. Even some of the top guys still doing their thing like Bruce Springsteen have lost their fastball and their best recorded music has passed.
What I decided to do was look at the Billboard Top 200 albums this week and see which artists have a chance to reach the legendary status of the early 1970’s and who doesn’t.
To show some love to music in 2009,
Music to Listen to, part II: Knocked Up by Kings of Leon
Here’s the list:
-George Strait: Had a long and very productive career. I’m not the biggest country music fan so I can’t name two of his songs but I know that he is highly regarded. But I will say this. I can name five Johnny Cash songs if needed. That’s all I’m saying.
-Neil Diamond: He has a top-five album right now. It’s a live album but he’s not a current artist per-say.
-Black-eyed Peas: If they weren’t so darn goofy and put in some solid work for about 10 years, they would have a better chance than you may think. Unique concept for a band, well produced music with Will.I.am and Fergie is a crossover star.
-Cobra Starship: Next
-Kings of Leon: The little Nashville band that could. As a Nashville-resident, its great to see these guys blow up and become a big act. I remember listening to their music about five years ago around the time of the video above and liked it but had no clue that they would reach this level. They’re still young and have work to do, but if they produce another four or five albums like their latest one, they have a chance.
-Maxwell: I like his music a lot but he’s going to be regarded as a poor man’s Al Green. Love the Unplugged album.
-Daughtry: He is a product of American Idol but I think he has the chops to have the second-most underground mainstream career or as I call it, the Jackson Browne career. The top choice is later. What this means is that 20 years from now, you will go over his career and hear the hit songs that he has and not realize how many he really had.
-Taylor Swift: She can warrant her own post but she’s in a unique position to be a young country artist who has crossed over into pop music. I don’t think it has ever happened at this level ever. I’m not the biggest fan of her music but her big hook is she writes her own music, which means she will be able to have a long career. She’s the club house leader to be an all-timer from this era.
-Kanye West: Thinks way too highly of himself but you can’t deny the talent. Loved his first album, College Dropout. Through the Wire showed so much potential but he seems to still be finding himself. His diversity within his music is a good thing because it keeps fan interested. I wouldn’t be shocked if he recorded a rock album next just to switch things up.
-Justin Moore: Not happening
-Sugarland: I’m a fan of them but the unavoidable breakup and launch of Jennifer Nettles’ solo career is going to mess them up.
Hannah Montana: She, and I literally mean Hannah Montana and not Miley Cyrus, has TWO albums in the top-15. Cyrus is more than a gimmick but not much. She’s a decent singer but nothing to be too excited about.
Zac Brown Band: A good group but just not going to make it.
Lady Gaga: Maybe a prime example of what’s wrong with music in 2009. Don’t get her at all.
John Mayer: Talented musician who really needs to focus. It seems like he running around dating actresses and not in the lab dominating like he used to. I like the desire to do blues music. There’s hope.
Eminem: Relapse is a terrible album but his first few albums are classics. He still has a chance to bounce back with his next album but it has to be better than Relapse.
Darius Rucker: Hootie! As a black man who primarily listens to rock music which lacks a lot of black musicians, I’ve always been a supporter of Rucker. Seriously though, he’s a talented musician no matter what his race is. The problem with Hootie and the Blowfish is that their music got played TOO much and the backlash began. The best thing for his career was to go solo and now he can marinate it properly.
Jessie James: Still needs to put in work but she has hope.
Nickelback: They are the top-choice to have a Jackson Browne career. By the time their done, you’re going to know the chorus of at least five of its songs without even trying.
Jonas Brothers: Don’t like their music, have a cult-like following, am actually interested to see where their career is in five years when their current fans have entered college and potentially moved on.
Green Day: They’re going to be recording music for the next 20 years, easy. Originators of pop-punk. OK, maybe, maybe that title should go to The Clash but still.
Brad Paisley: He’s a fellow Belmont alum, so I have love for him. He’s going to have a long career and I see a transition to a harder rocking sound, which will increase his audience. He’s not going to become a head banger but you get what I’m saying. Surprised he isn’t more mainstream.
Lady Antebellum: Watch out for this group because when you have decent singing-songwriting with a very attractive female singer, they have crossover potential.
Rascal Flatts: Truly dislike this band but have decent following. They won’t make an all-timer list years from now.
Kenny Chesney: If you want to sell albums, become a country musician. He fits into the category of hit or miss for me. Some of his songs I like, some I don’t. Him and Keith Urban have Jackson Browne career potential in the country music genre.
The Fray and Modest Mouse: I group them together because they make solid pop-rock songs but are just missing something. Its good for adult contemporary but to truly make an impact, I would like to see both bands take more chances in their music and diversify.
Dave Matthews Band: Definitely a polarizing group. Either they’re transcendent or stupid hippie music that gets played in frat houses. As an undergrad in college, I was on the latter side but looking back, they weren’t transcendent but not awful to listen to.
Beyonce: If she didn’t record another song, it wouldn’t affect me at all. Her music gets overplayed constantly, but she has a huge following. Just on star power and looks, she’s going to be overvalued as an all-time great, similar to Joe Namath in football.
Pink: Had a nice start to her career but it has died down.
Rob Thomas: Liked his Matchbox 20 work more than solo albums.
Jordin Sparks: She’s trying and still young but needs to put in a lot more work.
Frank Sinatra: Props to Frankie having a top-100 album. I know this doesn’t fit the criteria but just needed to say that.
3OH!3: A frickin joke. Awful, awful, awful band. Them and Lady Gaga needs to go under a rock.
Chrisette Michelle: Good singer who is even underground in the R&B scene. She’s got a nice career ahead of her and is very attractive. I will say this, if you put her voice with Beyonce’s looks, you would have Whitney Houston in her hayday, which was awesome.
Katy Perry: She’s fun, has some nice songs but not much else.
Kelly Clarkson: Same as Katy Perry.
Keri Hilson: My future second-wife after Maria Menunos has potential. Good voice, attractive look, an edge to keep people interested. Watch out for her.
Wilco, Silversun Pickups , Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, TV on the Radio, Slipknot: All similar to Kings of Leon in some ways. If they haven’t crossed over by now, will they ever? Especially tough for TV because those are Brooklyn guys.
Music to Listen to: Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder
You can’t talk about what I’m going to discuss without including Stevie. You can’t mess with that guy.
A few days ago I talked about seeing the excellent movie Almost Famous based on the fictional rock band Stillwater in 1974.
The overwhelming theme for me while watching it was how great the music was during that era and the lack of quality we have in 2009.
Here’s what was happening during a five-year period from 1970-74:
-Led Zeppelin stakes their claim as the greatest rock band ever with the release of five sick albums, Zeppelin I-IV and Houses of the Holy. All of their classic songs that you hear on classic radio outside of Kashmir and Black Dog today are on those five albums.
-The Rolling Stones gleefully enter the second phase of their career post Paint it Black and Satisfaction with the release of Exile on Main Street.
-Marvin Gaye changes R&B forever with the release of What’s Going On, arguably the most soulful and socially conscious album of the entire 1970’s. He transforms himself from the clean cut Motown golden boy to the most transcendent artist of the 1970’s.
-Bob Dylan completely accepts going electric and even his misses are better than many other successes by his contemporaries.
-Joni Mitchell releases the Blue album and inspires an entire generation of singer-songwriters.
-Parliament ushers in the funk music, which developed into elements of disco, which in turn provided much of the musical content for rap music.
-Eric Clapton emerges from Cream and starts his solo career. One word, Layla.
-Black Sabbath starts their career and may not literally invent heavy metal but have a tremendous say in it. War Geezer Butler!
-Neil Young releases After the Gold Rush, does a transcendent acoustic tour, records Old Man, which I want performed on my funeral by the way and even has time to record a rockabilly album. Good times.
-Crosby, Stills and Nash continue to do their thing and record Ohio, maybe the most popular and well known protest song ever.
-Iggy Pop and The Stooges release Raw Power, which is a tremendous album.
-The Jackson 5 may have started in the late-1960’s but they still are making solid music. Michael Jackson even has time to record “Ben” and win an Oscar.
-The Beatles release Let it Be. Along those lines, you see John Lennon really get to spread his wings as well. We had to deal with Yoko but it is what it is. Paul McCarthy records some music and the surprising development is George Harrison bringing it with some excellent solo work, including While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
-Deep Purple begins their career
-Elvis Pressley is still alive and even though his career was winding down, it was still frickin Elvis.
-Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings are recording excellent music.
-We’re introduced to Elton John or Reginald Dwight as I like to call him. For those of you who only think of Elton for his goofy glasses and diva antics, listen to his first few albums. You will thank me later.
-Lynyrd Skynyrd ushers in non-country southern rock to a more secular audience.
-Stevie Wonder releases Innervisions and similar to Marvin Gaye, sheds his clean image and develops his own sound. Listen to Higher Ground above again if you don’t believe me.
-David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust.
-James Brown releases The Payback album which is tremendous.
-Pink frickin Floyd releases Dark Side of the Moon and Meddle, which contains Echoes, which may be the definitive song of tripped out rock.
-Simon and Garfunkel break up. No, but it’s ok because Paul Simon launches his solo career which I’m not a big fan of but its good music.
-Creedence is in full swing
-Al Green is making great music.
-The Who release Tommy and Who’s Next. Once again, all of those Who songs that you hear on classic rock radio today outside of My Generation are on those two albums. Pete Townsend, maybe the most underrated songwriter ever.
-Velvet Underground was doing work and this was before Lou Reed’s uninspired solo career. Sorry to say it but its true.
-Brian Eno and T. Rex are doing good work and if those bands were out today, they would be respected a lot more because look at the era they were releasing songs. Its like Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkley performing during Michael Jordan’s playing days.
-Sly and the Family Stone are recording their best work.
OK, the point of all of that was to state how good the music was. However, I was born in 1981, so I wasn’t alive during any of that stuff. I said in the previous post that the music periods of 1982-87 was good but I was a little kid during that time. The best music period in my lifetime that I can remember was 1991-96 and that music influenced my tastes today greatly but it can’t compete with the early 1970’s.
However, I want to look at 2009. Today’s era is very weak and I’m going to explain below. Even some of the top guys still doing their thing like Bruce Springsteen have lost their fastball and their best recorded music has passed.
What I decided to do was look at the Billboard Top 200 albums this week and see which artists have a chance to reach the legendary status of the early 1970’s and who doesn’t.
To show some love to music in 2009,
Music to Listen to, part II: Knocked Up by Kings of Leon
Here’s the list:
-George Strait: Had a long and very productive career. I’m not the biggest country music fan so I can’t name two of his songs but I know that he is highly regarded. But I will say this. I can name five Johnny Cash songs if needed. That’s all I’m saying.
-Neil Diamond: He has a top-five album right now. It’s a live album but he’s not a current artist per-say.
-Black-eyed Peas: If they weren’t so darn goofy and put in some solid work for about 10 years, they would have a better chance than you may think. Unique concept for a band, well produced music with Will.I.am and Fergie is a crossover star.
-Cobra Starship: Next
-Kings of Leon: The little Nashville band that could. As a Nashville-resident, its great to see these guys blow up and become a big act. I remember listening to their music about five years ago around the time of the video above and liked it but had no clue that they would reach this level. They’re still young and have work to do, but if they produce another four or five albums like their latest one, they have a chance.
-Maxwell: I like his music a lot but he’s going to be regarded as a poor man’s Al Green. Love the Unplugged album.
-Daughtry: He is a product of American Idol but I think he has the chops to have the second-most underground mainstream career or as I call it, the Jackson Browne career. The top choice is later. What this means is that 20 years from now, you will go over his career and hear the hit songs that he has and not realize how many he really had.
-Taylor Swift: She can warrant her own post but she’s in a unique position to be a young country artist who has crossed over into pop music. I don’t think it has ever happened at this level ever. I’m not the biggest fan of her music but her big hook is she writes her own music, which means she will be able to have a long career. She’s the club house leader to be an all-timer from this era.
-Kanye West: Thinks way too highly of himself but you can’t deny the talent. Loved his first album, College Dropout. Through the Wire showed so much potential but he seems to still be finding himself. His diversity within his music is a good thing because it keeps fan interested. I wouldn’t be shocked if he recorded a rock album next just to switch things up.
-Justin Moore: Not happening
-Sugarland: I’m a fan of them but the unavoidable breakup and launch of Jennifer Nettles’ solo career is going to mess them up.
Hannah Montana: She, and I literally mean Hannah Montana and not Miley Cyrus, has TWO albums in the top-15. Cyrus is more than a gimmick but not much. She’s a decent singer but nothing to be too excited about.
Zac Brown Band: A good group but just not going to make it.
Lady Gaga: Maybe a prime example of what’s wrong with music in 2009. Don’t get her at all.
John Mayer: Talented musician who really needs to focus. It seems like he running around dating actresses and not in the lab dominating like he used to. I like the desire to do blues music. There’s hope.
Eminem: Relapse is a terrible album but his first few albums are classics. He still has a chance to bounce back with his next album but it has to be better than Relapse.
Darius Rucker: Hootie! As a black man who primarily listens to rock music which lacks a lot of black musicians, I’ve always been a supporter of Rucker. Seriously though, he’s a talented musician no matter what his race is. The problem with Hootie and the Blowfish is that their music got played TOO much and the backlash began. The best thing for his career was to go solo and now he can marinate it properly.
Jessie James: Still needs to put in work but she has hope.
Nickelback: They are the top-choice to have a Jackson Browne career. By the time their done, you’re going to know the chorus of at least five of its songs without even trying.
Jonas Brothers: Don’t like their music, have a cult-like following, am actually interested to see where their career is in five years when their current fans have entered college and potentially moved on.
Green Day: They’re going to be recording music for the next 20 years, easy. Originators of pop-punk. OK, maybe, maybe that title should go to The Clash but still.
Brad Paisley: He’s a fellow Belmont alum, so I have love for him. He’s going to have a long career and I see a transition to a harder rocking sound, which will increase his audience. He’s not going to become a head banger but you get what I’m saying. Surprised he isn’t more mainstream.
Lady Antebellum: Watch out for this group because when you have decent singing-songwriting with a very attractive female singer, they have crossover potential.
Rascal Flatts: Truly dislike this band but have decent following. They won’t make an all-timer list years from now.
Kenny Chesney: If you want to sell albums, become a country musician. He fits into the category of hit or miss for me. Some of his songs I like, some I don’t. Him and Keith Urban have Jackson Browne career potential in the country music genre.
The Fray and Modest Mouse: I group them together because they make solid pop-rock songs but are just missing something. Its good for adult contemporary but to truly make an impact, I would like to see both bands take more chances in their music and diversify.
Dave Matthews Band: Definitely a polarizing group. Either they’re transcendent or stupid hippie music that gets played in frat houses. As an undergrad in college, I was on the latter side but looking back, they weren’t transcendent but not awful to listen to.
Beyonce: If she didn’t record another song, it wouldn’t affect me at all. Her music gets overplayed constantly, but she has a huge following. Just on star power and looks, she’s going to be overvalued as an all-time great, similar to Joe Namath in football.
Pink: Had a nice start to her career but it has died down.
Rob Thomas: Liked his Matchbox 20 work more than solo albums.
Jordin Sparks: She’s trying and still young but needs to put in a lot more work.
Frank Sinatra: Props to Frankie having a top-100 album. I know this doesn’t fit the criteria but just needed to say that.
3OH!3: A frickin joke. Awful, awful, awful band. Them and Lady Gaga needs to go under a rock.
Chrisette Michelle: Good singer who is even underground in the R&B scene. She’s got a nice career ahead of her and is very attractive. I will say this, if you put her voice with Beyonce’s looks, you would have Whitney Houston in her hayday, which was awesome.
Katy Perry: She’s fun, has some nice songs but not much else.
Kelly Clarkson: Same as Katy Perry.
Keri Hilson: My future second-wife after Maria Menunos has potential. Good voice, attractive look, an edge to keep people interested. Watch out for her.
Wilco, Silversun Pickups , Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, TV on the Radio, Slipknot: All similar to Kings of Leon in some ways. If they haven’t crossed over by now, will they ever? Especially tough for TV because those are Brooklyn guys.
The Mars Volta: Same as the last groups above pertaining to mainstream appeal. I think they're the best band I've heard in 20 years but for some reason they haven't reached household name status. I honestly don't think Omar and Cedric, the two members of the group, really want to based on their musical stylings.
Massive Attack: Legends in their own genre, listening to them right now as I type this.
Ashley Tisdale: Next
U2: Respect to still making decent music but best days are behind them.
Lil Wayne: I think he’s the most overrated musician of this decade but has amazing following. He’s going to be regarded as a legend. The fact that he has the first Behind the Music in years on VH1 coming up soon says volumes.
Incubus: I love these guys but I may be in a minority.
Coldplay: They are going to be looked at in a much better light than needed. They have the perfect recipe of a known lead singer, pleasing music that is hard enough for rock fans, yet light enough for adult contemporary, they aren’t controversial, etc. I still think that U2 was much, much better then Coldplay will ever be and Radiohead at its peak kicks its ass as well.
LMFAO: Is this supposed to be a serious band?
Killswitch Engage: Give them a chance, you will like it.
Alan Jackson and Toby Keith: see George Strait
Carrie Underwood: A notch below Taylor Swift
Mary Mary: Besides Kirk Franklin, the most mainstream gospel musical group I can think of. Within their own genre, they will be looked at in a legendary way.
Kid Rock: Has had a longer career than you would think. Got out of the rap-rock genre at the right time and got on the country music scene correctly.
MGMT: Love Electric Feel, not much else.
T.I.: He has a chance to make an impact but needs to come stronger than his last album.
Flo Rida and Soulja Boy: Awful rap music that will be forgotten in 10 years, hopefully.
Keyshia Cole: If she stays out of drama and focuses on her music, she has a chance.
The Killers: Had potential but don’t know what happened.
Jack Johnson: Like him but just doesn’t make the cut.
OK, long post but hope you enjoyed it.
Your thoughts?
Massive Attack: Legends in their own genre, listening to them right now as I type this.
Ashley Tisdale: Next
U2: Respect to still making decent music but best days are behind them.
Lil Wayne: I think he’s the most overrated musician of this decade but has amazing following. He’s going to be regarded as a legend. The fact that he has the first Behind the Music in years on VH1 coming up soon says volumes.
Incubus: I love these guys but I may be in a minority.
Coldplay: They are going to be looked at in a much better light than needed. They have the perfect recipe of a known lead singer, pleasing music that is hard enough for rock fans, yet light enough for adult contemporary, they aren’t controversial, etc. I still think that U2 was much, much better then Coldplay will ever be and Radiohead at its peak kicks its ass as well.
LMFAO: Is this supposed to be a serious band?
Killswitch Engage: Give them a chance, you will like it.
Alan Jackson and Toby Keith: see George Strait
Carrie Underwood: A notch below Taylor Swift
Mary Mary: Besides Kirk Franklin, the most mainstream gospel musical group I can think of. Within their own genre, they will be looked at in a legendary way.
Kid Rock: Has had a longer career than you would think. Got out of the rap-rock genre at the right time and got on the country music scene correctly.
MGMT: Love Electric Feel, not much else.
T.I.: He has a chance to make an impact but needs to come stronger than his last album.
Flo Rida and Soulja Boy: Awful rap music that will be forgotten in 10 years, hopefully.
Keyshia Cole: If she stays out of drama and focuses on her music, she has a chance.
The Killers: Had potential but don’t know what happened.
Jack Johnson: Like him but just doesn’t make the cut.
OK, long post but hope you enjoyed it.
Your thoughts?
3 comments:
Wow...As a country fan, I don't share your opinions of George Strait.
George Strait has been around since the early 80s (record deal) and making music since the late 70s.
He has 57 #1 songs...He is a legend in country music and still makes #1 hits today. And he is not pop country. He may have a large fan base, but in no way is his music crossover. He is pure country and one of the greatest of all time whether you are a country purist or not.
I went to a concert of his in Louisville...The age of the fans ranged from 18 to 70...The man is a legend in every way and should not be written about in any other way.
Great Blog E.M.P. The problem with music today is, 20yrs from now most of it will be forgotten or be remembered for being awful. Most of the music today has no substance, no "soul". On top of that, the radio station forces crappy music on us every day. Give me Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, The Temps,Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, George Strait, Etta James, Stevie Wonder (just to name a few), over anything Nowadays.
Anthony Hamilton is great. Alicia Keys, Robin Thicke, Eryka Badu, are great artist. However we have to search high and low for quality music. Radio stations aren't playing quality music anymore.
The type of music that is the best in this decade and into the next one is the underground scene. A LOT of people don't go for the popular genre defining artists that they once did. The Billboard Top 200 is becoming slightly obsolete as over 50% of music is illegally downloaded. Also, today's generation doesn't listen to the radio like it once did. I have not turned on mainstream radio in over a year. I use Sirius radio where I can listen to hundreds of awesome songs that will never make it to a top 100 chart because the artists have no goal of making it to the Top 100 because they see that as selling out.
Plus, you miss out on hard rock acts like Disturbed, who are one of six rock bands to release three straight number one studio albums (The other five being Van Halen, Staind, U2, Metallica, and System of a Down). Bands like Shinedown, whose 1st ten singles made the top 5, which make them the first band to do that.
Your scope is limited to your bands that you like when there are underground bands and other hard rock acts making a huge impact on the music scene that is unparalleled in other generations because it didn't even exist at that point.
There are other bands like Smashing Pumpkins who have sold over 20 million albums in the US alone that you leave off your list.
Following your method, I could take a snapshot of some random week in 1977 and find a bunch of crappy music, too. So how is that a valid snapshot of 2009 music? It isn't.
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