Letters to the Editor
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@smoothyo
Maybe if there is anything substantial going on in 'Shine A Light' it's the premise that after these guys and others like them (Townshend, Plant, Page, Waters, Dylan, Neil Young, etc.) are gone, that's it...Other than U2 and REM you're on your own!!
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The movie clearly shows the next man in line...Jack White. He is the muscian of my generation, not Kurt Cobain, as the lazy MSM would have people believe. White is sought out by the giants: Jimmy Page, Dylan, Loretta Lynn, Pete Townshend, Billy Gibbons...he even played Elvis Presley in a recent movie called Walk Hard.
Its really an underdeveloped theory that there are no longer great rock musicians in today's landscape. I will agree that none will ever have the main stream success, financial achievement, or cultural significance of the Stones and their contemporaries (Im 0nly 30 yrs old my Ipod includes Exile on Main St., Some Girls, Sticky Fingers, Black and Blue -- case in point.) The industry has been so ravaged by corpratism that you actually have to actively seek out the quality--which certainly is challenging. Otherwise you are fed "pop-punk" (does that term even make sense) or American Idol matinee stars.
Just off the top of my head, bands that began their careers after my birth in 1977 that have been around for 15+ yrs that I will fully expect to be relevant and contributing to the artform 10+ years from now: Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, White Stripes, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Tool, Rancid. May not be household names to everyone reading this, but are all significant artists worth examining if you are a rock fan of any age.
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worth the effort
As others have mentioned, you're rarely ever going to find quality music from mainstream sources. It's a challenge, and the results are well worth the search. For instance, I've found some of the most exciting music on Myspace from French, Spanish, Japanese, and Brazilian bands (not to mention other countries and states). I may have missed out on these artists otherwise, and have had the opportunity to see some amazing shows because I knew to keep them on the radar.
Then again, I have no interest in stadium shows. I'm more intrigued with the magic generated from an unfinished loft in a warehouse district.
smoothyo:
The older folks of that era were confounded by what was going on with their offspring. Now those offspring ARE the older generation. They've seen more cool shit than your generation ever will see.
Did you see "more cool shit" while walking to school uphill both ways in 7 ft of snow?
Sorry, but any generation claiming such a thing is surely LOL-worthy. If you truly believe this, you are definitely out of touch.
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@ postnoodz (again)
Once you get out of your magic warehouse and straighten out your Williamsburg haircut maybe you'll understand what I'm talking about. Meanwhile, it's not even really worth explaining to you so have fun in your all self important little trust-fund underground. Oh I forgot...there is no underground anymore, but of course you think there is. Whatever!
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oh smoothyo
You sound like the 46-year-old stringy long haired guys clinging to their rent-stabilized East Village apartments after 20 years, still vociferously mourning the loss of CBGBs. Is this YOU?
"Trust funds?" That rumor is SO 1999. You really are digging yourself deeper. :)
Seriously though, you just sound old as opposed to wise.
Keeping up with new (and interesting) music can take more energy as you get older, and I wouldn't fault anyone for not doing so. However, unless you make an effort to immerse yourself in the current scene every once in a while, your claims that any generation is "missing" anything are ignorant, and most likely foolish.
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A few years ago...
I heard Mick Jagger pitched a hissy when his picture was on the front cover of the British version of "Modern Maturity", and just about attacked an old lady who asked for his autograph--thinking he was Don Knotts! Sheesh, Mick, cry your way to the bank and get over yourself! And when you get down, just remember...
...Hillary's mom is fantasising about you!
Me, I'll watch a REAL rockin' film: "The Shmenges--The Last Polka"!
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Wow, smoothyo
What is a "Williamsburg" haircut? Trust fund? Man, I like the Stones, but I am happy to say that I am delighted to find good, new music rather than feeling threatened by it. And that "more cool shit" line you wrote implies that all your "cool shit" is behind you. I am not ready to throw in the towel and look forward to experiencing bigger and better cool shit when it comes my way moving forward. Keep listening to the old records, brother, I guess that's all you have.
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Relevant?
So how exactly are the Stones not relevant? How many other bands can sell out football stadium-sized venues?
What a lousy review - Stephanie Zacharek could have just typed "I don't like the Stones" and saved us all a lot of reading.
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on The Last Polka and "cool shit"
Seriously! When are they going to release the Schmenges on dvd??
It also occurred to me that, even if you were to experience (and appreciate) a few generations' worth of "cool shit," it's all about context in your personal development as well. I mean, can anything ultimately compare to events in that phase of your life, when EVERYTHING was new and amazing? To write off the coming of age of anyone as irrelevant is ridiculous.
Much of my family has actually spent time with the Stones, and from what I hear they are nice fellas. I respect their work, but don't feel the need to listen to them regularly (let alone pay $11 to see a bloated production of recent footage). Life is short, and there's a lot of music (new and old) that needs my attention.
Mainstream pop culture has forced the music of many bands and artists over the years upon me repeatedly, so I guess I don't see the issue with wanting to move forward as opposed to constantly dwelling on the past.
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Is it me...
...or is the only thing that distinguishes a Rolling Stones concert film the fact that someone has to die during the making of one? For Gimme Shelter it was Meredith Hunter, and for Shine A Light, it was Ahmet Ertegun (who slipped and hit his head backstage at the Beacon and died later of his injury). In the first instance, it marked the end of the long love-in promised by the psychedelic '60s; in the second, it marked the loss of one of the last great record executives who still gave a shit about music. Either way, the Stones always seem to be overseeing the death of someone or something; when will they do us all a favor and finally make it their own career?