1990s nostalgia is everywhere these days. All college kids today (plus the past 10 years of graduates) are members of Generation Y and are reminiscing about the arts and entertainment of their respective childhoods. Perhaps the most notable musical trend of the ‘90s was the emergence of alternative rock as a mainstream force. The genre [...]
About Johnathan.Guest
Author Archive | Johnathan.Guest
You should be celebrating
A common theme throughout popular music history is that artists borrow from other artists. Plagiarism and overt stylistic trends in a slew of bands (see: British Invasion) aside, the influence of other musicians may be an inescapable reality of making music. There are many people who despise that most music is no longer original, but [...]
You should be celebrating
When it comes to a genre’s move from the underground to the mainstream, there are always growing pains. The original instrumentation and overall feel can rapidly change so that the best qualities of the genre become lost or muddled (see dubstep as a current example). Some fans who adored the genre at first lament that [...]
You should be celebrating
When music and politics collide, their relationship tends to be fiercely antagonistic. Artists who have a strong political viewpoint will be critical of the government — whether or not they have the legal freedom to do so — if they disagree with its actions or leanings. Wars (especially the Vietnam War), racial injustice (the charged [...]
You Should Be Celebrating
The genre U.K. garage (rhymes with carriage when using the British pronunciation) came about through the introduction of Chicago house music in London in the early 1990s. Soon it became house’s restless younger cousin, with faster tempos and skipping rhythms. The genre has since been warped and succeeded by offshoots such as Grime, 2-step and [...]
You Should Be Celebrating
It’s been said that musical influence occurs in cycles of 20-25 years, creating a direct line between past and present. Consider the prevalence of synthesizers originally heard in the ’80s that dominate popular music today, not to mention the frequently made connection between Madonna and Lady Gaga, whose careers emerged roughly 25 years apart. Rock [...]
You should be celebrating
When it comes to Beatles history, nothing has been left unsaid. They are quite possibly the most beloved musicians the world has ever known. From books to video games, they have been documented religiously, and their music has been treated as a priceless gem. Simply put, The Beatles are an institution. So before I continue [...]
You should be celebrating: The Clash
Throughout popular music history, it is a common trend that even a great band has growing pains. A great deal of hard work is needed in order to decide what you want to sound and look like and to polish that aesthetic to perfection. Of course, getting there is only half the battle. The legendary [...]
You Should Be Celebrating
A common theme among great musicians and their albums is that they are rarely directionless. If an artist fails to change his or her tune for years, it’s going to become stale no matter how good it really is. An evolving sound — and with that, an image — turns a good band into a [...]
You Should Be Celebrating
Breakthrough albums are a fascinating thing in that they often change the perception of a band forever, no matter how many years it was relatively unknown before or after its sudden popularity. And when I say breakthrough, I really mean breakthrough — as in a first-time Grammy winner with a multi-platinum record. This incredible success [...]
You Should Be Celebrating
When it comes to observing general trends in electronic music, there seem to be two polarized sections that some of its famous musicians inhabit. The first, and most popular, space is occupied by Deadmau5, Skrillex and their contemporaries — chart-topping dance-fillers who deliver the euphoria of pure entertainment. Then, there are the forward-thinking types who [...]
You should be celebrating
When it comes to genre, electronic dance music has a crowded floor. Started by pioneering acts such as Giorgio Moroder and Kraftwerk, electronic dance music was embraced worldwide as the soundtrack for partying at nightclubs and discotheques, as controlled and manipulated by the disc jockey. During the 1980s in Chicago, the house music genre formed [...]
You should be celebrating
Classic albums are significant all on their own. They have become mainstays of music lore and garnered praise solely for their musical value. Some albums need no history to be great. However, a significant anniversary of a great album allows us to reflect on its legacy and assert its significance in any terms. Starting with [...]
Loading ...