(TV) OT: Random thoughts

[Russ Van Rooy <russvr@pop.nwnexus.com>]

I saw Franz Ferdinand play on SNL last night - actually only heard their 
second song. I liked what I saw and heard. Geeky looking guys , sort of 
following a Rolling Stones or Yardbirds look from early '65 . I can, of 
course, definitely see/hear a Television influence, in so far as they 
have a twin guitar attack and play pretty clean in terms of tone. Lots 
of rhythmic feel though that would definitely derive more from Gang of 
Four. Overall, a positive impression.
Just finished reading "Shakey: the Neil Young biography" for the second 
time. Just as good the second time around. Got me to thinking a lot 
about the meta-issues of rock and roll. I guess we really are living in 
the post-rock world now. Is what a band like Franz Ferdinand plays 
considered 'rock and roll" ?  One of the quotes in Shakey was from 
Meltzer who stated there has not been any true rock music produced since 
before 1998 ( just paraphrasing him) .  I mean , there are bands playing 
music in the "style of" of rock and roll, yes, but *it no longer is 
dangerous* - it is no long something your parents will scream at you to 
turn down ... that generation is dead or dying. Classic rock even 
classic punk rock is ubiquitous - on our televisions and radios, it's 
impossible to escape from it. It's been emasculated by Madison Avenue. 
Whats an artist to do ? You can't go roots - its been done to death, you 
can go "arty" or avant-garde for the same reason. How can an artist be 
truly original in this age ? What is true and sincere in rock music 
today ? Just some rhetorical pondering. Got me to search out for my 
Nuggets CD.
- Russ
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