Comments on: The Next American Music

By: Suzanne Carr

Suzanne Carr — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:28:05 +0000

I am a 28 year old who grew up on bob dylan, the beatles, john prine, etc and I LOVE the new indy folk. It is well-known how dylan was influenced by robert johnston, so even if new artists don’t listen to johnston directly (which i have done a bit) they feel the influence and it is very obvious in the sound. There are also some very interesting things going on that sound very new, like “aeroplane over the sea” by neutral milk hotel. check it out.

By: Elijah Wald

Elijah Wald — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:31:40 +0000

It is pretty astonishing that, thirty years into the hip-hop era, with young rappers and producers making new, regionally based sounds all over the country that draw on everything from the oldest blues traditions to the latest news from the streets, you can put together a show like this without a single African American performer…

“Americana” has been a synonym for white on radio playlists since its appearance as a marketing term, and the continuing attempt to claim fringe white styles as the real sound of modern America seems weirder with every passing year.

By: musicobsession

musicobsession — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:30:31 +0000

I think cymbals and tambourines will be useful for the next American Music.

By: Connie

Connie — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:17:58 +0000

I live in WA now, but someone called in about a band from E. Lansing, MI (where I went to school), Steppin In It. I checked them out on their website and they are great!

By: Maura Dudley

Maura Dudley — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:54:11 +0000

I just wanted to add Great Lake Swimmers to the conversation. I listen to them right alongside Iron & Wine and Sufjan Stevens.

By: Brian Staker

Brian Staker — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:18:55 +0000

This show is focusing on a certain niche in recent music, drawing from traditional folk sources, as opposed to electronica and more experimental genres. The new folk is in ascendancy now, but it’s fascinating the way new pop music ebbs & flows between acoustic genres and more synthetic & academic styles. There is so much going on that what this episode examines is just a part of the scene now. I personally like the influence of tradition on conventional songwriting. Great discussion on the show!

But traditional can become derivative, and a wave of experimentation is in order. The music industry, and listeners in general, were for a long time looking for another Beatles or Nirvana as huge star, but now audiences are so niche-d, but eclectic & open-minded. And it’s easier to make your own music, & get it heard.

The most important thing in music is the emotional impact, whatever style. My fave: the incredibly diverse & experimental yet traditional rock-inflected body of work by Robert Pollard, former Guided By Voices frontman.

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:18:15 +0000

Great show.
I would have liked to hear more about the every changing qualities of traditional folk and blues music, it’s early evolution and what part of that process is relevant to today. There was a time when the very same song would travel between artists freely without anyone laying claim to authorship (or everyone laying claim)and all placing an individual interpretation. I believe that tradition was an important part of exploration within musical movements and I see very little of it now.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:16:12 +0000

I’m glad On Point is discussing new music today, but I have to say that a lot of the alt-country and “freak folk” (yuck) music that I’ve heard seems contrived and disingenuous. People talk about young, hip, culturally anemic hipsters yearning for authenticity, but I don’t find it here. It’s just another instance of an old form that’s being repackaged, sanitized, and given a hip new paint-job; to me this music is anything but authentic – it’s topical, not timeless.

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:09:55 +0000

Growing up in the punk and hardcore music scene, I’d been upset at seeing the genuine, DIY nature of that music being co-opted by major labels and bands without a sense of the history of the genre. I grew up with shows put on by kids in their basements or local union halls with tables full of homemade zines and self-produced records. As my own musical tastes have grown to include American roots and folk, I’ve been enthused to see the next iteration of kids adopt roots music as truly DIY. Anyone attending any of these new punk/roots shows can not deny the passion for music and community that still exists. I see it as getting back to the true roots of the punk rock movement.

By: sally

sally — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:50:05 +0000

Hi,

I just joined the show. I am wondering if your guest has listened to any new Hawaiian music such as MAKANA, IZ,, Hapa ???? they heave roots back to country ,cowboy, folk, and slack key etc too yet are quite modern.

By: John Wolfe

John Wolfe — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:48:28 +0000

Paralleling the independent/Americana music movement is the resurgence of HOUSE CONCERTS.

These privately held shows allow obscure performers a paying venue and the hosts an opportunity to entertain friends and give them exposure to talented artists in a fun, relaxed “up close and personal”

The House concerts website is: http://www.concertsinyourhome.com

Disclaimer:
I have no personal stake in this website, nor am I a member of Concerts In Your Home.

John Wolfe
The Lime Hollow Boys
http://www.limehollowboys.com

By: Kim Phillips

Kim Phillips — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:47:13 +0000

Am a 50-year-old woman wishing for the testosterone-laden music of my youth…The Who, BTO, Clapton, Springsteen. C’mon guys, plug in!

By: BPage

BPage — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:46:39 +0000

Interesting show… but I gotta say, I’m just not diggin’ most of this new music. It all sounds so precious, so mannered. Maybe I’m just too much of an old-school rocker, but I’m not hearing much passion & energy in these new artists, it sounds too self-consciously precious to me.

By: Kim Phillips

Kim Phillips — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:46:06 +0000

I’m a 50 year old woman, wishing for the testosterone-laden music of my youth…some Led Zeppelin, BTO, Clapton, the Who, Springsteen. Most of the recent music is so soft…c’mon guys, plug in!

By: Lou Graham

Lou Graham — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:40:38 +0000

Hello,

Thanks for a great discussion. In my 20’s (in the early-mid 80s), I worked w/ a group of like minded DJs and traditional music lovers to program a 5 hour program of traditional American music. Learning the history of the rich traditions made me appreciate the great skill and diligence these musicians had in their craft. It’s great there is a continuing tradition of this generation finding the same path and discovering the past and creating the future of American music.

One of your recent caller referred to playing w/ friends. This is another activity that I participate in and encourage kids of all ages to make music themselves.

Thanks,

Lou

By: Matthew Evans

Matthew Evans — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:36:54 +0000

I grew up in southern Missouri in the Ozark hills, and this style of music represents the raw authentic roots of American expression. I view it as the only safeguard against the CMT/BET/MTV corporate influence over American music culture. This style is timeless and inventive at the same time, which is very difficult to accomplish.

By: Steve Beckwith

Steve Beckwith — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:31:02 +0000

Great discussion. I’m fifty-two-years-old and have launched my second career in music in both building accoustic guitars and also playing “americana” music with my music partner Don Hooper.

The music rangers from Doc Watson to John Prine. Personally, I like the connection to the past I get from playing mountain music. It provides a sense of continuity with our past yet at the same time there is some real “honesty” with this music that Nashville “Country” lost somewhere along the way over the past two decades as it lost its simplicity when it became more rock and electric.

By: Shannon-Leigh Greek

Shannon-Leigh Greek — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:23:05 +0000

Hope you will touch upon David Eugene Edwards and the bands he has been involved in: 16 horsepower and Woven Hand.

Thanks a bunch.