Remember The 3rd Dark Age of Popular Music? 1995-2002?

Did we really ever come out of that dark age in '02? I understand little will ever be worse than Mambo #5, but I don't think we've come that far.......

As far as mainstream bands having any merit, I'd say yes, there are a few out there. Foo Fighters and RHCP are still just as ClearChannel mainstream as you get. I feel the difference between these bands and the likes of FOB and the Jonas Fabrication is that the "good" ones still write music for the advancement of the art where as others do it for the benjamins....

Indie rock (whatever that is currently) may well be our salvation, but unless something changes about what music the radio conglomerates force feed us, who is ever going to take note of the real musicians out there? People that aren't like us can't look past what they are told to like.....

I don't see any immediate change in the forecast......as heartbreaking as that is....

Hey, don't be dissing on BSB, I had good memories attached to them : P

It's always hard to tell, I'm pretty sure all those hair metal bands didn't expect their hair dos to be embarrassing now.

Well, anyway, I think the new wave of metal (not nu metal) will have more attention. I've been noticing more attention towards metal bands and well as the growing indie scene. If I can define the 00's musically, I think the two standouts will be metal and indie. Well, indie isn't exactly a genre but you get what I mean.... I doubt the mainstream bands today will get much recognizing in the future, with the exception of Radiohead, Muse, Tool, White Stripes etc.

But honestly, unless FOB really turn it around and do learn to play their instruments and do something original, I doubt they will be more than anything but the next N'Sync. Pop has a new face I guess.

BTW Good Morning :0 )

It depends on how you look at music. Sure, there were a lot of really crappy bands out there and a lot of what was popular was pushed underground, but there was also the build up for what is now the resurgence of heavy (not nu) metal. Bands like Nevermore, Nightwish, Kamelot, Amon Amarth and The Gathering were just starting and put out brilliant albums. Testament continued on and put out 3 incredible albums, one which was probably the best of their career.

The real dark side of it was bands like Limp Bizkit, Creed, Linkin Park and Nickelback who gave, and continue to give, hard rock music a bad name. Nowadays almost every "hard" rock band out there sounds like frickin' Nickelback. This is why radio TODAY is in the dark ages, because everyone is worried about being ultra conservative in the continuing era of stupidity that started with Janet Jacksons friggin' "wardrobe malfunction." So radio stations play it safe by continuing to air cookie cutter music done with minimal talent and (unfortunately) mass appeal. Metal music gets minimal airplay and what does get aired is the millionth playing of "Mama, I'm coming home."

Even the indie rockers, there isn't a Lennon, McCartney or Brian Wilson in the bunch.

I would have to say that independent/underground music is definitely there, but only to those that are aware of it. I have a feeling that they can do better, but at the moment they are all we've got.

Only SOME of the "mainstream" rockers definitely have a direction but will (almost) certainly die out soon. Only these survivors like White Stripes, Radiohead and such, will live to see the light. As for bands like FOB and MCR and...the bands that have the word "brothers" in it...well, they just seem like another N'Sync. I guess you can say we're trying to get out of the dark right now, but it's trying to pull us back in!!!

We all know music is in a bad place right now, so to those that are aware of the independent music scene, we should be a little thankful...Though I would hope to see more from them.

Seeing as Nickelback and Daughtry unfortunately are some of the best selling "Rock" artists, I'm gonna have to say they still retain some merit. For me I think the best modern rock is in the alternative genre (which I never have never felt before). I've become partial to bands like Modest Mouse, The White Stripes, etc.

As for Indie rock, I think it's here to stay because artists love that kind of control.

Of course i remember!

I grew up on it and rather shamefully BOUGHT into it..

Yes bands like THe Vines, Whitestripes, Wolfmother were considerd saviours of rock.. Rather ironically then hit Indie Pop Rock invasion.

British indie rock is a thriving scene.. All the cool middle/upper class kids from Hackney have bought into this..

They spend all day buying 'Nu-rave' clothing from Topman shop (trying to bring back the 80s) and then pogo dance to what is the most repetitive form of music there :

The Hoosiers (very catchy i must admit)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVcvER1i0fw

Kate Nash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvmKrDcaqZU

Hadouken

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgGItLYyBQ0

Scouting For Girls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X95ycVOPcP8

New Young Pony Club

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iF8AYLVwAc

Arctic Monkeys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma9I9VBKPiw

I really dont think that ^ ^ ^ is what you mean by indie rock.. But that's what it is in UK ..

In my opinion, mainstream so-called "rockers" have no merit at all, merely a bunch of talentless whiners. I hate to say this, but i think that rock music is in a dire situation: great underground bands are getting crushed by lack of attention, support, etc.. while the mainstream crap gets it all, this will (sadly) lead some underground bands to a point where they will simply ask themselves...."why should we continue making music if no one even recognizes our existence?".

I have a strong faith in underground music, i'm positive that they will be our Messiah.

haha woahwoah i liked the spice girls. i wanted to be baby spice and scary spice. a mix between the 2, i wanted to have lollipops all the time yet wear various animal prints and black. tehehe (yea this was before i found all the stuff i love now haha)

but yea...where are we now? we're in a mixed society of music. if you put 5 people in a room one would like rock (REAL rock)

one would have a 12 year olds taste of music (joe bros, naked brothers, hannah montana *shutters*)

another would have pop taste

another would have rap

another would like various forms of music

ill edit when i think of more to the subject lol

i think an extremely minimal number of mainstream rockers have relevance...and i'm not a fan of indie rock at all really, but they have to be putting out better music than your mcr, fob, etc.

and darth is definitely right, we are still in this dark age, it's just been extended to the inclusion of gangsta rap, dance rap, hip-hop, emo, and faux punk in addition to girl power music

morning fonz.

we were oversaturated with pop from 95 to around 02 with j-lo,nsync,back street boys,,ricky martin,enrique,macareana,yuk..

in saying that, pop music i think is still popular with artists like maroon 5, and many more..i think in a way country is slowly becoming pop music. taylor swift, carrie underwood, rascal flats, etc...

ill tell ya a secret ive kept silent...ssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh..i sorta like maroon 5's music......

good post