[Album] The Rock thread

I'm unsure if this has been done before, but after seeing some other genre threads, I had an urge to make one. I'm sure many of us are closet rock listeners, or some of us proudly wear this hobby on our sleeve (t-shirts, messenger bags, etc). So rock listeners just need a discussion thread for this uber-vast genre.

Bands you currently are listening to? Love? Hate? Don't understand why people love (Band X) so much? So and so are overrated? Are (Band X) really rock? The list can go on.

Maybe to start off, I am currently obsessed with The Moody Blues and in the process of getting their core seven albums. I really dig their stuff in the late 60s-early 70s. Oh yes, the mellotron.

Also, I don't understand why people love Bruce Springsteen. I think all of his stuff sound the same. If anyone would care to enlighten me on his greatness, that would be a starter.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

In my opinion, new wave is under rock. I just looked it up on wikipedia and it sort of confirmed it. The definition there is wishy washy. As for the usage of guitars, I wouldn't think that all rock should require the typical guitar, bass, and drum set up. Having keyboards exclusively brings a little variety to rock, like Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Elton John, Billy Joel, Ben Folds, or something. I'm a huge proponent of piano because I think it's potential is not unlocked yet in rock whereas the guitar has been the everlasting staple. I currently see a lot of it in some modern bands like Coldplay, Keane, The Fray, Daniel Powter, Aqualung, etc. And not to mention I hear a ton of "untuned piano" sound in indie songs.

Oh man, bringing up Essential Journey I used to listen to Journey exclusively last year, along with Foreigner, Boston, Chicago, and Asia. My playlist looked pretty sad during that month. But the old Chicago classics brought it up, I hope. Stuff like "Wheel in the Sky", "Separate Ways", and the always awesome "Don't Stop Believin'" were great, but my personal favorite of theirs would have to be "Faithfully" because I'm a sucker for great ballads.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Ha, talk about groups that use place names as their band name.

I think people who hate on the keyboard are just jealous. Besides, look at all the bands that use synth in the 70s and 80s. That's keyboard. Journey itself had some of the best damn keyboard riffs I've heard (Don't Stop Believin', Separate Ways), not to mention "Open Arms". Pure awesomeness. And a ton of classic rock artists have used keyboard for some great sounds (Beatles - Hey Jude, Hello Goodbye for example, Rolling Stones - She's A Rainbow, David Bowie - Oh you pretty things...). I dunno, I'm just a big piano in rock fan. =\

How ya doing, buddy?

True, we could incorporate metal because it is classified under rock. But there is already a metal thread, so I thought perhaps we should talk more about non-metal rock and leave the metalheads in the metal thread. =)

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Sure, some of those instruments have been used in famous rock bands, but the piano/keyboard is one of those overlooked ones that have and still have a strong presence in a lot of famous rock we hear. Even the synth made its movement in the 70s. (oh yeah, I'll throw in cowbell).

As for grunge, I'm not the biggest fan, but there are those "feel good" alt songs back in the 90s that were awesome. Nice pretty melodies, catchy choruses, good times. I guess grunge can be called a movement; it did inspire the grunge bands today, even if I do dislike most of their music. Nirvana is probably as far as I can go unless someone can suggest other good bands. Other grunge bands maybe Foo Fighters?

I'm not a big follower of Van Halen, but I love their take on the Kink's You've Really Got Me. Isn't III their most recent?

Geek rock? That's interesting. Heard of the classification of math rock, but geek rock that I need to look up. Reading it up on wikipedia makes me tempted to label it as indie pop/rock or college rock.

Anybody stoked about the Austin City Limits Festival lineup?? It looks awesome:

http://www.aclfestival.com/lineup.aspx

Bob Dylan? Haha, if that old rhymer can sing now. I've heard his itunes commercial and his voice is completely shot. Not like it was great in his prime, but alas, seeing aging rockers have always struck a depressing chord in me. Take Eddie Van Halen for example. (I sound like I hate Dylan in that post... on the contrary I like his stuff).

Dude, Crowded House. What's up with old bands reuniting again? Well, not as old as others but I only know like one of their hits.

ACL's got some sweet bands coming, like Arcade Fire and Muse. Nice. Still debating if I should go.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I haven't really heard any vgm rock that is memorable. I'll give Guilty Gears a try. The only one that is rock that I know is that Final Fantasy X intro. And it's not even good. As for guitar solos, yeah... I totally dig them. It's gotta have feeling. I used to really love The Eagles - Hotel California's. But once I heard this acoustic version of Hotel California and I nearly cried. Cried in disappointment. It was slower, dumbed down, and meant for wussies. And it lost the solo.

I saw this horrific recent picture of Eddie... don't want to pull it up but I'm sure it has been the butt of all rock jokes when it got out. It's like everywhere if you type his name on google images.

I guess the only reason I can recognize like 1% of the names on the ACL site is because I dj at my college radio station. And even then I have HEARD of a lot, but never actually given them a serious listen on them. Of course they've listed the more famous bands on top. I'm particularly excited about Muse because Matt's got some serious keyboard groove. I wonder if Dylan would perform any of his classic hits because frankly I only listen to his old stuff. I've listened up on Kaiser Chiefs, and in my opinion their first album is better than their sophomore one, although Ruby is catchy as hell. I would recommend Arcade Fire, The White Stripes, The Killers, Spoon, and The Arctic Monkeys. I would just look them up on www.allmusic.com (awesome comprehensive database) and listen to samples before you go straight into downloading (I'm assuming no one just goes out and purchases CDs anymore because... I don't I do buy vinyl, does that count??). I might need to listen up on some of the other names before I decide whether or not to go.

Sometimes a band reunion can seem a little superficial. Like The Police? What the heck, Sting sold out and I'm sure he's just trying to get more money. Or help his friends (like Clapton for Cream).

Haha, talking about kids of rock stars, I feel kind of bad for them, especially since they are forever living in their father's/mother's shadow. I just saw Billy Joel's daughter on a late night talk show (didn't see the resemblance whatsoever) and she just plain SUCKED. I was shocked. And she was interviewed later and admitted she can't play an instrument, and that her dad just hates Piano Man (lol!!). Pretty sad, both situations.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?