We’re about 40 hours into 2007, and predict-the-next-year parlor games already seem a little played out. That said, the outlook provided by noted caps-lock abuser Bob Lefsetz is worth a read. While some of his “predictions” are merely confirming things we already know (Rolling Stone‘s irrelevancy, Snocap‘s too-high price point), we thought that his reasoning for the CD’s imminent demise–he compared the shiny pieces of plastic to the now-nearly-extinct species of camera that uses film–was spot-on, if a bit jarring. But it was this item that struck a little bit of fear into our hearts.
27. The blues
Blues rock is coming back. Maybe not this year, but within three. After all, all those kids listening to Zeppelin, they want something NEW to hang their knit caps on. And those acts you hate, Nickelback and Hinder, they’re closer to what’s coming than Justin Timberlake.
An army of Hinder clones? Silly us, we were looking forward to the next 363 1/2 days. Perhaps we could strike a compromise–say, a bunch of chainsaw-wielding Jackyl revivalists instead?
2007 Predictions [Lefsetz Letter]
Hinder plays “blues rock” in what manner, Lefsetz?
Also, does the section regarding Bonnaroo and Coachella make any sense whatsoever?
Um, did the guy from Jackyl with a “y” pull a Fergie in that pic?
It means the writer got sleepy (or intoxicated) around #13.
Comparing a CD to an analog film camera doesn’t make sense at all. What killed the analog camera for consumer use was the wait time for results, and lack of redoing pictures.
The only difference between CDs and Mp3s as far as their playability and convenience is that you have to stick something inside the respective player in the former. Otherwise, it might actually be more convenient to have a CD walkman in some cases if one doesn’t have enough time to rip and convert CDs into mp3s.
CD walkmans will still sell because they’re not THAT inconvenient yet, and they cost a fraction of the cost.
If we have to watch for anything, we’ll have to watch for digital playback cell phones that might render both CD walkmans and iPods obselete.
You know, for the longest time I was reading about this band Hinder, and I thought it was “Hinder” to rhyme with “grinder”–as in the midwestern slang for your backside. Then I heard the music, and y’know what? Maybe it should be.
“fraction of the cost of an iPod type thing” (sorry)
I disagree. I’ve been thinking for the past year or so that electronica is sort of where things are heading. (See: Hot Chip, the Knife, contemporary pop/hip-hop) Everyone moves to Berlin / UK, buys a BAPE hoodie and an Ice Cream hat, starts making 130bpm yin yang twin remixes or mindfuck noise-tronica expiremental freakouts. Low-octave square waves: you heard it here first.
that or noise takes off in a big way. “Next up on Hot97: Chris Clark, Wolf Eyes and a 30 minute piece by Phil Niblock. Bringing you the hits you want to hear, right after this break!!”
anything to get the leather-clad and moppy-haired throwback indie rawkers out, please.
Regrettably, they’re kinda deathless.
Mackro is onto something with the last point in particular, thus my iPhone reference elsewhere today. That might yet turn out to be the first cellphone I ever buy, depending.
I sure hope it’s another “swing” revival. I want the Brian Setzer Orchestra to put out something besides another Xmas CD this year….
Cisco owns the trademark for “iPhone,” not Apple.
Oh COME ON. Justin’s always one awards-show name-drop away from declaring his love for every cred-establishing musician ever (Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Ornette Coleman, Philip Glass, Iannis Xenakis, Barbara Streisand, doesn’t matter) and I’m sure with a little extra nudging you can get some nouveau electronic blues out of him.
I’m with Ned: an iPod gadget will likely be the first cellphone I ever buy.
Methinks when Lefsetz says “blues,” what he really means is “cock-rock lite.”
We could do a lot worse than a Jackyl revival.
Their music may have sucked but those crazy fuckers would play so many shows that the guitarists would literally pour Crazy Glue into their callouses to make it through the gigs.
Cisco owns the trademark for “iPhone,” not Apple.
I always figured they’d eventually call it the iThing, once they figured out how to make it do everything.
Methinks Lefsetz thinks if he throws a bunch of meaningless predictions against the wall, a few people who believe he’s still important might stick.
from lefsetz:
15. MTV
Will be less and less about music.
OMG WTF WHOA RILLY YOU THINK?!!?!?!?!?!?1111 i thought this was supposed to be a post about the future, not stating the obvious.
electronica is the future
Copyright Rolling Stone, 1997.
yeah, Justin and the Clipse are exactly who I was referring to with the ‘contemporary pop/hip-hop’ bit. “My Love” anybody?
Seriously: primary colors, compressed claps, Japandinavia.
I think that person above who said electronica is the future is on to something. I listen to loads of house music and frequently hear elements of it in contemporary pop, hip-hop (especially the Southern stuff), and worldbeat. I swear there is German-style electro/tech-house going on in something like “Sexyback” or the latest Clipse record.