Does anyone want to help me point out the reasons why this this statement–”Ageing performers whose records are ignored and whose concerts no longer sell out often grumble that the music they are recording today is just as good as it ever was. This is not true: rock stars never do work in their 30s that approaches the quality and originality of the work of their teens and 20s.”–is offensively lazy, received-wisdom horseshit? Let’s start with “Young, Neil” and work backwards to, say, “Abba.” Fun! [Guardian]
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“Ageing writers whose ideas are ignored and whose newspapers no longer sell out often grumble that the columns they are writing today are just as good as they ever were …”
@Lucas Jensen: I’d dispute Madonna.
And while his popularity has plummeted, Prince still writes some kick ass songs. Zappa was over 50 when he died and his later work was far superior to his early work.
Tori Amos. Joe Strummer. Miles Davis. John Coltrane. King Crimson.
Just to name a few.
I agree that the original pullquote is total bullshit (though if “never” was changed to “rarely” would at least be harder to shoot down), the counter-examples everyone is chipping in are really addressing only one part of the equation (quality), and not the other (originality). Pointing out that someone over 30 made a good record doesn’t really mean anything here if they already established that sound on an earlier record.
Joe Queenan is nearly 60, the article obviously wasn’t written with much research or familiarity with many aging artists so I’m going to go ahead and assume he’s not taken to aging well himself and is just lashing out.
Saying 30 is aged is ridiculous though. Who decides that? I’m 18 and I don’t think 30 is old.
Dare I say that older, wiser musicians are less likely to sign exploitative record-contracts, and thus are less likely to sell records and tickets? It’s a music mafia, I tellya!
That, and there’s the fried brain cells/substance-abuse loss of creativity that kicks in after age 30, too. It’s all the record execs’ fault, too, since they encourage illegal drug use. Just ask Nikki Sixx!
What’s far more common than originality is “going back to the well for another strong album.” Just look at U2 (and hopefully, REM’s new one).
Scott Walker?
Merle Haggard!
Johnny F-in’ Cash!
Bruce Springsteen.
@Lucas Jensen: i will also submit to the commenters at large, the case of one Michael Cretu (Enigma) who has, on average, sold half the preceding amount for every album released. At this rate gentlesirs, he will have negative album sales in the Bizarro universe.
In short, he will owe us money.
Joe Queenan? Why am I not surprised.
see Waits, Tom: Bone Machine, Real Gone, Orphans, etc…
It’s probably true if you’re prepared to make massive generalisations. I’m sure you could prove the opposite doing the same thing.
Um, yeah.
STUPID IDIOT FACT-CHECKERS IT’S “BILLIE JEAN” NOT “BILLY JEAN”
There is not a single thought in that essay that needed to be shared with anyone, except maybe a sock puppet.
Dinosaur Jr. and Lifetime both put out records in 07′ that were on the same level as their previous stuff.
Also: Nick Cave, John Fogerty (maybe no longer as original, but Blue Moon Swamp and Revival include several songs that equal the quality of his CCR output), Tom Petty (Wildflowers), even Ian Hunter (whose last album can stand proudly next to his Mott output)…
@SuperUnison: If Dinosaur Jr. count as “rock stars”, I’ll add the Flaming Lips to my list…
Um, 30s is “ageing”? Kill me now.
Elephant in the room: Time out of Mind & Love and Theft.
And not to compare Jeff Tweedy to Dylan, the most recent Wilco records- from YHF to SBS are all better than anything Uncle Tupelo did.
But the point is fair- Fogerty is a good example, as is Neil Young- Chrome Dreams v. Chrome Dreams II anyone?
Only a true fan would dare speak the heresy that Neil Young (your example), despite his early-middle-age renaissance, hasn’t put out a start-to-finish strong album since 1990’s “Ragged Glory.” Which was many, many years and albums ago.
Neil - if I may - can you please put aside new songwriting, marijuana, and DVD Audio long enough to finish converting all of your Reprise catalog to that crazy “CD” format? Might I suggest you start with “Time Fades Away” and “Journey Through the Past.”
Obviously Mr. Queenan has not had the opportunity to listen to Chinese Democracy before he writing this piece, because all the buzz I’ve heard about it says Guns N’ Roses are back.
Hey, did you know that it is funny that they are called “Sonic Youth” even though they are all now middled-age? Hilarity!
Seriously tho, even if Rather Ripped could’ve been a bit better, SY pretty much smashes Queenan’s theory to pieces.
Willie Nelson.
@Diglett:
Seriously! What a bummer that Queenen is writing these people off in their thirties. That’s a sadder career arc than pro athletes.
(But that does make one think: what if songwriters retired around age 35 and then became critics instead, a la Troy Aikman, Joe Theisman, etc.?)
bjork’s been rocking since she was like 8 and she’s what. going on 40 now? it’s the cold climates man, shes frozen in awesome.
Mayo Thompson. Sun Ra. Bob Pollard. Hell, Madonna.
@Tenno: Good call.
@Tenno: And that line about “frozen in awesome” could make you the Peter Travers of this board. I mean that in the best possible way.
Most of the ones I’d mention already have been.
But not radiohead.