I was in my American Humanities class the other day and we were talking about what defines classic rock. My professor made some comment about how we really have no idea what will be considered classic in thirty years. He said that the only time we will really know is when it actually comes to that point in the future. I have an unfortunately large musical ego, and I just feel like there is a way to predict it.
Most of today's classic rock is derivative of the sixties and seventies, and it seems pretty evident to me what from the eighties will be defined as classic. Groups like Duran Duran, Tears for Fears, David Bowie, and Talking Heads have already become staples for their time, and are rapidly approaching classic. The styles of these groups and the sounds produced by them largely embody what is known about the eighties. They surely are classic. So following this pattern and comparing present-day artists with those from the past, I have come up with a few sure classics. Granted, I listen to more Indie than anything else, so the list is pretty biased, but it still can stand on its own, and I didn't even include Mates of State, which is a pretty big step for me. Here it is. Enjoy.
Arcade Fire was the first group that came to mind. Not only are all of them ridiculously talented, but their music is identifiable even if you've only heard a couple songs, and they are extremely cool people. Anyone who plays an entire set on an elevator and still interacts with the audience deserves to be considered classic, even ignoring the creativity and brilliance of the group. Win Butler had to duck down just to fit on the freight elevator they played on, and yet his performance wasn't lacking in the slightest.
I also believe that Gorillaz will go down like Led Zeppelin. Both groups are way underappreciated, and both are very versatile in their styles. Gorillaz is one of the most musically diverse groups I've ever encountered, and I think it's a shame they haven't gained more popularity (even despite the fact that Demon Days reached number one on the charts in UK). Maybe their playing behind a screen for their first tours hurt them a little more than it helped them, but they are still extremely talented (Damon Albarn alone could very well make it into the classics for his work in Gorillaz and Blur).
Modest Mouse was my third classic. It took me a while to admit it, but it's true. They aren't that great, but they are interesting to listen to, and do have a staying power unlike most groups. Going on seventeen years, they still change from album to album and from song to song. Even albums that as a whole are not noteworthy (Good News For People Who Love Bad News) usually have a couple songs (Bukowski, Satin In A Coffin) that are worthwhile. They seem, as a whole, to be comparable to groups like Duran Duran. While not the best music or the most talented musicians, they always provide something identifiable and memorable and sometimes even catchy.
And lastly, what could be said without Radiohead? They've spouted out hit after hit without ever sounding like cookie cutter popular music. As an added bonus, they have greater interviews than just about anyone else, ever. Hearing Thom Yorke talk about how he hears Creep on the radio and it doesn't even register that it's him anymore can probably draw anyone in, and hearing Johnny Greenwood talk about stalkers is one of the funniest things I've ever heard. Great guys, great, timeless music.
I know there are plenty of other artists that are worthwhile as classics, including some of my favorites, that I don't even need to get into. Pixies comes to mind, and so does Architecture in Helsinki, as well as even Justin Timberlake, Jurassic 5, and plenty of others. I not only don't have time to list my reasons for these, but I don't have interest to do so. Suck it up, enjoy what you have, and trust me.
Calder!
