Does Music Mean Anything Anymore??? (RANT WARNING)

[@JustSomeGuy]

The music world has shifted back to what it was in the 50s. It used to be all about the hit song on the radio and getting people to buy the album for that. That lasted through to the 70s, when the album became the main draw. The 80s became about the music video, but the album was still important and it stayed like that into the early 2000s until mp3s came along, and suddenly it was all about the single again, and it's been stuck there for 20 years. I love listening to albums because you get to find the gems the studio or the musicians thought wouldn't be hits but usually turn out to be the best songs. Release by Pearl Jam, Don't Cry by Seal, or Like a Tattoo by Sade. These are killer songs you'd only hear by listening to the album. And then there's the experience of the album. I could listen to all those songs by themselves, but listening to them in the album order builds up the impact of the song. You completely miss that with just getting singles. You also miss the growth of the musician. You get to hear their sound change (or not change) through their albums, and that's another awesome experience. Listening to a single is almost like watching a clip from a film. That moment might be awesome, but it works better in context. That said, sometimes there is only one good song on an album.

[@kowalguitarlife9119]

very well said, and i agreed 1000percent

[@theviewfromhere5388]

@@kowalguitarlife9119 history repeats itself

[@kowalguitarlife9119]

@@theviewfromhere5388 right on

[@mike_lowndes]

I agree with the Album stuff, but its nothing like the 50's now. The range of 'popular' music is vastly wider now. I have 3 kidults between 19-25. They all love music, but such a wide range. I thought I was eclectic liking Napalm Death and FSOL, but am pretty narrow compared to them. They do stream albums and I've gained some new bands through them - Marmozets for instance. So (to refute Dave...) does it matter if there are no mega bands any more, so long as good bands can find an audience?

[@stewartchampion4260]

Who actually follows the charts any more.. In the 50s that was all you had and radio.and shops to buy the records. .. Not sure I agree With you.. As the infrastructure ain't there no more...

[@k.peterdingain2499]

Take heart dave , they have been saying Rock is dead for almost 50 years now, buy we're still here and always will be!

[@laurent1678]

If guitarists actually wrote songs well instead of constantly just trying to impress or “prove wrong” other gutairists then we’d be sweet

[@Bleats_Sinodai]

Rock's not dead, it's just been sterilized and commercialized. It lost it's roots of being a force of defiance to the status quo. It's fans are more worried about having the gear their "legends" had instead of following the message they were conveying. And now that other genres are coming up and doing what rock used to do, the rockheads are dumbfounded because they live in the past.

[@owlytimbre9103]

@@Bleats_Sinodai What genres would that be?

[@vincentl.9469]

depends on your age...I cant look up to Ed Sheeran or Adele...or Beyonce..not at 64

[@k.peterdingain2499]

@@vincentl.9469 check out Tyler Bryant & the shake down

[@hsj687]

When I bought Iron Maiden’s newest album Senjutsu I drove my car for about 50 miles so I could listen to it FULL BLAST in its entirety without complaints. The construction of an album is paramount.

[@martinemesguitar]

Metal has always been album orientated and I don't see that changing. Maiden's new one is damn good, it's incredible how good they still are after 14 albums or however many it is now...

[@martinrohr8462]

At 64, I'm probably one of your older fans here. I just love your playing and the sound you create, putting your heart and soul into it. You are right, I too miss those times when I spent hours hunting for records, bring them home and listen to them over and over again. Deep Purple, Moody Blues, ELP are the bands I grew up with and treasure. However, I have to say that the likes of Spotify have widened my musical horizon quite a bit. e.g. I can listen to 'Artist Radio' and by doing so come across artists I have never heard of but like. Then I stop right there and search for an album of that artist and listen to the whole album. Thanks to Spotify I have learnt about artists like Tinariwen, a band none of my friends like but I thoroughly enjoy. I have a whole list of ‘Desert Blues’ artists in Spotify that have enriched my musical smorgasbord. So there always two sides to the coin.

[@mojo6778]

Martin, I agree with you, but it was Pandora radio for me playing artist music that opened the door to me to the world of singer / songwriters, otherwise I would still be stuck on the classic rock that I grew up on. I might add that back in the 60's it was AM radio only. We went out and bought 45's (singles) and albums. Auto Manufacturers arent even offering CD players in the newest vehicles - sad.

[@Studio8FX]

Music is consumed differently nowadays than it was growing up. It's a sad state of affairs that our heroes won't be replaced once they're gone. I miss the days of going to the local music store and looking through the album covers. (I'm guilty of buying albums that have cool cover work). I hate what music has become via MP3 and all these one price per month for most everything. The internet has become one of the greatest and worst things to ever happen to us in tandem.

[@MultiCugel]

Yes everything is internet

[@GPaulTheThrashKing]

A lot of the music I love came from the myspace generation of bands. I don't think its the internet. (although spotify definitely did change the way I listen to music, I also just got older, and more concerned with life).

[@AuntAlnico4]

With people like Dave Simpson keeping the old Heroes alive through song we will still have good music at least !?

[@Studio8FX]

@@AuntAlnico4 Very True. After I wrote the post about heroes not being replaced I thought about taking it out. As long as we have people like Dave Simpson and the rest that are as passionate at making great music as we are, we will always have heroes. Thanks for pointing that out. It's important.

[@TheExtremeCube]

Tbh, I scroll bandcamp and listen to albums with cool covers, I guess thats kinda similar, you might like the platform

[@nobodytoomusic]

Great video and interesting discussion! IMO, the mainstream has almost always contained duds and watered down versions of lesser known, better artists. Though, there are always those rare artists that can break through. Nowadays it does seem that even music out in the pop sphere is just totally lacking in creativity and completely disingenuous, maybe I'm just getting old... I think comparing it to the single dominate era of the 50s etc. is a good comparison, I mean what did those songs really mean anyway? I am a devotee of the album format, but personally I'm not too upset that the single takes precedent, good music is good music. That being said, at least back in the 50's and early rock n' roll/pop music there were real musicians playing real parts. I think the biggest impact on modern music is the pervasiveness of digital instrumentation and production, and a system that capitalized on this technology, thus allowing it to sell product faster. For me, when it becomes too easy to create music, either playing or recording/producing, it's a detriment to creativity, and what's worse, prioritized and manipulated by an industry who's main goal is profits, engagement and quickly churning out hit after hit. Like fast food, anything that is manufactured to sell massively and cheaply will be produced at the expense of a "good" product. Why would any young kid out there pick up a real instrument in this environment? Playing an instrument is hard, it takes dedication and practice and the people who get the most press and sell (stream) the most don't play an instrument of any sort. So, when it comes to giants like Spotify, these are the artists that get the most streams, get put on playlists and get the most exposure. After a long rant, good music is still out there, it's just harder to find!

[@mike_lowndes]

Music has fragmented almost to a fractal degree. It’s not the Beatles vs Stones or Oasis vs Blur any more. Scenes are micro scenes- there’s about 10 types of death metal! As ppl today grow up today they find their favourite genres earlier and can have quite eclectic tastes. Each band finds a market but a smaller market. I think it’s far less likely today for anyone to be a ‘broad appeal’ band in the grand sense.

[@thenovicenoisemaker]

I’m into death metal and all these so called sub genres do my head in! In my world it goes, Rock, Metal, Thrash Metal, Death Metal and that’s it

[@thekitowl]

Although the so called Beatles V Stones was totally concocted by the press . History has shown the two bands orchestrated the release of their records so they didn’t coincide.

[@indigofloow]

I completely agree with you Dave, i am only a teen and im completely emersed in music, its my life. I also get down when i see people saying that music is gone and dead, and that i have no chance to make it. But there is a new generation of genuinely great music coming and you'll be apart of it! Don't lose hope.

[@hesch-tag]

Everybody still listens to music but you are right. Music is on everybody's phones and the source is limitless. When people still bought albums/CDs and casettes there was more thought behind it. When you made a tape for your walkman you made sure you picked songs you really loved. Of course some people still do that with playlists on Spotify but it's easier and songs get replaced more easily so they don't really get a chance to really grow on you. Easy access makes people less picky and songs become more interchangeable. People probably mostly pick the big hits and not whole albums.

[@rudranath_bln]

I remember talking to the guy in a record store describing him what I was looking for: spaced-out psychedelic rock with long tracks Does this exist, I was asking, and he without hesitating dropped Space Ritual by Hawkwind on the table: Listen to this! And from this moment I had learned that a genre called Space Rock exists!

[@standingbadger]

Try Can’s early albums too.

[@DannyDaFlite]

Dave I feel so connected to this subject music has become a product. That's why we must not allow people to forget the talent in being musical and expressing emotions through our instruments. One love Dave keep up the good work

[@thenovicenoisemaker]

I used to go a dingy record shop called Soundhouse in Leamington Spa. Second hand cassettes for £1 and second hand vinyl for about £2.50 back in the mid 80s to mid 90s. Thumbing through all the records and picking a new metal band by their cool artwork on the sleeve. Getting home, anti static cloth to clean it, on the turntable being careful not to bang anything in case you scratched it!

[@kennetheginton1182]

The one great thing about these times is we can get to hear someone like yourself play. I've been following your channel for over a year, and I'm amazed how much your playing has improved. Great infusions of emotion. A tip of the hat from central New Jersey in the states!!!

[@EasyHeat]

I'm 45, and my optimism for the failing record industry left me completely when albums like Dark Side of the Moon were chopped into individual tracks for sale on iTunes in an inferior state of MP3/4 fidelity. I was immediately screaming in my head: "That's NOT how you are supposed to DO THAT!!! It's sad that generations now will never know the true life altering experience of donning some headphones, and experiencing that album front to back in it's entirety as it was originally intended. Blood Sugar Sex Magic and Siamese Dream are some other albums that instantly spring to mind that MUST be listened to in this way to fully appreciate IMO. I seems like the current consumer market has the memory retention of a bleeding goldfish, and the subpar product now pushed on them has the shelf life of day old bread. I'm completely with you on this RANT Dave. I've been preaching similarly for quite some time now. Cheers! Stay safe & well man, and Happy Christmas!!

[@jc.oraclesoundspaces]

As always David cool improv, what a warm up, brill stuff, love how you correct mistake notes and carry on to a very cool rendition from the heart. Please keep up your music it keeps musicians like myself on track to keep learning to produce from the heart. David maybe you need a new Quest, change happens we cannot stop this, it is part of the human Quest to evolve and so it seems will music, but it is important to keep the roots alive. How about a possible documentary from yourself on your outlook on the history of world music so far, some detail of great gigs and bands from working class to the top. The truth of creative music struggle.

[@Strat66]

We would get on well Dave, must be something in the water round here 😆😆. You are just at so spot on. THE ONE AND ONLY THING THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER IS MUSIC! The pleasure it brings ! All taken for granted! Wow hope we could communicate one day 😊

[@Orlandeau2415]

As long as there are people like you creating music out there, Dave, it will always mean something.

[@thespookdeville5112]

Ah dave, you say exactly what I feel in my heart. But I'm 73 now still feel the same, started playing at 13, I've lived through so much, multi instrumentalist, song writer. Your view is balanced and heartfelt. Bless you and your loved one's, deeply ❤ Rodge David kidderminster uk 🇬🇧 ❤ we will be OK, love your band ❤

[@Tom-L]

I think you’re just a true music fan, Dave. You appreciate music on a much deeper level than your average listener. Most people don’t like music, they dislike silence. They are happy to consume whatever the music industry gives them and not think for themselves. Very few people just sit down and listen to music anymore. The music industry wants to make the most amount of money for the least amount of work which is why we have the music we have today. I think it’s always been this way but the power dynamic used to be a bit more even between the talent side and the business side. You used to need talent to break in to the industry and the best bands rose to the top. Now, the talent doesn’t matter as much as looks and it’s all business. It’s cheaper to pay a disposable pop-star singing through auto-tune than a whole band who spent years honing their craft and earned their due.

[@sleepy4x]

When I grew up (in the 60s early 70s), music was everything for us. I knew literally all members of every band. I was interested in the lyrics and I saved my money to buy certain records. Music was so important. Today there is no real music around. Here in Germany each song they bing out sounds the same. I don't know the artists and I do not rember the songs. Radio and TV do not play relevant music. I know, there are still people out there, who want to hear good music and go to concerts, but the get neglected. It is so sad. But as a an old guy I can say from experince (hey Jimi), everything comes back one time . So I give not up the hope. And you Dave, you do what you can and give us back an echo of the old times.

[@acousticshadow4032]

Sounds like we're about the same age, with very similar childhoods, despite growing up on different continents.

[@juanlosquino5581]

When I thought you couldn't play whith more feeling, you did It again. I think you say It blows your mind. Thank you man for those moments.

[@jltrem]

Yeah, Dave,..."cheapened" IS the right word. Imagine how I see it from my perspective. I'm about to turn 70. I saw (heard) the emergence of The Beatles, Hendrix, et al, from the beginning. Imagine how it looks like utter shite to me.

[@Andrew.G.Junior]

I hear you Dave, it's very sad. However there are still a few of us out there who still buy vinyl on discogs or at record stores, complete albums in wav format on Bandcamp or even CDs. The problem is that peoapl are not willing to pay for music, they take it for granted, like something which is free and disosable. Paying for music means supporting the artist. (MP3 sucks I agree, I only listen to Spotify on my long walks.) Keep on making these vids bro, we love what you do.

[@resinfleaofficial1472]

Dave I've been feeling this way about the state of music for years now and I am really really worried myself as well

[@blockbuster3712]

In my opinion much of the music these days has just become some background noise for people to listen to while they do something else like computer work, homework, exercise and so on. Everyone nowadays mostly listens to music in a passive way - they put it on in the background and don't really think about it. Gone are the days when you would have to buy a vinyl, cassette, CD or so on just to sit down at home and actively start listening to the album you just got, taking in all of the lyrics and sounds. Now you just type up "Lo Fi" on Spotify, put on the first playlist you see and start listening to some sound, which you feel no connection to. I'm not saying that it's bad to have background music as it definitely has its place, I'm just saying that "active" listening has had a really serious decline.

[@paulf7567]

if we had the intehwebz n mp3 compression back in the 70s .. the werld would b a different place ay!? :p

[@thesullivanstreetproject]

I agree totally. Even myself, as much as I love music and even making my own, I find that I don’t listen as actively as I used to. I miss the days of buying an album and listening to every song multiple times and how certain songs would grow on you as time went by. Nowadays, there’s too much out there. I tend to get choice paralysis and not know where to start.

[@paulgordon6949]

Loved that intro jam. Your playing is absolutely ace man!

[@s3xyv3gan97]

another problem is not a lot of kids and teenagers aren’t open to rock music. I’m in high school and my friends torture me with their trap rap but I gave it a chance I didn’t like it. But as soon as they hear an electric guitar they automatically think emo or death metal and demand me to turn it off. Like they actually told me that can’t stop by the chili peppers was metal.

[@PaperBanjo64]

I DESPICE rap hip hop and trap, but even more so pop! I hate pop the most!

[@theauthority1598]

A pitiful lack of good small music venues has compounded the issue. In the late 70's and early 80's local bands had residencies at various pubs and clubs, they would appear at the same venue on a weekly basis and (if they were any good) attract a solid and loyal following. They would develop their craft and experience and sometimes reach the holy grail of a "record deal" and go on to bigger things. At the gigs like minded people would meet and share their musical insights and knowledge of other bands of a similar genre....movements began....punk...metal...new wave...mod....new romantics. Music was, for so many of us, not just about the "tunes" but about belonging, energy, excitement, surprise, feeling "cool", developing a "look" etc ,etc, etc. It was an identity and a lifestyle and loyalty to a favorite band/genre became indelible and a badge of honour.

[@davidlinn6501]

Thanks Dave I'm with you 100 percent! I grew up in the 50s and 60s albums were everything. Just like you noted some of my favorite songs were buried deep in an album; I would have never have heard them without listening all the way through! Today people let someone else dictate what is "good" and only buy that single! They miss out on a lot. Don't even get me going on digital formats! When MP3s just came out my two daughters and I did an experiment, as they didn't believe what I was saying about sound quality. We picked a song that we had on album, tape, CD, and MP3. We listened to each format through the same quality stereo system, and immediately they were (and are) believers! Sorry for my Rant, and thanks for yours!

[@bluessumlin...7067]

Punk, Mod rude boy rocker so pleased to live through these times it only takes one creative spark from any individual no matter what genre of music always hope Dave!🙂

[@ovidiucostescu7543]

I don't see anything changing soon, we lost our souls for a few "likes". No one has time to listen to an album from the first song to the last anymore. People just spend their time on social media. I remember coming home from school and putting a disk or a cassette before doing anything else. One song would end and I knew the first few lines of the next one before starting. To this day, if I listen to Operation mindcrime, I have to listen the whole album. I can't listen to just one song. music needs dedicated time, and listening to already made playlists from KZbin music or Spotify is not investing own time. I am so happy I found someone like you Dave. You are teaching me ones again about the value of dedication, of research and discovery. So you are doing the perfect thing already. You are the change you are seeking already. I love your music. It goes straight in to my soul, filling it in. Thank you so much.

[@lordcustard-smythe-smith9153]

When I played a music festival a few years ago and saw a mass of people dancing to two guys fiddling with a laptop and a turntable on the mainstage, I realised the live music I grew up with was pretty much dead. Walked over to the other side of the field and a great live band were playing to just 100 people. Its sad but Rock's gone the same way as Jazz. That doesn't mean people can't make it work - but its damn hard to do so if you're doing it as a living, especially due to covid. Lets hope covid finishes soon as most pandemics eventually do, and the music festivals that don't put morons with a laptop on the mainstage, get really going again.

[@ifax1245]

Guy with a laptop is like going to McDonalds that's done by millions of people everyday... The band with a hundred people in the field watching is the Michelin 5 star restaurant only some can fully appreciate... Gimme that 5 star food any day of the week...

[@twotone918]

I,m 63 today, I have grown up with physical music, people playing instruments, breathing and strumming life into them but things move on. Look at the tech needed to get tone from instruments these days.

[@jemahl123]

I think somewhere along the line rock music forgot it had to make people dance for mass popularity. When rock was young it made people groove, and that's why the kids loved it. It doesnt really do that anymore so hip hop, dance music, etc filled the space.

[@adamcumbers232]

Listening to this “rant” is provoking so many different thoughts, and too much to summarise in one comment.. the internet is the blessing and the curse for music. My opinion is that since the beginning of music people talk, spread the word, tell a friend, buy a magazine see the latest album with how good the music magazines rate it, whether that was kerrang, raw, melody maker etc. and those magazines would tell you where these bands are playing etc. I know some of these mags still exist, there rather expensive now, compared to just clicking on Google. But… without the internet, I wouldn’t be listening to your amazing playing Dave and loads of other artists on the likes of KZbin. Artist’s will explain the there’s not loads of money in album sales and streaming, it’s more in the performing and merchandise, which means that more artist’s and bands are doing it for the love of music, and that’s fantastic, if you came with the trio to my town Dave and you were selling vinyl, I’d come and I’d buy your album 100%. Music means a ton to so many people, it’s just amazing to hear music. Long live music.

[@stevelong1785]

Hi Dave, have hope I see youngsters in HMV looking through the vinyl and getting excited, that makes me smile with hope, I think they are waiting for something to completely blow their minds tbh. Something is out there somewhere in the world bubbling away waiting to take over. You don't have to be too old these days to start saying " back in my day..." I'll continue to buy physical media, full length LPs, it's the only thing I can control, but I have to also accept its a new age for the consumption of media in all its various shapes. Every generation of music fans have had a change forced on them, but I do have to admit, the smaller music scene is far more exciting to me than the huge area/stadium scene. Wolf Alice are one of the most exciting new(ish) UK bands for a long time.

[@atb1325]

When I first started listening to music, you just listened to it. It wasn't played on TV 24-7 and it was really just about the music you were hearing. When you went and bought an album then you would see what the band looked like in few pictures. You bought the album for the music and the good vibes you felt from it. It all changed and turned into a spectacle of sorts and music was just the back round instead of the forefront. All about the glam, outlandish clothes, makeup and some fake persona to sell records. The music became secondary and it's very sad it has gone that route. Plenty of great musicians never get their due because they didn't look the right way or fit the mold. They never got recognized and were pushed away by top producers for a pretty face so to speak. Thankfully there are people like you Dave, that still put the music first. I respect you for your music, guitar skills and personality. That is the way it should be. Keep the faith Dave 🍻

[@iancrickmer6884]

I remember the late sixties the excitement of having Electric Ladyland on order at a record shop in Crystal Palace.....got it! rushed home, dropped a tab of acid and that was it for the next few hours....or lifetimes. The same with Hawkwind.....I couldn't wait for "In search of space" to be released......oh happy days.

[@matteodeangelis8253]

Congratulations for 98k subscribers dave!!!

[@EricW6800]

Sad but spot on Dave...I really hope for a musical revolution for our kids and theirs. Luckily my kids listen to all great music from the past and love it and get lost in it. Creative people will find their way, but I’m very worried in general when it comes to emotional experience. It is dumbed down and framed as a unnecessary waste of time.

[@james1939-s1c]

Great topic, as a musician and music lover, an interesting thought is that Rock music specifically has went full cycle, like classical, jazz, blues, big band, and swing. All of those had a log run, and had a few artists that mastered the genre. Honestly I can not imagine another Beatles, a band that stops the world again in Rock. But to add to that issue, in the USA an artist was outspoken that a record label even pushed him to switch from rock to rap because it sells easier. The last piece is the Red Hot Chili Peppers story, their label invested in them for a decade before they took off, that gave them time to develop. I don't believe anyone is investing in talent anymore and developing it, they want immediate return. Beyond all that, there is an issue with distribution, The radio was an easy way to reach the masses, now it is nearly impossible with all the fragmented sources.

[@servantess1]

I was lucky to be born in the 1980s. I never thought I would write this one day ... but I have to say it: i feel that the internet has destroyed most of the values people used to follow. It is sad, but we live in very strange times and this applies to every area of life.

[@misterknightowlandco]

Yeah, the internet has had a few positive effects on life, but 95% of what the internet has done is ruin life.

[@alaoismusic]

I know you commented this 7 months ago but I couldn’t agree more. It’s devalued so much in peoples lives. Things just come and go now and people don’t care. I remember saving up pound coins as a kid and begging my mum to take me to HMV to see if they had By the Way because I heard it in friends mums car when I was a kid. Got there and it was £1 more than I had saved 😂. I played that CD front to back a thousand times, still have it now. My point is though people don’t have that appreciation now. They don’t understand waiting outside a record shop for it to open in release day so you can be the first person to get a new album. Now they just get ten releases from the same artists a year, don’t even listen to it and brand it as “mid” because they saw someone else say that on the internet. Appreciation for music is at an all time low with the masses but it doesn’t mean there’s still not amazing music out there to be found (dave is a prime example!)

[@johnrobboe9103]

You are right, as a kid I would buy an album something like Taste and listen to it with mates and discuss it, some of my mates had never heard of Rory Gallagher and were totally blown away and became instant fans, sometimes I would go and sit and listen to one of their albums, maybe Family or Led Zeppelin and I became aware of those bands. I have to admit that being 14 and so many great bands around was excellent, in my humble opinion my mates and I went out of our way to listen to as many bands as possible. We all played a bit and had a little band that did covers, so it was an adventure to hear talented musicians. Great channel Dave.

[@JDStone20]

I agree with you Dave, I am about 12 years older than you and I also grew up on album based music. Before the album based music, there where 45's, 78's, and it wasn't until the LP was invented that albums became a reality. The radio was more like a what we have today as streaming services, same with jukeboxes along with club dj's. Music is definitely been cheapened, it is more accessible in a more convenient manner, and it is no longer valued, nevermind people only getting music they already like, one song at a time. Great video, important topic. Music is always changing. We still have live music, even though that was going to go the way of the dodo-bird with recorded music. I do share your concern, as a lot of people can make music a lot easier also, but just making music doesn't necessary make you a musician.

[@cellomniscient2650]

This is something that has been eating at me for a couple of years now. I’ve got more thoughts than I could ever fit in a comment on this topic. Too many factors play into it. Technological advancement. Cultural norms shifting. New generations hurtling forward to kill the old trends and install their own. Where and how we consume music is itself currently in flux. We are on our way to Demolition Man. We’re all going to be singing commercials before we know it. I would love to be able to have an extended talk about all this because It would help me get out of my own head and I do see a potential way forward. I feel there is some fragile hope. Keep faith man!

[@akwamarsunzal]

Until recently, I played in a fairly decent band. Gigging two or three times every weekend. I was a fraud! I didn´t deserve to be there. I can "play" guitar, I can "sing" but I am absolutely not of a standard where I would like to be. The thing is, I loved it, we were successful, people loved us! The pinacle being headlining a outdoor festival... Am I the "next big thing"? Hell no! I just loved it and gave everything! Yes, it sustained my life for several years, but there are so, so many more talanted musicians out there, just a shame its not any of them in the top 20 today!

[@Redeyenegative0G]

Dude there is always another way, chin up I know at times it can seem impossible but it in a way the impossible has always been there. if it wasn't, then where would be the challenge or victory ? It is up us as artists to learn from each other, grow and start beating a new wave using our own sounds, instruments and most of all our own minds and hearts. And then we will tsunami it !!! Don't give up. I'm very grateful of your dedication and the time you spend sharing your knowledge, inspiration Passion and opinions on your awesome channel that you created.. It keeps people going and inspires I would be humbled if you could get in touch. Many thanks 🎸🎶😎 Rock On 🪨 🎸

[@tjzen1180]

Thanks for addressing a subject that I'm sure a lot of musicians have been thinking about recently.Playing to a camera is not the same as playing live that's for sure All aspects of life have been adveresly affected by technological change , not just music.Everything you say here is valid, and I have to agree,Business has consolidated into the Major giant corporate companies to the detriment of small businesses, so everything is affected.The new covid pass doesn't help either , because our ability to go to large events is not so straight forward and so people may very well decide not to bother. Excellent rant , thankyou, keep up the good work.

[@Margarinethebutterlover]

Don't despair Dave, I largely agree with you. But, also please realise, alot of people feel the same as you, and are the reason we seek out your original music. You are killing it Dave! Keep going! Don't worry about the automaton music, keep making your own. People are lapping up the sincerity, the passion, and more than anything the rip snorting talent!

[@keithrobinson4223]

I like you live for the memories and emotion that all music gives us. I love finding new artists from all over the world. I am currently teaching myself guitar , because of how passionately you are about your music ,some force of nature that i cant really explain has now pushed me down a path that i have never intended to go. The point i was trying to say was that America for all its faults , have i think realised that this is happening especially in Nashville were on any given night throughout the week you can stroll in to any bar and listen to amazing performers and musicians. ( Sunshine Band with Jack Ruch) I feel that this is the only way that you can now move forward with the current situation is by local councils and towns creating areas for people to be immersed in music . such as festivals , & Galas . were musicians and artists can sell their craft and start their following.

[@maxmarchetti6562]

I see the frustration, but with the new world of music we get things like this where people can come and connect directly with their favorite artists. Also for Spotify, it allows people who do love music to have no limits, I can go listen to 3 albums in a night of bands I've never heard if I want to. Then it's up to me to decide how I can support them: buy a physical album, go to a concert, etc. Regardless, great content as always Dave!

[@Ste_Va]

Besides the excellent points Dave made. I kept thinking about how much the more recent advancements in technology hurt music the internet and streaming being obvious ones but all the digital tools and such musicians have access to now definitely can cause things to be very cookie cutter and uninspired sounding. Musicians treating each other like crap doesn't help either, we need more lifting each other up instead of trying to climb over one another. Also, there's some fantastic comments here so its nice to see others that genuinely care about music. I'll never stop getting together with people to go looking for music or to listen to whats new.

[@derekrickard3883]

You are so right about the music industry today Dave....I was lucky to grow up from the 60's onwards, when listening to music and going to gigs was so important to our identity as young people and then into adulthood. Albums then were also so cherished as pieces of art in their own right and we followed our heros diligently via the music mags etc. There is still great music out there today, but allot seems compressed, disposable, commercially driven, and unfortunately less important than it once was......take care bro, keep rocking and thanks for all you do on the tube🎸👍

[@johnb5691]

Well F'n said. I agree totally. I remember saving the $2 everyday my Mom gave me for lunch in Grade 9. At the end of the week I had enough to buy a record or cassette. Music meant so much more.

[@MatteMike2345]

Really great intro music today Dave! Nice tone also. About the music industry I feel that there is more of quantity and less of quality. Or maybe it's because of the quantity the quality music doesnt have a chance to reach out to people anymore.

[@paulbartell38]

I think we all on here feel your pain Dave. The music biz is just part of a larger global picture that is unfolding before our very eyes.. Stay strong. X

[@JonA-br5hk]

Brilliant thoughtful video Dave. Sad because it’s true. Worse still is that it’s not just music that has been devalued by digitising the world, and making humans a throw away commodity

[@IshBrother]

I agree with a lot of your points however, I think to find the scenes in the UK nowadays you have to go past what's on pop radio. I'm a Jazz player and there's load of wicked scenes across the UK (Leeds, London, Bristol, Glasgow etc) similarly, in the the indie rock world there's plenty of different scenes that exist however they don't really penetrate into the top tier (I.e. top 40 charts etc) anymore like artists from those genres used to. I would say the same about albums (I'm a spotify user but still only really listen to albums) if you dig past what mainstream music advertisement and publicity is trying to sell you you'll find incredible albums being released every day. I don't think any of these things are 'dead' I just think to earn money and reach more people as a unique, grass roots artist/band these days it takes a lot more work to get to that top level and it's very rare that it will happen at all (it's like 'commercial top 40 music' and actual music are 2 completely different art forms that don't often have much in common at all). But the thing is there's still so many incredible bands making music and touring and making a living from music and that are able to continue to do what they do it's just never going to be like it was in decades gone by (at least not for a long time and with a lot of change having happened to facilitate it) One final thing, there's still good music being released by top 40 artists - Adele's latest album is wicked, the 'Silk Sonic' album is awesome and there's plenty of other examples, obviously there is a lot of formulaic stuff but at the end the day it is the Music 'business' and if you had a formulaic, guaranteed way of making money from every product your business released would you not use that method. Hope this doesn't sound too mardy/negative, just trying to offer some counter points for you to consider.

[@RamonesFan201]

Really frustrating when guys like Dave get on their high horse with a video like this. Like dude, You've set yourself up to be a gear channel, Don't go telling your fanbase that music is dead because YOU think its dead as a GEAR channel. Its not a good look.

[@12Radius]

Music always makes a difference. It seems to be watered down now. Your spot on. Jam on ✌️☮️ cheers from Seattle

[@TheFeelButton]

Music is rarely a shared experience anymore and recorded music is a commodity at 75+ million songs available. All the great music is still available and new great music is still being created but it's marketability is not very profitable and has to compete against well funded ego projects. Cheers Dave!

[@davelewis4215]

Dave, Awesome guitar and double awesome outstanding class playing mate 😎👌👍

[@troycollins6069]

I almost forgot to say Damn Proud ta see you doing Andertons video, you deserve it Dave!

[@carpgianedossantos7001]

I agree with some of the points you’ve made. We live in a society where everyone needs instant gratification may it be with television or music but like with any other eras of music you just need to adapt. There are a lot of exceptional new musicians/artist currently, they may not be like our guitar heroes of the past but they still make incredible stuff. There has never been a greater time to buy gear, learn an instrument and promote your music on online platforms. If it wasn’t for these types of platforms we may never have discovered artists like yourself Mr.Simpson. I think that sometimes we forget that in every decade there’s great music and not so great music but it’s the great ones we remember. In saying that there is a lot of garbage nowadays, but I think it’s a price worth paying if it means more people are exposed to platforms where they can express themselves creatively through music, may it be by playing guitar or by other means.

[@jorgedoguim9371]

Fantastic performance Dave Thanks ! I am not qualified to provide feedback on this subject, however, observing and listening to your comments encourages me to believe that there is hope. You are like a prophet that calls the audience to pay attention to a serious situation that can rob and destroy our most precious gift . . . Life ! No soul, no Life . . . You speak from the heart, I can relate to your immense pain and agony to see what "seems" to be happening. Not everything we "see" and "hear" is REAL, you bring up a valid and important point. I will say that each and all of us will have something in mind to say or not to say because . . . we love you, we believe in you, we appreciate you and your passion for music feels like rain on a desert. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, fears, dreams and joys frustration and ALL of Dave. I invite your audience to encourage one another by remembering these - 3 - simple thoughts. We are 1. Beautiful 2. Good 3. LOVED. Keep up the good work Dave, help us all and anyone reading this note do their individual contributions like you do every time you record your music and videos. Just like Mother nature creates lakes, rivers and oceans to sustain Life . . . One Drop at the Time . . . One session at the time you bless us all.🌞🎸🎶

[@ZappaBlues]

Back in the early 60s, the transistor radio was liberating for many, even though the sound was absolute crap. It took music out of the house. Would you say listening to MP3s today, on ear buds, may be reminiscent of this??

[@gregmock6808]

Was great to see you on Lee Anderton's channel yesterday Dave....that's great exposure for you

[@timparker4228]

You're right Dave, it has cheapened, and for all the reasons you mentioned. So many musicians from the 70's and 80's have gone on record saying how they were financially screwed by their record labels and managers, yet they are now putting their music on streaming services for fractions of pennies. I don't understand that. The domino effect of streaming services is that it's caused bands to drastically increase ticket prices to see them live. You mentioned that 3% of the UK population wanted tickets to Knebworth. These days, 3% may want to go, but it's simply unaffordable, and it's not the bands fault, as it's the only way to make a living from their music. Sad state of affairs, Dave.

[@joves3407]

I 100% agree with every single thing you have just said and it is extremely sad. Some of my favorite albums of all time were ones that didn’t really grab me on first listen but I felt obliged to give them continual go’s, often because I’d spent $30 for the thing (which was a big deal, as a teenager). I sometimes had to really try to like them and, more often than not, I eventually did. These continual listens brought subtle melody’s to light, which I don’t think I would find today if listening to the same albums on Spotify for the first time. Without skin in the game, I’m as guilty as the next person nowadays of moving on if I’m not caught on the first listen or so, and I don’t like that, not one bit!

[@mattludlam2194]

I think it's a really interest topic Dave. The thing I want to ask rock fans tho is what do you actually want? Rock had a long time in the sun, perhaps 30-40 years. It isn't mainstream anymore, but it still exists and isn't dead. You can still buy the albums of old favorites if you'd like to listen to that stuff, and there are a countless number of bands that still make passionate music in that arena. The tools we have around today actually make it easier to produce music, and as a result you get a lot more bedroom musicians who work out of their own spaces, without the need for an established record label and recording studio - like yourself! I think this is great because it puts the tools of music production into the hands of aspiring people and music fans, which is not how it was in the old days - you could have a guitar and an amp, but you'd be recording on a crappy old four-track tape recorder. This also helps underground communities flourish online because they can release stuff as they please and they don't need a manager or PR person. Perhaps the reason we don't have such a vibrant physical scene is that we are instead chatting about music together in our homes, rather than having to go to the record shop. People still go to plenty of gigs (pre COVID), and music festivals have never been bigger culturally, especially in Europe. The culture around music has changed just like our culture has changed - it makes no sense for physical things like CDs, casettes or vinyl to be used nowadays in a world where so much of it isn't physical anymore, we are a culture of convenience, but we always have been, and it's how it will stay in the future imo. And music is still evolving - we've seen lots of new emerging genres pop up over the last couple of decades that have been prominent in the charts but aren't necessarily rock, but this isn't a bad thing!

[@jefftucker201]

Great vid Dave, I only just found your channel and glad I did!. I suppose Music has become disposable. no one listens to Albums anymore and hardly any artists from today will be remembered in 20\30 years time the way we remember artists from the 60\70\80\90s unless they were already around in the 90s\early 2000s. I don't think a lot of people actually listen to music any more, when I say listen I mean actually sit down and do nothing else but listen to the music, its all just background noise now to have on while you are doing something else. It is truly a sad time for Music... :(

[@Downtherabbitholeband]

I remember when I was young, “I’m 49 now” but Sunday I used to get the tape lined up ready to record the top 40 and it was an art to record the music without the voice of the radio dj, it was a great feeling when you played it back but that has all gone, the digital age has killed all that, the youth of today are only interested in singles yes but what I find is they can’t even listen to the whole song anymore it’s painful. I remember Noel saying a few years back “where’s the new oasis” it isn’t there, it’s so sad, your so right to bring this up

[@brianbethscheider6613]

Just bought Dave Simpson Trio album on bandcamp. Albums are a way to escape from reality. Thank you for sticking to your axe.

[@stevefisher2121]

Best “ music” rant I’ve heard in a long time. Thank you.

[@planzed463]

On point 👌🏼 amazing jam btw!! Hope you’re well man

[@arturojc6974]

The Anderton’s and Thomman’s , my local guitar shop, my guitar teacher, music schools , they are all doing pretty well now a days.Sales of guitars I would guess are more healthy than sales of DJ equipments . The world of music is always changing and there is an enormous amount of people these days playing an instrument and learning about music all over the world. We all can’t we famous but can enjoy making music .

[@bluesrocker91]

I get exactly where you're coming from Dave... I'm guessing we're a similar sort of age (30s?), and I often worry about these things. I've always felt completely out of step with most of my generation, never more so than when it comes to music. Most of my heroes were dead long before I was born, and those still going are well into old age now. I'm very much an album guy too... I always listen to albums in full, even the tracks I don't particularly like, for the simple reason that I consider the album itself to be a single work. I have to really dislike a track to want to skip it, which is extremely rare. Very often I find that the tracks I didn't like so much on my first listen, eventually became favourites on repeated listens. But most people don't do that now... If a track doesn't grab their attention within the first 5 seconds, they skip it. Maybe we've just come full circle... We've arrived back at the 1950s again, where Spotify is essentially the 21st century juke box. If that's the case, maybe the album's time will come again in the next decade or two. Whatever happens I agree the only thing we can do is to keep playing, writing and recording. If you haven't seen them already, I highly recommend finding the BBC 6 Music John Peel Lectures online. They used to be on KZbin in full but they aren't that easy to find now... Specifically watch the ones given by Pete Townshend and Iggy Pop, it's very interesting stuff.

[@michaelholmes5150]

Dave, I feel the same, like most guitarists or any general musician. I started playing guitar in 1980. I still play it feverishly even though its not made me much money. I love getting tones, learning new songs, techniques, getting new and used gear. What attracted me was a combination of music genre( rock and metal), certain bands and players( Van Halen, AC/DC, Rush, Yngwie Malmsteen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Metallica). Likewise I loved going to the record store, buy LPs, soon cassettes, then CDs. Countless good and bad albums but there were plenty that put me in such a place to form me as a musician, but a person as well. Yet the internet came along and when I sold all my music and gravitated towards iTunes, Google music etc I knew despite the convenience of finding anything at the click of a mouse or touch of a screen I knew the album format was done and its all about the song now. Its all about pop music and spectacle and its sad seeing drums, bass, keyboards and now guitar taking a back seat to nothing but the singer. You are right that these singing shows( American Idol, The Voice) are dumbing music down. All in the name of money. Even Gene Simmons says "rock is dead". In his day you could get a Marshall stack that you could crank out in a garage and you would be noticed. Not anymore. I know of a few people that have the evil Spotify and they don't see that artists are being paid peanuts. I saw the CEO in some interview and despite his billions he is a greedy prick. This pandemic has prompted some to pick up the guitar as they say guitar sales haven't been this good since the 60s. But I think it will be short lived as a lot of people after being locked down, unemployed are just doing it because video games and TV is not enough of a hobby. It is strange times as in recent years there is way more gear than there ever was. Still its like some New Years resolution like some do to choose to go to the gym yet fail miserably. You would think after so many websites and You Tube channels to learn that everyone would be playing. So many ways to learn but people don't commit as its too much work. Sad as I said.

[@Marcmcilroy]

Great video Dave as always. I agree the art of listening to a record in its entirety. And letting it take you on a journey. I think it’s over sadly. We live in a digital age where speed is key. The world is in too much of a rush to sit and listen to an album. I remember getting pocket money or looking through my uncles music collection. He was in a local band in the 60s. The smelll of vinyl. The excitement of finding something that struck a chord with me while I lay listening and reading the cover front to back. But as it’s been said before music’s for rent now. Not for sale. £11.99 a month to own almost every song and album that exists. But not owning anything. Just an app that tells you what you should be listening too. Taking away the excitement of finding something new . Listening to an album in its entirety by playing music on a shuffle basis. By various artists. I moan about the same as you today. But I get told I’m just getting old and that I have to move with the times. It’s just sad that kids today are missing out on the discovery of real music . Music created by musicians not people like Simon cowell. Getting someone who looks good . to dance and mime to a song on a tv competition. Where people vote for the winner using the same phone they listen to their music. Anyway my rant over. Sorry I went on a bit. But I was at knebworth on the Saturday and it was amazing. The only time I’ve felt surrounded by people who I could connect with. And not a single phone in sight. Keep the videos coming Dave. Your helping keep the torch burning 🎸

[@craigs19721972]

Totally agreed Dave! I am 49 so grew up with grunge etc. I remember buying records and CDs from bands who could actually play and no auto tune etc. Now local bands play very poor musicianship wise as they don't practice as much as they watch Netflix and PlayStation etc now. It's a shame but music is not appreciated by the public anymore.

[@davidsillars3181]

Nice to see a few more of us ancients in the comments and echo their sentiments. Albums were treasures and got played till the grooves were flattened. Totally agree about so much that gets churned out, as someone once sang "it says nothing to me about my life"... I'm an MP3 hater. It's like a tracing of music. Commerce has eviscerated meaning and given us bubblegum, but there'll be a fight back. It's an essay worthy subject!

[@mofomartianp]

The masses will generally follow the mainstream and just listen to the newest garbage pop song on the radio or spotify hitlist. I found that people who are actually into music still love albums, and typically become superfans of their favorite artists. I've had the new Mastodon album on repeat for weeks now and I still can't believe how good it is. Jerry Cantrell just released a new solo album too, and it's fantastic. There's still lot's of amazing music to discover, it's just that the industry serves up crappy WAP music to the masses, which unfortunately, most people are content to consume.

[@safetydan97]

For what it's worth. My nieces just don't have the same relationship with music that I had when I was their age. (I'm 38 now.) They mostly play videos games and chat with their friends online. I think a lot of young creatives ended up on the vlog channels and twitch to express their creative outlets. I picked up a guitar because I had nothing better to do once I quit sports at 14. Music will always be around I just don't think it's the center of pop culture that it used to be. Too many other ways to express yourself or be distracted. All that's left is the machine of soulless crap or the niche pockets of people who like certain things. I think you've done well for yourself considering the circumstances. Keep fighting on!

[@chriskoch2465]

Thanks dave! I feel the same way. Back in the day we use to listen to the album from beginning to end and get lost in it just as you said. Well said!

[@Bleats_Sinodai]

On the contrary. There's more significant music today than there's ever been back in the day. What has happened is that you don't see that music in mainstream.

[@astropillars5252]

True art liberates the soul. The powers at be do not want it. I grew up in the 80's I loved going to record stores after school hunting classic metal, rock, blues albums and going home and listening to the whole album. It was a ritual I love albums nothing competes with escaping into the world of music. The human race will be finished without music.

[@troycollins6069]

Hi Dave, I'm a 1962,at 5, on the coffee table belting out Elvis,etc, music was Big, no internet, black and white tv, in my 18's, Twisted Sister rented out a car wash to practice, went to see, Vixen Rainbow,Pat Travers,The Cars, Pink Floyd, Madison Square Garden, and so much more. People today and the Industry,I don't know what happened here but it's sad, Troy from Alantic City

[@tribalmessenger]

Hit the nail on the head there Dave , I'm finding it hard to relate to any of the "new music " out there at the moment , it's all so sanitised , with no soul . Proper music will endure , musical creativity has no bounds .

[@myhapylife]

Great video Dave. I think maybe simple "economy" is explanation for todays music. In 20th century music had great expansion burst because that was the way people spend their time listen to music a lot, go to concerts etc. Demand for music was greater and offer was lot smaller than demand so that way bands could sell their first albums or not so god albums. Later things got reversed, offer is greater than demand, you have lot more people offering music and lot less people for demand to consume it as fun or what ever. Because people these days got many more things to do for spending their time in comparison to 70 or 80 when someone after school or job would came home and listen to vinyl or audiotape. They hang out on phones and computers consuming other media not just music. So basically there is a lot of free music floating around and only "few" people to consume it. And among them there are quite few enthusiasts who care about music quality, and even fewer among them who are willing to hear something new from tadays artists. When demand is greater then the offer then we can expect for music to flourish again. IMHO.

[@aldanino]

What an interesting "rant". As someone who switched off from music in 1987 and switched back on in 2015 I can see most of what you are referring to. Yes there are no "scenes" to speak of now. The real gems I now find online. Just like yourself the underground has moved online in more ways than one. Do not fear for it. Music will be and it evolves and is evolving all the time. The biggest change I see between now and then is that you are now more in charge than ever before. Looking at the internet is where I am finding the talent, it is providing us with people with integrity. It is people like you who are now the spearhead, keep doing what you do and never ever give up. Wish you all the best Dave take care man.

[@areyouavinalaff]

I found your mention of alice in chains and pearl jam interesting purely because I found it quite relatable. Back in the 90s I bought albums by both bands and back then I didn't really hear pearl jam. I played pearl jam but I didn't really hear them and value the music until 20 or 30 years later. AIC always struck a chord with me, and that doesn't mean AIC were a better band than pearl jam or wrote better songs or did music better than pearl jam. the difference was always me. value is in the intention of the music maker and in the listener. entirely subjective, and perspectives change. bands change, musicians change and so do listeners. value... we all determine value.

[@tjzen1180]

I have a turntable and buy albums of all genres online and from second hand shops. Since going back to Vinyl life has become exciting again. I agree there's no scene today, I agree. The Lockdown was one of the major contributors in my opinion.

[@musicmanxii]

Sorry for double commenting, but I just finished the last half of your video this morning. I have this ambition to open up my own small scale recording studio and have my pricing be extremely cheap or free for local artists. Obviously it wouldn't be Electric Lady or some amazing studio like that, but it would be adequate to produce decent sounding records. For any artists of any genre. My plan was to do music part time with my day job (as a nurse, this is where I would fund my studio from initially) until I could afford to go full time in music. Just to record music for anyone, young, old, any genre. People deserve to have their vibrations put out into the world. Idk, that's just my thoughts on how I might help. I really don't care about money, just as long as I can pay my bills. Thanks for the video Dave, it's nice to see there's others who love music as much as you do.

[@twotone918]

Great intro,yet again Dave, I agree with your feelings but I do feel covid has put a lot pressure on proper live music. Therefore people have to satisfy their appetites some how.

[@derekmorris6766]

Totally agree about MP3 sound quality. About all it is useful for is checking out a new band, before getting the CD. I think peoples attitudes haven't changed that much, the 'pop' market has always been superficial. I think what HAS changed, is record companies attitudes to artists. As you say, they are no longer willing to invest time and money into an artist's career, they want instant success from a 1st album, so there's a lot of formularized, pre-chewed mush from mainstream labels. It seems to me, we're going through a lull, a bit like the superficiality of the 50's pre Rock 'n' Roll, and the pre-Beatles 60's. Sooner or later, it'll all come around, a new and original artist will blow the doors off the accountants office doors. It's always been hard to get noticed, get a record deal etc. Think of how many times the Beatles were rejected, or how hard it must have been for T-Bone Walker or BB King to get started and to make a living. Like all those Blues players, without big company backing, artists will have to gig where they can, rely on word of mouth, and self-publish. Regardless of the initial publishing/distribution method, a song like Cigarettes and Alcohol will get noticed. Eventually there'll be a new Elvis, Beatles, Hendrix, Zeppelin, etc., something with a broader appeal, that can't be easily ignored or packaged as a disposable consumer item. As John Hunter says, the internet is a double edged sword. It allows consumption with very little investment of attention or money, and has fragmented music in general, but it has also democratized it, by allowing more people to self publish and get their music heard, and it allows people to get a taste of, and get into many musical genres. The death of Rock 'n' Roll has been reported since Elvis went into the army, and it gets re-born time and time again, because people keep on adding to it, recording it and playing it. And people keep turning each other onto new things by whatever media is popular at the time. All we can ever do, is keep playing, listening and communicating the music, for the music, regardless of popularity or market share. By name checking bands, you promote them (how many of your viewers besides you, and me had heard of Candlebox before), by playing you inspire others to play. We're all custodians of music, we listen to it, cherish it, and pass it on, either by sharing what we listen to, or by teaching what we know about its playing. As long as we do these things it will survive.

[@Steventwangs]

I still love to do the record shop thing. Spinning discs in sheff is epic. I think one of the reasons the mainstream music scene is so bland (aside from a few gems) is because record companies almost never take a risk on something they don't know for a fact they're gonna get they're money back on.

[@HorizonMelt]

I agree with both your sentiments and your lament, 100%. I actually feel less alone knowing somebody feels just like I do.

[@Blues-man.]

What you say could be very true ! People like you keep it alive, but in my opinion the 60s and 70s 80s was the very best of blues and rock, Beatles, stones, grand funk, cream, Hendrix, SRV, BB king, Zeppelin, these were the people that did it from the soul ! You are so right people felt the thrill and excitement of getting home opening up a new album and playing it for hours, it’s all taken for granted now ! I am 69 and back in those days a front row tickets were never over 20 to 25 dollars it was about letting people see their favorites and that sold albums, This is all gone !

[@timjones6236]

It's a good question you ask there mate, and I know what you mean, but I think it's also an age-related, generational thing. I'm in my 60s, so what you refer to as the 1990s for me is the 1970s. It's subjective and a matter of taste obviously, but maybe this is just something that happens as people age? Great guitar playing at the start and as always thanks for the videos.

[@kevinhill6079]

Great intro, Mr. Dave! I love albums! I'm really not a fan of listening to the radio or a playlist. However, with bands I'm unfamiliar with, I do listen to their album online before I purchase it. I don't like spending $20.00 for one good song. Also, being an album fan, I'm not going to listen to an album that I have to change after one song. That said, there are some artists/bands that I just buy anything they release. Anytime Pearl Jam, Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats, and you or the trio release anything, I just buy the album and enjoy. However, I can say for those on a limited budget, something like Spotify is a real lifesaver for a music lover. $10.00/month and you can listen to most anything you want, even the entire album. I know it's not a great deal for the artists, but if something like that had been around when I was in college, I'd have likely subscribed. Fortunately, I'm generally able to pick up an album or two a month (several more if I find my way into a thrift shop) and still pay the bills.

[@SuperCMO79]

Remember walking to my sam goodies and picking up Pearl Jam's Black and Temple of the dog. It was winter and I headphoned the whole album on the way back. I actually am listening to your video play dave and You just mentioned pearl jam as I was typing. (I had this come to mind and wallah shared a sentiment. )

[@RJ-pu6nc]

Very sad state to be in and I totally see what you are saying ,,,thanx for your thoughts... I now don't feel alone with these thoughts