Oh, America! What have you done?

As I've recently been doing plenty of research on the birth of popular music, I've obviously spent a lot of time dedicated to the USA. No-one can deny that (the majority of) the greatest sights and sounds of the 20th century came (or were directly influenced) from American soil. So where did it all go wrong? At what point did America turn from generally genius to practically pointless? And why?

I don't know. I'm unable to answer, as I'm from England, and can only give a British perspective. But I do know that its the country that has had the most spectacular of pasts, but one of the scariest futures ahead. As much credit as it should get, it also deserves alot of criticism.

Despite us Brits having the most widely spoken language, and our once enormous empire, I've found the UK to now really lack any specific relevant identity (most evident over the past 10 years). In the past we've had so many great moments in popular culture. Here's just two examples:

Hang on, lads; I've got a great idea. Err, Errr.....

My Generation & Your Generation (Paul & Pete on Carnaby St)

Carnaby Street in the 60's (albeit feat. american band The Byrds)

But alas, times have changed. If you "google" Italian Job, is the first face you see Michael Caine? Do you find yourself in the 60's? Nah, you get Marky Mark, Jason fucking Statham and that bullshit from 2003 which dares to use the same name! In 1978, The Jam updated us on the state of the country and Carnaby St.

"The street is a mirror for our country. Reflects the rise and fall of our nation. The street
that was a legend, is a mockery. A part of the British tradition gone down the drain"

I remember the mid-late 90's, and how important music & movies were to me. Britain had actually gone through a few years of decent productivity (probably their best since the 70's). Trainspotting was the best British film for at least the previous 10 years, and musically we had a collection of great artists (Blur, Oasis, Paul Weller, Radiohead, Supergrass, The Charlatans, Super Furry Animals, Kula Shaker) and bands (such as Dodgy, Cast, The Verve, Ash, Manics) who "on their day" could create fantastic work. But it proved short-lived. I won't go into too much more detail, as I'll no doubt chronicle Britpop when posting about the 1990's.

By the end of the 90's it seemed the ugly side of pop music was filtering back into the British mainstream and America regained its stranglehold over worldwide influence. But were once stood the original prophets and gods of rock n roll (Robert Johnson, Elvis, Buddy Holly, Brian Wilson, Jim Morrison et al), now stand (or at least in 1999/2000 they did) the embarrassingly bad Blink182, Eminem, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit & Linkin Park, who managed to sell millions of records, along with their souls and the possibility of 'mainstream' America ever being taken seriously again. I mean, "nu-metal" or MTV Base anyone? Yuck! And I rage when I see the term 'R&B' used in modern context. THERE IS NO LINK BETWEEN PROPER AND "NEW" R&B!!! How dare they soil such a great genre!


If you're going to replace something, make sure its with something with equal merit and integrity, if not better. If not, leave it well alone! And that is why I do not feel the compulsion to involve myself in most modern offerings. I could limit myself to the art of the sixties, and still feel fulfilled. Hell, I could dedicate myself to just 1967, and I'd be bet it would be a decade before I got bored. But luckily, through this blog I've got so many 'golden' periods to look forward to. I seriously believe the future is in the past. I'm sure my findings through just the next 3 years (1900-1935) of this blog will exceed any expectations I have for actual new releases for 2011-2014.

The U.S. doesn't deserve the whole blame, but it has witnessed the greatest slump from greatness to madness. My soul weeps for the country. We owe them so much for what they have given, yet so much seems unrecognized on its home turf, and unappreciated decades on. I mean, try finding a popular US country radio station that actually plays Hank Williams. You can't! It's as if he (the guy who practically invented the modern meaning of the genre) never existed. Instead we're subject to this really bland, sad and sorry $$ making excuse for a 'modern' sound that really should be as pure and direct as the blues.

It's fast approaching the 65th anniversary of Hank's first recordings in Nashville, Tennessee, which made him a star. Hank, this one's for you.


This was originally a test, to see how 'scheduled posts' worked. It works well, and will come in handy....