Indie or what

[uwe]

I have nothing against bar chord music. But after a CD of Green Day, Coldplay, U2, Jimmy eat World, Snowpatrol and what have you, I sometimes thirst for some Beck, Bogert & Appice and wonder why does nobody write catchy riffs anymore?

[Barklessdog]

It gets back to the question of is it better to be creatively brilliant or technically brilliant?

It always seems the best singers are the most unique ones with limited range.

As for Riff based music it's still being made-


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE_rnFZPEwU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL5iR4tkZdk&feature=related

[Freuds_Cat]

It's true! The art of composing hookline riffs died with Nirvana. Or maybe it's as Billy Corgan said: "All goof riffs have already been written. Whenever you think you have come up with something great, you then find it on Made in Japan or something ...".

Maybe it does have comparisons to Blackmore or Pages riffs (which were only variations on other riffs themselves if we are being totally honest) but we are still writing riff based rock. Just for ourselves, just for the fun of of it. Just because it feels good. 



What we find is that as soon as we write a riff based song people describe it as having a "dated" sound.

[uwe]

Technical limits often help forge a style. If you're good at anything, you tend to do everything and why shouldn't you? If you have limits you work at and deepen what you are best at.

The best bands tend to be those who have a virtuoso (or two) musician AND somoeone creative (or two) in them. Too many virtuosos think they are also gifted songwriters when they are not, but most excellent songwriters are selfdeprecating about their instrumental craft, even those who are quite good like Paul McCartney.

[Pilgrim]

G

Technical limits often help forge a style. If you're good at anything, you tend to do everything and why shouldn't you? If you have limits you work at and deepen what you are best at.

That may be one reason Danny Gatton wasn't better known. He played lots of different things and the recording companies and radio stations couldn't fit him into a niche.

[Chaser001]

Technical limits often help forge a style. If you're good at anything, you tend to do everything and why shouldn't you? If you have limits you work at and deepen what you are best at.

The best bands tend to be those who have a virtuoso (or two) musician AND somoeone creative (or two) in them. Too many virtuosos think they are also gifted songwriters when they are not, but most excellent songwriters are selfdeprecating about their instrumental craft, even those who are quite good like Paul McCartney.

This analysis totally makes sense to me.  I think the one consistent problem is the overconfidence of the virtuoso who thinks he can write well, but of course cannot.  But there is always the possibility of the exception to the rule, the virtuoso who can actually write good songs.  I've never been around someone like that, but such people do exist.  Jack Bruce comes to mind.  I think that is what makes this topic so uncertain.  There is the tendency to assume that the virtuoso can't write well, but you have to wait and see.