This week on #CraveMusic chat I wanted to reflect a bit over the positive things we got out of music in 2011 and to see what artists’ people noticed and will be on the lookout for in 2012.
A lot of people feel as if we didn’t really have any improvement because the main stream was still flooded with watered down hip-hop, lackluster singers, flash in the pans one maybe 2 hit wonders, and the radio played the same 5 songs all day.
BUT... on the low we had what I feel to be a very positive shift in music. I noticed more indie bands getting noticed, more lyrical rappers popping up on the blogs, techno infusion into Pop music, music getting back to being enjoyed for the technical aspects of it from the new sound in beats and the lyrics being spoken.
If you’re a true music junkie you don’t listen to the radio for new music to add to your collection. One, you have the songs already if you even like the artist. Two, most of the artists are not exactly your cup of tea. So instead you must frequent the blogs and music sites to find new jewels. From there you go to google and research an artist, find songs, mixtapes and listen then judge. I did this with a lot of artists this year and to my surprise I found quite a few I like. Most I had heard of in 2010 but through 2011 I saw a growth and grew to like them. Seek them out. A few got a notable cosign for themselves. (Yealwolf, Stalley) Others just showed consistency and so im looking for them in 2012. (XV, Skyzoo, Gambino)
This was also a year with a few classics for hip-hop. J.Cole. Three years in the making from the first time I heard a mixtape from him. “The Sideline Story” was a great freshman album. Then Kanye went off twice! but with jay-Z on watch the thrown, lyrically, sickening.
We saw the rise of the indie bands. A lot of indie pop, indie rock, surf punk from the underground scene mad light. For example Best Coast, an indie noise pop band I was following them for a while and then they got noticed by Drew Barrymore who directed their “Our Deal” video. From there they became a semi notable indie band, not mainstream but on the rise. Same can be said of Foster the People and Wavves as well, two indie pop surf type bands that had a good run in 2011. The return of the indie band is something I’ve missed in the new millennium. Yes they have been there but the indie band culture has been hidden since the 90s’s. On a techno, house, trance culture tip. Also, peoples taste in music was expanding. People I knew that use to hate the different genres I played were starting to appreciate the different sounds of music there are in the world, though it was usually through an infusion of types.
Take “The Weeknd” the new raved about musical genius that Drake brought to the light. Though he is not the strongest singer his unique sound and lyrics have captivated people to build him a strong following. When I listen to him I hear an indie pop meets trance meets R&B. Hence the unique sound. This is appreciated.
( Download "The Weeknd"- EchoesOfSilence)
Which brings me to the cross over, so many artists this year found influences in other genres of music. Hip-Hop of 2011 was really a Hip-Pop, Trip-Hop. The electro influences in the beats and format of hip-hop songs in 2011 sounded like Paul Van Dyk or Milo remixes. Listening to the production on songs such as “Mr. Nice Watch” and “That’s my Bitch” to see what I mean. Or “New Day” also off Watch The Throne, which is very trip-hop jazz. Then Lady Gaga gave us everything from electro to pop to blues over the past 2 years. I say blues if you’ve listened to the new gift she gave the monsters with “Stuck on Fucking You”. Rihanna went total trashy-euro-pop, which I love. Love. These mainstream artist exposing their fans to other sounds will hopefully inspire a genuine eclectic ear so people will seek different music on their own. WeCraveMusicHere will be here to help with that. Wink Wink.
I could write for days and days about this topic but to sum this up..
2011 brought us a subtle change in music that has opened the door for the underground again and is beginning to expose people to genres outside of their comfort zone. So in 2012 let us make this a genuine experience, I loathe a poser.
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