Let me acknowledge right off that I'm a Boomer and this was the music of my generation - the soundtrack of my formative years that I listened to unceasingly. That said, this is a look back at that music through the rose-colored glasses of pure nostalgia, devoid of any objectivity. This music was hardly as influential as it's painted to be here. You can hear none of its influence in today's popular music, which is the child of hip hop and rap. Popular music hasn't been this "white" since the 1980s, except for country.
A little of this 60s influence lives on in adult alt-rock, but that's hardly today's mass market music. No, this was a music of its time and place, and that time has passed while the place seems to be filled now with geriatric former rock gods. Rock and roll wasn't forever, even though we Boomers were devoutly sure it would be. It's all but gone today except for aging tribute bands and the Rolling Stones, who seem to be planning to expire on-stage.
Nope, the Beach Boys don't stand up to comparisons with Bach. It wasn't art that was being created in the late 60s, it was top 40 singles and platinum selling albums. You can cut through the pretentiousness here with a knife. I kept thinking of a quote from the late Bill Graham about the Jefferson Airplane's artistic pretensions. To paraphrase Graham , he said something like every time they cross the street they think it's ballet. These used-to-bes still think it was all ballet.
A little of this 60s influence lives on in adult alt-rock, but that's hardly today's mass market music. No, this was a music of its time and place, and that time has passed while the place seems to be filled now with geriatric former rock gods. Rock and roll wasn't forever, even though we Boomers were devoutly sure it would be. It's all but gone today except for aging tribute bands and the Rolling Stones, who seem to be planning to expire on-stage.
Nope, the Beach Boys don't stand up to comparisons with Bach. It wasn't art that was being created in the late 60s, it was top 40 singles and platinum selling albums. You can cut through the pretentiousness here with a knife. I kept thinking of a quote from the late Bill Graham about the Jefferson Airplane's artistic pretensions. To paraphrase Graham , he said something like every time they cross the street they think it's ballet. These used-to-bes still think it was all ballet.