200 Motels was an interesting fever dream as well. So many groups in the 70s were putting out concept movies or two hour long music videos. Not just the Beatles even if they popularized it and set the tone. This was definitely one of the loosest yet still engaging of the bunch. Better than The Monkees Head.
Experimentation has never really slowed or stopped, but I think the 70s is definitely a bit of a watermark for it. With a counterculture that was basically pop culture at the time. Experimentation was much more open and visible.
Since then, it's been much more the venue of those who've siloed themselves off from pop culture, etc.
Certainly progress and experimentation is alive and well today, but like you said, it was the zeitgeist to be thought-provoking, wonky, avant-garde, weird, and progressive back then. Now you have to dig deep and sift through so much for those same nuggets today.
I don't get the same hit from pop music today that's for sure. Saying that, there are still some talented folks getting work writing progressive pop music, even if it isn't popular. Gotta give this some props.
8 replies
200 Motels was an interesting fever dream as well. So many groups in the 70s were putting out concept movies or two hour long music videos. Not just the Beatles even if they popularized it and set the tone. This was definitely one of the loosest yet still engaging of the bunch. Better than The Monkees Head.
The '70s was an amazing time of experimentation and excellence. My favorite decade of music by far.
Experimentation has never really slowed or stopped, but I think the 70s is definitely a bit of a watermark for it. With a counterculture that was basically pop culture at the time. Experimentation was much more open and visible.
Since then, it's been much more the venue of those who've siloed themselves off from pop culture, etc.
Certainly progress and experimentation is alive and well today, but like you said, it was the zeitgeist to be thought-provoking, wonky, avant-garde, weird, and progressive back then. Now you have to dig deep and sift through so much for those same nuggets today.
I don't get the same hit from pop music today that's for sure. Saying that, there are still some talented folks getting work writing progressive pop music, even if it isn't popular. Gotta give this some props.
Sounds a bit like Jewel.
I see that. That 7/4 time and drum pattern gives me NIN vibes too. This is another good one IMO. Also featured is the talented Mohini Dey.
7/4 is pretty good company with artists like bjork experimenting fairly regularly. But never mainstream.
Certainly rarely mainstream which is a shame.