Can music be innovative and still listenable?

Question

So I'm listening to "Abbey Road" right now, and thinking about the Beatles. They were musically innovative, they dragged rock and roll in a completely new direction, as did many different artists in the 60s, transforming rock from fifties wholesome bebop into psychadelia. When I think about today's radical musicians, I think of Phillip Glass, and contemporary experimental jazz, which I find unlistenable and albums like The Fiery Furnaces' "Blueberry Boat," which many people find inaccessible and just plain weird.

My questions are: is it possible to make musically innovative music that is also aesthetically enjoyable?
Will the music that is innovative and difficult today be listenable and likable and dull in the future?
Where do you think music is heading?
What are some truly innovative artists you enjoy? Do you branch out into innovative music, or do you listen to what ClearChannel gives you? Is that good enough? Is that even good music?

Answer 1

there are lots people taking music in all kinds of directions.
while you can consider it a odd media ploy the gorillaz is the first band that isn't really a band. this has freed them from neatly fitting in any sub group and allowed them to work with talented artists from all over the world. the voice of noodle alone has been at least 1/2 dozen people. currently mashing is taking off -- layering song on top of song -- many you wouldn't expect. one of the biggest feats of mashing is danger mouse's gray ablum -- he merged the beatles white album with jay z's black album. He is also 1/2 of Gnarls Barkley that did the radio hit "crazy" which samples music from spaghetti westerns. if you haven't heard it check out crazy on youtube. you can also find danger mouses' gray video there. you can also check out dj earworm at djearworm.com he has mashed up to 22 songs together to get a final result. my favorite would have to be the video version of stairway to bootleg heaven (also on youtube) which mixes dolly parton's stairway to heaven with the eurthmics, beatles, beastie boys, art of noise, pat benetar, and laurie anderson all to the beat of skateboards hitting the top of a ramp.
there are also groups like sigur ros pushing boundaries of pure aesthicism. they invented a language to record vocals in based on the sound.
while none is the next prokofiev its all worth a listen.

Answer 2

My first answer is yes and you might not have to look any further than the music from another culture or country.

second, who knows what the future holds but I like oldies.

third, the big labels decide what we hear the most but with musicians publishing their songs on the Internet and sharing them over torrents and P2P the labels are slowly loosing their stronghold, so I see music heading into new realms.

Fourth, I pretty much like all music except for Rap. I don't really have a favorite innovator.

Answer 3

Trey Anastasio is very innovative and takes some big chances.

His band, Phish, was roundly ignored by critics cause they got no airplay.

The hiphop generation will grow out of this stuff soon (hope hope).

Record companies are a business, they want what sells. Frank Zappa's book "the real frank zappa book" does an eloquent job of handling this subject. He quotes his speech to a conductor's symposium. It is quite good and is, of course, ignored.

I suggest you read it, you will like it and it comes from a guy who was always doing things off the beaten path.

Answer 4

Well, I'd say when the band Joy Console puts out their first LP and 5 song EP, simultaneously, you'd be pleasantly surprised and intrigued...if you like mostly-instrumental music. I know they sing a lot on their new material, but none of the new songs are recorded.

Here are some videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB-am0ynxIA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBD2J1f2zO8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJbfvnFCd34


PS. I HATE Clearchannel stations. You're not alone there. I don't think anyone of my friends listens to the radio. That's why car stereos are made with CD Players and iPod ready.

Answer 5

For a piece of music to be timeless some element or elements of it must speak to the heart, soul and psyche of listeners from generation to generation. Whether it is the melody, the harmony, the orchestration, the words or a combination of these or other parameters of the music, the piece must appeal to the feelings and/or intellect of audiences in successive generations. Musician, composer, teacher.

Answer 6

1) yes, take him for exapmle, they started the emo music gerne basically
2)depends on what type of music you like, ACDC is still popular
3)HIM, the classic crime, breaking benjamin, swichfoot just to name a few
4) branch out
5)yes
6)yes