Musical peak...it doesn't go by 40!

[Pete]

I think the creative period in any artists lifetime doesn't go past 40 years old. Once they've went past that milestone they're finished. They might write songs but they aren't relevant.

I've just watched the manics and it was embarrasing. They were old school regurgitating the same stuff.

What groundbreaking or even semi-decent stuff has come from someone of that vintage recently?

[marinello59]

Relevant to who or what?:greengrin

Examples from recent years include Nick Cave. in his fifties and he throws out two brilliant Grinderman albums and one classic Bad Seeds album.
Johnny Cash didn't spend his last couple of years on this earth resting on his laurels
Bob Dylan, an icon who didn't fall in to the trap of trying to stay forever young(:wink:) and has delivered some cracking stuff in recent years.
Even those nutty boys, Madness, produced arguably their best ever album last year with 'The Liberty of Norton Folgate.'

I could go on..........................

[Hibbyradge]

Relevant to who or what?:greengrin

Examples from recent years include Nick Cave. in his fifties and he throws out two brilliant Grinderman albums and one classic Bad Seeds album.
Johnny Cash didn't spend his last couple of years on this earth resting on his laurels
Bob Dylan, an icon who didn't fall in to the trap of trying to stay forever young(:wink:) and has delivered some cracking stuff in recent years.
Even those nutty boys, Madness, produced arguably their best ever album last year with 'The Liberty of Norton Folgate.'

I could go on..........................

:agree:

And Status Quo just go from strength to strength.

Oh.

[marinello59]

:agree:

And Status Quo just go from strength to strength.

Oh.
:agree:
Using 4 chords now................yes 4!!!!!!

[khib70]

Relevant to who or what?:greengrin

Examples from recent years include Nick Cave. in his fifties and he throws out two brilliant Grinderman albums and one classic Bad Seeds album.
Johnny Cash didn't spend his last couple of years on this earth resting on his laurels
Bob Dylan, an icon who didn't fall in to the trap of trying to stay forever young(:wink:) and has delivered some cracking stuff in recent years.
Even those nutty boys, Madness, produced arguably their best ever album last year with 'The Liberty of Norton Folgate.'

I could go on..........................
:agree:
And there's Richard Thompson, Brian Wilson, Robert Plant, all yon side of sixty and producing some of their best work. Experience and maturity are useful things in making good grown-up music.

And the Manics have always been mince.:tin hat:

[stu in nottingham]

I'd argue that Paul Weller is still very creative and relevant. David Bowie too. Other names to add to the list might be Iggy Pop, Tom Waits and Prince.

[Expecting Rain]

Age is irrelevant.

[(((Fergus)))]

The Manics' problem is that they are constantly measured against the Hly Bible and therefore keep trying to recreate it - even to the extent of using 15-year-old lyrics from Richey. They need to act their age/grow up and their music will improve IMO.

The Proclaimers are another one that have improved over the years IMO.

[Hibs Class]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-11356503

:devil:

[Phil D. Rolls]

I think the creative period in any artists lifetime doesn't go past 40 years old. Once they've went past that milestone they're finished. They might write songs but they aren't relevant.

I've just watched the manics and it was embarrasing. They were old school regurgitating the same stuff.

What groundbreaking or even semi-decent stuff has come from someone of that vintage recently?

Neil Young?

[fat freddy]

Neil Young?

agreed...neil young was still making brilliant music with crazy horse way beyond his 40th year

another example is joe strummer...his stuff with the mescaleros was arguably better than the stuff he was churning out towards the end of the clash....global a go-go in particular is undoubtably some of his best work and that was recorded when he was in his late 40's

the manics however seem to be on a more commercial path at the moment although i disagree that they're trying to recreate the 'holy bible'...i wish that was possible but such inspiration seldom occurs twice in a bands lifespan....i usually never miss them when they come to scotland but their gigs are getting a bit samey and octobers visit coincides with the return to edinburgh of steve ignorant doing a collection of crass songs from their vintage period...that simply cant be missed.

[SRHibs]

Frank Sinatra

[fat freddy]

Frank Sinatra

sinatra was a recording / performance artist as opposed to a creative artist so his merits as a song writer dont apply in this instance as he only really sang songs written by others...i'm not saying he wasn't good at what he done, but his talent was in performing rather creating.

[lobster]

Age is irrelevant.

As the rapid onset of age descends I totally agree. :thumbsup:
However, i'm mystified as to how anyone would think the Manic Street Preachers were any good at any age. Ideal ***** for the middle classes throughou their 'pop career'. Each to their own i suppose.
Anyway, isnt this a derivative of the sick boy 'had it then lost it' theory?

[Chuckie]

:rules: MORRISSEY !!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9z0JVTuvq8

[Pete]

I've got the replies I'd thought I would get.

Artists who still make special music when they are over 40 in some cases are undeniable.

I'm talking about their "peak" though.

I'll give you Paul Weller with his mid-nineties album. The rest made good music but can you describe that chapter of their musical career as "special" in any way?

A lot of the bands listed made great music at their peak but are now irrelevant in todays terms. What do they say to todays youth?

I'm listening to Robert Plant and I'm liking it.

...but it's just for dads and won't create any sort of movement like the bands of today who write inferior songs but who capture the mood of the nation.

[Baw Baggio]

Did you see later on Friday night?

These oldies stole the show and pissed all over the likes of Brandon Flowers and Scissor Sisters. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anoaCAtN35c)

[easty]

Did you see later on Friday night?

These oldies stole the show and pissed all over the likes of Brandon Flowers and Scissor Sisters. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anoaCAtN35c)

That doesn't say much, even Ant n Dec piss all over the Scissor Sisters, they're proper terrible!

[Baw Baggio]

That doesn't say much, even Ant n Dec piss all over the Scissor Sisters, they're proper terrible!

I agree they're pish. Just comparing Grinderman to the younger artists that were on the show.

[Frazerbob]

Depeche Mode have just finished there most succesful World tour to date which supported their critically aclaimed Sounds of the Universe album. They filled huge stadiums all over the World, playing to nearly 2.5 million people. One of the UK's most succesful bands of all time. They are in their mid forties!

Whilst their defining album, Violator, was released over 20 years ago, they have evolved over the years and are still producing superb, original music.

[PeeJay]

I think the creative period in any artists lifetime doesn't go past 40 years old. Once they've went past that milestone they're finished. They might write songs but they aren't relevant.

I've just watched the manics and it was embarrasing. They were old school regurgitating the same stuff.

What groundbreaking or even semi-decent stuff has come from someone of that vintage recently?

Maybe the "vintage" you refer to was a bad year after all?

As to peaking before you're 40 - what about:

Paul Simon's "Graceland"
Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising"
Neil Young's "Living with War"
Bob Dylan - too numerous to mention
Some "special" stuff in there IMO.

Not sure that the artistic merit of music should be defined solely by how it appeals to the youth or what was created before the age of 40.

If you want relevance: 1,2 and 3 above were certainly relevant to the nation at the time they were released, which is not to say they didn't polarise opinions, of course. But musically I would suggest that these guys alone amply demonstrated that music worthy of popular and critical praise is still possible beyond your "boundary" of 40.:agree:

[heretoday]

I bought Bob Dylan's Modern Times a while ago and while the songs are okay his voice sounds very odd.

It is as though he is doing a bad impersonation of an old Chinese man. I shouldn't imagine it's got any better in the years since.

[PeeJay]

I bought Bob Dylan's Modern Times a while ago and while the songs are okay his voice sounds very odd.

It is as though he is doing a bad impersonation of an old Chinese man. I shouldn't imagine it's got any better in the years since.

I must admit I loved his voice on MT, but then I think Tom Waits has got a great voice too, so ...

[fat freddy]

...but it's just for dads and won't create any sort of movement like the bands of today who write inferior songs but who capture the mood of the nation.


who would you say are capturing the 'mood' at this point in history?

[stu in nottingham]

who would you say are capturing the 'mood' at this point in history?

From a lot of people I meet, Leonard Cohen. :wink:

[Expecting Rain]

I bought Bob Dylan's Modern Times a while ago and while the songs are okay his voice sounds very odd.

It is as though he is doing a bad impersonation of an old Chinese man. I shouldn't imagine it's got any better in the years since.

Start listening to a lot of the all the old blues guys, most of them have got distinctive vocal styles and unique phrasing techniques, then you might begin to appreciate the vocal that Dylan has cultivated over about 5 decades ( you might not:greengrin), if not listen to the poetry.