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We are the last rock hope. Shouldn't that be enough?

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Intelligent/Articulate Rock - A New Paradigm?

     I feel that rock has taken a huge step backwards in 21st century culture. Some of that I attribute to what I call "flunkee rock" pretty much usurping the whole brand of rock. Now I know a lot of you are of the opinion that all discussion of music is supposed to be positive but this thread isn't for you. Let me also add here that I know most of you will completely scoff at this whole thing and pick it apart thinking there he goes again trying to be the know-it-all musicologist but actually I'm airing this idea as a bit of a demo cause I want your imput so perhaps I can come up with a better draft of it in the future.

     When people think of rock these days, based on at least the pretty large sample size of X/Twitter, they think far more of the Iron Maidens and Judas Priests than they do of Elvis Costellos and Neil Youngs. Rock seems to mostly for the millenial masses conjure up these black album covers with fantasy cover art and I personally feel much of this music is not that listenable and it almost goes without saying that bands too stupid for sophisticated lyrics are usually writing underdeveloped melodies as well. Metal music and all the even harder rocks are loud and just not very musical. I hate that this is what comes to mind as rock nowadays. I would even prefer if folks thought of Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard though they are ancient pre-rock era imo.

     So you might remember I posted my initial stand on 'flunkee rock' in this essay/blog I posted here.  You should probably read that first before you get into the nuanced weeds of this one.

Rock Culture, What Rock Culture?

     Anyway I'm now taking that a further step into specifics by rating the artists in order to decide a scale of quality rock to flunkee rock. I thought about the Stones and AC/DC because they are 2 rock bands that don't seem so far apart but at the same time the Stones are imminently cool while AC/DC are more or less dumb.

     I set the passing grade at 70 out of 100. If a band is in the 50s they are the truest of flunkees. It's one continuum. I ranked AC/DC at a 60 cause some of their hit songs (Back in Black, even Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap for instance) don't strike ya as that dumb. Then again Big Balls, Hells Bells and TNT are damn stupid. and, ya know, these guys could never ever write a song like Ruby Tuesday or Gimme Shelter or Undercover of the Night. Mick is a smart guy. They ain't that smart though so I give them an 80.

     Here's the ratings I've done so far. Tell me if you think I'm way off on any of them. No need to shellack me on this, it's a new concept.

perfect 100s - Dylan, Joni, Jim Carroll

98 - Bernie Taupin

95 - Leonard Cohen

92 - Elvis Costello, Jim Morrison, Pete Townshend

91 - Neil Young, David Crosby, Roger Waters, Lennon

90 - Paul Simon, Joe Strummer, Springsteen, Trent Reznor, Hal David

88 - John Lydon, Carole King, Jimmy Webb, Patti Smith, Holland/Dozier/Holland, Linda Creed, Billy Joel, Lou Reed,

85 - Chrissie Hynde, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, Ray Davies, Robert Plant, Ian Anderson, Jimi, Paul Williams, Marvin Gaye, Neil Diamond, Eminem, Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Michael Stipe

84 - Sonic Youth, Prince, James Taylor, Bowie, McCartney, Tupac, Radiohead, Bono, the Church, Peter Gabriel

82 - Mellencamp, Hank Williams, Stephen Stills, Fogerty, Cobain, Fleetwood Mac, Alanis Morrisette, BeeGees, Tom Petty, Sting, Soundgarden, Yes, David Byrne

80 - Stones, Stevie Wonder, George Harrison, Moody Blues, Green Day

78 - Clapton, Taylor Swift, Chicago, Eddie Vedder

76 - Eagles, Lynryd Skynryd, Freddie Mercury, Styx

74 - Adele, Chili Peppers

72 - UFO, Lionel Richie

70 - Madonna, Dave Grohl, Bad Company, Michael Jackson, Billy Idol, the Gallaghers (Oasis)

69 - Steven Tyler, Journey

68 - Metallica, Beastie Boys, Deep Purple

65 - Mariah Carey, Grateful Dead, Tom Scholz, ZZ Top

63 - Axl Rose, Foreigner, Bon Jovi

60 - ACDC, Matchbox 20, Huey Lewis

57 - Def Leppard, Van Halen

55 - Britney Spears

53 - Bieber (based on the songs he does, I have no idea if he writes them)

52 - Kid Rock

50 - Kiss, Poison

46 - Quiet Riot

     This list is in constant revision so I may at anytime make changes in this. To add further non-credibility, I'd put Negative Tendencies at 90, Tao Jones at around 80. You can find most of the failing grades listed on that blog link from above, I made a big list of flunkee rockers. ha ha

     I know even the existence of these ratings has caused a controversy.  but someone had to attempt, might as well be me.

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