Rock and Roll Evolution

There was a distinct evolution between the rock and roll of the 80’s through the modern, alternative rock of the 90’s, which has come of age in the early 21st century. No doubt because my mind works in a vastly different way, I am probably stating the absurdly obvious, but I think it is interesting to note some of the differences that I’ve noticed.

In the rock and roll in which I grew up to love and then, unfortunately, to grow out of, there is a distinct point within a song’s progression when the lead guitar becomes the blaring center, perhaps once, or like, for example, Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb, twice. Even with Metallica today we can here the remnants of the at one time, universal rock and roll, lead riffs set down by the maestro guitarist (axe wielder).

I’ve noticed that with “alternative” rock, which seems to now have become mainstream and no longer an alternative but rather the de-facto rock and roll standard, the guitar lead riffs have been pushed back and enveloped by the melody and harmony. You can still hear the lead riff, but it has now joined the ranks of the once inferior rhythm section, or might we say that the rhythm section has been moved up to a place of honor with the lead guitarist? In any case, I see it as not only a change in style, but a social change. The very grain of the “kids” who form new bands today seem to drive this lack of inter-band ego. [the mind wanders and goes off into infinity…this tangent is now lost… I hope it didn’t mean anything too important…someday, perhaps, I shall return.]