Guitar Grandstanding

Just attended a high school talent show this afternoon; my local host family's eldest daughter was playing a crunchy indie-rock rhythm guitar for two of the eight groups on the program. So naturally I am reflecting on what makes rock music, well, rocking. After all, the genre survived some bashing from one or two horrible singers and a drummer who dragged the beat so bad I had to resist the urge to go up & swap him out.

If it's true that a chain is defined by its weakest link (not always, though) then this entertaining block of time should help evaluate what makes the form strong. It certainly isn't lyrics, for when they weren't mumbled beneath the beat they were absolutely incomprehensible--ever heard "Smoke on the Water" from Japanese vocal chords? What kept my ears tuned in were the driving riffs [short melodies played in unison between guitar & bass to the rhythm of pounding drums]. Yes, it's a very old observation, but isn't 'original music criticism' an oxymoron? Writing about any art form can only strive to point others to the much better creativity within the work itself.

Now don't get me wrong; I'm not saying that Deep Purple forever define rock as a genre and that poetic lyrics are dead. My comments should only be taken to mean that when you overcook songs through continual download exposure and then strain them through a language barrier and a so-so school PA system a certain karate-chop strength remains. Let's see Josh Groban try copping that vibe one of these days...no, wait. The result would probably make me long for today's wince-worthy "Teen Spirit" cover.