Some irrefutable truths about rock and roll


1) Robert Johnson invented rock and roll, and is the rightful King of it. Elvis Presley's title should be amended to "Poster Boy of Early Rock and Roll."

2) Jeff Buckley's version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is infinitely better than the Rufus Wainwright version and is the definitive version of the song.

3) The Rolling Stones were and are the most overrated band in the history of rock and roll.

4) If it's too loud you are, indeed, too old.

5) The Stone Roses' self-titled debut is the best debut album ever in the history of ever.

6) John Mayer needs to stop that right now.

7) A good song is a good song, whether it's played on an Audiovox tape deck and a single factory speaker in a 1976 Buick Skylark or a complete Linn Klimax system.

8) A couple of Les Pauls, a Fender Precision bass, and a decent set of drums sound every bit as good as the most disciplined orchestra.

9) There is absolutely nothing wrong with having the occasional urge to crank "Hungry Like the Wolf" from time to time, so long as it doesn't become a habit.

Did I forget anything?

*yes, I realize everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, and this is meant to be tongue-in-cheek.
theraiguy
One side note: there is such a thing as noble rock music. I'll cite The Moody Blues example from above again as an example. A lot of Yes as well. Progressive rock is probably the category of rock that one is most likely to find noble works. Symphonic rock, the subarea of prog rock that demonstrates the greatest influence from classical music, perhaps the most along the lines of pure classical music.
The album "Fear Of a Blamk Planet" is an interesting case study for the potential merits of rock music. This is a very dark though not vulgar theme album with the noble goal of bringing out some of the issues that face youths these days. The music is fabulous, the theme and lyrical content haunting. I view the artist's intent with this work as one of the most noble I can think of in recent rock music.
Actually Schubert, my moniker is Shubertmaniac [ unfortunately when I signed in I misspelled; should have had the "c" and you forgot the "c" at the end, which makes a world of difference] Actually, I wish I was 18 years old again. I did get my car....1968 Dodge Charger R/T [ rip roaring good time with it, and the back seat was put to good use as well!] But when I could no longer feel my youthful suburban middle class pain of alienation, I lost interest in rock music. Not totally, but the passion was gone. I trudged off to college and found classical music. Now I never look back to rock music as an aesthetic experience, but a trip down memory lane as fun and loads of good times. It is nothing more.....but then again nothing less.......and rock as good and/or evil???? As Mick put so succinctly....."it's only rock and roll". Ah yes...one more thought....how many of you danced to rock? And how many times did a cover band play "brown sugar" a night in 1971 at the Stone Balloon in Newark, DE or Tony Mart's in Somers Point, NJ; at least once a set....had to get the people moving.....what's the point.....by 1975-76, if your band was not playing funk or party music...you were not going to get a gig.