Better with age
Middle age musicians explore new sounds even in latter parts of career
By Dave Arey
Posted: 4/8/08, 12:13 AM EST Section: Decibel
In the music business, artists never aged gracefully - until now.
Elvis began his career as a controversial, pioneering youth artist, and ended it looking a bit like a sellout - shaking hands with President Richard Nixon and pledging to help him fix the nation's drug problem. Bob Dylan became a gospel artist. Even The Rolling Stones, for all its multi-million dollar concerts, have trouble selling records to new audiences.
However, the musician generation that came up in the late 70s and early 80s was filled with artists who are now turning 50, including Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, whose newest album hit stands today. The group has followed the example of mature musicians who valued substance over style and have created a template for modern musicians who desire long careers; be yourself.
Nick Cave
Age: 50
Why is he still relevant?: Originally the frontman for late-70s post-punk band The Birthday Party, the Aussie and former heroin addict has aged into an artist who foregoes greatest hits collections, instead sticking with what he's always been good at - sex, death and religion. Take, for instance, "Dig Lazarus Dig!!!," which references the biblical story of Jesus resurrected. In some ways, Cave's storytelling style was ahead of its time.
Most recent album: "Dig, Lazarus Dig!!!" released today.
Bruce Springsteen
Age: 58
Why is he still relevant?: Springsteen's music has changed as much as his band has, but everything has always felt distinctly like The Boss. In the 80s, he redesigned his band into a hit-making machine responsible for earnest songs like "Born in the U.S.A." and "Dancing in the Dark." However, it didn't matter because Springsteen never sold himself as being anything other than transparent and earnest, and as a result he's been able to do whatever he wants to this day.
Most recent album: "Magic," released Sept. 25, 2007. Named the second-best album of 2007 by Rolling Stone magazine.
Elvis began his career as a controversial, pioneering youth artist, and ended it looking a bit like a sellout - shaking hands with President Richard Nixon and pledging to help him fix the nation's drug problem. Bob Dylan became a gospel artist. Even The Rolling Stones, for all its multi-million dollar concerts, have trouble selling records to new audiences.
However, the musician generation that came up in the late 70s and early 80s was filled with artists who are now turning 50, including Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, whose newest album hit stands today. The group has followed the example of mature musicians who valued substance over style and have created a template for modern musicians who desire long careers; be yourself.
Nick Cave
Age: 50
Bruce Springsteen
Age: 58
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
reader
posted 4/08/08 @ 8:03 PM EST
the boss is the love of my life<3!
Post a Comment