had some significance, it had some very competent musicians and began to make
contributions to the rock technique, rock became more complicated as a result,
the commercial value of rock was made broader, many electronic devices became
commonplace in both jazz and rock, and jazz influences began to further
legitimize rock as a serious form of communication. Funk is a way of defining
the music as having various sexual and social meanings. Funk evolved from soul
and became a way of life within the black community. Funk can be aggressive and
its musical structure combines both softness and harshness. Disco was important
because it provided a central focus for the return of dancing. It is simply
good-time music that is optimistic and without social comment.
Chapter sixteen talks about the emergence of heavy metal. Heavy Metal
is commonly described as being loud music. The elements of heavy metal consist
of heavy use of electronic devices, high volume, a thick cluttered sound where
all musical elements combine to establish the sense of power, and a sound mix
where the vocals are buried within the texture. Classical metal was a period in
which there was a definitive split between British and American styles occurred
and it was at this time that heavy metal became a separate style of rock and
roll. Mainstream metal is a style that is fully developed, evolves into equal
strength in all instruments and vocal aspects of the band unit, and settles into
a very acceptable level of musical competence. Heavy metal became more
mainstream in the 1980’s. The terms Thrash/Speed/Death came later on in the
heavy metal period. Thrash was heavy metal instrumental style with neo-punk
lyrics. Speed metal is the evolution of mainstream American heavy metal,
incorporating long melodic phrases and fast tempos. Death metal is a particular
style which is defined by its lyrics with words like death, hell, blood, etc.
Chapter seventeen moves onto punk, new wave, and alternative music.
Punk is a term applied to a child or teenager who acts in a antisocial way.
Punk was a form of rebellion, it turned against all other musical forms of the
1970’s. It is considered the third rock evolution following the formation of
rock and roll and the Beatles. The music was as much cultural as it was musical.
It was anarchic, against society, and against everything in the established
order. New wave refers to new music, sometimes meaning contemporary music. New
wave was generally the philosophy of life that manifested itself in certain
kinds of music. Alternative music is music that represents another option to
what is already commercially viable or has been classified. Alternative groups
have a short term following because they either become more mainstream or get
other jobs. It has little lasting impact on rock and roll, but occasionally
will have real impact.
Chapter eighteen is the final chapter and discusses Techno-funk/pop, Rap,
MTV, Dance music, and the future. Techno-funk was the standard way of defining
what was happening. The technology of the time created the means to market rock
which was through videotapes. Techno-funk/pop was more dominant in 1985 than
any other time. Rap is a form of music that features a strong rhythm section,
with the slap bass so important to funk, soul, and reggae. The rapper tells his
message in a punctuated style. Other aspects of rap that are important are the
scratching style, dance steps, mouth beat box, and breaking. Pop rock was
generally called dance music. In terms of attitude it represents a growing
commercial period in rock. MTV had an impact on the relative success of the
various kinds of music as well as the buying habits of younger viewers. Charle T.
Brown concludes the book by stating the basic premises he established throughout
the book which are the following: 1.Rock is a legitimate are form, with its own
technique and its own complexity. 2.Like any art form, it has its highs and lows.
3.We can trace cycles in rock, which seem to correlate with social views. 4.Rock
has had a major influence on society and other art forms. 5.Although it began as
a way for youth to rebel against their parents, rock in now a universal art form
and a means of communication, spanning the gamut of generations all over the
world.