I was looking at a newspaper web site and saw an article in their culture section. A rock band from university days had reformed. Not only had they reformed they had released an album after a hiatus of 20 years.
The Pixies were an art rock combo without compare. They produced four albums then split before fame . Their sound was borrowed by Nirvana who gained the renown and fortune that alluded them . Their exotically named lead singer Black Francis went solo and their pin up bass player Kim Deal had success with another combo called the Breeders.
The new album Indie Cindy was streamed on the web site. I listened and to my surprise it was good. It had some of the strange electric ferocity from 20 years ago together with the maturity of age. What was interesting was the comments accompanying the album stream. Many followers were disappointed that it did not sound exactly the same as 20 years ago.
In most forms of music artists usually produce their best work as they get older. The youthful work of Bach, Beethown or Miles Davis does not compare to their later work. In rock the reverse is assumed. The rebellion of youth gives way to the tedium of dad rock.
On the face of it the argument is trivial or an indictment of the musical form. An artist gains experience with age and reflects on the medium as he or she produces a body of work. That is the argument.That said I watch footage of the Rolling Stones and find it amusing that grandfathers preen themselves and sing of street fighting men. It's not funny enough to pay £100 or so to view the merriment live though.
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