I used to be a big doom-and-gloom-er about modern music. I'm not as bad anymore, because I've found plenty of examples of modern music that are worth their weight in licensing paperwork. Industry joke for ya there.
However, certain faces of modern music have this one problem I just can't stand. Much of it tends to be the indie music scene that is proliferating in many genres. It's the issue of playing simple stuff and calling it "moderation", as if playing simple things makes one artist more tasteful and self-denying of indulgence than another.
Drummers happen to be another small ecosystem where this runs rampant. For example, I'll talk to a drummer about how they play. And they get off on this kick about how they like to play simply and not make waves, to play kind of understated and with subtleties you have to listen hard to hear...I have to choke back vomit. Their whole tone will imply that they are superior because you have to TRY HARDER to appreciate their playing. You have to FOCUS HARDER to hear their idiosyncracies. Well, the first glaring argument I have is this: You have the loudest freaking thing money can buy you, and you want to make LESS noise?
Then there's this aforementioned issue of moderation. Moderation is a good thing. You drink in moderation, you don't die. You discuss politics in moderation, you keep a low blood pressure. You tell poop jokes in moderation, your girlfriend's mom doesn't want her to dump you.
I feel that moderation in many things is good...but let me ask you this: When was the last time you expressed yourself in moderation? So it's not an issue of moderation. It's an issue of playing what people want to hear.
I'll be bold enough to say these drummers who are way too good to be playing the way too bad parts they play are only doing so because it's what people want to her. If they want to put THEIR instruments and vocals in a drawer by barely using them, they can go ahead. But I'm going to be whaling on the drums behind them while they stand around and shift weight from one foot to the other awkwardly like they've got a poopy diaper. Don't tell any future girlfriend's moms I told that joke.
So here's my thing: indie hipsters, put on some pants that fit. There's enough bassists barely playing their instrument, so leave drummers alone. If you want a simple sound, that's fine. We can play simple without it being some damned fashion statement. I don't think I should always be hitting the crap out of things, just that if I'm not, it isn't some sort of superiority in my mind. It's less activity and that's it. It's not witty, it's not a social commentary on the understated energy of our generation, it's nothing less than "Didn't hit as hard that take".
