In eras past, mainstream culture was blandly, blindly complacent, so underground music was angry and dissatisfied. But now, mainstream culture isnโt complacent, itโs stupid and angry; underground culture reacts by becoming smarter, more serene. Thatโs not wimpyโitโs powerful and productive.
Michael AzerradThere's a whole apparatus for indie bands now, but back in the eighties it was just getting built. The early people really took it on the chin.
Michael AzerradI really believe in the power of music - and I mean literally the power of musical tones - to rearrange the way you can think.
Michael AzerradBon Jovi's trick is to use heavy-metal chords and still sound absolutely safe. Rock & roll used to be rebellion disguised as commercialism; now so much of it is commercialism disguised as rebellion.
Michael AzerradWhen you're writing, you're only a brain and some fingers, but drumming, you're involving all four limbs, and you're hearing stuff and you're converting your ideas into physical motions, getting physical feedback from things you are touching - it's pretty cool. It's a really a nice contrast to writing.
Michael AzerradThe online musical universe has become Balkanized, with many sites focusing on minute niches. That works well for reaching very specific demographics, which is wonderful for advertising, but it flies in the face of the common wisdom that people's tastes have become more diverse as music of any description has become a mouse-click away.
Michael Azerrad