What makes a new rock song sound MODERN ?

[hoknes]

I thought this could be of interest to note on things we could all pay attention to in terms of keeping stuff sound fresh and new. I, like many others have been branded as having rock songs sound like the 1980s. I'm trying to get away from this - but the question is how? I thought we should get a running list of things that work in a new song as opposed to older rock - what are the stereotypes we must stay away from? What can we do to fix this?Some comments already I would add that date a song1 - Hard rock guitar sound that never changes throughout 2 - synths dominant in song3 - guitar solos

[aimusic]

4. Lead singers with big puffy curled hair and make up5. singers that mainly screech (falsetto/pharangial range)6. Not guitar solos but guitar solos throughout the piece, wherever one can be squeezed in.Well today's modern rock songs are more about sounds rather than wailing guitars and screeching singers, there's a lot more dynamics in them. Like acoustic during verse/pre-chorus and then break up the distortion for chorus, then bring it back down etc... Best bands I can think of are Fuel/Nickelback/Foo Fighters

[billg]

7. Snare drums with TONS of un-natural reverb8. Obvious synth-bass

[mcanty]

vocals should be more depressing and dry, stay away from party-drug-sex themes, focus on how horrible your childhood was or how much pain you are in, lyrics should make no sense whatsoever but should sound smart enough that nobody will question your meaning.

[vicky]

stay away from power chords if you only have one guitar.....make up a chord........vtbp....

[devin]

Great topic for a post!!! I've only casually examined this issue...but now that you've labelled it, I think I'll pay more attention to it. Thanks hoknes!I think my love of the "signature riffs" of the good rock songs of yesterday (Scorpions "Rock you like a Hurricane", Ozzy's "Crazy Train") get me into trouble alot.I've been recently Taxi critiqued for having a "dated" tune due to a memorable guitar riff that centers the song.I've been sneaking out to visit some live groups, and watching for the difference. One group I saw recently had a guitar player that never really played a "showpiece solo"...but was always playing alot, and all over the neck. Here's a link to thier stuff...somehow they're powerful with just three on stage. The drummer played and sang lead vocals...and the guitar player had to have 20+ pedals on stage. Even playing two note chords sounded massive (he had an Orange tolex covered amp...which one was that?). http://www.myspace.com/theatomicravens