Hard rock, early metal, glam rock Flashcards
What were the major similarities between the London blues scene of the 1960s and the hard rock scene that came in the 1970s?
There was a shared interest for the Chicago electric blues scene of the 50s and 60s, a riff-based compositional style with some 12-bar blues, and lyrics emphasizing sexual imagery.
What were the major differences between the London blues scene of the 1960s and the hard rock scene that came in the 1970s?
There was a different attitude towards the blues, with a less reverent attitude, looking more to refashion it and modernize it. There was also a new emphasis on darker imagery and showmanship.
Who is the main hard rock artist discussed?
Led Zeppelin
Describe the major musical features of Led Zeppelin.
Riff-based composition, different vocal textures, improvisation, call and response between instruments and voice, amplification and effects as compositional features, showmanship and bravado.
What genres has Led Zeppelin experimented with aside from hard rock?
Their third and fourth albums were more folk and acoustic.
Describe the major controversy that followed Led Zeppelin.
They were consistently at the heart of plagiarism cases, as they borrowed heavily from blues classics on their early albums. They argued that they only took small elements that the riffs were totally different.
What is cultural appropriation?
The use of elements from one culture, usually disempowered in terms of race, sexuality, or colonialism, by another dominant group. It usually ignores the historical context, nuance, or significance of the appropriated elements. This is different from cultural exchange, where artists make a genuine effort to understand the culture which is not their own.
How does cultural appropriation relate to Led Zeppelin?
They were accused of cultural appropriation because of their heavy use of classic blues without giving any credit to the original (black) artists.
What is the difference between hard rock and heavy metal?
While they were originally used interchangeably, heavy metal is harder than hard rock with an emphasis on loudness and intensity. Also, heavy metal is particularly defined by cultural meanings and imagery. Importantly, however, they share a lot of similarities and much of what separates them is due to gatekeeping.
What is the key musical feature of heavy metal? Explain.
The power chord, which is when the interval of a perfect fifth is played on an amplified and distorted electric guitar.
Name the main heavy metal artist discussed.
Black Sabbath.
What were Black Sabbath known for?
Their volume and loudness as well as their use of occult/religious imagery.
What do hard rock and heavy metal have in common sonically?
Heavy drums and bass, high-pitched vocals, virtuosic guitar, extended soloing
What was glam rock known for stylistically?
The glorification of the fake, introduction of the notion of gender play in rock music for the first time, importance of theatricality with costumes and makeup
What were the key music features of glam rock?
Riff-based but with sing-a-long choruses similar to early rock n’ roll, vocal androgyny, often sexually suggestive and/or anthemic songs
