Classic Rock or Classic Rubbish?

Lately I've been re-evaluating something that was once so fundamental to me: Classic Rock.  Since I've started really listening to the songs played on the ubiquitous classic rock radio stations, I've discovered something quite shocking: I actually don't like nearly as much of it as I always assumed I did.  And they were definitely assumptions.  I recently realized that my affinity for classic rock stems less from actual enjoyment and more from a deep familiarity with the songs and musicians played in endless rotation. 

Per my personal musical exploration: I'm now ready to admit that I don't like Journey--I'm an 80's child and Journey is just cheesy, make-out music that teenagers in movies had on the radio in the background while they made out and waited for the killer/parents to arrive and interrupt them. Also, in my humble opinion (which I've harbored all my life), neither Rod Stewart nor Lita Ford have any talent to speak of.  Of course, that does not apply to Lita Ford's tenure in The Runaways--I'll forgive anyone who was in that band any later silliness or mediocrity--and Lita was definitely silly in the 80s (anyone remember her humping her guitar while dressed like Jane Fonda's workout videos?). 

 The Eagles, The Doobies, The Allmans: I almost hesitate to say that none of them have anything remarkable or interesting about their music--it's purely background stuff (and yes, I admit that it was different for those bands in the 70s, but this ain't the 70s no more). Aanndd..here I feel like I'm uttering a mild sacrilege..I don't think I like Rush or Skynyrd..but that's just an initial verdict, I'll reserve final judgment.

I also don't like 38 Special, Aerosmith, and a growing number of other rock groups that form the indispensable stable on classic rock stations around the country.  Now, there are in fact quite a few classic rock staples that I happen to truly love: The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, The Stones, and many others..including Chicago.  *I would like to register a complaint that classic rock stations don't play NEARLY enough David Bowie.  Just something to take under advisement.*

You're probably wondering what started all of this (admittedly pointless) retrospection.  I haven't listened to non-Pandora radio in years..because I have a short attention span, I can't stand commercial breaks while I'm on the interstate and I Absolutely HATE morning radio babbling-shows (they're NEVER actually entertaining).  So, when I recently turned my car radio on (it was, of course, pre-set to the classic rock station), it was like I was hearing the stuff from a distance.  The time spent not listening to it allowed me to hear it with more objective ears..and I realized that I actually didn't like what I was hearing. So much of it seems cheesy, mediocre, or even just annoying. Don't get me wrong, in my opinion there's far more good stuff on a classic rock station than on a pop station..but that doesn't mean that all of it is worth listening to.

I'll continue to revise my list of good vs. familiar classic rock..and in the interest of gender equality, I'll end this blog post with a slightly updated, chick music reconsideration: I admit that I prefer Veruca Salt and Bikini Kill to Ani DiFranco and PJ Harvey. I only like a small fraction of Tori Amos's work. And..*gulp*..I have never liked The Indigo Girls....  And now every female friend I've ever had gasped, clutched her throat, and fell over. I may have forfeited my Girl Club membership card with that last one.