Where Has All the Good Rock Music Gone?

Music makes the world go round'. This commonly used expression is meant to emphasize music's improbable role as our daily mass; the one thing that we cannot do without. Whether it's at home, at work, in the car, or elsewhere, some of us rely on music to define our very being, and act quite literally as the soundtrack of our lives. Why then, for so many who adhere to the rock genre as their music of choice, has this world stopped turning when it comes to the search for reliable new sources? Why are so many, especially fans of an older, more rooted school of rock, relegated to a never changing assortment of proven favorites in their cd rotation versus a fresh new title? The answers as to what's wrong are undoubtably long winded and somewhat complicated. Afterall, everyone has a different taste as far as what does it for them. Sure, you could try to pinpoint your complaints about the modern rock era, but it would be a fruitless waste of time that you could be spending listening to perhaps the greatest rock act to come our way since the legitimate kings, Led Zeppelin. I'm talking about the band that Jimmy Page himself contacted for a jam session that spawned a highly successful tour and a two disc live set of that tour. Talk about earning your stripes! Still haven't pegged em'? I'm talking about the Black Crowes, and after over a decade of making some of the most solid, out and out rock music of this, or any generation, 6 studio albums, live compilations, b-sides, and many a sold out arena in front of millions of loyal fans, these veterans still come off as fresh faces, which in the realm of rock is an unusual blessing. So what's the hype? They're just getting warmed up.