[East Coast Flame]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I would say Jack White comes close to this generation's "Stevie Wonder" type. Guy has like 10 bands and plays every instrument imaginable.

As far as album sales and what not, no one will ever reach levels of past artists, just because of the way the industry has changed.

But I would also agree that if you're looking for people at the same TALENT level, you will mostly have to go outside the mainstream. Just as an example, saw Hey Rosetta at Folkfest last night and it was amazing. Really incredible how a group of classically trained musican's can bring rock together.

The problem is ever since MTV, every generation has had one or many Justin Beiber types, who are talented but manufactored artists pimped purely to look good onscreen. Madonna, boybands, etc.. all held this title. And so while there are people who are just as talented as Wonder was floating around, they are less likely to be huge successes because the majority of people care less about the talent of an artist and more about how dancable the music is and how hot the singer is.

I do believe this is changing though. People of my generation had to grow up with boybands, crappy dance pop, and terrible gangsta rap, so we all turned to old rock like Zeppelin, Clapton, Stones, etc... for some music with actual soul and I think that is what has bred the rise and popularity of Jack White, Black Keys, and other raw rock groups. Its a good trend right now.

Hey Rosetta were phenomenal last night. Them and Trampled by Turtles.