I'm sure you're gonna nail this in Part 3, but if there's a legacy of this music, it's in American Evangelical worship songs. The long shadow of U2 basically swamped hipster churches that arose in the late 90s through 00s. Except it was all style and little substance. That style of worship song is built on the most obvious cliches -- but it thinks it's profound in the way that U2 could manage in their best moments.
There were secular descendants of course -- the Walkmen come to mind, and Kings of Leon -- but I don't think there's ever been a full reevaluation or comeback of that approach in pop. Maybe soon?
I do think that The Big Music has had more of a pervasive impact than one would think, but it isn't always obvious. At least that's the argument that I'm trying to make with all of this.
I'm sure you're gonna nail this in Part 3, but if there's a legacy of this music, it's in American Evangelical worship songs. The long shadow of U2 basically swamped hipster churches that arose in the late 90s through 00s. Except it was all style and little substance. That style of worship song is built on the most obvious cliches -- but it thinks it's profound in the way that U2 could manage in their best moments.
There were secular descendants of course -- the Walkmen come to mind, and Kings of Leon -- but I don't think there's ever been a full reevaluation or comeback of that approach in pop. Maybe soon?
It's funny that you mention worship music...
I do think that The Big Music has had more of a pervasive impact than one would think, but it isn't always obvious. At least that's the argument that I'm trying to make with all of this.