For a couple of days now I've holed myself up in my room listening to records and reading whatever I can get my hands on (comic books, detective novels, essays on the decline of television). This has allowed me lots of time to think, question, and reflect upon my interests; Specifically listening to music, actually listening to it and not just having it on in the background while doing something else. All this music as me wondering what is essential to rock n' roll.
This is very difficult question to answer. I know many people have stated their opinion and while I'm unsure of the true answer I have started to question the supremacy of the guitar as the ultimate rock n' roll instrument. I think that more important to rock n' roll is the drum kit. I don't really have a good reason for this idea except that it feels right (maybe I've just watched too much Colbert Report). Big, booming drums rock more so than anything else. There's an energy. Now, I realize that no instrument is "rock n' roll" but I would totally make a case for the drums. If a musical duo doesn't have any drums it's difficult to rock (unless you're Tenacious D but there's always an exception). Think about it.
A) Piano & drums - that can rock. [Ben Folds Five, Jerry Lee Lewis.]
B) Guitar & drums - that rocks. [White Stripes, The Ravenettes, etc.]
C) Bass & drums* - that rocks too.
D) I've never heard it but a banjo and drums would rock hard too.
Makes you realize what rock n' roll is all about - movement.
*It seems that Canadians particularly love this combination. I can think of at least three Canadian bands (The Inbreds, Death From Above 1979 and Duotang). I don't know why this is the case. Might have something to do with our hands not moving as fast in the cold or something.
The Inbreds - Any Sense of Time
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