Placing the Blame for the Condition of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Hilburn values commercial popularity as the measure of success to the point of grieving that alternative rock bands “don’t even try to reach for hits.” These bands are simply smart enough to avoid the big-label pop machine that has already chewed up and spit out hundreds of bands in the name of easy tax write-offs. When the labels don’t even support their own new acquisitions, how can audiences be expected to?

NATALIE NICHOLS

North Hollywood