Is there a correlation between evolutionary theory and rock ’n’ roll? Charles Darwin, if alive today, would undoubtedly suspect as much (provided he viewed rock as an objective art form rather than shallow commercial entertainment). My Darwinian hypothesis, then, is as follows: Women are becoming more creative and intelligent, and men are becoming less creative and intelligent. To back up my hypothesis, here are my Top 10 Albums of the 2010s (in no particular order):
Pharmakon | Abandon
Laurel Halo | Quarantine
Lingua Ignota | All Bitches Die
Julianna Barwick | The Magic Place
Salem | King Night
Joanna Newsom | Have One On Me
Daughters | You Won’t Get What You Want
Weyes Blood | The Outside Room
Julia Holter | Aviary
Janelle Monae | The ArchAndroid
In other words, 80% of the greatest albums of the past decade (in my opinion) were composed by women. 83.3%, perhaps, considering Salem were, at the time, one third female. The evidence is inescapable: Women are evolving, men are devolving. And it’s happening rapidly.
There are a few things to note here. First, let me be clear: The vast majority of musicians (male and female alike) are mediocre at best. 99.9% of music is not worth listening to. I am absolutely not trying to be a “poptimist” or claim that the Beyonces and Taylor Swifts of the world have any artistic significance. They don’t.
Second, overrated male performers (The Beatles, Steely Dan, etc.) have existed for as long as rock itself has existed and talented female musicians (Grace Slick, Joni Mitchell, etc.) have also existed for as long as rock itself has existed. This is not entirely a new phenomenon. It seems, however, that rebellious young men are no longer capable of forming bands that can compete with the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Doors, etc.
Which segues into another tangent. Most of the great rock music of the past was made by groups. Most of the great rock music of the present is made by solo artists. The shift is not solely gender related. It’s a shift from (male) rock bands to (female) solo artists.
One wonders why seemingly no one has noticed. The answer is simple: The truly revolutionary female artists of our time are relatively unknown. Most people haven’t heard the albums listed above (with the possible exceptions of Have One On Me and The ArchAndroid) and hence can’t form their own conclusions.
Evolution, alas, takes place over millions of years. Several decades cannot explain an evolutionary shift on this scale. How, then, can we decipher what’s going on? I appeal to academics, neuroscientists, and Darwinian theorists for an answer.
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Brett Abrahamsen is a lifelong connoisseur of the experimental and obscure. He is also a science fiction writer (and an amateur philosopher of sorts). He resides in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
