The Chicago music scene and what is on the rise and what is on the decline and what it means to write about something critically.

Archie Powell & the Exports, just a rock band in Chicago

There has been much discussion recently about Chicago's music scene and what bands are worthy of being called "the best"* and whether rock and/or roll is dormant while hip-hop is ascendant and all that goo-rah. Last night GalPal and I were discussing it and she posited you can't tell what bands will break big until years later, to which I replied that you arguably could to some extent—we all knew The Smashing Pumpkins were AN IMPORTANT BAND even before Gish came out—but her point was made that history is the arbiter that defines the victors in that arena.

So our conversation then centered on the fallacy that Chicago rap is in a golden age popularity-wise while Chicago rock has fallen into a slumber and fallowed. My Chicagoist colleague Jon already put together a nice playlist of Chicago rock that's on the rise and I think it proves quite nicely that the scene is alive and well and thriving. Is it blowing up the blogosphere? Perhaps not, but in the case of 99.9% of younger bands I would say this is a good thing that leads to deeper development and maturity of music instead of burning out an unproven group under the magnesium flare that is the aughts version of fame.

Chance the Rapper

I won't argue that the hip-hop scene is turning out some great music, but I'm not seeing the maturity develop there. Chief Keef flared and failed (not that I was ever sold on his talents in the first place, but many others were), when was the last time you heard anything from Freddie Gibbs and even Chance the Rapper—an astounding new talent**—is already showing signs he's read too much of his own hype (and that usually leads to a creative spiral). And whatever happened to Kid Sister?

Even the local DJ scene is showing signs of strain as promoters have over saturated the market and the club scene has slowed down considerably in relation to just five years ago.

So not only do I disagree with Ernest Wilkins' claim that "there isn’t currently a new crop of rock bands coming out of Chicago," I would argue that the Chicago rock scene is unusually healthy and growing ever stronger in an organic fashion. I also think it's incredibly varied with strong offerings from just about every corner—metal, pop, country, indie, blah de blah de blah—many of whom play on bills beside each other, in my mind a further testament to the health and vitality of the scene.

In the end I think that the lists and observations that have come under fire have done so for the simple reason that the writers of those pieces weren't occupying a critical and balanced perspective; they were only writing from their own experience. And while that's well and fine I think it also displays quite neatly the difference between a=n actual critic and a web personality with a pulpit.

* I won't even directly comment on Angela Hazen's list since I think her biography does a good job of saying all that needs to be said on that subject.

Angela Hazen lives in Oak Park, IL. She has worked as a model in Chicago and studied broadcast journalism at Columbia College Chicago. She has traveled to Europe on several occasions, and keeps her readers up to date with local and international style, shopping, fashion and beauty trends. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

** Download Acid Rap NOW.