Welcome to RothrocksMusicalBox.com.

The underlying purpose of this website: In my humble opinion, inspired original music, that is, music with great melody and meaningful lyrics that actually say something, has become a rare and seemingly terminally ill form of art. Once upon a time, you could actually whistle or hum along with a tune and any lyrics typically had some type of a message or a story to tell. Somehow, over time, thoughtful lyrics seem to have degenerated or devolved into repetitious, beat-driven, X-rated nursery rhymes. It is a stretch, at least for me, to believe that the majority of the “new” music being churned out today will be able to withstand the test of time. Music seems to be stuck in a cycle where the same formula is merely rearranged, repackaged and spit out again; “regurgitation” as opposed to “inspiration”. There seems to be no dimension, no depth of thought, no message, no melody, and no real substance. Compare, for example, today’s music with original music being written and performed in the 1960’s and 1970’s; quite possibly the most fertile and magical musical era in history. It would be reasonable to assume that the “pixie dust” has settled or at least has been blown far away. That era produced music that was inspired; completely original, lyrical, structured, complex and soulful. It had depth and originality and moreover, it has withstood the test of time. Sadly, it would seem that those redeeming musical qualities have today become very rare commodities. You may find an occasional Indie Group or Independent Artist with something unique to offer, but they are few and far between. Could it be possible that there no longer is a market for this type of music? Maybe those who hungered for music that fed their heads, hearts and souls are no longer with us, or…quite possibly it could be that people are just too busy trying to manage the complexities and challenges of life to have time to slip on a pair of headphones and relax for a few minutes? Nah! Pas possible! The product was just too amazing! There remain hearts among us, beating to the rhythm of everything from The Beatles, The Temptations, and The Beach Boys to Genesis, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. Furthermore, these people must be on life-support for the lack of something new that they can actually sink their teeth into and wrap their minds around; music that they can not only hear, but actually “listen to” and become a part of, if you will. There is also the theory that life itself has become so fast-paced and complicated that consumers no longer want to take the time to dig any further than what is there on the surface right in front of them. I believe there is some truth in that a generation of listeners has just never had an adequate taste of music with any depth and therefore, may not fully understand the possibilities? Maybe we have all just gotten mentally lazy or beaten down. We no longer want to concentrate or search beyond the obvious for any subtleties. When we no longer have the patience to seek what is beyond that next turn on the path, we simply miss amazing journeys and destinations with much greater rewards. If we are not willing to crawl through a remote corner of some old warehouse, that priceless heirloom or buried treasure remains undiscovered. We want to be spoon-fed our music, regardless of the after-taste! We want something simple and uncomplicated, and we want it NOW! We no longer want to cook a gourmet meal. We want fast food….tic tic tic…ding! It’s ready! With remotes in hand, we watch other people living their lives from our sofas rather than experiencing life for ourselves. We live our lives in the “third” person. We watch sports or play video games instead of participating in the actual games where we becoming fully invested. We have become observers instead of participators. Music, to me, is at its very best when it totally encompasses you, the listener, both mentally and physically. Music that involves you completely, has the power to lift you up and carry you away…even if only for a few minutes. Good music, at the very least, should stir something inside of you. You should not feel neutral or unchanged. You should feel vitalized, energized, uplifted, moved, joyful, sad, motivated, relaxed, improved….something! It should be an experience not merely time spent.

I am not a performer or someone seeking the “limelight”…far from it! I am not a virtuoso musician but I completely enjoy the process of and the end-result of expressing myself musically. I absolutely do not have a decoder ring for life but I do have an abundance of thoughts, ideas, feelings, and a loving heart. I am not going to change the world but I am going to participate in it. I am simply a lover of music with something that I would like to share. Due to the fact that I, alone, have created these pieces one sound at a time, there are limitations as to what time has allowed me to assemble but if you enter this space with a smile and a kind heart, I believe you will leave it with a happy heart and hopefully a slightly brighter smile. My only goal is to create music that is unique, original, enjoyable, AND I wish to nudge you in a positive direction.

So, please, come nourish your mind and feed your soul. Thank you so much for letting me to borrow your ears, heart, and mind for as long as you will allow. I promise to return them undamaged (of course, I suppose that might depend on the condition of each particular “mind” upon arrival). At any rate, I do hope you will want to return again the next time you get an urge to wander off the beaten path. Walk in sunshine always. Thanks again!

Humbly yours…

Jeff@RothrocksMusicalBox.com