The Walkmen Were Supposed to be the Next Big Thing
What Happened?
Music history, like anything else, has its shares of mysteries and surprises. The Walkmen’s career could be one of those mysteries. Not a lot of people talk about them these days, but that wasn’t always the case. There was a time when they were among the buzziest bands of the coolest music scene in the country. They won over critics and scored bona fide hits. Their rise to the top and place in rock history was all but assured. So, why didn’t they ever break through the way everyone was sure they would?
In the early 2000s, rock n’ roll was struggling to find its footing. For most of the 90s, Seattle had been the de facto capital of the genre. But after years of ruling the charts, grunge’s reign began to dissipate like clouds parting. The death of Kurt Cobain, Pearl Jam’s growing disillusion with the music industry, and Soundgarden’s break up all played significant roles in bringing about the end of this era. But the fact was that pop music was changing. The gloomy, guitar-driven, Seattle sound gave way to bubble gum, sunny pop like Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, and their ilk.
But the events of 9/11 had massive worldwide repercussions. Like for the rest of the world, New York City’s future seemed uncertain. But this cloud of uncertainty helped foster fertile grounds, perfect for the rebirth…
