The term "solid rock" isn’t meant to bear any religious associations, and it’s not referring to the songs entitled likewise by Bob Dylan or Dire Straits. The noun stands for rock music in general, and the adjective is meant to narrow down the focus to a part of rock music considered to be solid – which should leave the reader wondering about the meaning of the used concept of solidity.
In one aspect solidity could be taken to mean "durability", and accordingly solid rock could be understood as rock music that will stand the test of time or has already proven to do so. There is something appropriate about this connotation, in as far as this site will certainly not promote the latest hits and might even show a remarkable bias for some already established classics. In another aspect solidity could be taken to signify that an item has "substance" or "weight", which in the case of rock music might easily be interpreted as pure rhythmical power. Again, there is something right about this connotation: Though solidrock.dk is not about heavy metal – and definitely won’t take it as the criteria of its interest how much noise is generated, or how many pigeons are eaten alive at stage – it will certainly pay its due to the celebration of rock’s rhythmical force.
Nevertheless, the intended idea of solidity is only secondarily connected to the questions of durability and musical power. The primary meaning of solidity hinted at is more like when you say of a business firm or a military strategy that it is "solid" - i.e. the term is to signify that the music embarked upon is particularly sound, reliable and worth the effort of listening. Off course one could stir up all sorts of standing controversies in the traditions of art and aesthetics by raising the question of the criteria for such a decision. So let’s make a long story short by simply claiming that the only sound criteria for judgements about the final value of a work of art is whether it can make you a better person. In the end it’s the edifying potential – encompassing moral and cognitive as well as emotional aspects – that legitimises any insistence on one piece of art being more worthwhile than another. According to this point of view solid rock is music that sincerely deserves being recommended and written about. Its solidity is not to be found in a purely musical heaviness but in its existential substance, and the true source of its greatness is not standing the test of time but standing the test of ethics.
All this may sound a bit speculative, but actually we are connecting to a very common experience. Since the middle of the 20th century generation after generation has been largely dependent on popular music to define themselves and their values - for better or for worse. This is our background as well, and this site springs from our personal experience of being vitally and existentially moved by the products of a music industry, which supplies a profound mix-up of trash and jewels. Because of this mix-up - but also effected by a lack of reflection in the associated youth cultures and a lot of confusion about the concept of art in general - the significance of the music is too often taken too lightly. The truly great voices of rock-n-roll are constantly threatened by a deaf, dumb and blind consumerism levelling everything to trivial matters of taste. Ever since the beginning of popular music with further ambitions than just selling records it has therefore been an important task for the audience to point out "the real thing" - and finding words for the differences that make a difference. This is what Solid Rock is all about.