Music today is like games today: there's some good stuff that occasionally comes from the mainstream market, but by and large the big publishers are out to make as much money as possible with as little risk as possible so most of what they peddle is bland. You want stuff that's truly unique and exceptional, you've got to do some digging. Luckily we have the internet.
Does Music Today Suck Now, Or Am I Finally 'Old'?
- Thread starter Tanis
- Start date
Pop music is almost always trash. That's why I listen to classic rock and alternative. Foo Fighters and Weezer are always pulling out strong, IMO, and then there's new bands like Bleachers and Bastille breaking through, too. Do some searching and you might find a lot of stuff you like.
I think theres always been good music and bad music. The problem at the minute is that there are plenty of good singles but not many artist who can make a decent album and even fewer who will be remembered
The music industry is kind of to blame. With "artists" being manfactured on the X factor etc. The music industry has no interest in making albums they'd happily take good looking young person, give them some generic lyrics with a catchy melody and sample an old song so it sounds familiar then add some auto tune. Im not saying that kind of music is inherently bad infact I enjoy a lot of it but it wont stick in my mind like pink floyds 'the wall' or guns 'n' roses 'appetite for destruction'
Watch the following video and if you like it watch part 2. The guy shows how easy it is to make a modern generic pop song
The music industry is kind of to blame. With "artists" being manfactured on the X factor etc. The music industry has no interest in making albums they'd happily take good looking young person, give them some generic lyrics with a catchy melody and sample an old song so it sounds familiar then add some auto tune. Im not saying that kind of music is inherently bad infact I enjoy a lot of it but it wont stick in my mind like pink floyds 'the wall' or guns 'n' roses 'appetite for destruction'
Watch the following video and if you like it watch part 2. The guy shows how easy it is to make a modern generic pop song
Pop music in general is made for the 12-25 demographic.Tanis said:
If you're older than that, chances are it won't appeal to you because it's not made for you.
It's also not made to be good, it's made to sell.
If you listen to just a few of them, you'll notice that almost every one of them has a moment where the singer stops singing actual words and just goes "Nananana" or "Ouououou". That's the most important part of a pop song.
It's the part you remember after you first hear the song, the catchy part that stays in your head.
I'm willing to bet that a catchy "nanana" is the first thing they write and then they build a song around that.
Luckily, there's this thing now called the internet and we're no longer dependant on record labels when it comes to music.
Music definitely has gone down hill fast. It is easier to make music than ever and most popular music is targeted toward the lowest common denomenator. Even with good musicians like Daft Punk, their famous popular song Get Lucky has become generic (i don't like Get Lucky, but i love Fragments of Time). You just need to leave the main stream and go searching for people that actually give a shit about the music they make and not how much money they can make.
Recommendations:
Morgan David King(MDK)
anyone from Monstercat
Recommendations:
Morgan David King(MDK)
anyone from Monstercat
How does it suck? In comparison to what other music?
I think the issue I have is that a lot of music published nowadays has a lot less sound-space (I don't know how to describe it) do to how the sheer volume of the wave-form has been amped up due to the main way people listen to music being through tiny crappy headphones.
Its frustrating because it feels like the only way to find listenable music for me is to find CDs or albums published pre-Ipod era.
Of course, that's only for mainstream published music. Alternative self-publishing artists usually don't go that route and tend to mix it the way they like it which usually leaves more room for the music and sound to breath.
I think the issue I have is that a lot of music published nowadays has a lot less sound-space (I don't know how to describe it) do to how the sheer volume of the wave-form has been amped up due to the main way people listen to music being through tiny crappy headphones.
Its frustrating because it feels like the only way to find listenable music for me is to find CDs or albums published pre-Ipod era.
Of course, that's only for mainstream published music. Alternative self-publishing artists usually don't go that route and tend to mix it the way they like it which usually leaves more room for the music and sound to breath.
Music is a very strange art form compared to film, television and video games. It is much more abstract than the others and on its own requires a certain degree of patience and attention from the listener. This does not translate well into $$$.
Let's face it... most people are not music enthusiasts, as much as they claim that they "love music" or "music is their life". Many music genres have very strict demographics and people take great pride in the kinds of music they listen to. Listening to the singles currently topping the charts gives many people the sense that they're "up to date" with music trends and are experiencing "the cutting-edge of music". It's ridiculous and flat out incorrect.
How do you make music appeal to a mass audience? You cash in on current trends, use lyrical subjects that are so broad they can apply to anyone, write songs that are so ridiculous that they're enjoyed semi-ironically as if listeners are in on the "joke" (as much as I like female posteriors I'd rather not be subjected to dozens of songs about that subject).
I really don't think pop music is worth worrying about unless the occasional good song gets released (Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake have released surprisingly decent albums). The people that are listening to it aren't being "brainwashed", they just don't care much about music. Those that do care about music realise that pop is a guilty pleasure and have delved into more obscure genres that appeal more specifically to them or have more challenging sounds.
One very interesting exception is the popularity of noise-influenced dubstep in the past few years. I'm not a big fan of the super-loud wob-wob "dubstep" but as obnoxious as it is, it has surprisingly harsh rhythms and a lack of vocal presence in stark contrast to anything else that's been popular recently. The fact that anything even remotely similar to glitch music, experimental dance music or noise music has had mainstream recognition blows my mind.
Let's face it... most people are not music enthusiasts, as much as they claim that they "love music" or "music is their life". Many music genres have very strict demographics and people take great pride in the kinds of music they listen to. Listening to the singles currently topping the charts gives many people the sense that they're "up to date" with music trends and are experiencing "the cutting-edge of music". It's ridiculous and flat out incorrect.
How do you make music appeal to a mass audience? You cash in on current trends, use lyrical subjects that are so broad they can apply to anyone, write songs that are so ridiculous that they're enjoyed semi-ironically as if listeners are in on the "joke" (as much as I like female posteriors I'd rather not be subjected to dozens of songs about that subject).
I really don't think pop music is worth worrying about unless the occasional good song gets released (Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake have released surprisingly decent albums). The people that are listening to it aren't being "brainwashed", they just don't care much about music. Those that do care about music realise that pop is a guilty pleasure and have delved into more obscure genres that appeal more specifically to them or have more challenging sounds.
One very interesting exception is the popularity of noise-influenced dubstep in the past few years. I'm not a big fan of the super-loud wob-wob "dubstep" but as obnoxious as it is, it has surprisingly harsh rhythms and a lack of vocal presence in stark contrast to anything else that's been popular recently. The fact that anything even remotely similar to glitch music, experimental dance music or noise music has had mainstream recognition blows my mind.
Radio music sucks. It's the shit that you don't hear played on the radio 7 1/2 times a day that is good. I don't want to sound like a hipster here but the more underground shit does tend to be better simply because they don't try to appeal to the lowest common denominator.
I've always liked this one as a demonstration piece.Hoplon said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1992
Thats what was actually popular the year Nirvana's Nevermind came out, with the groundbreaking smash hit Smells Like Teen Spirit, that supposedly murdered pop music and turned everyone into headbanging alt rock folks.
Except it didn't. Hell, Achy Breaky Heart outperformed it in pop music standards. To say nothing of the top ten, which I only know 3 of by the title.
Pop music always sucked. You're just mature enough now to see it. You gotta realize pop music is for those who don't listen to music as a serious hobby. It's music for the casual audience. For the people who say "I listen to everything" implying they haven't seriously considered what genres/bands they really enjoy and instead settle for whatever is playing on the radio or being tweeted about.
If you want good music, you'll have to go on an epic journey across the various lands of the internet, in search of the melodies which inspire you the most. It shall take many nights of tirelessly filtering through all the junk until you find that special niche you fit into that you have been unaware of for so long. Or, you know, maybe music just isn't for you.
Personally I get my fix from independent folk/instrumental/metal bands that tend to have a very unique blend of classical/folk elements infused with extreme metal.
If you want good music, you'll have to go on an epic journey across the various lands of the internet, in search of the melodies which inspire you the most. It shall take many nights of tirelessly filtering through all the junk until you find that special niche you fit into that you have been unaware of for so long. Or, you know, maybe music just isn't for you.
Personally I get my fix from independent folk/instrumental/metal bands that tend to have a very unique blend of classical/folk elements infused with extreme metal.
It's been getting gradually worse to the point where it pains me to call it even music. While there has always been crap, there hasn't been any amazing artists in the mainstream section for awhile now, or all together.
Definitely would have preferred to be around with all those classic artists we've all heard of (for good reason).
Definitely would have preferred to be around with all those classic artists we've all heard of (for good reason).
I don't remember the last time I wanted to listen to the radio. If my phone dies, and I'm stuck with one of two CDs or the radio, it's repeating them CDs, because the radio isn't worth it. There's one station, Triple J, that's not completely dominated by ads, and one terrible piece of marketting masquerading as music every 10 minutes, and if I listen to that, it's mostly Australian hip hop (Ew. Listening to a dozen acts trying to be the Hilltop Hoods is horrible. Also, most Australian Hip Hop artists aren't all that interesting. I hate the fucking bogans in real life, I don't want to listen about how much of a struggle it is being that useless), pretentious trippy hippy psychadelic techno shit, or the occassional alternative track. I wish there were more alternative radio stations, so there was a bit more specialisation in genre.
Just look up your own music, and listen to that. And remember, Mmmbop, Barbie Girl, Lollipop, and Jefferson Starship, all happened.
Just look up your own music, and listen to that. And remember, Mmmbop, Barbie Girl, Lollipop, and Jefferson Starship, all happened.
If we're talking music you hear on the radio, I'm with you there 100 %. I've listened to the radio for hours on end over the last 5 months due to my job, and the only station I can bear anymore is the one that plays classic (and occasionally film) music. The type of music of which most was made centuries ago and doesn't get a whole lot of new hot names or hits topping the charts.
I'm serious, 90% of the stuff they play on the airwaves is maddeningly atrocious. It's just mindless, repetitive, annoying garbage repeated ad nauseam. I'll list a few of the most grievous examples below.
I have to address how much I hate that third song. It's as if the artist in question (because I will not utter his name to not foul my tongue or fingers) is only trying to find out what he can get away with now. Just listen to the lyrics and tell me that's not the case.
It's so hard for me to find worthwhile music to listen to anymore. Maybe the latest example was Knife Party, but that's all too little.
I'm serious, 90% of the stuff they play on the airwaves is maddeningly atrocious. It's just mindless, repetitive, annoying garbage repeated ad nauseam. I'll list a few of the most grievous examples below.
I have to address how much I hate that third song. It's as if the artist in question (because I will not utter his name to not foul my tongue or fingers) is only trying to find out what he can get away with now. Just listen to the lyrics and tell me that's not the case.
It's so hard for me to find worthwhile music to listen to anymore. Maybe the latest example was Knife Party, but that's all too little.
Yes, yes, modern music sucks. Rock is dead, what do you expect? We used to songs like dust in the wind, stairway to heaven, and the sound of silence. Thise songs were pure poetry. I cannot name a single song in the last 14 years that approached that level of quality. I'm sure things must improve in the future, but for now I avoid modern music. If anyone wants to disagree, feel free, I've never wanted to be more wrong.
To some extent yes but thats only because its easier to produce music these days digitally without any actual talent required. It has broadened and opened up to the masses to create everything and anything in under an hour.
Hence why we get so much tosh these days
Hence why we get so much tosh these days
You're getting old.
The plebs whine about how "shit was better in their day" (replace shit with music, films, society etc) because they only remember the really good stuff and possibly the really, really terrible stuff, everything else gets buried. Give it 20 years and I guaran-fucking-tee you'll get the same "Shit was better in my day" bullshit about the 2010's.
The plebs whine about how "shit was better in their day" (replace shit with music, films, society etc) because they only remember the really good stuff and possibly the really, really terrible stuff, everything else gets buried. Give it 20 years and I guaran-fucking-tee you'll get the same "Shit was better in my day" bullshit about the 2010's.
I think modern RADIO music sucks because:
a) It's all written/produced by the same three people. (Seriously...Google the credits of Rick Rubin, Max Martin and Pharrell Williams. The pop scene is pretty much dominated by them and their proteges),
b) The music industry is TRULY an industry. They're beholden to their share-holders, not the music buying public. Their goals are to drive profit as high and fast as possible. So it's easier to promote singles than build brand loyalty to any one band.
c) Everything's derivative of everything else. Largely because of a) and b), there's not a lot of room to take chances or promote something new because it has higher risk.
However, with outlets like Sirius, internet radio and other venues, there's a thriving community of independent musicians writing, recording and producing new and interesting stuff.
Heck, I'm one of them. I have a bunch of songs on a site called "ILoveIndie". (In the interests of "put up or shut up", here's one if anyone cares...http://iloveindie.com/songs/9920/36121/?ref=30623 - Dun Widdett (4:00)"
And every day, my wife comes home jazzed up about some new artist she heard on Sirius. So they're is a LOT of great music out there.
You just won't find them on commercial radio.
And quite frankly, I'm okay with that.
a) It's all written/produced by the same three people. (Seriously...Google the credits of Rick Rubin, Max Martin and Pharrell Williams. The pop scene is pretty much dominated by them and their proteges),
b) The music industry is TRULY an industry. They're beholden to their share-holders, not the music buying public. Their goals are to drive profit as high and fast as possible. So it's easier to promote singles than build brand loyalty to any one band.
c) Everything's derivative of everything else. Largely because of a) and b), there's not a lot of room to take chances or promote something new because it has higher risk.
However, with outlets like Sirius, internet radio and other venues, there's a thriving community of independent musicians writing, recording and producing new and interesting stuff.
Heck, I'm one of them. I have a bunch of songs on a site called "ILoveIndie". (In the interests of "put up or shut up", here's one if anyone cares...http://iloveindie.com/songs/9920/36121/?ref=30623 - Dun Widdett (4:00)"
And every day, my wife comes home jazzed up about some new artist she heard on Sirius. So they're is a LOT of great music out there.
You just won't find them on commercial radio.
And quite frankly, I'm okay with that.
Bah! Yeah, chart music fucking sucks, I'm not denying that, but there's so much music out there today that's absolutely fucking incredible. Obviously it's my personal taste, but I'll argue until hell freezes over that the last Protest the Hero album [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5_RJHsaqpA] is just as good, if not better in almost every way than a dozen 'classic' albums you could care to name.
I could even name plenty of modern rock bands that are all incredible- all this stuff is still out there, it just takes a bit more looking for. It kinda gets my goat that people are happy to write off all music being released today as shit because they couldn't find anything on the radio they liked. Too much effort to look? Fine, just don't pronounce music as totally dead.
I could even name plenty of modern rock bands that are all incredible- all this stuff is still out there, it just takes a bit more looking for. It kinda gets my goat that people are happy to write off all music being released today as shit because they couldn't find anything on the radio they liked. Too much effort to look? Fine, just don't pronounce music as totally dead.
Also the people that make the music we love have gotten older. So its always difficult to find new bands.