Why is modern pop so terrible?

[montesquieu]

Fair enough, but I think you'll agree it's representative of some decent new music, not likely to be found if you're too stuck in your ways!

How may folks here I wonder, including you, *actively seek out* new music that they might like, either by:

a) attending local gigs/live music events

b) reading music magazines, in paper form or online, and checking out some of the recommendations

c) listening to non-mainstream music content on the radio

d) visiting local independent record shops and checking out new music releases from bands you've not heard of before

I do all of those

Marco.

Can't imagine you listening to chart pop music though Marco, which is what this thread at least started off being despairing about.

Yes there are plenty of decent bands and good new music around, the issue is that business imperatives have resulted in commercial pop - the lowest common denominator stuff that you can't avoid as you go around and about, whether it's at the barbers, the pictures, or the Co-op - has shrunk in scope, variety and ambition, in ways that are not a matter of opinion but are absolutely demonstrable (per the original clip). Regardless of what other good stuff is around, it's a matter for some sadness and regret that this has come to pass.

Being a classical guy, I don't tend to seek out bands and so on (I'm busy enough keeping up with my own favoured genres) so my main experience of 'today's' music is the mass-market pap that's everywhere and I have to say, it's no surprise to me that it's measurably less varied melodically, harmonically, rythmically or structurally, than what was around even 20 years ago never mind 40 or 50, while at the same time more and more being compressed to buggery in the loudness wars, as we can all hear.

It's kind of irrelevant that there is lots of other good stuff around if it is primarily this that the great unwashed are being exposed to. Our communal experience is being degraded and no amount of praise for non-mass market stuff can really get around that.

[Marco]

Can't imagine you listening to chart pop music though Marco, which is what this thread at least started off being despairing about.

Yeah sure, like I said, I was simply extrapolating the discussion to include a little bête noire of mine [boring creatures of habit, who lack adventurousness in their musical tastes].

However, I agree with every word you've just written

Marco.

[Svend N]

Fair enough, but I think you'll agree it's representative of some decent new music, not likely to be found if you're too stuck in your ways!

How may folks here I wonder, including you, *actively seek out* new music that they might like, either by:

a) attending local gigs/live music events

b) reading music magazines, in paper form or online, and checking out some of the recommendations

c) listening to non-mainstream music content on the radio

d) visiting local independent record shops and checking out new music releases from bands you've not heard of before

I do all of those

Marco.

Having two young daughters (19 and 21 y-o) really helps keep me connected to new stuff. They have great taste, for which I pat myself on the back a bit, as the indie music leanings of my youth have rubbed off on them. When they were much younger and developing their own taste in music, I always stressed quality, authenticity, originality, and genuine talent. I taught them to recognize posers and fake crap. So now I reap the rewards, as they will punt over a recommendation of band or song that they think I would like, and thus I get exposed to some really great new stuff....and vice-versa, I'll send stuff back to them. I love it! And much to my delight, they are developing a real taste for jazz and classical, and are creating some pretty cool playlists of these on Spotify.

Next step: start helping them build a vinyl collection. Now that is going to be fun!

As for your a-b-c-d list, yes, we all do each of those. Makes for a richer, more interesting life, don't you think?

Cheers,
Svend

[Crackles]

Can't imagine you listening to chart pop music though Marco, which is what this thread at least started off being despairing about.

Yes there are plenty of decent bands and good new music around, the issue is that business imperatives have resulted in commercial pop - the lowest common denominator stuff that you can't avoid as you go around and about, whether it's at the barbers, the pictures, or the Co-op - has shrunk in scope, variety and ambition, in ways that are not a matter of opinion but are absolutely demonstrable (per the original clip). Regardless of what other good stuff is around, it's a matter for some sadness and regret that this has come to pass.

Being a classical guy, I don't tend to seek out bands and so on (I'm busy enough keeping up with my own favoured genres) so my main experience of 'today's' music is the mass-market pap that's everywhere and I have to say, it's no surprise to me that it's measurably less varied melodically, harmonically, rythmically or structurally, than what was around even 20 years ago never mind 40 or 50, while at the same time more and more being compressed to buggery in the loudness wars, as we can all hear.

It's kind of irrelevant that there is lots of other good stuff around if it is primarily this that the great unwashed are being exposed to. Our communal experience is being degraded and no amount of praise for non-mass market stuff can really get around that.

Perfectly put. It's not the lack of good new music being made, it's the lack of good new music being successful.

But on the plus side, I get to see some great artists in small venues for under £20.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[Marco]

Having two young daughters (19 and 21 y-o) really helps keep me connected to new stuff. They have great taste, for which I pat myself on the back a bit, as the indie music leanings of my youth have rubbed off on them. When they were much younger and developing their own taste in music, I always stressed quality, authenticity, originality, and genuine talent. I taught them to recognize posers and fake crap. So now I reap the rewards, as they will punt over a recommendation of band or song that they think I would like, and thus I get exposed to some really great new stuff....and vice-versa, I'll send stuff back to them. I love it! And much to my delight, they are developing a real taste for jazz and classical, and are creating some pretty cool playlists of these on Spotify.

Next step: start helping them build a vinyl collection. Now that is going to be fun!

As for your a-b-c-d list, yes, we all do each of those. Makes for a richer, more interesting life, don't you think?

Absolutely! All I can say, Svend, is that you have my utter respect - the *perfect* set up [and congrats too, for bringing up your kids properly]!

Marco.

[Svend N]

Thank you Marco, for the kind words. I appreciate it

Warm regards,
Svend

[Macca]

I used to do everything on Marco's checklist, don't do any of that now. There was a time when there were more new records out that I wanted than I had money to buy. That dropped off a cliff about 15/20 years ago and has never come back. And I'm pretty sure it isn't me that has changed.

[Marco]

But a mixture of apathy and laziness (in simply ignoring and being unwilling to seek out new forms of music, under the premise that it's shit) won't facilitate the expanding of your musical tastes, which ably proves what I've said about most middle-aged audiophiles

I know you'll always be married to your Steely Dan albums!

Marco.

[Macca]

If you've got all the Steely Dan, Led Zep and Hendrix you can pretty much do without the rest.

[struth]

I find the likes of Deezer or any of the others invaluable for exposing yourself to new stuff. It's like your personal old grey whistle test and your bob Harris. Lol