I sometimes sift through the new music featured on the Pitchfork app in Spotify, and while there is certainly some half decent stuff around and a lot of creativity going into the production side, I don't think I've once thought "wow, you've written a classic song there." It does seem like everyone's putting all of their effort into creating a "sound" and a "vibe," while ignoring the whole songwriting part of it. I'll hear a great sounding song with fantastic production and great sounds, but it's like the melody and the chords are a quick afterthought. Very occasionally I'll hear a great chord progression, only to be very disappointed with a vocal melody that sounds like they've just picked the most obvious notes and thought "that'll do." 

I know Donald Fagen has kinda given up on melody, but let's face it the guy writes such tight grooves with such sublime arrangements and production that he gets away with it. The younger bands, I'm not so sure. 

I have nothing against the newness of new music...and I know we're all biased toward the music of our youth to some extent....but believe me, if I heard a new song in today's style which I genuinely thought would be a classic that people would be singing in 30 years time, I'd give it credit. I'm just not hearing it. Been surfing some old "young" bands tonight and am really struck by how much better they were at writing memorable melodies. Take this one, Another Nail In My Heart by Squeeze. Great melody, great chords, no pretence. I want a return to This Sort Of Thing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bTWF7eirJw

Are there any young bands writing good melodies any more?

No.

Please mark the thread [SOLVED]

Bub.

I knew it!

We were in the car the other day listening to the radio when Uptown Girl came on. I've heard that song a million time, and I've never been a huge fan of Billy Joel but I was blown away.

There's so much music in that song, so many clever little hooks, harmonies and all that, by today's standard, you could probably put together 12 hit songs w/ all the material that's in that one song.


Notice that I say "put together", not "write". 

Trying to keep it fairly recent, but there are some good writers around;<

These lads 'The Feeling' have some great melodies although I've lost track of them lately;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F15rYabbgC4

Andy Burrows recent band, great pop song;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTFyp3kjisA

'Pugwash' (they write with Andy Partridge from XTC, and it shows)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8bn2k9_LZE

Rain


We were in the car the other day listening to the radio when Uptown Girl came on. I've heard that song a million time, and I've never been a huge fan of Billy Joel but I was blown away.

There's so much music in that song, so many clever little hooks, harmonies and all that, by today's standard, you could probably put together 12 hit songs w/ all the material that's in that one song.


Notice that I say "put together", not "write". 

Great song, great melody, great chords, great song structure and yes lots of hooks....you can't even remember them all until you listen to the song. A hard song to sing as well - it was stuck in my head a few years ago and I'd try my hand at it from time to time, I'd nearly always screw the modulation up and finish in the wrong key. 

"Tell Her About It" from the same album is another great song. 

Not to disagree with Bub, but I've really enjoyed Republic Tiger's new CD Keep Color.  For a sample, click HERE.

That's good stuff Craig.

I'm always on a quest for new melodic music. It's like gold mining: you have to sift through mountains of till to find a few shiny grains. 

That Republic Tigers link is much appreciated, Craig.