sharke
Growing up in the 70's I was exposed to all kinds of great music which instilled in me a taste for sophisticated harmonies, clever songwriting and interesting rhythms. We had jazz, Steely Dan, Frank Zappa, Little Feat and the Mahavishnu Orchestra playing in our home all the time. When you grow up around such music, it's really hard to concentrate on any of the bland chart topping crap that sells millions today. I've tried, I just can't. Even the artists that people keep telling me are "actually really good," like Adele or Ed Sheeran, at best I find to be "so-so." To me it all just sounds very safe and unchallenging, and my mind wanders almost instantly. 
 
Of course there is the argument that modern artists are more about the image than the music, but quite frankly I see no reason why it can't be both. Look at Kate Bush's early work. Tonight I watched the video for "Wow" from 1978, and it's got it all. She's outrageous, mysterious, sensual, artistic and kooky. But in addition to all that, the music is so well written and performed. There's something in the chords, melody and bass line which evoke the kind of colors and emotions that modern pop fails so miserably at conjuring. Yes it's got the big pop chorus, but just listen to those verses. Listen to the musicianship, the brilliance of the bass line and the arrangement of the strings. This mesmerized me when I was a kid, along with other greats such as Wuthering Heights, Babooshka, The Man With The Child In His Eyes, This Woman's Work, Army Dreamers etc. I think it might have something to do with the fact that back in the day, record companies were more likely to give quirky artists like Kate Bush the benefit of the doubt and let them get on with their own thing based on the idea that they knew their art better than anyone in an executive leather chair. But now, the entire image of these "showcase" artists is carefully planned to an exact formula by a corporation, and it's just mind numbingly sterile. 
 

That video led directly into this one (which, being my day to relax, I was able to watch and enjoy - very interesting!):
 

eph221
wow, kate bush.  My gf was into her in HS.  I've never liked sarcasm though.  The rule in my family was....no sarcasm, no devaluation, and no condescension.  Sarcasm reveals a troubled soul.  Go towards the light carol anne.  A rising tide lifts all boats.

That may be true, but it takes guts to reveal your true self instead of creating some false facade like most artists do.

Evidence that Cute and Authentic are not mutually-exclusive...no Autotune here.
 



 

Yes, guts.  Like a soldier!  :D But, is it something to laugh at (re, a troubled soul)

craigb

sharke
Growing up in the 70's I was exposed to all kinds of great music which instilled in me a taste for sophisticated harmonies, clever songwriting and interesting rhythms. We had jazz, Steely Dan, Frank Zappa, Little Feat and the Mahavishnu Orchestra playing in our home all the time. When you grow up around such music, it's really hard to concentrate on any of the bland chart topping crap that sells millions today. I've tried, I just can't. Even the artists that people keep telling me are "actually really good," like Adele or Ed Sheeran, at best I find to be "so-so." To me it all just sounds very safe and unchallenging, and my mind wanders almost instantly. 
 
Of course there is the argument that modern artists are more about the image than the music, but quite frankly I see no reason why it can't be both. Look at Kate Bush's early work. Tonight I watched the video for "Wow" from 1978, and it's got it all. She's outrageous, mysterious, sensual, artistic and kooky. But in addition to all that, the music is so well written and performed. There's something in the chords, melody and bass line which evoke the kind of colors and emotions that modern pop fails so miserably at conjuring. Yes it's got the big pop chorus, but just listen to those verses. Listen to the musicianship, the brilliance of the bass line and the arrangement of the strings. This mesmerized me when I was a kid, along with other greats such as Wuthering Heights, Babooshka, The Man With The Child In His Eyes, This Woman's Work, Army Dreamers etc. I think it might have something to do with the fact that back in the day, record companies were more likely to give quirky artists like Kate Bush the benefit of the doubt and let them get on with their own thing based on the idea that they knew their art better than anyone in an executive leather chair. But now, the entire image of these "showcase" artists is carefully planned to an exact formula by a corporation, and it's just mind numbingly sterile. 
 

That video led directly into this one (which, being my day to relax, I was able to watch and enjoy - very interesting!):
 

Just watched it. Totally fascinating and makes me want to revisit her entire catalog. 

I had one going today too.  Others later this week...

Hmmm, lots of tangents and possible explanations (or theories).
 
We, as old fogies :), are looking back at music from the 60's, 70's & 80's as good music. I too prefer a lot of old rock. But, we are pretty much cherry picking over 3 decades of music. There was a lot of crap around then too. How many of us bought albums for 1 song? I know there were some bands that were glossed over simply because they didn't get airplay.  For example, some of you may have never heard of Trapeze. The point being perhaps there is some good music currently out there that is not mainstream and the masses haven't discovered yet. I recently discovered Zero7 to find they have been around for quite a while.
 
Then there is the mass consumption of music these days. Disney keeps pumping out formulaic pop tarts to indoctrinate the kids. Those kids think that is good music and carry that ear as they grow older. As others have noted, I too believe there is a 'common ear' and when it is stuffed full of crap it knows no better.
 
What really scares me is 30 or 40 years from now some moron will be referencing Kanye as some type of musical genius.

DrLumen
What really scares me is 30 or 40 years from now some moron will be referencing Kanye as some type of musical genius.

Heck, some moron is already doing that! 

DrLumen
 
We, as old fogies :), are looking back at music from the 60's, 70's & 80's as good music. I too prefer a lot of old rock. But, we are pretty much cherry picking over 3 decades of music. There was a lot of crap around then too. 

 
^ This

cherry picking describes the rock world beautifully.