Is Music Dieing? Or am I just getting OLD

It seems to me, that since the introduction of digital music, downloads and burning, that the quality of music has gone down.. down down.

Even as a teen(90's) most of the good music I could find was old 60's music or older classical/blues/bluegrass/country/rock/gospel. There were a few exceptions.

70s were mostly disco, which is good dance music I guess, but not good music.

80s were horrid flashes in the pan.

90s were hopeful.

and now I hear Alice In Chains wannabes combined with other 90s musicians redone with some really harsh lyrics begging "hey listen to this "in your face"" bs.

I think Lenny Kravitz was right when he said "Rock n Roll is Dead."

Rap, making it's debut to the masses in the 80s did well, peaked, and has now turned into something in a cardboard box, just like everything else.

I have not heard a song that has inspired me, that is new, in so long I'm wondering if all the musician's just said, "It's not worth it." Now only people with lots of money, or the son of some rich guy make records. There are a few old musicians who made their wealth in recent history who are still making records every now and then.

I haven't heard a good new artist/band in quite some time.

Stagnant is what I would call the music industry today. There is no new "sound," it's not very exciting at all like it used to be.

It's like all musicians have said, "we have found what works, why change?" which to me is the anti-thesis of art and music.

So is it the digital thievery? Or am I just getting to old to enjoy this new stuff?

Hey there. Yes largely the whole thing is basically spiraling into a gorbled mess.

But lets look at this for a second. What this is doing is forcing a revolution in the music industry or death as some put it.

Some looks into the said industry of the past isnt very comforting really. Many artists in the past have made very little as far as albums are concerned maybey 5 cents to a dollar? Not sure on that one. Also some pretty bad deals. Such as the ones resulting in prince changing his name to a symbol.

These days it is more the record labels not putting out so many records. Or more so look at who exactly is coming out with new records.

Its mostly pop and hip hop and easy listening rock stuff like that. They want to appeal to people who will still go out and buy a cd as apposed to downloading it instead. That falls into a few age groups or other categories.

At any rate. These days to find the new good musicians i'd scour the net largely alot of us are trying to spread our music online. Even myspace has a good selection if you look for it.

Anyways hope that sheds atleast anothers perspective on the matter. Speaking of which here's one of my latest songs. I host here on the ATS media center.



[edit on 5-7-2009 by toraylin]

Good... but...

Sorry, it reminds me of Radiohead... which they had some good stuff.

I'm talking music, not lyrics... lyrics are secondary in my personal listening technique.

The music.. it's like every combination of chords has been done.. every sliding craziness has been done. Where is the next thing. I did see a rapper doing country on a talk show once.. which WAS new, but not GOOD.

Alternative was only different because it was a sloppy version of rock.

I'm looking for a new Genre.. and I have yet to see it.

You make a good point about the pop/hiphop.. most people who will buy CDs.. I think you are agreeing that money is an issue in the music industry nowadays.

[edit on 5-7-2009 by dragonking76]

Well personally I don't listen to a whole lot of mainstream these days. One group/band that comes to mind to suggest would be Infected Mushroom encorporating folk rock, electronica and industrial to name a few genres, they seem to have a fresh feel.

Heres one of their more mainstream songs that actually has a video, which is largely rare for them.

Enjoy..



[edit on 5-7-2009 by toraylin]

I'm not sure what exactly tickles your musical soul, but hopefully searching some of these bands might change your mind..

The Manchester Orchestra (to me, one of the best bands out there right now)
The Von Bondies (great indie pop-rock)
The Gay Blades (you need to listen to them a few times before they grow on ya)
The Kills
Vietnam
City and Colour

THe industry is dead, not the music. Music will always be there, but someone just needs to revolutionize the way its heard. That's all.

I bet you haven't heard something like this before.



Like the guy above me said the industry is dead, not the music.

reply to post by dragonking76


I know what you mean but you might be suprised at how many of us are out there trying to keep "old School" alive. We play out a lot at casinos, festivals, bars/beerjoints/BBQ houses, but mainly private parties.www.youtube.com...


I'm the guy on fretless acoustic/electric bass.


[edit on 5-7-2009 by whaaa]

reply to post by toraylin


I liked that guitar at the first of it.. then the disco beat kicked in and I had to stop listening. If someone would put some of that guitar(sounded eastern hemisphere) into some rock n roll it would be good stuff.

Santa Claus: I'll check those out.

Nick Napalm: Sounds like a more gothic version of Cannibal Corpse.. with a slower tempo.

What tickles my soul:
I like all music, but probably what I listen too most nowadays is primarily The Black Crowes (they did recently release an album) not their best stuff but not terrible. The radio mostly has what I was talking about in the op.

Any new folksy type stuff like the Jayhawks out there? I heard some of Wilco's new album and didn't care for it. I DID like Green Day's new single that is out now, but it does sound like almost all of their other stuff(it is their sound afterall).

Squirrel Nut Zippers... now that was a new/old sound! but it didn't go anywhere.

Try getting into electronic or metal. Best way to avoid a lot of the pretty bad bands. Just try to stay clear of indie, deathcore and some other stuff and you'll be fine.

reply to post by whaaa


That sounds like the stuff I like. Santana and Allman Brothers is the sound I'm hearing.. keep up the good work.

Originally posted by dragonking76
reply to post by whaaa

 

That sounds like the stuff I like. Santana and Allman Brothers is the sound I'm hearing.. keep up the good work.

You have a keen ear dragonking! And thanks! We play for the shear joy of playing classic rock and roll. "WEst Ella" is pretty much a cover band.

Click on my sig for the Original work. Three members of "West Ella" are in "Johnny Yellowheel" but we are just sidemen for the creative genius of the songwriter/singer/guitarist/recording engineer.

[edit on 6-7-2009 by whaaa]

reply to post by SantaClaus


I checked out the Manchester Orchestra. I love the music, but that guys voice... it's just not for me. It sounds like they have some steel guitar in there that gives it that twangy sound on some of the tracks.. really good stuff. Reminds me of the jayhawks but with a bad singer.

Whaa: My favorite was definately Li-Lo(made the scalp crawl)... I also liked the accordian in the prayer song. The only one's I didn't like were number 1 and 3.

Originally posted by dragonking76
I have not heard a song that has inspired me, that is new, in so long I'm wondering if all the musician's just said, "It's not worth it." Now only people with lots of money, or the son of some rich guy make records. There are a few old musicians who made their wealth in recent history who are still making records every now and then.

I haven't heard a good new artist/band in quite some time.

Stagnant is what I would call the music industry today. There is no new "sound," it's not very exciting at all like it used to be.

It's like all musicians have said, "we have found what works, why change?" which to me is the anti-thesis of art and music.

So is it the digital thievery? Or am I just getting to old to enjoy this new stuff?

Its not musicians who have decided to just release predictable and formulaic music. It all down to the big record companies. They are in a pickle now, and have been since the digital 'revolution' began. With their revenues being squezed, they are increasingly reluctant to take risks, and increasingly more inclined to play it safe by championing middle of the road acts, and acts that are easy to sell due to other, non-musical avenues of appeal, acts that can be aimed at the broadest possible target market. Therefore the mainstream musical diet has become diluted, supressed, and pushed further and further towards the lowest common denominators of MTV-friendliness and musical dispassion; it is the music industry behaving like an industry, as opposed to the populist bastion of creatitivity we all wish for.

But that's not to say that there isn't great music being made. I'm not going to pimp my own musical taste by listing bands etc, but I've found that there is a constant supply of genuinely creative & talented artists, and fresh new sounds. Whether the world at large notices is no longer relevant, becasue the world at large is a non-descript 16-45 year old male or female who buys Take That/Britney Spears/Coldplay CDs from Tesco.

I think commercialism has taken over and it has set the standards a tad low in order to make money.
They cater to the masses...which in my opinion these days they are not sure what they like,so much as are told what they like and go along for the ride.
Heres a band that I love...they do instrumentals and are amazing players as well.

www.youtube.com...
www.youtube.com...

Whaaa might like this as well.

Thanks drf....I did like it. When guys/gals get together in the spirit of making art; it's one of the few things that separates us from the beasts and defines us as humans.

Those 3 guys had/have the courage to buck the traditional and explore a more avant garde approach to the groove.

There is something about the sound of a B3 that just flat out kicksass.

edit ot add......I think there is Renaissance in bands, performers, solo etc.
with the www. and sites like soundclick, songcast, youtube, Pandora....
There is absolutely no reason for the media Moguls to dictate what is popular. They can go to hell as far as I'm concerned.

[edit on 7-7-2009 by whaaa]

Your just old,

I will say the 90s music you say was so much better was some of the most corporate crap ever in the history of music. I hate 90s music for the majority, but that is just me.

The thing which is different today is you actually have to search for music. You can't depend on the MSM to provide anything decent. If you are not willing to go out and look for music and just consume what the radio plays then you have no basis to complain.

I personally think this is the most exciting time for music ever.... anyone can do anything. Most is crap but some is plain amazing and you would never have heard it 10 years ago.



[edit on 9-7-2009 by drock905]

I think as the above poster said the Msm packages Music... ruins it...

I point I made discussing the who Man who just died thing was

Mostly across America the Public school system dropped Music by the early 80's from the curriculum...

and that's when we started to see Led Zeppelin replaced by the likes of Cyndi Lauper and Capt Lou Albano lol

(oh please don't strike at me) Cyndi was FUN... but Most music now seems to be a package by basic emotive themes... FUN, ANGRY, DANCE

With little substance... sometimes some real skill, sometimes not...

And it seems to me people accepting these "jingles" which much of music imho is on the radio... followed quite closely with the removal of Music Education from Public Schools

It's an area of the brain like...

Reading or Writing it needs to be exercised when young... 5-6-7-8-9-10

Not HS where you can TAKE a class... If you choose

I know some schools offer music, my sons actually does... but I think it's not required any more by the various education boards mostly... I think

We know Classical Music improves brain function...

Much of music is simple repetitive beats nowadays, singers, no instruments

Perhaps some people did not like the effects the Music creations from the 60's on were having and decided Music could be allot less influential if it wasn't actually Stimulating complex emotions and thoughts?

I dunno... just a thought

Here's something relatively new I like (some people don't like the voice but I do... Musically tons of talent

The Mars Volta "Tetragrammaton"

Some people find this stuff too chaotic, the voice too high... I love these guys... think they are brilliant, but lol regardless one thing is apparent... they aren't prepackaged goods set for a demographic... these guys are just doing their thing and it's THEIR THING

A lot of people think MSM has ruined music. Well, you can certainly tell that pop music has declined in intelligence over the years but that's not to say there is absolutely no worthwhile music out there.

I'd try and help the OP if I knew some of the bands he does like are. A lot of people think that there is no good music out there whatsoever but that's definitely not true. In fact, I feel that the modern times of music is actually the pinnacle of good music. It's not the mainstream stuff that is good but the stuff that doesn't make it to mainstream.

It's sad to see that a lot of the best artists out there don't get millions a lot of the time, but they earn enough to put food on their table.

What bands does the OP like? That'd help us narrow down what to recommend him.

reply to post by Whine Flu


Bands I liked or like(aka bands that I like so much I will listen to any song they play):

The Black Crowes (numero uno, everything about them)
The Jayhawks(great harmony)
Led Zepplin
Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Allman Brothers(sliiiide, I love slide)
Jay Ungar
White Zombie(yes there's a little disco here, but I liked it in this)
Bob Dylan(only for the lyrics, which I eventually heard)
Guns and Roses(for attitude alone)
Jimi Hendrix(guitar)
Stevie Ray Vaughn(guitar)
2pac(lyrics and intuition on what music went well with them)
Squirrel Nut Zippers(big band)
Alice in Chains(harmony, minor keys, voices)
Soundgarden/Audioslave(pure voice, didn't care for lyrics)

Many more I could name, but that sums up my best of list.

Maybe I am looking for these old bands in some new things. I've noticed many bands rehashing AiC, but without the harmony which was the best part of it. I would love to hear another Squirrel Nut Zippers come out, they had a great sound that was unusual for their time.

Some blues would be good too. Electric blues.

Harmonic voices are so rare in "rock", but definately get the blood up.

Drock905: I pity those who have no internet(yes some people don't have it). They are forced to listen to the drivel coming from their radio. Unfortunately money is still in music via radio. Perhaps there are some stations that play things off the internet, but not that I've heard. They should throw some of that in, certainly they could get permission from the bands if not money from them for playing their music.

mopusvindictus: "FUN, ANGRY, DANCE" that sums it up. ...or "I like pain" songs..

Good golly gosh what a good point

without Internet I'd cry in terms of music I could listen too

Radio is awful, positively awful