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[theignoramus]

the 90s had plenty of fucking garbage. Was the golden era for hip hop though, no question about that.

 

[Screaming Meat]

the 90s had plenty of fucking garbage.

Every decade of music has plenty of garbage. Every decade of music has amazing gems.

 

[RP912]

10s is so far probably the worst decade imo, speaking as someone who focuses on that buried music. But 00s was very close to the best.

Indie rock music is certainly at its worst in a while. Prog has been reduced to a nerd-niche. Jazz is primarily devoted to decades old ideas. Pop is middling overall. Techno and Rap are doing alright. I'd say that Metal is the only genre that's really thriving.

Well you have a point at 00s being great. I had some good memories going to the record shop downtown philly to get some underground cds from artists I didn't know existed.


Good times indeed. The thing about this decade so far is that its having a identity crisis. Artists experimenting with different sounds and genres, it ends up sounding like crap or in most cases awesome. Its all on how the listener takes the music and their preferences. At the end of the day everything goes into full circle.

 

[andymcc]

10s is so far probably the worst decade imo, speaking as someone who focuses on that buried music. But 00s was very close to the best.

indie music is really in a rut. sometimes there is a breakout band/album but goddamn it is the worst it has ever been.

 

[RP912]

the 90s had plenty of fucking garbage. Was the golden era for hip hop though, no question about that.

The thing about the 90s was the fact that as the decade progress, the music got better. Early 90s music was hit and miss because of artists trying to get out of that 80's clutch as far as the style of music is concern. Around the mid 90s that's when magic started to happen.

 

[TTOOLL]

I think you mean what is popular today is crap, right? There are good bands out there.
Take QOTSA for example, they put out an AMAZING album recently. Also, there are some really good indie bands.

 

[The Broken Ska Record]

Indie and punk rock music is certainly at its worst in a while. Prog has been reduced to a nerd-niche. Jazz is primarily devoted to decades old ideas. "Electronica" is growing fatter but not taller. Pop is middling overall. Techno and Rap are doing alright. I'd say that Metal is the only genre that's really thriving.

I agree with this.

 

[Cagey]

If you think all modern music is bad then you legitimately have no taste.

Hell I can think of several main stream I would classify as some of the best of all time.

Seriously, its so fucking pretentious

The irony is that people who think that way demonstrate an inability to think for themselves, as they accept this myth perpetuated by whites over 40+ that classic Rock (and a few now grandfathered in hip hop acts) are real music, while simultaneously their chief criticism of music today is that it's garbage spoonfed to idiots who can't think for themselves.

Why is it real music? Because it is. Who says it is? Everyone who knows best. rofl.

 

[Screaming Meat]

How many people complaining about the quality of '10s music go out and see your local bands/artists (i.e. ones that aren't huge or on labels or what not)?

 

[Bulk_Rate]

I don't know whether it is garbage per se, but modern pop music specifically is louder and less diverse than in the past -

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/26/us-science-music-idUSBRE86P0R820120726

Researchers in Spain used a huge archive known as the Million Song Dataset, which breaks down audio and lyrical content into data that can be crunched, to study pop songs from 1955 to 2010.

A team led by artificial intelligence specialist Joan Serra at the Spanish National Research Council ran music from the last 50 years through some complex algorithms and found that pop songs have become intrinsically louder and more bland in terms of the chords, melodies and types of sound used.

"We found evidence of a progressive homogenization of the musical discourse," Serra told Reuters. "In particular, we obtained numerical indicators that the diversity of transitions between note combinations - roughly speaking chords plus melodies - has consistently diminished in the last 50 years."

They also found the so-called timbre palette has become poorer. The same note played at the same volume on, say, a piano and a guitar is said to have a different timbre, so the researchers found modern pop has a more limited variety of sounds.

 

[J-Roderton]

Y'all need Damon Albarn.

 

[hokahey]

Synth pop revival has me in constant new tunes. Greatest stretch of music in a very long time.

 

[Oynox]

Just don't listen to the radio, listen to music you like. And there is "modern" music, which is good as well as there is "old" music, which is good. But not all "old" music is good either. However, it is all a question of taste. Eg. I do not like Mozart very much, because I like the romantic-era much more.

 

[collige]

10s is so far probably the worst decade imo, speaking as someone who focuses on that buried music. But 00s was very close to the best.

Indie and punk rock music is certainly at its worst in a while. Prog has been reduced to a nerd-niche. Jazz is primarily devoted to decades old ideas. "Electronica" is growing fatter but not taller. Pop is middling overall. Techno and Rap are doing alright. I'd say that Metal is the only genre that's really thriving.

If you're referring to genres simply as "techno" and "electronica", I have to doubt that your level of involvement in electronic music is high enough to make such broad judgement calls.

 

[Messofanego]

This kid needs to watch Midnight in Paris, it's the perfect argument against nostalgia ever.

Seriously.

 

[Valhelm]

I haven't really found any new artists that I like since The Strokes and Franz Ferdinand, really. That was a good 10+ years ago now.

I've found some songs that I like... mostly some sort of acid jazzy or nu disco-type stuff on Soundcloud. But when I look at the rest of their catalogue... meh.

I've found new music that I like, but the artists have all been around for years and years. I just never knew about them.

But newer music and all the trends that come along with it are generally pretty weak, in my opinion.

Are you familiar with the Arctic Monkeys, Guster, and Vampire Weekend? They're quite similar to your tastes.

 

[Regiruler]

There is so much good music available today if you just look for it.

And with stuff like Soundcloud it's easier to find than it has ever been.

If you live in a relatively large city, there should be 10+ live gigs for you to choose from, any day of the week.

Unfortunately never near me.
Rule 180 of power metal: never tour in the 'states

 

[Foxtastical]

I hate this shit.

I constantly feel overwhelmed by the insane amount of music I have access to nowadays - both present and past tracks. There's so much, so so much. I get paralyzed by choice so often.

 

[RP912]

I hate this shit.

I constantly feel overwhelmed by the insane amount of music I have access to nowadays - both present and past tracks. There's so much, so so much. I get paralyzed by choice so often.

Agreed. It becomes overwhelming because of the amount of music out there.

The internet is like the field of dreams when it comes down to looking for new and old music.

Compared to back in the 90s where it was all word of mouth.

 

[Metrotab]

I just listen to classical. Stuff is timeless.

 

[Servbot24]

If you're referring to genres simply as "techno" and "electronica", I have to doubt that your level of involvement in electronic music is high enough to make such broad judgement calls.

Notice how I didn't delve into the standings of subgenres for the other types of music either. I intended to make an internet post, not a dissertation.

Y'all need Damon Albarn.

He's one of the most famous musicians in the world, I think people are aware.

 

[GrizzNKev]

Pop radio had been shit since the moment I was born and that will not change.

 

[Servbot24]

Pop radio had been shit since the moment I was born and that will not change.

Not as shit as rock radio.

 

[kitchenmotors]

This, the 90s fucking sucked.

Nah, you're wrong... sorry to have to break it to you. I know music is subjective, but the 90s had some amazing albums that are among the best of all time. Off the top of my head...

Bjork - Homogenic
Radiohead - OK Computer
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
Squarepusher - Music Is Rotted One Note
The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Cibo Matto - Viva La Woman
Emiliana Torrini - Love in the Time of Science
Sigur Ros - Ágætis byrjun
The Smashing Pumpkins - Adore
Aphex Twin - The Richard D. James Album
Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children
Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space

 

[EmeraldSwords]

Recently discovered Ministry. Pretty great pioneers of the industrial genre.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

The Killers didn't form until 2001, OP is invalidated.

 

[J-Roderton]

He's one of the most famous musicians in the world, I think people are aware.

Exactly. No excuses.

 

[TheWarrior]

I consider myself slightly old for a GAFer and I still find some new bands that I like. I probably don't discover certain bands as fast as younger people. There is always good music out there to find, Pop music with the exception of a few like MJ has always been shit, there's pop from the 50's that was as bad then as Bieber and Selena Gomez.

I recently discovered Five Finger Death Punch, not sure if it's cool to like them or not, but they have a good sound to them.

 

[KaiserBecks]

As someone who grew up in the 90s, I have to say that the stuff the kids are listening to these days is infinitely better than the stuff I got back then.

The fact that kids these days listen to crap like Skrillex and Linkin Park already proves you wrong. The 90s gave us so many amazing songs, I wouldn't even know where to start. Probably with TLC.

 

[shysaursoft]

The fact that kids these days listen to crap like Skrillex and Linkin Park already proves you wrong.

What about adults that listen to Skrillex?

Someone using music as some kind of IQ test or a validation of someone's ability to have (or have no) taste is a much better indicator of someone's critical thinking, than what they do or do not listen to.

 

[Risible]

The irony is that people who think that way demonstrate an inability to think for themselves, as they accept this myth perpetuated by whites over 40+ that classic Rock (and a few now grandfathered in hip hop acts) are real music, while simultaneously their chief criticism of music today is that it's garbage spoonfed to idiots who can't think for themselves.

Why is it real music? Because it is. Who says it is? Everyone who knows best. rofl.

Whites?? WTF. You think being nostalgic for old music is limited to white people? I know just as many older black people that moan about rap and think that only Motown or soul is "real" music.

I understand what you're saying, but you might want to re-think the racial aspect of it. As an aside, I'm a 50 year old white guy that loves finding great new music all the time.

 

[TheChuggernaut]

Sure, me neither, but damning the 90s for having shit music because your country's Top 40 was rubbish is a bit solipsistic, isn't it...? Do we really judge an era's music by it's Top 40? Heaven forbid. Just because decent bands didn't get onto the regular playlists on your national radio doesn't mean they weren't making music. They were there, they were touring, they were recording and releasing stuff. It was out there to be found.

I never actually said the 90s were bad, just that today's top 40 is better then what it was in the 90s. I can't possibly hate the era that gave us Illmatic and OK Computer

 

[Risible]

Nah, you're wrong... sorry to have to break it to you. I know music is subjective, but the 90s had some amazing albums that are among the best of all time. Off the top of my head...

Bjork - Homogenic
Radiohead - OK Computer
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
Squarepusher - Music Is Rotted One Note
The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Cibo Matto - Viva La Woman
Emiliana Torrini - Love in the Time of Science
Sigur Ros - Ágætis byrjun
The Smashing Pumpkins - Adore
Aphex Twin - The Richard D. James Album
Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children
Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space

This man knows wtf is up. You may not like the genres or styles of these albums but they are certainly classics.

 

[Messofanego]

I just listened to Swans - The Seer album (2012) and "Avatar" off it is incredible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdzYh1-MhjY

And heard their new album is as great if not better. Plenty of new bands that I love now too from last few years that have started from the last decade.

Just from last year (my favourite albums from the voting thread):
Fuck Buttons
Bibio
SubRosa
Kinski
Yamantaka Sonic Titan
Chelsea Wolfe
Kvelertak
Machinedrum
These New Puritans
Young Knives
Gary Numan
Chelsea Light Moving
Anamanaguchi
John Grant

 

[twobear]

I'd pay to see this kid get beat up.

SCREAMING

 

[Risible]

As an older guy who's gone through many decades hearing this same shit over and over, let me offer some advice. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that your favorite decade is the be all, end all of good media. That's nostalgia tricking you. Every decade has amazing performers and artists and tons of good music, movies, and literature. Sure, you have to sift through the crap, but that's how it always has been and always will be. Don't ossify, stay open to new shit. Now I'm off to yell at some clouds.

 

[Screaming Meat]

I never actually said the 90s were bad, just that today's top 40 is better then what it was in the 90s. I can't possibly hate the era that gave us Illmatic and OK Computer

Fair enough. I got you confused with the other guy XD

 

[shysaursoft]

As an older guy who's gone through many decades hearing this same shit over and over, let me offer some advice. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that your favorite decade is the be all, end all of good media. That's nostalgia tricking you. Every decade has amazing performers and artists and tons of good music, movies, and literature. Sure, you have to sift through the crap, but that's how it always has been and always will be. Don't ossify, stay open to new shit. Now I'm off to yell at some clouds.

This dude gets it.

 

[AHA-Lambda]

Nah, you're wrong... sorry to have to break it to you. I know music is subjective, but the 90s had some amazing albums that are among the best of all time. Off the top of my head...

Bjork - Homogenic
Radiohead - OK Computer
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
Squarepusher - Music Is Rotted One Note
The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Cibo Matto - Viva La Woman
Emiliana Torrini - Love in the Time of Science
Sigur Ros - Ágætis byrjun
The Smashing Pumpkins - Adore
Aphex Twin - The Richard D. James Album
Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children
Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space

Let me reemphasise, I was agreeing with the other poster about growing up in the 90s as a child. There is good stuff but not for me as a kid. I wasn't really into music much at all as a result until my later years in the 2000s.

I didn't know much of any good music from then. The popular shit like spice girls as you mentioned? Or boozing, backstreet boys etc? That was all I knew and yes it was awful but I had nothing else as a child for any frame of reference.

.

 

[RP912]

I been on an experimental kick lately with listening to music. One day I'm listening to house music and the next I'm listening to grime.


Right now I'm listening to lounge music for some weird reason.

 

[Damaniel]

Radiohead was barely in the top 40, and I'm pretty sure Massive Attack was never in the top 40. Nirvana was, but that doesn't really excuse the rest of it for being as awful as it was.

Radiohead was definitely in the top 40 a lot (even in the US), and OK Computer is still considered by critics to be one of the best albums of the 90s. That said, I kind of disagree with it. Personally, I consider Radiohead the Dark Souls of bands - really, passionately liked and defended by a small, core group of people, but not particularly great - average to slightly above average, but far overrated. Given a choice, I like my music far less depressing, honestly (Karma Police is an awesome song, though).

Given my age, the 90s should be the decade that makes up the bulk of the music I like. In reality, I don't listen to as much 90s music as you'd think. I probably listen to more 60s/70s/80s music, and probably listen to post-90s music the most of all. The day I stop finding good, new (and old - didn't start listening to and appreciating The Beatles until about 5 years ago) music will be a terrible day indeed.

 

[Screaming Meat]

.

So because you didn't hear any good music back then that automatically makes the 90s "shit"...? Huh.

 

[phillipgessert]

Let me reemphasise, I was agreeing with the other poster about growing up in the 90s as a child. There is good stuff but not for me as a kid. I wasn't really into music much at all as a result until my later years in the 2000s.

I didn't know much of any good music from then. The popular shit like spice girls as you mentioned? Or boozing, backstreet boys etc? That was all I knew and yes it was awful but I had nothing else as a child for any frame of reference.

Most people awaken to and identify with popular music as they enter adolescence. Prior to that it's not often on their radar.

 

[Scooter155]

I'm reminded of a Leonard Cohen quote I read in Songwriters on Songwriting (great book for aspiring songwriters or anyone interested in the craft). I can't remember it verbatim and I can't find it online right now, but it went something like this - "It's the human experience that glorifies the song, not the other way around."

That helps me calm down when I'm hating on what I perceive as low quality pop music.

 

[Inspectah Deck]

You guys are looking at the wrong music. There are a lot of great artists out today. But internet hipsters would see through that and stay attached to the 90s

 

[equippedwithtowel]

Indie and punk rock music is certainly at its worst in a while.

Not even close to true. Garage Rock and Post-Punk are coming back in a big way.

 

[kitchenmotors]

You guys are looking at the wrong music. There are a lot of great artists out today. But internet hipsters would see through that and stay attached to the 90s

Oh come on, we've moved onto the term "internet hipsters" now? Can you literally not?

 

[TheRedSnifit]

Recently discovered Ministry. Pretty great pioneers of the industrial metal genre.

Same here, but they're pretty hit-and-miss. Psalm 69 is great, everything before and after is serviceable-to-bad.

 

[forgeforsaken]

Same here, but they're pretty hit-and-miss. Psalm 69 is great, everything before and after is serviceable-to-bad.

Best Ministry is pre Psalm 69. Although a live album, In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up, is IMO the best thing they've done.

 

[forgeforsaken]

Not even close to true. Garage Rock and Post-Punk are coming back in a big way.

Yeah frankly I find it a bit of a 90s resurgence. You have all these old bands touring again and putting out new material, and you have all these other new bands that sound like they are straight from the early 90s.