Where did all the good music go?

[indis]

I’m listening to absolute radio, as I always do, it just pumped out God put a smile on my face by Coldplay, followed by Uviversally speaking by Red Hot Chillies THEN Song 2 by Blur.

It got me thinking, these years were truly special for deep and meaning music, and I don’t think we really appreciated it at the time..

Ive heard a couple of good ones recently, one by Djo ‘End of the beginning’ and I another called ‘I Care’ by Turnstile (love that one).

But still, they’re very few and far between these days. Anyone else mourn those days?

Why does everyone who likes Coldplay presume u else does, I honestly can’t think of a duller band.
Music is so subjective, my playlists go from screaming, heavy rock to Taylor Swift and songs from musicals! I don’t care what era a song is from, I just like music.

First band I saw live in early 80s. Music has been going downhill since the sixties.

Every generation thinks the music when they were young was the best, first gf/bf, first shag, first lots of things. For me, that was late 60s/early 70s. So the Stones, Dylan, Joni Mtichell, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, etc first hand. I'll take that. Still plenty of good new music out there, though, and I'm still buying music, and seeing it live when I can, in all genres.

Ah, we all turn into our dad’s eventually 😃

I saw another saying that 90s music was better (and some analysis of why, and what music made people happy etc).
I'm no expert, but I can say that all the teenagers in my family seem to like nineties and noughties music, which did surprise me. But then, things have been different since streaming overtook CD purchasing,

Popular music used to make people happy, it was all hearts and roses and romance pretty much, from post-war until well into the 70s at least, look at Tamla-Motown. But then it took a darker turn, and you don't see so many love-songs in the charts these days. Proving something, no doubt.

Every generation seems to say music was better back in their day. It’s a sign you’re getting old and set in your ways, not that music is now rubbish.

There’s now no money in selling records so if you haven’t noticed new bands have been on the decline. That’s why you see musicians doing podcasts.

As a Gen Z, I do think Spotify has made famous music overall more mediocre.

But at same time, there are some great newer musicians. I'd recommend Mitski, Japanese Breakfast, The Last Dinner Party, Jesse Welles, Soko, Lila Ike, The Crane Wives, Janelle Monae, Kendrick Lamar, Clairo, Kehlani, St Vincent, The Japanese House, Chappell Roan (to some extent).

I also think France has some good recent singers : Christine and the Queens, Hoshi, Angele, Vendredi Sur Mer, Pomme, Coeur de Pirate & Alice et Moi.

Yes, this doesn't help. Also, people are numbed by constant bad news & screens so music became very interior. Jesse Welles is a welcome exception to the lack of protest/political music.

Can you remember where it was? I'm Gen Z & love 90s music (and a lot of others) & I'm sure I'm not alone. Otoh liking older music surely isn't completely new. My mum (Gen X) loved the Beatles & other older stuff.

That's interesting, as a Gen Z I'd say there's almost too much love music and music dominated by interiority. Taylor Swift- check. Olivia Rodrigo - check. The whole 'sad girl music' trend was often dominated by love. And there's sad boys like Sombr getting in on the act now too.

Two I really like, Mitski & Japanese Breakfast, also have a huge amount of songs about love in their catalogue, but I mind less because there's more musical variety & they do do other subjects too.

Yes, Spotify means many Gen Z like me can now listen to music from across all time & space. Otoh most people still like new stuff but there is a problem with arguably mediocre options being rewarded by Spotify economy : bedroom pop with whisper-singing, Taylor Swift's endless Easter Eggs. I'm not saying either are bad but imo both need to diversify.

I'd also note older artists are still releasing good stuff. Beyonce's new album, for one. Lily Allen too.

I will add a caveat and say musicals are different & doing excellently now imo. Women are also writing more & more hits ; Hadestown, Fun Home, Six, Waitress, Come From Away, Suffs etc

Yes, we need more bands & groups.

I'd put several of those on my best list, as a Gen Z.

I'm an oldie too! After mostly being into 80s soul/ funk/dance music, an indie rock band from Chicago called Brigitte Calls Me Baby made me completely reassess my musical taste last year, with their unique retro sound reminiscent of all things 80s and beyond (think The Cure, Morrissey, the Strokes, Tears for Fears, The killers, even Elvis) yet still sounding new and original. Not for everyone but has such an across the years vibe. I think as you get older you get more receptive to new music, not less.

And then there's hip-hop. Yes, 90% of it is landfill (although you could say that about many genres), but the best of it is vibrant music with a real immediacy, produced by skilled musicans.

We saw Yungblud live last week, and it was amazing. The was a band called The Warning on as well. They were really good

I think there is more bland music now (although considering you listed Coldplay as good...).
Much of the most popular stuff now is written by committee and over produced.
However there is still plenty of good new music around to be found.

Have you heard Angine de Poitrine?

I love BBC 6 Music, (I say this on every radio thread!🫣🤣). Theres some great music on there, some old classic stuff, loads of new music, often special themed programmes, and very knowledgeable presenters. They occasionally play obscure —shite— stuff, but in the main is much better than the others I think…