Is older music better?

[Narj]

Lately I've found I've just got fed up with the crap [EDIT: from the popular spectrum on the radio] entering my ears (besides the usual classical) and I've started listening to 80's, 70's, 60's and now 50's. I've even ventured into the 40's.

It seems to me that things were much more diverse years ago and music was actually interesting before the 90's. Is there justification for executing Stock, Aitken and Waterman yet for murdering popular music because I'm sure they are the common point where it all went wrong?

I think that from our modern era, there will only be a handful of bands that are still listened to in 50 years time, whereas the greats (eg: The Stones) will be listened to forever. I'll say that Oasis' peak creations will still be popular in 50 years time as a point of debate.

I'll also say that the likes of Lily Allen and Jessie J will be forgotten within a decade.

So 2 questions:

1) Is modern [EDIT: Popular] music pretty crap in general?

2) Which contemporary bands/groups do you think will still be listened to and well known in 50 years time?

In my case, I'm sure that Johnny Cash, The Inkspots, Marty Robbins, Guy Mitchell, The Stones, The Ratpack, Matt Monro and several dozen other people/bands would be very happy to know that someone is still listening to their past works in this day and age and really enjoying them.

Fire away!

EDIT: I'm primarily focusing my disdain at popular music.

 

[Fenris]

No, crap music is crap. There has always been and will always be crap music.

Also remember there is almost certainly considerably more music being made now than there was 20 years ago let alone 50.

Your argument about musical diversity is also pretty laughable, music is only getting more diverse as time goes on.

 

[Narj]

Your argument about musical diversity is also pretty laughable, music is only getting more diverse as time goes on.

Really? If anything it all seems to be sounding more alike with the exception of some rock/indie. If you want to be anal then you can always find where stuff has been done before. There are only so many musical ideas that can exist within standard rules and many of them have already been done.

Maybe it's just a sign I'm getting old. The fact that I enjoy music made by old, dead men probably reinforces this.

 

[Fenris]

Maybe it's just a sign I'm getting old.

No it's a sign you're listening to the wrong music.

Saying all [insert genre you don't like] sounds the same because of [insert musical technique] is like saying all houses look the same because they have windows.

 

[SheepBeast]

music is for more diverse now than ever before. there is just as much if not more high quality music being produced

if you are speaking purely about the charts, then your point would be more valid. mainstream music now can often be mass produced "bubblegum pop" but don't let that fool you - there are still amazing bands out there if you look for them

off the top of my head, look up tool and porcupine tree, both are stunning bands - very creative and unique, and compositionally interesting.

if you restrict yourself to only chart/pop/indie music no wonder you are bored. there is a huge variety of music out there beyond these small niches (which happen to have become the most mainstream, but that may change again in the future)

 

[Narj]

if you are speaking purely about the charts, then your point would be more valid. mainstream music now can often be mass produced "bubblegum pop" but don't let that fool you - there are still amazing bands out there if you look for them

Yes, I had "popular" music in mind when writing this... sorry for not being clearer. Hence the SA&W reference.

I do listen to a lot of modern bands in multiple genres that I love but the popular spectrum seems to have become mind-numbing. I also listen to lots of oldskool, techno, trance etc but of late the popular crap made me want to listen to stuff from past eras, hence this thread.

 

[Cleeecooo]

I really hate the way a lot of mainstream pop is becoming auto tuned electronic dubstep ****.

That being said, theres still a lot of good modern music coming out.

 

[Lysander]

In a word, yes.

Music now concentrates on effect and commercialism more than talent.

Yes, there are more styles around, but the Internet has meant saturation from a tonne of bad musicians who just want to get their stuff out there to bloat their own egos.

There is still great stuff being produced, granted. But music is no way as inventive as it was. Ideas are rehashed and recycled more than ever. I can't remember the last truly original record I heard.

As a result I mostly buy records from the 80s and 70s these days, when creativity was really at a peak, especially as far as dark music is concerned. And how wonderful it is to hear records from these periods with no autotune on the vocals. When people fronted a band because they could sing rather than they just looked great.

 

[Emphacy]

Well let's be honest now, if you try and compare the lyrics of most songs these days with the lyrics of songs in likes of the 80's they mean absolute balls.

I wish music was like it was back then, with meaning and power, unlike today's mainstream rubbish, where lyrics are designed for even the most retarded 12 year olds to sing while browsing the sweets in Poundland.

 

[PardonTheWait]

The 'old' music that is still listened to by a significant amount of people is the cream of that particular era and there was tons and tons and tons of bilge that was almost instantly forgotten, just like there is today.

 

[Narj]

As a result I mostly but records from the 80s and 70s these days, when creativity was really at a peak, especially as far as dark music is concerned.

The 80's to me is musical Valhalla. So much originality, experimentation and downright madness in all styles. I really don't think that any decade has produced such an amazing variety of different styles with so many amazing hits.

I won't even bother to try compiling a list, it's impossible.

 

[LizardKing]

It seems to me that things were much more diverse years ago and music was actually interesting before the 90's.

Afraid your just getting old with a maturing taste in music.

The problem today is commercialisation of music to suit current trends.

There are still plenty of bands out there making there own music. You just need to find it!

The 'old' music that is still listened to by a significant amount of people is the cream of that particular era and there was tons and tons and tons of bilge that was almost instantly forgotten, just like there is today.

And this! You just need to look through the history of the charts to realise just how much guff there was back then.

 

[silvercut]

it is true: http://phys.org/news/2012-07-music-louder.html

 

[Narj]

There are still plenty of bands out there making there own music. You just need to find it!

Yes, I know this - they are niche bands. The issue is with "popular" music. Which I didn't make clear in my original post, sorry!

 

[Lysander]

The 80's to me is musical Valhalla. So much originality, experimentation and downright madness in all styles.

It's amazing. Metal was born and coasted throughout the 70s.... traditional and doom metal was all you got for ten years. Then the 80s came and you had traditional, doom, power, black, thrash, progressive, gothic, avant-garde, death. The whole thing exploded.

And don't even get me on ambient. An amazing decade which I am plumbing the depths of but I still feel there are many hidden gems which I have yet to discover. What can I say, I love the 80s. I was listening to some Pat Benatar today - great vocals, raw talent, no autotune, bliss!

 

[Cleeecooo]

Yes, I know this - they are niche bands. The issue is with "popular" music. Which I didn't make clear in my original post, sorry!

You definitely have a point then.

Pop music is all about the image of the person, nobody needs to be able to sing, they just pretend and use auto tune instead.

I don't care if you don't write your own songs, please, please just sing them. If auto tune was used - tell us; don't deny the fact you have no talent!!!

 

[Spook187]

People tend to laugh at me when i say i love classical and Jazz music,since my roots come from the House Music scene and play cutting edge Tech House when about doing my DJ gigs.
There is a hell of a lot of dire music out at present caused by the likes of simon cowel and his lust for manufactured music which people tend to think wow this is real music lol.

 

[Lysander]

People tend to laugh at me when i say i love classical and Jazz music

These people are idiots. You only have to listen to classical to realise how much talent, ability and vision is packed within each stave.

Having said that, put a donk on it.

 

[Narj]

People tend to laugh at me when i say i love classical and Jazz music,since my roots come from the House Music scene and play cutting edge Tech House when about doing my DJ gigs.
There is a hell of a lot of dire music out at present caused by the likes of simon cowel and his lust for manufactured music which people tend to think wow this is real music lol.

Hey, I like Drum n Bass and Trance. However, it doesn't tell me a story. It might take me on a mental journey if it's something exceptional like BT's music but that's about it.

As for classical, I play piano and the amount of stolen ideas I hear all the time is ridiculous. Phil Collins and Clementi is a case in point.

 

[LizardKing]

Yes, I know this - they are niche bands. The issue is with "popular" music. Which I didn't make clear in my original post, sorry!

Pop music by its definition is whats popular at the moment in time. Your just out of touch

Unfortunately Radio will only ever play what brings in the money, we need more people like John Peel!