I am not old, and your music does suck

[Thtwudbeme]

There. I said it.

Music today is crap.

[ryban]

1. U-2 is the best band out today ...

... and they started when I was 16 and John Lennon was still alive.

[mr_hat]

2. Oh please.

[WoodrowFan]

5. look up 'full of themselves" in the dictionary

and there's U-2.

[ryban]

13. Name a better band playing today ...

Hurry before Queen gets back on the road!

[WoodrowFan]

14. pretty much all of them

I mean U2 puts me to sleep faster than nitequill.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[progressor]

53. There's plenty...

Flaming Lips and Wilco are currently better than U2.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with U2 - they're just spinning their wheels - it's the same thing over and over and over again. My mother got their new album for Christmas, so I ripped MP3s of it and gave it a listen. I found it infinetly boring.

The Flaming Lips have been around since 1983 and have yet to release anything that doesn't sound fresh. They didn't really come into their own until the 1990 with "Transmissions from the Satellite Heart", but they've been feverously chaging their music and experimenting (see: Zaireeka particularly for experimentation and Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, for the fruits of their labors).

David Byrne released an album less than a year ago, as did Tom Waits. Rufus Wainwright is better than U2 and so is his father (kinda). Bob Dylan's still working. R.E.M. Bruce Springsteen. Neil Young. And who could forget Beck!

And so on.

All better and more interesting than the revered U2.

I love the old U2 - the 80s (Boy, War, Joshua Tree) - and from the 90s Achtung, Baby was good, but since then...

"I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll..."

[DrBB]

55. Well, Mission of Burma and The Pixies have both reformed

...and both bands have new songs out that are as good as their earlier stuff. Pixies only have one, that I know of, but Burma has a couple.

[St. Jarvitude]

68. Radiohead, Wilco, The Flaming Lips, The Shins...

I hate Franz Ferdinand as much as any other guy, but, fuck, I'd still rather listen to the music they're shitting out their guitars than be subjected to a minute of whatever stool sample Bono found in his toilet this morning.

That said, U2 used to kick some serious ass, when their music actually fucking meant something instead of guaranteeing them an exclusive deal with Apple.

[Floogeldy]

69. Sounds like a right-wing ploy you are using

Hate a band because of what you pretend they are thinking about themselves?

Tell me more, KRESKIN.

[Skittles]

58. LOL - this guy would beg to differ

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=11worst

[jonnyblitz]

65. LMFAO...that is funny!

:P

[Feathered Fish]

3. Yep

Even U2 I'm afraid.

[tridim]

4. This is probably the worst pop music decade in modern history

There is good music today, they just don't play any of it on the radio.

[gater]

10. The best music never gets played on the air!

I worked nearly two decades in radio in N.Y.,and i have a massive disc collection (and Vinyl) of bands that never "made it"...and the music is phenomenal!! But sadly, unless everybody comes over to the house, you'll never hear it.

[pretzel4gore]

32. the Donny Osmond Fan Club

picked the music 30 years ago, and much of it was awful (righteous brothers, tommy james and shondels, 'sweet caroline' played twice every hour) much of comm music radio is so hideous it seems like it's a cia psych op of some kind, vapour trails in the sky.....

[progressor]

54. Indeed.

You are exactly correct - NPR does it's music thing and they usually have good and interesting artists on there.

I think it's always been like that, though. For the most part - the crappy, one-hit-wonder, pop-fantastic bands get played on the radio and are quickly forgotten and the bands with longevity don't.

[jdj]

71. I think Murdoch is behind it. Hillary Duff, Britney Spears, Jessica

Simpson. I keep harping about this, but hasn't anyone noticed that the only people getting marketed are kinderwhore republicans?

[Kire]

6. my friend made his living as a concert tech (i.e. roadie) in the 80's

he's been out of work a long time, now

[vixengrl]

12. You only need to mike and set up equipment

when people make music with actual voices and instruments. I don't like these teeny-bop babes with the studio-created everything.

[DancingBear]

7. Oh where have you been all my life??

I am old, but it surely does.

Absolutely nothing new creatively, derivative as hell, and why is it not OK to actually be able to sing?

Is it the "angst" thing? 'Cause if it is, that's been around a looooooonnnnggg time, and when we did it (first, of course) the bands actually had vocalists who could sing.

In key, even.

[Thtwudbeme]

9. OK, if you don't mind me asking,

how old are you? I am 41...happily married btw! There is a reason I am asking :)

[DancingBear]

15. Nope, don't mind at all

I'm 51, happily married 30 years, Woodstock attendee. Saw my first rock concert in '65 (Stones) and still play the good old stuff (1965-1972 or so) all the time.

OK, what's the reason? :)

[Thtwudbeme]

23. OK, here's one for you!

I was trying to find a WAV you and your wife would like...but, couldn't find any good old rock or folk music!

This is my favorite link when I am feeling nostalgic! Like having a juke box on your PC-

http://pcdon.com/pop-country.html

Right now, I am listening to "Wipe Out," but just got finished listening to Patsy Cline--

Stephanie

[tuvor]

8. I disagree. It depends on where you're looking.

If you look for the good stuff, you'll find it.

[Thtwudbeme]

11. You didn't used to have to LOOK for it

that's my point.

Yes...I know some of the alternative stuff is good...but, you have to search.

[tuvor]

20. I still disagree. I had to look in the 80s.

Pointer Sisters, Top Gun soundtrack, LaBarge, Rockwell, The two guys from Miami Vice, Laura Branigan, Olivia Newton-John...Really, when was the last time radio didn't suck?

Thank God I was going to university at the time and found out about these nutty "new wave" bands.

[KG]

16. lots of great music being made today - just don't expect to hear it

on clear channel, or MTV or TNN.

[nickgutierrez]

25. Exactly.

There is good music, but you've really got to search to find it. Don't expect the radio stations to be any help, either.

[KG]

29. i'm lucky enough to live in a town with one of the great community

radio stations. not only do i hear great music, but they bring to artists to town for concerts. woohoo!

www.wmnf.org

[Deja Q]

17. I second that. Even U2's new album is kinda like their last one...

Not bad and I'm still in the mood for that style, but otherwise...

[ryban]

18. Here are some albums from 1971 & 1980... how doe's today's music stack up?

Marvin Gaye
What's Going On

Led Zeppelin
IV

Joni Mitchell
Blue

The Who
Who's Next

The Rolling Stones
Sticky Fingers

David Bowie
Hunky Dory

Sly and the Family Stone
There's a Riot Goin' On

Carole King
Tapestry

John Lennon
Imagine

The Allman Brothers Band
At Fillmore East

Rod Stewart
Every Picture Tells a Story

The Doors
L.A. Woman

Janis Joplin
Pearl

T. Rex
Electric Warrior

The Beach Boys
Surf's Up

Jethro Tull
Aqualung


http://hem.bredband.net/b132682/1971a.htm

OR 1980 (added on edit)

Talking Heads
Remain in Light

Joy Division
Closer

Pretenders
Pretenders

AC/DC
Back in Black

Bruce Springsteen
The River

Elvis Costello and The Attractions
Get Happy!!

Prince
Dirty Mind

Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel (III)

The Dead Kennedys
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

The Jam
Sound Affects

X
Los Angeles

David Bowie
Scary Monsters

The Clash
Sandinista!

Echo and the Bunnymen
Crocodiles

The Police
Zenyatta Mondatta

U2
Boy

Motörhead
Ace of Spades

The Beat
I Just Can't Stop It

John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Double Fantasy

http://hem.bredband.net/b132682/1980a.htm

[gater]

27. I suppose we all have to wait until 2034 or so to answer that question.

I am 43, and have seen Saves the Day, and Taking Back Sunday recently, and always go to the Warped Tour Shows. I also saw Zep, The Who, The Stones, Dylan, The Grateful Dead, Deep Purple...
Ian Anderson once wrote a song with,,, I think the lyrics went, "Too old to Rock and Roll, too young to die!" There is a lot of great music out there...and sometimes one must look a little harder to find the best things in life! Don't tell me some of you are starting to identify with the Tull song!

[Clark2008]

48. I'm glad my parents had all the ones you listed in 1971

I still adore The Who, even if Pete has sold all his music to CSI and JCPenney's.

And I was 10 and just gettin' started with my LP collection (yes, vinyl) in 1980.

Today?

Is there music today? I wouldn't know. It mostly sounds like one band doing the same thing over and over and over again.

[MrSlayer]

19. I agree.

Mainstream totally blows, worse than ever.

[Maccagirl]

21. Yep, I don't pay any attention to today's stuff

and I KNOW I'm not missing anything.

[cags]

22. Well, I'm kinda old, and I like alot of todays music

[WCGreen]

24. Ryan Adams, The Format, The Strokes,

Beck, Finger Eleven, Blink 182, Modest Mouse, The Bens, Ben Folds Five, Uncle Cracker, The Ataris, Jason Mraz, Toni Price, Tift Merrit,
The Killers, Renee Olstead, Green Day and Cake are all recent bands or performers who are somewhat well known and very talented.....

A lot of great stuff out there and I heard it all on the radio, even hear in Cleveland where Clear Channel Rules.....

I am 47, married for 18 years and still love to find new music....

Forgot Cold Play.....

Now not everyone is going to agree, and that's okay cause that's what music is all about, but to make a blanket statement that there is no good music out is kind of lazy...........

[Thtwudbeme]

28. How many of those bands got famous for doing

remakes???

My husband is 37, and he listens to RATM. I have to recuperate with Elvis.

Jesus Christ on rollerblades...I hate this brave new world.

[WCGreen]

31. Everyone of them, from my experience, came to light

via the original song route. I don't know if they all wrote their own music but I do know they all have talent that is definatly missing at the top tier of the pop charts.....

[greblc]

66. Amen

Is'nt Green Day up for album of the Year?

American Idiot is about as close to a mainstream protest song as I think we can hope for.

[LeftyMom]

26. I agree and I'm not old, either

If there's any new music that doesn't suck out there, I haven't heard it.

[illini]

30. Your OLD!!!!!!! Jet the stroke the white strips korn sum 41...............

Your just not looking for it.

[illini]

34. I thought of some more

Rancid
Ben Folds
Cake
Green day
Disturbed
Linkin Park
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

[illini]

35. More

Dixie Chicks
Marylin Manson
Blink 182
Breaking Benjamin

[gater]

37. Dude. You should've stopped before Blink 182.

All cred went out the window when they made it onto a Kidz Bop disc!

[ldf]

64. interesting, i'm 53

and one of my current faves is mechanical animals, by marilyn manson.

of course that is the one he got trashed for, it was too commercial, too mainstream.

but it is very listenable and has some powerful music. (ok, i don't like the lyric "i'm not in love, i'm gonna **** you till someone better comes along".)

i have a bit of his other stuff, but it's a little too hard to listen to. i have a hard time with rough vocals.

i do have a hard time with a lot of new stuff, but i am open.

i would even like a lot of the hip-hop and rap, if they would just delete the vocal track so you could hear the music, and not the whine.

besides, it is so junior high to be obscene just to try to shock people. cool, it's NOT.

[sendero]

33. That is true..

... but there is no way to actually prove it.

Actually, I'm sure there is good music out there but you will never, ever ever hear it on the radio and so finding it is not easy.

One of my kids has good taste, through him I'm listening to a French band called Air, another band called Interpol, plus some stuff from the 90s I missed like Pavement.

But it is probably true that nothing will ever move us like the music of our (relative) youth :)

[AndyTiedye]

36. Try Some Nice Crunchy Psytrance

(Hint. You're supposed to dance to it!)

[Paul Hood]

38. Oh please.

There is always good music going on. Even forgetting how subjective taste in music is. If you can't find music you like you maybe should look a little harder.

[Thtwudbeme]

39. I answered that. One should not have to look so hard

these days.

Kinda like a snipe hunt, except on the radio.

No thanks.

[DancingBear]

40. Here is the premise that is missing

The reason that I, and many others, find current day music (focusing on rock music now - jazz today is even worse) unlistenable is that is breaks no new ground.

Premise: the defining periods of rock are as follows

Elvis et al -1956-1960
British Invasion 1963-65
Psych/Garage - 1966-1968
Soul - 1964-1970
Country/Rock blending - 1967-1972

Each of these periods is notable for the fact that rock music was fundamentally changed in some way. SInce the early 70's, this has not been the case, and making a case that today's music is/will do so is laughable. Just because music is not played on mainstream radio does not give it reason to be held to higher standards. Imitation is imitation, no matter where it's found.

If someone can make a case that this music will be definitive to its generation I'm all ears, but for those of us here who prefer originality (and times when music truly was an integral part of who you were) we'll just pass it up.

[Droopy]

44. You missed the invention of heavy metal

I listen to a classic rock station and a new rock station and I can tell you that music now-a-days doesn't sound anything like what was being made in the 70s and 80s.

[DancingBear]

45. I never mentioned the 70's/80's

I use a (somewhat arbitrary) cut-off date of 1972.

As for heavy metal - that's been around forever. Check out bands like Sir Lord Baltimore ('71) and Trapeze ('69-'70) for starters. Again, just becuase sombody wants to call it something different don't mean it hasn't been done before...

Like I said - since '72, nothing new under the sun. :)

[Droopy]

50. I know when metal came about

And I've got the Black Sabbath albums to prove it. My point is that it marked a time when rock changed.

I do not agree that it's all already been done. I think that there are lot of bands that are making original music. There is also what I like to call cookie cutter bands that have a similar sound. There was a time that I could not tell the difference between about four bands that were getting a lot of air time. That type of thing has probably been going on since we invented radio.

[DancingBear]

52. I'll agree with your heavy metal point

I think I misread your position - apologies are in order.

With regard to 'original music" - how do you define it? I was listening to a station called "Garage" on Sirius radio recently - a mix of new and old music, but in the psych/garage style. It seemed as if all the new bands were striving to sound like they came straight off the Nuggets collection. I certainly wouldn't call that original.

What things in today's rock music would you consider original? I mean, every band makes quote/unquote original music (in their minds) but I don't see anything to my eyes that doesn't scream "been done before." Doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable to listen to for a brief time, but just like chewing gum it loses its flavor on the bedpost overnight.

I don't see anything that resembles my (somewhat arbitrary) "rock timelines" from a previous post - I'd be interested in hearing your views if you see otherwise.

[Droopy]

59. Well I started listening to rock and roll

when I was about 8 years old. I'm 32 now. The stuff I listened to when I was a kid was my parents oldies collection. I don't listen to that stuff now because it's boring to me, but I used to really get into it when I was a kid. I started to develop my own taste in rock and roll music when I was about 14. Before that I listened to a lot of pop besides my parents oldies. Those songs I started listening to when I was 14 are still enjoyable to me today. Not as much as when I find a good new band to listen to, but I still like it.

The only definition I have of original music is that you know it when you hear it. A band making good original music will have its own style and sound. They won't try to fit into a mold to try to sell records and get air time. Often when these bands get noticed they will get the hell played out of them on the radio making the music old before its time.

I don't think it's all been done before, although I do agree that there is some stuff that does have that sound to it. A good example of that is a band called Jet that has songs that sound like AC/DC and the Beatles. If you get a chance look up a band called Muse and tell me what you think of them. I think they've got a pretty unique sound.

I don't know about your rock timeline. I'm not up on the history of rock music and I'm kind of young so I wasn't listening to the bands of early rock and roll when they first hit the airwaves.

[WoodrowFan]

56. I use 74 as a cut off point

mostly because I don't like most of what was made BEFORE them. There are exceptions, huge ones, like the Beatles (duh), the Who, the Doors, etc.


I still think most people like best what they listened to when they were 16-22 years old. I do like some new stuff, but basically I like ROCK. I'll take an 80s hair band over a 60s band anyday (Beatles, Stones, etc excepted of course).

added..

FYI, here's what's on my I-tunes now (I'm into the Ns and Ms)
Patti Smith
Ohio Players
Offspring
No Doubt
Nirvana
Nine Inch Nails
Nickleback
Neil Young
Muddy Waters
Motley Crue
Monster Magnet
Monkees
Molly Hatchet
Metallica
Melissa Etheridge
Meat Loaf
Marily Manson
Mamas and the Papas
MC Hammer


reasonably varied I think.

[WCGreen]

61. Kinks, Wardbirds, Cream....

All sorts of Heavy Metal from pre 1970..

[Ron Green]

47. Granting that current-day music is unlistenable, a discerning listener

must go to the past. But why just seek nostalgia? So many people on this board, being young, are stuck with some pretty insipid stuff as the "sound track of their youth." Baby boomers yearn for British Invasion or Motown hits, somewhat more substantive material. But why not seek the best music of all periods, not just what takes us back to our first date? If 20-somethings embrace the Beatles or Led Zeppelin, why not shouldn't 40-somethings explore Louis Prima or Duke Ellington?

My suspicion is that only a few people know enough about music to make good judgments about it, beyond "I like it" or "I don't like it."

[ryban]

41. It still doesn't get any better than Strawberry Fields Forever

in my opinion.

[sleipnir]

42. Pop music sucks, yes, otherwise explore....

I won't do anything but point, perhaps in the direction Modest Mouse or perhaps, TV on the Radio. Check 'em out.

[Quixote1818]

43. Finally convinced a young guy I work with that today's music sucks.

He use to argue with me until I took him to a Party a friend of mine threw. They were playing all 70's and early 80's Music and the Party Rocked! The next day he told me he had never been to a Party where that kind of Music was playing and he Finally had seen the light. Some of the music that was playing was:

Bad Company
Van Halen
Blue Oyster Cult
Red Rider
Gordon Lightfoot
The Carpenters - Just kidding.
AC/DC
Led Zeplen
Eagles
Fleetwood Mac
Journey
STYX
Steve Miller Band

Just to name a few.

[Clark2008]

46. Yes it does

Pre-packaged, sound alike crap.

There's probably some good stuff to be found in rap, but as a white female who lives in a sububish city, I really cannot relate to that type of music.

But all the music that's supposed to be geared toward me is :puke: If I hear one more sappy love song, I think I'll do more than :puke:

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

49. I'm 34 and mostly listen to stuff from the 60s and 70s, with some

early-to-mid 80s stuff thrown in for good measure (Go-Gos, REM, U2, and the Bangles).

[Queen Jane]

51. Elliott Smith, Low, Nick Cave...

Quasi, Postal Service, Death Cab For Cutie, Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Iron & Wine, Mary Lou Lord, The Decemberists, The Long Winters, etc.

and I love the classics. But it's out there. ;)

[GOPisEvil]

62. THANK YOU!!!! SOMEONE here has some taste!

:thumbsup:

[Skittles]

57. it's not all crap but yes, the quality just isn't there as much as it was

I would agree

[WCGreen]

60. Step out of the Pop Genre Music Radio and you will

discover a whole world of music out there just waiting for you.....

The AMericana Format is really cool, a lof of roots rock with an old time country twang........ Interesting and entertaining......

I agree a lot music is derivative but then what isn't.....

[RevolutionStartsNow]

63. That's just not true...

I love a lot of old music, I grew up on Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, CSN, Zeppelin, Dylan, the Stones, etc,. and the music was awesome, but in the past several years I have sought out and discovered some fantastic music:

Wilco
Beck
Richard Buckner
Conor Oberst
Will Oldham
Elliott Smith
Tift Merritt
Lucinda Williams

and many, many more. There are also plenty of older musicians still making fresh stuff, like Steve Earle, Neil Young, even Dylan still rocks.

The only major difference today is that what's popular mostly sucks. You have to look a bit harder now, but it's so rewarding. I discover new music all the time.

[WCGreen]

70. I posted about Tift way back in the beginning

Am Listening to Americana on Launch cast right now....

[RevolutionStartsNow]

74. I discovered Tift by accident...

I was at Borders and put on the headphones, thinking I was going to hear Son Volt, but I must have pushed the wrong button, and it was the most beautiful voice...I bought her CD immediately. I love the song "Sunday".

There's lots of great Americana music out there...I just got Greg Brown's new one.

[WCGreen]

75. Gram Rabbit....

Dar Williams
Freakwater......

I came across Tift and the song Virginia on CMT. Never saw the video again and had to really search for who it was......

[greblc]

67. Music today is manufactured.

Bad or mediocre musicians can make themselves sound much better than they are. All you need today to make it as a pop star is a pretty face and hot body. Barry Manilow would not make it in todays market.

[Kat45]

72. I rarely hear music that I like anymore.

I grew up in the sixties, constantly listened to music from the age of 10. Sixties/early seventies music was what I loved. We continued listening to that in college because we didn't like much of the music later in the seventies (with some exceptions). Hated disco. Got back into current music through Tom Petty/the Cars. Got into new wave into the early eighties; that eventually got to be boring, same old/same old. Guns'N'Roses came along and I got really into them. Loved the "hair band" hard rock genre. I was writing for a regional rock magazine at the time and knew hard rock backwards and forwards. I was in my early thirties then. So in a sense, the "music of my youth" that I love and find comfort in is music from two different eras--and that shows that I've been open to music over a long period of time.

But in recent years, I don't hear anything that I like all that often and almost never hear anything that I love. Post-hair band era, there have been only two bands that I absolutely loved: Candlebox and Buckcherry (both of which no longer exist). There have not even been that many new bands/songs that I've liked; let's see, in the past year or so, I've liked a couple by Jet, the political Incubus song, Green Day's "American Idiot," Franz Ferdinand "Take Me Out," a band called Supagroup that I've heard on an online hard rock show--that's all I can think of offhand, and that's not very much. :shrug:

[JanMichael]

73. Honey, I feel your pain, however much of the 60'-80's contained MUCH...

...CRAP!

We only hear the "ggod" stuff now. For one there's MORE genres and MORE people making music which dilutes the ablility to sample the mix.

AND you neglected Punk which is still a force and better technically than what most 60's shit anyway. They don't sing pretty? So what! That's the point! The Boomers (And old WW2'ers) Corporatised the music industry, they fucked it up, live with it!

You also forgot rap-metal (Like Rage Agaist the Mother Fucking MACHINE!)...I know, it's harsh, but life's harsh...