Is it just me or has music fromthe last two decades deteriorating ?

November 28, 2008 4:25pm CST
It is my personal opinion that music produced in the west is becoming very much generic sounding. I have yet to find a piece of music created over the last 20 years or so which is genuinely interesting and unique. Of course we do have a few really rare exceptions for artists like the Gorillaz. However the whole concept of Gorillaz is an art form in itself as a stand alone complex so I don't know if we could include them as they don't really exist. Anyway what does everyone else think either about the Gorillaz or the standard of music today?
1 person likes this
7 responses
• United States
28 Nov 08
I agree that there has been a deterioration of most of the music that you can hear on the radio. However, the most interesting and unique musicians don't always get played on the radio. The Gorillaz are pretty good as far as sounding different from the regular stuff, but ecclectic music is out there, you just have to know where to look. There are several bands that have made their way from the underground and played around for a while who will really rock your face. A few names: Of Montreal (from Canada), Stereolab (France), and Cibo Matto (Japan). They will rock your face if you like something different from differnt areas of the world. A cheap and easy way to find music that you may like is at www.pandora.com. Sign up for a free membership and you can start a playlist. Select an artist, say for example, "Beck" and they will let you listen to full length songs that are similar by different bands in the same genre. You can create multiple playlists and it's all for free. You can also discover great new music on MySpace Music. Many bands have their own songs up and you can listen to them before buying. I understand how you feel. It seems like their needs to be something or some band who needs to come along and break this lull in music. We're all still waiting for that to happen.
28 Nov 08
I am a big fan of Japanese rock bands also like yoko Kanno and the pillows but the main stream music played in the west is poor quality at best was more what I was getting at even if my grammar is totally horrid.Thanks for the comment.
• United States
30 Nov 08
most music has been taken apart by the record companies, most of human want to reach the mainstream music veins of MTV. I mainly listen to metal and all its other subgenres, but if it's not mainstream I think they that most of these bands now are getting in and making some good music. Some bands have worked the underground for years and are just now breaking through. Gojira is one of the bands that have done that, they toured the French underground for years and just managed a breakthrough with the album From Mars To Sirius. However some bands they can just make a demo and get into the big time if they sell away the soul they have.
@celticeagle (158680)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Nov 08
Interesting and unique? No. I don't think so. Ofcourse there are some good preformers. Alicia Keyes and such. But nothing like the 60's through the 80's. Of course we all have our opinions.
• Philippines
29 Nov 08
i agree with you , me too i kind find any good musics now, unlike before that you could have a lot and i tell you it is very good to hear. Maybe that is why musicians keeps on reviving hits from the past because they are too good
• United States
29 Nov 08
I think it's more the greedy, money-hungry state of the industry more so than the state of music in general. In the 70's and 80's and before musicians got into recording to make music for the world, rather than just for their neighbors down at the local bar. The money was gravy. Today, it's all about how many Rolls Royces James Hetfield was able to buy this year, or how many teeth 50 Cent can unnecessarily plate in gold this year. For too many artists it's not about entertaining anymore, it's about how much money entertaining will earn them. People complain that their favorite artists like Maroon 5 or AFI or Weezer only put out an album every couple of years instead of mass producing two or three in a year like other artists. I'd rather wait two years for a great work than get a new piece of crap every six months. I'd rather hear 12 or 13 great tracks every two years than pay for 12 every six months and get 4 that I don't hate.
@Scotlass (51)
• United States
29 Nov 08
I am in complete agreement with you - music hast completely taken a downward spiral - for the most part. However there are some bands out there that are contributing to the music scene. I tend to believe that the music industry caters to the demographic that actually purchases the CD's - obviously - and, sadly, they seem to be of the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus and Naked Brothers Band age group.... I think also, a lot of this has to do with the fact that we have become a nation of non-activists who take everything as it comes and complain about it over the water cooler as it happens. Good music stems from opinions,activism and the unabashed confidence to say what you think. Where are todays Pistols?
@syfarisk (378)
• Malaysia
29 Nov 08
Yes, you are right. The melody in the current music industry in the West is not as interesting as in the older music industry. Quite a lot of the songs nowadays sound familiar to each other and there's no originality in music today anymore. Nowadays the hip hop and RnB music genres are starting to dominate the music charts because the other genres that depend on good melodies are starting to deteriorate, whereas hip hop and RnB music which is not really music but more towards noise experimentation sounds more attractive.