Music Today.....?

Question

I honestly feel that MTV started a trend of "Who cares about the musical talent, I just wanna see something attractive". And now we have computer programs that make these people sound like they can sing. I see very little true talent in the music industry. The talent has been replaced by a program. Don't get me wrong. I know, first hand, about writing music and recording, I know how difficult it is to write electronica and sub-genre's thereof. My issue is with these barely musically able 'artists' who have flooded the airwaves with their crap. I can't think of any band that actually is good. That comes close to understand the first thing about writing a song. I hear the same song, same chords, same melodies. Really, these 'artists' use the same music and melodies and change the words. My question is, does anyone else feel the same as me? That we are in such a lull when it comes to music and do you think we will recover anytime soon?

I think the last time I put on MTV was 1990 when Deee-Lite was playing....Now them I LOVE. 4 fabulous albums by talented artists. But unfortunately the true talents get no where because they don't look the part, they aren't pretty enough. This has become more important then actual ability.

I really love the standards. Nothing better then Coltrane or Billie Holiday with some candles and incense burning. I have been, of late, hitting up the oldies more because I'm so tired of the radio. I keep mine tuned to the 80's fm (e.g. 91.9) just because it's different.

Molly, I have turned so many people on to Pandora.com! It is a great internet radio station, so to speak.

Metal Edna, I am very curious how you could even think that I enjoy that Emo crap. I dont even know how to pronounce it, like Emo or spell it out E M O. You are right, its probably the worst stuff out there, but there was plenty of metal from the 80's that was just as bad. Too bad Metallica sold out.

Blind Melon-Blind Melon; Deee-Lite-Dew Drops in the Garden & Sampadelic Relics and Dancefloor Oddities; Sheryl Crow-Tuesday Night Music Club, Sheryl Crow, and The Globe Sessions; Miles Davis-Kind of Blue; The Red Hot Chili Peppers-Blood Sugar Sex Magic, One Hot Minute; Enya-The Memory of Trees; Spin Doctors-Pocket Full Of Kryptonite (exp the Last Track 'Shinbone Alley/Hard To Exist'); Stevie Wonder-Innervisions; Jane's Addiction-Nothings Shocking, Ritual de lo Habitual; Bjork-Post, Telegram; Ben Folds Five-Whatever and Amen; A Tribe Called Quest-People's Instinctive Travels and the Path's of Rhythm, The Low End Theory (well let's just say all of them); Digable Planets-Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space); Bob Marley;-Confrontation, Legend; G Love and Special Sauce-Philadelphonic; Beck-Odelay; Pink Floyd-Darkside of the Moon, Meddle, et all; The Beatles-Take your pick; Hendrix-Are You Experienced; Theatre-Les Miserables (The last good Broadway Musical, imo)

Porgy and Bess, The Pirates of Penzance, Godspell, Pippin, Hair, West Side Story, A Chorus Line, Chicago, Annie, ; Classical-Mozart, Handel, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky; Jazz in the styles of Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Coltrain, Charlie Parker, Glen Miller, Benny Goodman; Aretha Franklin, (Old) Aerosmith; (Old) Rolling Stones; Chicago; Jethro Tull; Pat Benetar; Janis Joplin; Tom Petty; The Doors; Led Zepplin; John Mellencamp; The Bangles; The Cars, Talking Heads, David Bowie; Crosby, Still's, Nash and Young; The Who; Blondie; Sublime; Gloria Gaynor; The Supremes; Beastie Boys; Natasha Bedingfield; journey; CCR; Elton john. Just to name a few.

Answer 1

I blogged recently on MySpace about just that. My question was "What happened to the super bands." The artists you went out and bought every album and was thrilled from start to finish--where is that in today's artists? How about artists that sound just as good or better in live performances as they do in recording.

The some of the big timers are still around and making music just as good as in previous decades. But when I listen to today's popular music from artists of this decade, I don't see myself listening to it in the next decade saying "Yeah I went out and purchased all their stuff and I still listen to it today."

Some would say that I'm just locked into the 80's and 90's. I say that I've zeroed in on quality. I still listen to today's music as it comes out. I'm not exclusionary, although I'm disappointed and frustrated when I hear a song I like and then buy the album only to find that it was the only song with artistic talent.

Particularly disappointing, I think, is the R&B genre. There seems to be more "art" from other artists than the one on the cover. How many times can you remix something and sell it? Or just ad new or slightly different lyrical content to the same beat and same simple, repetitive, notes? It was good stuff now it's just overused stuff.

Answer 2

Well, actually good music hasn't gone away, some people are just looking in the wrong places. Many people have turned away from new music from their favorite genre and started looking back at the oldies. What they should be doing instead is exploring music from other genres ( alot of which is not played on public radio stations ). Too many people either stick with what they know or are afraid to try something different. I love music and have found great beats in all the different types of music. Just because there are a few bad songs in a genre doesn't mean they are all bad. Jazz, Electronica/techno, country, rock, blues, alternative, comedy songs, and even rap all have something for everyone. As far as MTV, I think I am going to ask the Dire Straits to change their big hit to " I want my MTV back the way it used to be. "

Answer 3

I do in some aspects. I stopped paying attention, maybe soon they'll go away. In the mean time I suggest checking out some of the real musicians. If we support better music hopefully it will take the spotlight. For instance, while surfing the internet I ran across a young lady named Jolie Holland. She does some of the most interesting and beautiful things that I've heard done with a voice in a good while! Kinda jazzy... Then there's the ever fabulous Norah Jones, and she also plays with a band called The Little Willies (their sound is like a quaint americana - it's refreshing). There's a new artist that's currently in VH1's rotation with a cute song called "put your records on" I liked it... YES! ALSO! there's a good site for Rising Techo music...some of the music is kind of older, but if you haven't heard it... well whatever:http://www.mixstreet.net/ (I think their site is down right now though)

Answer 4

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I remember when MTV first started. They had crappy videos with great music by great bands. NOTHING is about the music anymore. It's all about the packaging. I can't believe child stars like Brittany Spears and Justin Timberlake can even get a recording contract. They spend more time on their hair, makeup and wardrobe than they spend developing their talent. I had the misfortune of attending a Britney Spears concert (my girlfriend and I took her daughter who was 9) Britney, at 21 years old, was out of breath after three songs, I've seen a 50 yr old Mick Jagger last all night without getting tired. Don't even get me started on (c)rap. They steal other people's already recorded music. Playing an album is a musical talent???? Talented DJs???? I don't get it. I've lost all my hope in pop music.

When a talented band comes along -they are largely ignored - Buckcherry, The Black Crowes, The Subdudes , etc.

If you want talent, you have to listen to the ARTISTS that are willing to unplug, and let their talent do the talking..

MTV SUCKS!!!! IT KILLED MUSIC!!!!

Answer 5

I think on the whole, the artists in the mainstream these days will be a flash in the pan. Though a few will be around for a while...

I've been really pleased with the albums from Guster and Train and Matchbox Twenty over the past few years. They keep turning out quality music and seem to be making a name for themselves. I look forward to what they will come out with next.

And then you have the groups that have stood the test of time and it's wonderful to see them cranking out new material too...U2, Aerosmith, Indigo Girls and the like. It gives me hope that the new artists today, who look up to legendary and progressive groups, will try their best to produce quality music too.

Music, like everything, is cyclical. I think the demand for good music will continue to turn up new, quality talent in the years to come.

If you are looking to discover new music that you may not have heard before, try using http://www.pandora.com . It's a website that will make suggestions for music you might enjoy based on your search parameters or on the input you give it for the kind of music or artists you like.

Answer 6

Absolutely, MTV did popularize trendy crappy music. However MTV really only applies to jr/high schools and select college kids with their heads up their ****.

As far as great music, any substantial city has it to offer most nights of the week at local bars and other venues.

Search em' out, aspiring ball busting bands rock the hardest!

Answer 7

Yes! FINALLY someone out here woke up & said something about all the **** that's been crammed down our throats day after day! I can't believe they even call this **** music anymore! I'm stickin' with my good old-fashioned Led Zeppelin & Pink Floyd
albums. There's a reason I collect vinyl records: because they're the only albums that don't suck anymore!

Answer 8

Yeah, but you're just looking at MTV. there's pleanty of raw, and amazing talent in every single genre out there. But it's your job to find it, as it will not appear on MTV. Are you up for the quest of good music?

Answer 9

I think it all sounds the same and if the contestants on these reality shows are anything to judge by it is only going to get worse with the exception of Taylor Hicks......he has a new sound but I am not so sure anyone is listening.

Answer 10

yeah, but watch Fuse instead of MTV. That channel is one of the worst out there and it is all about the pop crap that all these young ones listen to. Ugh, makes me want to kill.