Is America in a musical slump?

Question

OK, I'm 30, and I know high school rocker days are over, but I know I am not that old either.

Anyways, It seemed that around the time Britney Sperars hit, I started noticing a decline in U.S. music. After 2000, it just seemed to go into a downward freefall. I remember Woodstock 99 being such an insult to 1969 that the organizers should have been lynched. Is it just me turning into my parents or do younger people feel this way, too. My musical tastes seem to span from late 60s to mid 90s. The Doors seem to be growing on me a lot, bands from 86 - 94, as well as a lot of others. After that, I just kind of lose my interest. Any thoughts, especially from teens and college age people?

On a good note, I like todays movies. Lord of the Rings was great. And I like movies like Batman Begins, etc. because they are using a grittier, more realistic style.

Answer 1

So, what you're telling us is that Britney Spears is responsible for a major decline in American culture. I must say that this makes a lot of sense. It's all so clear to me now...

Answer 2

absolutely. I feel the same way. I am 31--and maybe it IS an age thing, but I doubt it. I keep current with the bands, and I really haven't caught any bands that are doing anything that will cause me to go out and buy their cd, or even download their music. I really feel like the music scene is in a slump. That generally means that we will be on the cusp of something new...It's just a boring time in music now. I feel like I am living back in the days of crappy AM radio..although that's even before my time. I only know about it from my dad's 8 track collection!
Anyway, I agree with you--


Like yourself, I have turned to bands from the past because more seems to have been put into their music.....emotions, politics, etc.....Maybe The Doors were so great because no one else was like them back then---but there's STILL no one else like that....I feel like most musicians today are lazy in comparsion to the Hendrix, Morrison, etc..... Such musicians of yesterday made it easier for those that came later. Now music has just gotten increasingly superficial, sloppy and stale.
Check out the Brian Jonestown Massacre if you haven't already. You might be pleasantly surprised.
I am going more and more "off the beaten track" lately.

Answer 3

Hey, I'm 19 and I feel the same way as you. Except I think that it started to decline around 1993-ish. Some 90s stuff is okay. There are also a few good songs now, not many though. Even though I'm a teenager, I mostly listen to stuff from the 60s through 80s. I also love jazz and classical, but that's different. The radio stations that play top 40 now suck too.

Answer 4

I agree!!! I mean really of the bands/artists that are out today none of them are the type to make a lasting impression in the future. I can't think of an artist that people will look back in 20 yrs & say yeah they were fantastic like the Stones, Zeppelin, Hendrix. I also listen to the same bracket of music you do. Anything after the mid 90's is just the same old crap.

Answer 5

I'm 27 and I know how you feel. All this bubble gum pop that the industry is churning out is really disheartening. I've always been more into rock and right now there is very little coming out that I like. So many of the new rock bands sound the same with the same cliche lyrics. The music now just seems so formulaic.

Answer 6

I'm 14 and I sorta agree with you. I love music from the 70's, 80's & 90's but I also like todays music too. I use to be a big fan of rap but now its sort of on the back burnner while country, hard rock/heavy metal, and oldies are on the front. I mean not all music is bad but its selective tasting but after a while hearing about sex, drinking/smoking, and girls becomes very old.

Answer 7

I am 21 and I completely agree with you. Music doesn't just suck anymore it isn't even considered music in my book. 90 to 97 was the last big music boom with bands like sound garden STP Nirvana SMASHING PUMPKINS all these great bands. there are still a few like Velvet Revolver and Audio Slave and that's about it and what i miss the most is the RAGE against the Machine. And i have music experience as a versatile musician so yeah i think i have a good understanding on just what your saying....

Answer 8

I'm with ya, bro.

If I see "Featuring Timbaland" or Featuring "Young Jeezy" or whatever the hell one more time, I am moving to Norway.

That said, the White Stripes put out some pretty good records in the last few years. Weezer is still doing it. And the Americans have dominated metal for the past 20 years. So it's not all bleak. You just have to get Sirius to hear anything worth a damn anymore.

Answer 9

I have to agree.
However, in my humble opinion, the media is the problem. "They" have convinced young America that Spears and her ilk are musicians.
Young America is the driving force behind music, and they have no idea that soulful artists exist. When one does appear, they are overexposed and overcommericalized to the point that their music is no longer recognizable from their merchandised persona. It's sad...
30 years ago, no one cared what a musician looked like, what mattered was the tunes.

But on the good side - we have lots more resources to find the good ones these days!

Answer 10

Well, Im 38 and can say I agree with you. Music now, not all but some, is sooooooooooo generic! That's why disco died out so fast. Every group sounded the same.

Take American Idol. WHile almost all of them can SING without hurting your ears, they are all so stale and boring. Yeah, that one sounds like a boy band singer, yeah, that one sounds like Whitney. But none of them are original.

The Doors were so great and no one sounds like them, no one. Not with originality. Fleetwood Mac, such an original group and sound.

Van Morrison, Dinah Washington, Pavoratti..top of their game, amazing voices, great music.

Now, music is either stale, yelling, swearing or abusive..or suicidal. Blah.

Answer 11

One of my favorite bands is Fall Out Boy, they have the lyrics, originality, and vocal power that a lot of musical acts are lacking. Snow Patrol (eyes open album) = pure loveliness. I can name tons more. Are your strictly a rocker? Because there are quality musicians out there such as John Legend, Johnny Lang (INCREDIBLE), Joss Stone, Robin Thicke, Jason Mraz. All of which have their own style and the talent to back it up.