# Bringing back Why is there no good music anymore like in the 70s and 80s **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 16, 2026, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736 "2026-01-16T04:15:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/116 "2026-06-10T14:39:40Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > 1974 is a kinda meme year for this. 1990 is also mentioned. 1975. 2005. 2017. Certainly a lot of contenders for worst year ever. For anyone else that might be interested: - [1974](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1974) - [1975](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1975) - [1990](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1990) - [2005](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_2005) - [2017](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_2017) ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/117 "2026-06-10T14:40:53Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Come now! Every generation believes that their music was the last great music. LOL Exactly. Because it was made FOR THEM. Today’s music is very much not made for people who were even alive in the 80s, much less the 60s. We also tend to distill entire decades into the absolute best of the best and ignore the forgettable majority of music. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/118 "2026-06-10T14:50:25Z")
I enjoy finding new music. I enjoy seeing new artists perform (in part because it’s a smaller, closer and cheaper experience than sitting on Level Three of a sports stadium for a concert). I wouldn’t say that music is the most important thing to me ever or that it’s the only thing that keeps me going, it’s just a source of enjoyment for me. I can absolutely still find new music that interests me and I enjoy. I also listen to and have a music collection extending well back before my birth but new music is just fun to discover. And it’s easier than ever! I’m not stuck with a couple Top 40 stations and (if one is geographically lucky) a couple of alt/college style stations. I have Spotify and Youtube and Bandcamp and other ways to discover new stuff. I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about what’s playing on the Top 40 stations. Some of the complaints (generally, not directed at specific posts here) feel like “When I was a kid, Top 40 gave me music I liked and now it gives me music the new generation likes (and I don’t) so there must not be any more good music” ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/119 "2026-06-10T15:07:44Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > That may be the case for you and many other people, and that’s ok, but note that for some people, including me, music is the most important thing in life. People like us would wither and die without it, that’s why I still check out and find good new music today. Same! I listen and play music nearly every day and always looking for new music. On a related note, I just bought tickets to see Modest Mouse in a month! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/120 "2026-06-10T15:17:59Z")
Anytime I am by myself, whether it’s in the house or outside, I have music playing. Often it’s new music, though sometimes from bands I already know, like the new Kevin Morby and Boards of Canada albums I’ve been listening to lately. But I am also a regular viewer of KEXP’s YouTube stream, and I often find new bands from that. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/121 "2026-06-10T15:54:32Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I just bought tickets to see Modest Mouse in a month A 33 year old band!!! ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/122 "2026-06-10T16:12:26Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > a pair of Yamaha reference monitors hooked up to my mixing board, both for pleasure and for “work”. What kind have you got? I recently upgraded my PA (Yamaha sw15 club series) and keyboard amp (Roland KC-550) and am wishing for a bit less ear spice at times. And during those times, this sort of thing really tempts (pair HS8 $400): > **[Yamaha HS8 8-inch Powered Studio Monitor Pair - Black - musical instruments -...](https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/msg/d/chicago-yamaha-hs8-inch-powered-studio/7938897644.html)** > > I purchased these several years ago, and barely used them.. Like new.... ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/123 "2026-06-10T16:13:28Z")
That just released a brand new album. 🙂 I also have tickets to see the Strokes who are also getting ready to release a new album. Not entirely thrilled with the two singles out. I think one would be great if he laid off the auto-tune. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/124 "2026-06-10T16:44:59Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > OTOH, it was also the year Terry Jacks’ “Seasons In The Sun” was a hit, so I’m torn. Speaking of said 1974 meme, Todd goes right into it: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/B2t9WjdJEWE/maxresdefault.jpg "ONE HIT WONDERLAND: "Seasons in the Sun" by Terry Jacks") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2t9WjdJEWE&t=154s) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/125 "2026-06-10T16:47:31Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > What kind have you got? Mine are the HS5s. Love them. I have a tendency to mix things too hot, and they seem to keep me from doing that so much. That seems to be a great price for a used set of HS8s! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/126 "2026-06-10T17:09:51Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Come now! Every generation believes that their music was the last great music. LOL You are replying to a banned troll. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/127 "2026-06-10T17:16:56Z")
Here’s a fun 'n ez challenge for us. This is a list of each year’s Billboard Hot 100 songs for each year. Pick ANY year that you think was the best in music in your life, then look at the chart and see how many songs you either don’t remember or absolutely hate. Then pick the year that you think popular music absolutely hit rock bottom, and see how many songs from that year you actually liked. Once you strip out the five best and the five worst songs from each year, I bet their won’t really be much difference in the lists. > **[Billboard Hot 100 Chart History - Mind For Music](https://www.mindformusic.com/billboard-history)** > > Mind For Music free online sheet music, music transcriptions, arrangements and practice tools ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/128 "2026-06-10T17:22:12Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > You are replying to a banned troll. The thread is still here and, it appears, the discussion is continuing. So, for those who might feel the same way, my reply is for them. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/129 "2026-06-10T18:30:24Z")
When I read the post about 1974 being the worst year, I was listening to a song from 1974. It was The Six Teens by Sweet. However, 1974 didn’t have my favorite Sweet songs. 1972, 1973 and 1975 had probably my three favorite Sweet songs. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/130 "2026-06-10T18:33:54Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Mine are the HS5s. Love them Nice, those are ace. It took seeing them in person but the HS8 cabinets are more like furniture, end tables. The 5s are the ideal size for what I’m imagining in the studio and what I’m REALLY hoping to come across preowned & smokin. I spotted the HS5 on sale for $199/ea at Guitar Center in the Spring, didn’t bite, but sets the used-price thresholds a little lower. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/131 "2026-06-11T15:23:36Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > So, is it that there is actually something different or are we merely re-discovering some combination of detection and recency bias? Yes, there actually is something different. If you compare what was viral then to what’s viral now, the difference in musical sophistication and complexity is obvious. I’m not saying it’s necessary “better” because that’s really a matter of taste, but there will never be an era where anything like the art-rock and prog-rock of the 70’s will ever be a popular viral radio hit like it was in the 70’s. And again I’m not saying there’s no “good music” anymore. There’s a lot of indie stuff being released that puts the 80’s and 90’s to shame. Both simple and sophsticated stuff. That’s most of my own musical diet nowadays. But for the most part it’s not going to break into the viral shareable danceable mainstream. That stuff is more about shareability and accessibility now. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/132 "2026-06-11T15:28:23Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > The notion that pop music wasn’t also fairly formulaic and predictable _back then_ (for whatever ‘back then’ you prefer) is ridiculous. Not what I’m saying. There’s been a ton of accessible dance dreck in every era. But in eras past, there was also quite a bit of musically complex and sophisticated material that had a decent chance of cracking the top 10. As a multi-platinum powerhouse, Duran Duran’s music was about 10x more sophisticated and complex than the situation called for (the lyrics were of course dreck, but that’s only a small piece of the puzzle). Who’s doing anything now in top-40 type music that could be considered musically complex or sophsticated? Like elaborate chord progressions, intricate harmonies, complex song forms with multiple bridges, transitions, key changes. Where’s that happening in popular music nowadays? ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/133 "2026-06-11T16:31:11Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Yes, there actually is something different. If you compare what was viral then to what’s viral now, the difference in musical sophistication and complexity is obvious. Ehhhh, not really. The stuff King Gizzard and Angine De Poitrine does in 24-TET is easily as complex and sophisticated as any of the prog rockers of old, if not more so. I’d be inclined to say “more so” due to them working in a more complex tuning system. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Te1HkBx7rDw/maxresdefault.jpg "Angine de Poitrine - Mata Zyklek (Live on KEXP)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te1HkBx7rDw) ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/134 "2026-06-11T16:59:28Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > This is a list of each year’s Billboard Hot 100 songs for each year. Pick ANY year that you think was the best in music in your life, then look at the chart and see how many songs you either don’t remember or absolutely hate. Then pick the year that you think popular music absolutely hit rock bottom, and see how many songs from that year you actually liked. I like listening to the 80s and 90s station on my wife’s satellite radio when we travel in her vehicle. When they play the top 40 of any given week in those decades, we often run into songs we have no recollection of at all. A lot of times those songs are completely unremarkable in any way. You’re absolutely right about the amount of music released we simple don’t remember. Just for fun, I checked out the top 10 singles from 1974, and all of them are solid. The Captain and Tennille’s “Love Will Keep Us Together” was #1, and it’s not quite to my tastes, but it’s a decent enough song. At the very least, I wouldn’t call it terrible. Minnie Ripperton’s “Lovin’ You” was the only song on the list that I can’t stand. I’d have to listen to the entire list to be sure though. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736/135 "2026-06-11T17:17:55Z")
I’m a regular KEXP watcher, and when I first saw that video I think I may have watched it half a dozen times that week. It’s now up to 16 million view… viral indeed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-why-is-there-no-good-music-anymore-like-in-the-70s-and-80s/1026736.md?page=7)