Sorry, guys. I just can’t toss good music, Coldplay, RHCP, Uncle Cracker, Green Day, and those mentioned by krazy kat for example, simply because they’re somewhat successful. Pool cover or no pool cover.
Nor am I going to support obscure artists if they suck.
I remember the shit Nirvana got from some fans when they “made it”.
Lookit Henry Rollins, doing a TV Show, fer crissakes. Good for him, imo.
Peace,
mangeorge
I suspect that we listen to certain kinds of music as youngsters more as a form of social connection to our peers (and that music is cool, and our parent’s music is not cool). We do not choose music as adolescents based on its actual musical qualities.
When we grow older, we don’t have to be passionate about our group’s music. We can take a much more mellow approach and choose to listen to what sounds good to us…at least to the extent that our exposure to different types will allow. And for some of us, the music just doesn’t sound as good because of a lowering of auditory abilities. Example: the triangle and bells and high end of the piano just sound like dull tinks to me now. Drat!
There’s tons out there. TONS!!! You really have to know where to look (if that is indeed the problem). I suspect it isn’t. As far as the OP goes, well… I’m not sure, but I’m 27, and I study music quite passionately, and yet I very rarely listen to music these days. Sometimes I’ll just look at my CD collection, to put something on, and just sort of shrug and walk away.
For me I think it’s because the stuff I really really want to hear involves a serious time and effort investment, and it always seems better to wait for a better day for it, as silly as that sounds. And the other stuff I’ve heard enough, so that even my one-time absolute favs just will always be yesterday’s music.
And there’s also this practical cynicism that I’ve sort of developed, where something inside seems to ask “Well Moe, what is listening to this really going to do for you right now?”, but I’d hate to think that the thing I’ve decided to devote my life to is pointless.
Those of you being let down by the pop music radio world that you once had such high hopes for, go to the library and grab a couple of CDs at random. You’d be surprised what you stumble onto.
(or if you have a record player, take a couple o bucks to the local thrift shop)
Or maybe music is only now getting good, and you just can’t stand it?
Because new music stinks!
Now get off my lawn!
I blame radio. Good music is still being made. It’s just doesn’t get played on the radio.
The December issue of DownBeat has the results of the 67th Annual Readers poll. Try a few CD from top-rated artists: Dave Douglas (trumpet), Jim Hall (guitar), Pat Metheny (electric jazz group). If that doesn’t do the trick, you just don’t like music any more.
I have to agree with Sunstone’s observation. It does not have anything to do with the relative quality of music from one period to another. Music for a young person is more than just music, it is an important part of their identity. They can seperate themselves from adults, as well as seperate themselves from other groups of kids by virtue of the music that they listen to. A lot of teens promote and/or defend thier music with almost religious fervor. As a professional who works with children, I often run into the Tupac kid, the Korn kid, the Eminem kid, and occasionally even the Marilyn Manson kid is still around every once in a while.
As you get older, music is not so much a part of your identity as it a way to relax and have fun (for some people of course, your milage may vary). You might find other ways to define yourself, ways that might be more pertinent in the adult world (“My name is Hank and I sell propane and propane accessories” rather than “My name is Hank and Mudvayne is f****** cool. Do you like them?”). As an adult, when I pull into a parking lot and my windows are rolled down, I generally turn down my stereo- not everyone needs to hear the stuff I am listening to. However, when I am driving with one of the teens I work with, it is the exact opposite- they just got to turn it up and bass it so that everyone (especially the girls) will turn and look.
In addition, so much of pop and rock music is about some form of rebellion against something, our at least looking at the struggles that a young person might face. Much of it really does not apply to my life anymore. I am not in the mood to rebel against the man anymore because now, I am the man. I am the guy going to church, making good money and making the rules, and telling kids to take school seriously, plan for their future and not to drink, use drugs or have casual sex. Kids are now rebelling against me and my old, short sighted, and totally ingnorant and unrealistic views of the world, because I don’t understand and I never will! What anguish! Geez, I just wish someone would have told me when I switched sides, now where is my damn Elvis Costello cd?
We are, of course, not going to have a debate about the quality of new music in this forum. In fact, we’re gonna leave that by the wayside entirely, unless it’s really funny (thanks, Brian Ekers!).