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Why Modern Music Is Awful
- Thread starter Junior Patrick
- Start date
Ha, I saw what you did there. Very under rated band. Saw them live (in the air age?) a few times in the 80s. Phenomenal talents, Bill Nelson should be towards the top on the list of the great guitarists. That album and Live in the Air Age are still on the rotation on my car's iPod.
Edit: On the other hand, I do find most "current" popular music to be butt awful.
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There are many reasons new pop music sucks, but to me the main culprit is computers being used to compose and record music. To quote Cmdr. Data, "My timing is digital".
Rick Beato did a video about how John Bonham would sound today, using the original drum track, vs a quantized version. He also did one about how computers ruined rock music.
There are many factors involved, from financial (fear by studios of losing or not making as much money as fast as possible or taking a chance on an unknown commodity) to the "loudness battle" (compression) that contribute to today's pop, not just music/song quality. (Dynamics? What's that?)
Good production is also important. I've heard many songs that were under produced (mainly punk/grunge/garage band) or over produced (Hollywood blockbusters/Vegas acts) and those are usually considered garbage/fluff by the mainstream radio listener. Heck, you don't even need basic talent anymore. Good look but can't sing? No problem, we can fix that in post. Don't worry about singing live, just lip sync to the track, nobody cares anymore. We don't even need real musicians to back you up in the studio, computers can sub for them, and we can get some pretty boys to make up a band for live shows. (Not that it's really that way, but I can see it getting there.)
Of course, this is IMHO, YMMV.
Rick Beato did a video about how John Bonham would sound today, using the original drum track, vs a quantized version. He also did one about how computers ruined rock music.
There are many factors involved, from financial (fear by studios of losing or not making as much money as fast as possible or taking a chance on an unknown commodity) to the "loudness battle" (compression) that contribute to today's pop, not just music/song quality. (Dynamics? What's that?)
Good production is also important. I've heard many songs that were under produced (mainly punk/grunge/garage band) or over produced (Hollywood blockbusters/Vegas acts) and those are usually considered garbage/fluff by the mainstream radio listener. Heck, you don't even need basic talent anymore. Good look but can't sing? No problem, we can fix that in post. Don't worry about singing live, just lip sync to the track, nobody cares anymore. We don't even need real musicians to back you up in the studio, computers can sub for them, and we can get some pretty boys to make up a band for live shows. (Not that it's really that way, but I can see it getting there.)
Of course, this is IMHO, YMMV.
As many have said, there's never been any shortage of crappy music in any era. However Rick Beato explains the real reason why modern music has gotten worse. Spoiler: computers.
Start here:
More here:
Ayce beat me to it.
Start here:
More here:
Ayce beat me to it.
I'm not sure about this modern music is awful thing, but what I see in my little universe is lots of kids, 12-18 say, girls and boys alike, hanging around in malls and shops and parks and whatever, sporting Led Zeppelin, AC/DC or other rockers' t-shirts and caps. And last saturday, I went to a music school end-of-the-year show and this 14 yo girl chose Don't Stop Believin' and Somebody to love for her solo songs. Of course, other kids her age chose more modern songs, which I and most others didn't know, from what I could tell from the people around me. And most of them are musicians and pretty knowledgeable. But FWIW, I love acoustic Katy Perry songs, I play Jar of Hearts on the piano and my little acoustic guitar duo is gonna do Shallow, so....YMMV ?
The risk-averse nature of the corporate entities that produce & distribute modern pop has at least overtly, a lock on the media that also promotes and broadcasts their latest releases. It chokes off A LOT of actual supply. FM commercial radio is in similar risk-averse mode. It's expensive to keep an FM station viable in most commercial markets. BIG Radio also has back-scratching agreements with BIG entertainment (even though it is vehemently denied). All the while, TV and radio are losing attention to people's devices that take them elsewhere. Content, or lack thereof, is the reason.
A breakup will come. In what fashion, I couldn't really say but I would love a return to the more entrepreneurial manner of the 50's-60's recording studio startups and regional cultures breaking out again. With digital studio tech, affordability and portability are making it easier for startups. Pop music just might be saved by the hobbyists and artists and those who just like working the medium.
The way musicians get hosed for streaming (even legally sold songs) is near criminal. That itself, will perpetrate a change. An entertainment cartel bust up is I think, what is sorely needed. The art will take care of itself. A few leashes need to come off, and while internet streaming is a thing, the easiest way to get hooked on a new song is when it comes at you when you can hear it without having to take great amounts of time & effort to search it out.
Click on a user name and it will show a pop up screen. Somewhere in there is an IGNORE link. Click it and they go away (mostly). You'll still see they posted, but with a message that says something like "You've blocked this poster's content, click to view."
Sorry for the derail...I'm very jealous you've seen them multiple times, I didn't get that chance before the breakup. I have BBD in constant rotation, mostly Live in Air Age, Sunburst finish, Modern Music (ok, also love Futurama). Yes, Bill Nelson a phenomenal guitarist, a crime that more people aren't aware of him/BBD. And don't get started on Charlie Tumahai, loooove his playing,singing,tone. His phased playing with a pick tone is amazing.
Back to...
I don't feel like reading the whole thing.
The problem with music is that almost nobody is willing to pay for it. Other than country, bro country, and Taylor Swift types, what else sells consistently? No reason to invest in great sound, good producers, etc. Doing so in the 80's would usually guarantee a return on investment. Nowadays, just throwing $ away. The result is lowest common denominator, songs that are all chorus, modest tone, no dynamics, etc.
The problem with music is that almost nobody is willing to pay for it. Other than country, bro country, and Taylor Swift types, what else sells consistently? No reason to invest in great sound, good producers, etc. Doing so in the 80's would usually guarantee a return on investment. Nowadays, just throwing $ away. The result is lowest common denominator, songs that are all chorus, modest tone, no dynamics, etc.
I'd been watching this discussion, and decided I'd let it pass by, as I didn't have some useful answer where I WOULDN'T sound like some grumpy old geez moaning about digital technology, voice tuning, 'they can't play and can hardly sing', all those useless themes that make me sound as out of touch as I really am.
But then I ran across this, and I'll just say that IF modern music is awful, I'll only say it's because it DOESN'T sound like THIS:
But then I ran across this, and I'll just say that IF modern music is awful, I'll only say it's because it DOESN'T sound like THIS:
"...all those useless themes that make me sound as out of touch as I really am."
"I used to be with 'it', but then they changed what 'it' was. Now what I'm with isn't 'it' anymore and what's 'it' seems weird and scary. It'll happen to you!" Grandpa Abe Simpson
"I used to be with 'it', but then they changed what 'it' was. Now what I'm with isn't 'it' anymore and what's 'it' seems weird and scary. It'll happen to you!" Grandpa Abe Simpson
"...all those useless themes that make me sound as out of touch as I really am."
"I used to be with 'it', but then they changed what 'it' was. Now what I'm with isn't 'it' anymore and what's 'it' seems weird and scary. It'll happen to you!" Grandpa Abe Simpson
. . . . . it did. The funny thing? I'm fine with it, my day has passed to younger folks, as it should be. I only hope my experience(s) can be of help of things learned, and Lord Amighty, what NOT to do.
My local top 40 station runs a piece called "Love it or loathe it" where they introduce new songs to the listeners. One thing I've noticed. Almost ALL the songs that the radio stations' target demographic, choose "love it" mainly because it sounds similar to almost all the other top 40 hits. That being said, every generation of 12 - 20 year olds likes similar music. Once they're ears get tired of it, they go looking for better music. It's out there, it's just not allowed on the mainstream radio. Nice and safe for the advertisers.
