What happened to good music?

[Fly3]

Re: What happened to good music?

Good music still exists, even in the mainstream.

For example, "The Heist" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis is one of the better hip-hop albums I've listened to recently, particularly with regard to subject matter compared to more traditionally popular artists in the genre.

Who on the hip-hop scene is more popular than Macklemore?

[55]

Re: What happened to good music?

100% honesty here: I don't even know what a Macklemore even is.

[Watson]

Re: What happened to good music?

Disagree, strongly.

Most pop songs sucked back in the 70's/80's too, lol. We just happen to remember things more fondly when we compare them to things today. A good example is the bowing and worshiping NFL 2k5 on this site and how people constantly compare NCAA/Madden to it.

For every Drake, there is a Kendrick Lamar:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/10yrPDf92hY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

just like for every Kid Cudi, there is a Wale:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q86YyxFH9oU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

And for every One Direction...
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ghb6eDopW8I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

...And Bieber....
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zvCBSSwgtg4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

...And Jepsen (disclaimer: I (somewhat ironically) Call Me Maybe)
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6RlfN8bqaw8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

...And Psy. I'm just going to stop here because you get the point.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0wMhhq7zwPc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Of course, like King said, it's all subjective what you like and don't like, but everyone of those songs got some serious play on the radio.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: What happened to good music?

I don't care for the notion that we only look back on things fondly because they're in the past either.

I liked the songs I like back then too. Zombie by The Cranberries doesn't automatically become enjoyable just because it's from the 90s. It's one of the most infuriatingly annoying songs of all-time.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: What happened to good music?

Why you gotta trash Zombie? That's a good song, lol

[Hooe]

Re: What happened to good music?

Who on the hip-hop scene is more popular than Macklemore?

Right now he's the "in" thing largely because of the internet; "Thrift Shop" went viral and he exploded.

A quick glance at the Billboard Top 100 shows artists such as Pitbull, Drake, Wale, Ace Hood, Chris Brown, will.i.am, Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, Young Jeezy, Nicky Minaj, and Juicy J. I'm not going to begin to know the entire catalog of each of these artists, but my point is that Macklemore's music in my opinion is enjoyable because of its subject matter relative to other more traditionally popular music in the genre.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: What happened to good music?

For another perspective on on mass-produced pop music (notably One Direction, mentioned in the topic post) I turn to the YouTube commentary series "A Dose Of Buckley" (NSFW):

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jXHmOpj1KoU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Flimsy point, but a point nonetheless.

[JazzMan]

Re: What happened to good music?

Two words: Satellite Radio.

[kingkilla56]

Re: What happened to good music?

Macklemore is so lame to me. The best part of Thrift Shop is the hook. He isnt even on the hook.

[Hooe]

Re: What happened to good music?

100% honesty here: I don't even know what a Macklemore even is.

An independent Caucasian hip-hop recording artist from Seattle, WA whose popularity exploded with his single "Thrift Shop", in which he talks about saving money and crafting his style from hand-me-downs and finds at Goodwill (not typical hip-hop subject matter).

On his most recent album "The Heist" with Ryan Lewis, he discusses subjects such as consumerism, record labels, alcoholism, and gay marriage. Again, not typical hip-hop subject matter. He happens to be quite talented on top of tackling this uncommon territory, which makes it work; it'd be but a gimmick if he were only taking a different approach just to be different.

He's probably not the only hip-hop artist to go this route with regard to what he writes about - I won't begin to pretend to know everything about and everyone in the genre - but what he does he does well and I have enjoyed.

I hope this helps fill you in.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: What happened to good music?

Why you gotta trash Zombie? That's a good song, lol

Argh. One of the worst songs EVER. You know what else was really ****ty from the 90s? Anything from Sugar Ray.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: What happened to good music?

Two words: Satellite Radio.

Even satellite radio plays the same songs over and over on each stations Once you have it for a few months it gets a bit bland music-wise. Pandora is an excellent source to find new music based on what you like now. Spotify is great if you know what you want and want to make playlists, but it's radio feature is not nearly as refined as Pandora.

[JazzMan]

Re: What happened to good music?

I'm just tired of Rap/Hip-hop and Pop dominating the FM Radio slots. Hell, rap and hip-hop now have pop elements and pop now has rap elements. It's all the same.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: What happened to good music?

Argh. One of the worst songs EVER. You know what else was really ****ty from the 90s? Anything from Sugar Ray.

Their first album had some decent songs. After that it definitely wasn't for me.

[TracerBullet]

Re: What happened to good music?

Well, when so many radio stations are owned by less companies now, you're bound to get a lot of the same music over and over on all of them.

I prefer to do what ITT said in his post before his last one personally.