Well, for belonging to the most explosive music generation that there ever was, beginning in the 60's (perhaps 50's) 'til present,... I specifically frame the 60's, 70's and maybe early 80's in a class by itself in general talent regarding compositional superiority (melody, lyrics and harmony). Most notably in modern rock or pop.
Considering modern superior engineering. Not subject to genre and independent of craftmanship and w/out discriminating commercial or obscure groups.
On the latter, today there is a lack of musicians/groups with unparalled talent in the likes of early Genesis (w/ Peter Gabriel (theatrics pioneer) or King Krimson, Hawkwind, early Yes, early Tangerine dream, Patrick O'Hearn, early Supertramp, Nektar, Three Dog Night, John Coltrane, Klaus Schulze, Tomita, America, Ray Coniff, Prokofiev, America, Burt Baccarah, Steely Dan, Frank Zappa, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Pat Metheny, Steve Hackett, where have they gone...
What we have now is music devoid of in depth compostion, I exlude jazz and ambient/space, classic precedes my hypothesis and still endures.
Music today is of mass production to the nth degree with only one objective: commercial productivity; It is truly a pre-packaged
product, though with great sonic mastering, but shallow and superficial in message and mental stimulus (i.e. hip-hop, et. al.), it seems to be morphing into an ethnic/racial marketing venue (Tejano, Hip-Hop, Salsa, Teen Bop, Grunge,
that pop, junk...)
I have managed to adapt and enjoy 5 decades of modern music,
without regards to class and type (genre), but apparently resist into being absorved to the new era, to me a Dark Age.
Then again, in my limited vision and parallel universe, is only my humble opinion.
Flux.
