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Goose , you asked for a list of some great music from the past few years, and I suggested 9 albums to listen to start.
By ignoring these great music selections you make it evident that you really only want to bitch and whine about the current state of music.
There is plenty of music being produced every year that is as good or even better than the Beatles ,Stones,Who, etc... IMHO
Most audiophiles on here are saying the same thing I am. You have two fellow detractors patting you on the back for your spirited negativity.
Goose listen to some music with an open mind. If you go into listening sessions with negativity and skepticism chances are you will dislike these awesome albums. If you don't want to trust my taste in music, go check the archives here for album of the years for the past ten years. There is plenty of great albums in there. Try the online magazine Pitchfork for their best albums.
Chances are you will ignore my past two post, not listen to any of the fine suggestions I've put forward . You will continue your pointless rant about the state of pathetic music today , while hundreds of fantastic albums/bands allude your closed mind. |
I guess everyone defines what makes excellent music. Mine is different than yours Goose and that is OK.
For me if I like an artist I try to get all of their recordings and listen to them all. I have recordings from artist that span decades and you can imagine the quality of the recordings are vastly different. But I love them all and I listen to them all.
Do people only listen to recordings they feel are "great"? That just seems like a waste to me.
I actually have some poorly recorded music of artist I love and I actually take them with me to audio stores. I do this because if it sounds so bad that I don't want to listen to it, I don't want the system. Now I also take "Audiophile" recordings as well. |
There is a basic formula for excellent music....good songwriting + talent + engineering / production. If you miss any one of the elements, the music suffers. |
I find it laughable that sound quality is a mitigating factor in a decision to listen to otherwise substandard compositions of what music should actually be defined by. This is clearly not about the music but all about the expenditure. The joke's on you guys:) |
Goose,
Your comment "As an example I was listening to the new Pink CD and the cymbals just about sawed off my ears with a compressed, distorted sound. The engineer and producer should be fired" reminds me of why I took a break from audio.
I use to own a system that was very detail and when the recording was good it was awesome. Well with this system I could only listen to about 5% of my entire collection. Now why in the world would I want to only listen to 5% of my collection? I took a break and built a new systems that just sounded good. I now enjoy my entire collection. Sure some recordings sound better than others but I find much more enjoyment listening than every before. |
Goose,
I guess i grew up in a different era because I don't list the Beatles, Who, Rolling Stones, or Led Zeppelin as artist I want to listen to. Now this isn't to say there is anything wrong with them but they just aren't my cup of tea. I would bet if they have any good recorded music it was remastered at a later date. |
Goose, you start a thread called why most new music sucks, and you want someone to write you a comprehensive list of awesome albums from the past ten years?? Why would someone do that for you? (Um, I actually did this for you and others, and for myself ,when I was had some free time)
I have spent years and many countless hours discovering and researching to find this music.
Are you really going to listen to this music?
I have actually mentioned a few stellar albums here. Did you check em out?
My list has over a hundred albums so far.
I am happy to share great music with people.
So Goose, I challenge you to listen to these albums first before I print my whole list. And please respond with your feedback to the music.
Alt J, An Awesome Wave ( try Breezeblocks, Something Good,Fitzpleasure, then continue to listen to the whole album if your intrigued and blown away)
Jim James new album is pure genius!! Called Regions of Light and Sound of God, I recommend listening all the way through.
Grizzly Bear, album is Shields. Wow!! I love it!, do you?
Modern Vampires new one,called Modern Vampires of the City is a classic.
Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues is sooooo good!
Phosphorescents new album called Muchacho is flawless!! It's mellow and melodic though. Perfect I say !
The Shins, Port of Morrow is so solid.
Do you like singer songwriters? Damien Jurado's Maraqopa , floored me!
Want dark and foreboding ? But equally awesome, try the Antlers , Burst Apart and Hospice.
There is 9 albums that I would be happy to enjoy on a desert island.
Let me know what you think of these Gems. I am happy to share so many more if your taking the time to listen with an open mind.
Enjoy, Todd |
Actually, I think that there have been some good recommendations (particularly from Toddnkaya; IMO). You can compile your own list from these.
Now, sound quality. I think you may be looking for the impossible. Personally, I don't think it is possible to expect sound quality that is anywhere near up to audiophile standards from an "artist" such as Pink. This is not meant to offend, but, artistically, there simply is not that much "there" there. While not every truly good artist has been recorded with stellar sound (duh!), I think it is much more common to have a good sounding recording of good music than of mediocre music. This should not be surprising since an artist who is discerning will insist on better production values. Additionally, we run up against the "aesthetics gap". Music (artist) that relies more on attitude vs substance will tend to have a certain aesthetic re sound quality that doesn't jibe with audiophile tastes. IOW, those cymbals that will saw our ears off is exactly what the producer wanted. Remember, the expectation is that most Pink fans don't have audiophile quality gear. |
Actusreus I have been searching for some great new popular music (rock, pop) and as I stated in my earlier post I am wating for the list....last 5 or 10 years anyone? Thanks for your posts! |
Goose,
Thank you for putting the record straight. I guess after nearly two months and nine pages' worth of posts, the full content of your original post got lost in the discussion. I'm still surprised nobody put their finger on it earlier though. Looks like you answered your own question then, at least partially :) |
Does anyone own the Eddie Vedder Ekulele album? I think it's sounds fantastic and the music I like even more. I was actually very hesitant to order it but since my wife has the hots for him, I placed my order. IMHO it's an instant classic. |
Actusreus I made a comment in the original post about the poor recordings being put out today. As an example I was listening to the new Pink CD and the cymbals just about sawed off my ears with a compressed, distorted sound. The engineer and producer should be fired. I'm still waiting for anyone's list of new, well recorded, written and played music...not just one song but an entire CD of good music. I have been listening to Radio Paradise and there is a lot of new stuff, but usually the groups are only good for a song or two. |
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Previous posters pointed to the fact that right now lots of young people dig records that were made before they were born. That generally wasn't the case in the 70's. Musicians in earlier decades had a smaller inventory of background music floating around in their heads. If you started a band 40 years ago the odds that you'd be stumbling on to something you hadn't heard before were way higher. It shows when bands are hitting something that feels new to them... it can also be apparent when a band is rote or trying not to play something that they heard from Yes, Santana, Led Zeppelin, Zappa, B.O.C., The Doors, David Bowie, King Crimson, Thin Lizzy, Kansas, The Who, Alice Cooper, Genesis, Nirvana, Black Sabbath...In any culture you'll find ebb and flow. It doesn't seem like we're in a period where a lot of people are rushing to the dial for that one new song that really crushes them. Value judgments aside, popular music has become(possibly by statistical necessity) more derivative during the last several decades. |
Actusreus' response is the most intelligent one so far. |
Basie last recording from the 80's "Fancy Pants" is reference material in regards to sound quality + good performance as well.
Many newer albums by newer groups are very well recorded. I find few CDs that I want to like but cannot because of poor sound these days. It does happen occasionally though. |
****I can accept Count Basie's records sounding awful, but not contemporary bands' that have at their disposal the most advanced recording technology and still release ear-bleeding music****
Some of Basie's records sound awful for a lot of the same reasons that some of today's records sound awful; lack of care. It was not because records from that era could not sound fantastic; I think we all know that many do. I find that there is a direct relationship between quality of the music and tolerance for inferior sound. IOW, the better the music (Basie) the more I am willing to accept inferior sound. What does that say about the quality of much new music that one may not be able to listen to because of inferior sound? |
Toddnkaya,
It pays to read the thread before you respond, my man. My response was to Donjr's post about air guitar. I took it to be a metaphor for getting excited about the music. If he meant it literally, oh well...
I'm actually surprised that the issue of the sound quality of contemporary music recordings has not been raised in this thread. After all, the OP's question was asked on an audiophile forum. As an audiophile, I cannot connect to new music unless it sounds good. The great majority of contemporary music sounds like crap sound-wise so to me it is no surprise I cannot connect even if the music has potential. If some of you can connect through your car radio, good for you; I cannot. I need more than compressed mash recorded and processed digitally to spark my interest, and I'm not going to make apologies for it.
Why does most new music suck? Because it fails to connect at the most basic level in our brains like older music does. If your brain knows what music should sound like, you should not accept anything that does not sound right. If you accept that new inferior level, I don't understand how you can consider yourself a music lover. Music deserves better. No doubt there was a lot of bad music back in the day, but at least it was recorded properly. I can accept Count Basie's records sounding awful, but not contemporary bands' that have at their disposal the most advanced recording technology and still release ear-bleeding music. Every once in a while I buy a new record, and then invariably shake my head. Another lost opportunity... |
Laughing to myself about 'air-guitaring'! At 60 yrs old my 'AG' days are way behind me. But am I the only guy who 'aired' other instruments? Man, I was a great air drummer!!;) |
Actusreus, Are you still 15 years old? Air guitar? Lol... I'm 47 and my taste in music has matured and evolved through the years. Jam bands, Alt Country, Alt.Rock,Alt Folk, etc...
There is so much fantastic music coming out every year, it's a pity you can't get on board and enjoy it. I am finding new artist that are producing albums that I find awesome , and in some cases I consider them masterpieces. Many of the recordings are very good as well.
Have you ever listened to My Morning Jacket? I can recommend Circutial and Z. Both are fantastic, IMHO
Another jamming band you may get up and boogie to is The Wood Brothers.All three of their albums! |
The problem is most of new (contemporary) music doesn't make me want to stand up and play air guitar like older stuff does. It just makes me turn it off...It has nothing to do with laziness.
As a side comment, a LOT of contemporary artists shoot themselves in the foot by releasing inferior sounding records when it comes to audiophiles. Greater attention to the sound quality of their recordings and releases would go a long way to get audiophiles excited about the music. It would definitely get me more excited. But since the public doesn't care, why should the artists? |
New music doesn't suck. You're just lazy and are not willing to get out there and find the good stuff. No surprise considering your hobby is sitting in a chair listening to music. Maybe you should stand up and play air guitar once in awhile. |
Todd,These days I am discovering a lot of music that is -New - to me.Starting from the present to early recordings of the 20th century.I have always had an open mind concerning music.I listen to many genres,,any genre is fair game.There is some very talented artist out there ,certainly more than I will be able to listen to in my lifetime.
So much music has been recorded ,I have a lot of fun discovering the old stuff that I have not heard yet,to me that is new music ,if I have not heard it yet. I seem to listen to more single songs from artist ,as opposed to hearing full albums in my pre-internet days,mainly the 70s,80s and 90s,in that order.
I like Bill Callahan,Eilen Jewell,Eliades Ochoa,Harmonious Wail,Lhasa De Sela,Loch Lomond,Nitin Sawhney,Bearfoot,Salif Keita,Rodrigo y Gabriela,Devendra Banhart,Oren Lavie,Boy and Bear, is a few of the newer things ive listened to and liked.I listened to a few of Alt Js tunes ,and really like a lot of it.He has a voice that I think most will either like or dislike.
I think that because it is so easy to record a decent sounding album nowadays ,and have it heard by many, has taken some of the mystique from the process.The kid next door is probably recording an album that will sound decent.It was more expensive,as was good equipment in years past.My friends and I tended to listen to whole albums rather than single songs . |
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You mean from the classic menu? :) |
Lots of gourmet meals to choose from:) |
Mapman,
I don't understand your point in this post at all. First of all, in my case, I'm not an old guy as I pointed out before. The classic rock and pop music was not "my music" when I was growing up; it was not made by my peers, and I was not the target audience. I had to get older to truly appreciate it. In fact, I did not really began exploring what came of those decades until I was well into my 30s. But now that I do appreciate it and have a five-decade comparison database, I feel confident in my opinion. I respect your opinion, but you need to get rid of the premise that preferences are dictated by age.
Also, how is who the target audience is relevant to the discussion of the quality of the music? |
All rock music and mucb of pop is part of youth culture. Its not reasonble for old guys to ass judgement condemning modern rock and pol. Its not our music for the most part. So you can pasx judgement and say it mostly sucks but it really does nof matter. So have at it. Jusf remember you are not the target audience like you were back in your youth when all that truly great rock music was made by those more your peers. |
Csontos
Bad analogy. Nobody wants the same gourmet meal every night. It's a great analogy. The point of the analogy is that whether you want to eat the same gourmet meal every night or not, that meal is still a gourmet meal, not something mediocre because you don't feel like eating it anymore, for whatever reason. Same with great rock music from the '60s and '70s. Just because someone is tired of it, doesn't mean that it has become mediocre. As a litmus test, I sometimes wonder what rock or pop band t-shirts kids will be buying in 30 or 40 yrs. I'd like those who think there are better (or even equal) acts compared to the '60s or '70s artists out there today to name one band that started recording in the 21st century that they honestly think will be selling T-shirts in 40 yrs. It is as silly as it is telling what endures. Frogman
Doomed to not being open to letting musical tastes grow and evolve. Not simply being open to new music in a given genre, but open to other genres that offer music created with more sophistication and a higher level of craft. We love our rock and roll (I do), but the undeniable truth is that classical, jazz and some ethnic music offers far more substance, sophistication, and if one is open to understanding these genres on a high level, just as much of the visceral feeling that good rock and roll does.
A true music lover sees (hears) no boundaries. Music is music. A cliche for sure, but there are only two kinds; good and bad. Frogman, I absolutely agree. My musical tastes have certainly evolved a great deal as I began exploring other genres, and I pity those who limit themselves to a particular genre and never branch out given the incredible variety of music across the world. However, going back to the original post, I feel strongly that rock and pop music has been in a steady decline musically since the '70s with perhaps a few rare exceptions. Conversely, some of the newer genres, such as rock electronica (Massive Attack, Portishead, etc.) or heavy metal, just to name a few, have explored new musical territories and expanded musical horizons for bands and music lovers alike. I'm not familiar enough with contemporary classical music to offer an opinion, but contemporary classic jazz, in my opinion, is as incredible as the stuff from the classic jazz golden eras of Coltrane, Davis, Evans, Monk, Mingus, and other classic jazz musicians of yore. As I drive to work every day, I listen to 88.3 in San Diego and I'm in awe how much great young talent is out there. Sadly, I cannot say the same about rock and pop artists today... |
It's already done all that stuff, though. All you have to do is discover it now. It's not going to do it again. There is no higher level, only lower, much lower. Do you think the past music you refer to wasn't understood at a high level just because you related to it without effort? Music evokes, it doesn't demand. Otherwise it's just noise. |
****"Doomed to what?****
Doomed to not being open to letting musical tastes grow and evolve. Not simply being open to new music in a given genre, but open to other genres that offer music created with more sophistication and a higher level of craft. We love our rock and roll (I do), but the undeniable truth is that classical, jazz and some ethnic music offers far more substance, sophistication, and if one is open to understanding these genres on a high level, just as much of the visceral feeling that good rock and roll does.
A true music lover sees (hears) no boundaries. Music is music. A cliche for sure, but there are only two kinds; good and bad. |
Doomed to what? I'm ready to debate till the cows come home. This is a different kind of fun. |
So here's a different spin.
Let's assume most or all new music does suck.
Then let's assume that those reading this are music lovers.
Conclusion: we're all doomed!
Thanks! I feel a whole lot better now!!!!! |
Bad analogy. Nobody wants the same gourmet meal every night. |
"But at the end of the day, filet Mignon is still filet Mignon and McDonald's is still McDonald's, and the fact that you no longer want to eat the former can't change it. "
Yeah, but it still may still taste pretty darn good when that is what you are hungry for.
All music is low fat, low sugar, low salt and no carbohydrates last time I checked, so no physical harm is likely. :^) |
Snore. I grew up listening to The Beatles, The Who, Led Zeppelin, and so on. I listen to The Beatles, Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones once a year. I can't stand The Who or The Doors anymore. I can't listen to the same stuff thousands of times any longer. When I hear The Doors 'People are Strange' I want to watch television. If you eat filet Mignon for dinner every night, you will also grow tired and bored of it, and you might even reach for McDonald's for a different flavor. But at the end of the day, filet Mignon is still filet Mignon and McDonald's is still McDonald's, and the fact that you no longer want to eat the former can't change it. |
GEtting a good internet radio feed into my system was probably the best thing I ever did to help me break my ruts of listening mostly only to old favorites and giving "new" stuff a chance. It can be a mind opening experience.
Soon after I added my own music server and started buying "new" CDs again to build up my own collection and I listen to my own personal "Mapman Radio" station in essence now. Its format is eclectic with lots of variety.
Many artists and recordings featured from old 78's from the 1920s to more exclusively modern acts, including some newer pop/rock acts like:
Muse, Arcade Fire, Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, Gorillaz, Kelly Clarkson, Flo-Rida, Eminem, Ne-Yo, Sean Paul, Radiohead, Broken Bells, The Black Keys, Alabama Shakes, Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater, The Mars Volta, Massive Attack, Motorhead, Killswitch Engage, The Decemberists....many more with new stuff added to the rotation all the time.
Access to Mapman Radio is limited to my houses Wifi by invitation only. :^) |
I agree that there's plenty of drivel being produced, but now I'm listening to internet radio and I can't get enough. There's so much variety. Most of the bands/people I had never heard of before. There's plenty of good stuff out there. You just have to have the time to search and listen. I wish I had more time... |
"Newer means new to me, it could be old stuff I have not listened to before, or new."
Yes!!! As an example of some music I've recently purchased that is 40 years old and I had never heard. Shuggie Otis Inspiration Information. I was listening to an interview with him on NPR on my way home from work. I ordered the CD that day and it was at my door 2 days later while it was fresh in my head. The first time we played it, my wife and I danced in the living room. Loved it.
Last weekend we researched St Vincent because we had never heard her (them?) and she's traveling with David Byrne right now. We watched at least a dozen You Tube videos and found her to be extremely talented, quirky and overall enjoyed what we heard. My wife looked at me on Sunday night and said "order everything she's got out". Three Cd's showed up yesterday and that's our plans for tomorrow night.
I stopped recommending music to people because it's such a personal thing. I do truly believe there's a lot of great music for everyone that just needs to be discovered. I think it's out there, you just need to find it. It used to be delivered via radio waves. Now we have to find it. Maybe a one hour radio program that airs once a week, maybe a interview in a magazine. I like it this way because finding it is a hobby in itself. |
You'll never find anything worthwhile if you keep treating music as a competition. Stop comparing everything to something else and just enjoy it for what it is. Soak it all up. |
" I can't listen to the same stuff thousands of times any longer. "
I'm with Don on this, though I find I am able to listen to the same old stuff some more, as long as there is other newer stuff to listen to as well. Newer means new to me, it could be old stuff I have not listened to before, or new. Lots of good stuff in both categories. Doesn't matter when it was made. I either like something or I do not. I find something to like in most everything I listen to. My listening time is limited, so I try to listen to as many different things as possible, mixing in the stuff I know and already like as needed. Breaking any habits of always just listening to the same old "favorites" helps find new ones. |
Snore. I grew up listening to The Beatles, The Who, Led Zeppelin, and so on. I listen to The Beatles, Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones once a year. I can't stand The Who or The Doors anymore. I can't listen to the same stuff thousands of times any longer. When I hear The Doors 'People are Strange' I want to watch television.
I've learned to dig deep for new music and although it takes awhile, it's out there for me. Most of my new music comes from reviews I hear on NPR, Mountain Stage etc. Austin City Limits works for me. Not sure what happened to the King Biscuit Flower Hour. The good music is out there for me. It's just that its not popular so it doesn't get much radio play. That's okay by me because I only listen to talk radio in the car and kitchen. |
"I did prefer the time when all I seemed to need was one or two "top 40" stations, but I was young and naive and settled for some things I would not listen to now."
Yes, I am fond of those days as well.
Being the techn-geek I was though, when I got my first real stereo in ~ 1972 (a $200 Sanyo compact with radio, phono and cassette all in one, like were very popular in those days), I spent countless hours trying to rig better antennas in order to pick up faint or distant stations from Philly, Baltimore, DC or wherever I might find better in hopes of finding more good stations and music to listen to. IT worked to some degree but many were quite noisy.
Jump to today....more music available both current and past at my fingertips with very good fidelity than anyone could possibly listen to in their lifetime.
AH, the good old days when life was simple and imperfect yet everything still sounded fresh and new. Is it me? OR is it Memorex? |
Jazz had been good since it was born and it's good now. Lotslotslots of good performances and artists. Rock is dead tho. |
There will always be enough one-hit wonders to keep the airwaves interesting (if you can find the right stations).
I did prefer the time when all I seemed to need was one or two "top 40" stations, but I was young and naive and settled for some things I would not listen to now. For me I guess the great radio years were 1962-1973 though there's certainly tons of great stuff from before and after that period. |
I suppose its a glass half full or glass half empty type of thing. I will chose the glass half full perspective. Would a full glass really be any better? I can only drink so much at a time. After that, its not as enjoyable. And there are plenty of old favorites out there to always fall back on as needed. If I'm around for another twenty years or so, there will surely be even more. |
Actusreus,
No argument, but consider the music prior to Elvis and The BEatles to that after. Big difference! I was born in 1959 (13 years older than you). Music changed in big ways over the next two decades from the time I was born. To some extent during the 80s and 90's and later as well, but to a much lesser degree in terms of music popular with kids and younger adults of the time. Many tend to like a lot of older rock/pop music just like classical lovers still listen to Bach and Mozart as well as newer composers. There is love for the genre of classical music, much like for rock music. But most new music out there today is no longer rock/pop, a lot of that has been done and yes hard to top, though it still happens. Its when one considers newer musical forms and genres that the argument for new music changes, much like rock and roll changed the argument for what comprised good music for many back in those days. Its hard to compare apples and oranges, but does not mean either sucks. |
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Mapman,
I'm 40-years-old and "some of those who are currently down on most new music." Many of the bands and artists I listen to and like were no longer in existence when I was born. I might not be a typical advocate for the superiority of older music over current music, but the notion that the musical preference is dictated by what one grew up with, came of age listening to, did drugs to, or what was playing then in general is simply untrue. If it were, I'd be stuck on the '80s and big hair metal bands.
I have a 24-year-old female friend who grew up in Southern California. She too wholeheartedly agrees with me that new rock and pop music does not hold a candle to the music that came out of the '60, '70s, and perhaps some out of the '80s. So just because posters on this board are older on average doesn't mean that only they represent a certain point of view.
Something magical happened in those decades, and you should not have to be on drugs to recognize it. |
