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Is today’s contemporary music lacking?

I listen to various genres of music, and I am a big fan of rock/pop from the 1950s to today.

When I turn in the radio to hear new pop/rock songs, I often hear “monotonous” verses with minimal melody repeated again and again (4x) then the chorus not quite matching the music of the verses. The artist seems to try using a good voice trying to make the song sound good but these songs seem to lack a good “melody”. Anybody else notice this?

Also, because pop/rock music is well established, is it more difficult nowadays to create new good melodies - are artists running out of creative ideas?  This thought has often crossed my mind whenever I hear another song remake.
kennyc
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
The same three guys write all the songs. Do a search you will see. Do another, find the same few chords used over and over again. Don't even get me going on the lyrics.  

Then go find Sinatra-Basie. Listen to the whole album. There's a reason why a whole room of audiophiles sat spellbound through a whole side of this, and could talk of little but their amazement for a good while after. 

"Music" today is big business, and the music industry has settled on the business model of McDonald's. Stream. Sheesh. You want fries with that?
stuartk
3,051 posts
 
@kennyc:

On other threads, bdp24 and I have suggested Americana as a genre that features many highly talented musicians and singer-songwriters.

PM me and I will do my best to point you in some directions to explore. 

@millercarbon:

You are correct, in terms of major record labels that were long ago taken over by bean-counters. The fast-food analogy is spot on. 

However, if you are suggesting that this has resulted in the eradication of worthwhile music, I'd strenuously disagree. 


danager's avatar
danager
970 posts
 
Hopefully this doesn't cross a line but here goes.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/female-vocals-stunning-recordings-you-lov...

There is almost 60 pages of female artists new and old and most have a YouTube video associated so you can get a taste what then performer sounds like.  I spent weeks here and discovered quite a few new favorites.  I was so enthralled with the site I spent almost a whole day cataloging the artists and the page they're found on (page 50)

While Pop may be awful there is still a lot of good music being produced today.

Long live steaming :)

stuartk
3,051 posts
 
@danager:

Thanks for posting that link.

I will definitely check it out and hopefully, others will as well. 
stuartk
3,051 posts
 
@kennyc:

Tools for exploring music: 

A Spotify membership. It's free, if you can tolerate the ads.

Also, check out the All Music site and the No Depression site. 

Finally, there's a ton of music on YouTube.

Other forum participants may have additional suggestions. 

Hope this is helpful. 



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