Where are the front men? (Rant)

Welcome to the world of the worst, most dark and depressing music in the history of music!!!  IMHO, I believe this downward quality of music trend started when good old fashioned Rock and roll began to fade in the 90’s and degenerated into Grunge, the decline of good old fashioned Country music that lost it’s very soul, and when good old fashioned Soul and R&B degenerated into a universally accepted, scary, hard, street, gangster, Hip Hop Rap. Now, most newer music (last approx. 25 years) sounds either too weird, or too distasteful. Happy listening

Huh.

I am lost in so much great new music I have a hard time listening to the same thing again. Whether it is from looking through the new releases in general, new by genre, suggestions from Audiogoners, reading Stereophile, The Absolute Sound recommended recordings, of looking at a artist I used to listen to and discovering a bunch of recordings I never heard I am awash is absolutely wonderful music. This goes for specific types of music. 

In addition I often paint in the morning and just put on an internet radio station or play list... I have to keep stopping and adding stuff to my library.

I guess I don’t have any problems with music on Qobuz.

@sls883 Thanks for the recommendation. I'll look into it. I was into prog rock in college and still listen to the old stuff so I'll give it a try.

@stuartk I'm familiar with some of those particularly Stapleton. Will look into the others. I guess my rant has more to do with brand new stuff.

@grislybutter Thanks. Will look them up.

@kennymacc I agree with you. Probably because I'm older (61) and turning into a codger. It is easy too always look back and say things were better "back then". On the other hand sometimes it is true. And for me "back then" included the rise of disco. All the classic rock stations (it was just called rock) were changing format to disco and easy listening. It was awful. So we definitely go through stages where music stagnant or declining. I firmly agree that that's where we are now. Music is manufactured by teams of writers, computers and marketers. And it sounds like it.

This is evidenced by the decline of the band in general. There are very few 'bands' topping the charts these days. Mostly just marketable individuals singing what they are told to sing with studio and touring musicians......many of whom just push play on the synth track.

I guess one of the things that also strikes me as telling is the alt/indie market. It is ironic to me that they all sound EXACTLY the same. It is time for alternative to alternative and independent form the independence.

@ghdprentice I think it is great you are enjoying new music whatever it might be. Everyone has different tastes and criteria for what moves them. I also listen to stuff like Radio Paradise. I enjoy it but rarely hear anything new that catches my ear.

There are two issues I have with Qobuz. First, their algorithm, if they even have one, for suggesting music tailored to me just isn't very good. It is mostly just stuff I have recently listened to. Amazon and Apple do a much better job. Second, their search engine is a joke. It is like pulling teeth just to find something you already know the name of. But, I stick with them because I hate sending money to the big brother/ leviathan companies like Apple and Amazon.

@n80 

I'm familiar with some of those particularly Stapleton. Will look into the others. I guess my rant has more to do with brand new stuff.

Got it. If you are not familiar with Black Pumas, their studio stuff pales by comparison with their live performances. Listen to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOKfK8y4_MQ

Jason Isbell