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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
stuartk
3,092 posts
 
"...if one diligently seeks out lesser known artists, there is a wealth of good musicians/songwriters to be found".

So true.  And in fact, this was the case in the 60's and 70's as well !  

This opinion probably won't be welcomed but I believe my fellow Boomers who never look beyond radio play and then complain that "there's no good music" are just being lazy.

Especially given that now there are so many more resources for seeking out music. Way back when, you had to actually know somebody who knew about the good stuff that wasn't on the radio and was willing to teach you.

At this point, there's no excuse. 

stuartk
3,092 posts
 
@bdp24:

You know about the "No Depression" magazine site, right? 
mahughes
171 posts
 
I think any comment about “the music of today” being somehow inferior or lacking is lazy, complacent and phenomenally ignorant. This from the generation which prided itself on its open mindedness.
stuartk
3,092 posts
 
"I think any comment about “the music of today” being somehow inferior or lacking is lazy, complacent and phenomenally ignorant. This from the generation which prided itself on its open mindedness"

Yes, and. . .  each generation has its strengths and weaknesses and has a tendency to be blind to varying degrees to seeing the strengths of other generations. 
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,023 posts
 
@stuartk: Oh yeah, I get No Depression emails several times a week. I also have a complete collection of the printed version of the mag, which I have been reading since it's inception in the 1990's. That title is taken from Uncle Tupelo's debut album. UT was of course Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy's first band, the two eventually going their separate ways and starting Son Volt and Wilco. Wilco has enjoyed greater success, but I prefer Son Volt.
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