That’s a generational thing. For me it was the music of the 80’s. Today people are getting famous with music composed on a $200 workstation while sitting on their couch. The part that burns me up is when I see my own nesses and nephews falling for that.  As each generation says, music is not what it used to be.

@mikelavigne

Come on Mike, spread you horizons. I admit I should have said more than New Wave for the 80s, but there's a lotta good stuff in the 80's - Bon Jovi, U2, Guns and Roses, Queen, REO, Metallica, Def Leppard, Scorpions, the list goes on and on.

Sorry to disappoint Mike, but my high school years were in the early 70's, you know when KOOL FM was playing tunes from the 50s and 60s. Love me some Platters and Coasters! The 60s & 70s is what I cut my teeth on. Huge amount of good stuff. Even just the 70s - REO, RUSH, Kansas, Journey, Boston, Yes, Black Sabbath, Styx, BTO, etc. etc.

I AM glad your kids have good taste in music!

Even as far as the New Wave you seem to disdain, there a lot of good tunes. Duran Duran, Talking Heads, Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, REM, OMD and a bunch more. Gotta admit though, a lot of New Wave seems to have a bunch more of one or two hit wonders, but wonders they are.

If your going to criticize me for anything, please make it that my tastes are quite broad. From true country to crooners, Old blues, R&B, pop, rock, disco, new wave, new age, alt rock, grunge, I love it all - even a small, select amount of rap...

Enjoy your tunes!

I think @ellajeanelle has it right-- to me, it's got a lot to do with your point of entry, when you really engaged. I listen to a wide range of material that goes back earlier- particularly in heavy rock (apropos Alice Cooper, to me, their pinnacle is Love it to Death, but that's subjective, isn't it? And I only appreciated that album decades later- at the time of release I thought it juvenile).

The key in my estimation is exposure. I guess that's one good thing about the current streaming phenomenon-- it gives you the opportunity to hear things without the cost of buying physical media. (that said, I have a hard time finding deep catalog jazz on Qobuz, something I have mentioned elsewhere).

I'm all about the adventure of finding "new to me" music. One of my early "hooks" was UK Island- Chris Blackwell signed some amazing acts. The first Free album is very underproduced (Guy Stevens) but man, Kossoff is just so inside the songs without overplaying. 

A long time favorite is Bad Brains i against i. A fusion band that could turn on a dime, they converted themselves to Rastafarian post punk. Crazy cool. The Repo Man soundtrack has a great sampling of West Coast hardcore. 

It took me years to find my ears for jazz- I was familiar with the standards but it was the post-bop stuff in the '70s that finally struck a chord with me. 

I do think this is a very personal journey and that each of us varies in our taste. 

One of our family friends was a long time sideman for NRBQ, who I saw a bunch of times back in the day. Those guys could rock. Hell, we saw Little Richard when he was about 80-- he didn't have the voice he once did, but still had his piano chops. I could go on--from Glen Campbell to Etta James. There were so many greats.

We went to hear Black Pumas the other night- very good show. Are they the pinnacle for me? I'm not sure I'd say that, but we had a good time. Tomorrow night we go hear Marc Broussard, who I'd characterize as "swamp soul."

Get out there and hear some bands. And for those who are now gone, reach beyond your usual fare. Lots of riches out there to be tapped. 

Oh, and old school disco is back! Who doesn't love the Shuggie Otis "Strawberry Letter #23" as covered by the Bros Johnson? :)

The year 1971 was the high point in popular music for those coming of age at that time. Not for those who came earlier or later.