I listen to mainstream but also indie artists. It's not about trying to be "cool" by listening to unknown bands with small followings or from decades ago, that's just prentious. Instead, like the artists you enjoy no matter what their popularity or following. I get the feeling that some people on here say they listen to certain artists just so they will get more respect from other members. I understand teenagers tend to do that but eventually you have to grow out of that habit and enjoy the music that you do like.

Agreed. I'll admit I used to do that too. Now I listen to whatever and don't give a ****. Bumping Florence and the Machine in a shop full of manly men has earned me some of the most rewarding looks of disgust ever. Mwahaha.

"Sorry dudes but Lungs is one of the best albums ever" :P

I think a lot of people don't get how people like us can genuinely enjoy drastically different genres equally.

I stand corrected. Clearly there are a lot more people listening to crappy generic 'Pop-Hop' than I realized. :usehead:

There is not a single shred of evidence out there that supports the notion that there is any new innovative quality music being made out there that compares to The Beatles, Stones, Who, or Beach Boys for that matter. It is a fluff with little substance.

^
That thing now has over 11 million views. I remember, not long ago, when it just passed 4 million.

Helluva addictive song.

No kidding. It single-handedly changed my opinion of modern music. I've played it a hundred times of so in the past few months, and it still feels fresh.

"It feels like I only go backwards…."

Really I don't know why i even bother anymore it's like arguing with a child. There is, in fact, evidence - you've shut your mind off to it. And that's not something we or any proof in the world can cure.

^
I forgot how good that first AnCo song is. Time to put on MPP.

BTW, one of my reasons for coming to this conclusion was because I recently bought The Police's Ghost in the Machine CD. I had the LP and the cassette tape, but seeing that I have no record player and rarely listen to cassettes anymore, I haven't listened to any of The Police's albums in a long while. I had always considered Ghost in the Machine to be their best album (though maybe I should reconsider and give that nod to Zenyatta Mondatta). And I always considered The Police to be the pre-eminent band of the late 70's-early 80's "New Wave" period (though, once again, lately I've been reconsidering that position and might give that nod to Squeeze instead).

And frankly, when I re-listened to Ghost in the Machine again, it wasn't as good as I remembered it. There are 4 (maybe 5) good songs, and the other 6-7 songs are really "meh" at best. And even the good songs, the songwriting is pretty conventional.

The best song IMO from Ghosts is this:



But this is waaay more an interesting and creative song:


^
Police couldn't do anything close to that. EDIT: I see Surrel already beat me to it!

I always preferred Sting's solo work to The Police. I only wish that show he did in Toronto with Paul Simon hadn't been sold out….

I'm going to do a really daring comparison that practically borders on blasphemy for 70's art-rock/pop lovers. ;)



The 21st century equivalent. I do think the Yes song is better, but Panda Bear gives 'em a run for their money.

I'll personally take that Panda Bear song over the Yes song. Interestingly enough, Christopher Bear cited Person Pitch as the album of the decade and mentioned that song in particular.

From another album I got into early this year:



A potential 'oldie' comparison - in this case chosen because the lead singer in the song above sounds a bit like Elvis Costello. ;)


EDIT: Decided to use a different song

I'll always have a special spot for '80s music. 1983 in particular was a wonderful music snapshot in time you'll never see duplicated again. Michael Jackson hadn't gone to the dark side. The Police was at its peak. Def Leppard broke big. The list of superlatives goes on.

This got me to thinking...

I don't get how some ppl have to claim the stuff they like is the best, i luv the pixies and the alternative movement in the early 90's but i don't f*ckin claim it all went down hill from there.

We all favor an era in music but it doesn't mean we have to be stuck in it much less claim that modern music doesn't compare to it. There's nothing to gain from that mindset, all it does is trap you in a time bubble.

On a serious note, I've gotten into pop music for the majority of my life. Carpenters, Elton, Bee Gee's, etc paved the way for Michael Jackson, Wham!, Spandau Ballet, The Bangle's, Madonna, etc., which paved the way for Toni Braxton, Brian Adams, Mariah Carey, etc. which paved the way for Brittany, Aguillera, Destiny's Child, and now we have Beyonce, Katie Perry, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Adele, etc. all of which make some pretty outstanding music.

I grew up as a true blue, died-in-the-wool Metal Head, and when I think back on the pop music I've been subjected to, I'd be lying to myself if I said it wasn't at least a little bit catchy, and that it doesn't conjure up internal images, and feelings. After all is said and done, that is what music is supposed to do.

I probably just destroyed any fragments of any kind of street cred I may or may not have had.

I don't see the comparison one bit. And ya, total 100% blasphemy!!!!!

yeaaaa boy. never understood how people hate so much on music that's just catchy. i basically dont trust people that say they don't like pop music. go home pal youre not fun is what ill say. oh wow call me maybe isn't pushing the boundaries of music? thank Christ. i don't want it to.

its the summer now i just want fun songs that i can jam and drink and party to. sorry drone and black metal youll have to take a seat for 4 months.

I'm covering Call Me Maybe on my next album using soda cans as percussion while I stomp on cats and mice for the melody.

Who says pop music can't push boundaries.

^ SMiLE did it

Werd to the statement, brotha.

I think the blasphemous thing here is that you would insult Panda Bear by comparing him to Yes. ;)

Catchy music is the best music by far.

My gripe is with pop music that isn't catchy. What the fuck is your purpose, un-catchy pop?

I was in a short-lived noise band called "Smashed Femur Dance Party" that did noise covers of classics: Sonny & Cher, Animals, Stones, Temptations, etc.

I rip pages out of magazines for added instrumentation

What happens when you rip a page with the sheet music for 4'33" in half?

I rip that shit

A tree screams in the forest.

is this music tho

If you read the writings of the person who cut down the tree you'll see it as music like I do.

To quote Joni Mitchell 'Most of the Music today should be called IC because the MUSE is missing'

I'm not taking sides.

Pop albums have always blurred the line between collection of singles and consistent album; people forget that pop is short for popular and it's the music that's designed for mass appeal like soft rock and lyrics that are often bright and deal with common issues. Rarely does pop ever deviate from that formula even with the recent focus on partying and drinking.

It's always been designed to appeal to the masses but one thing I appreciate Pop for is the creative liberties that artists often take, using their popularity to force change or different issues on the radio thus making people think. Many artists that have divided fanbases (Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, pre-Blackout Britney Spears, The Beatles to name a few) have often utilized those creative liberties to create new sounds. It's been recently that consistency and themes have infiltrated pop projects; Katy Perry's Teenage Dream is her best sorely because it has that consistency and a certain persona to it. It's not just a collection of singles, it's a consistent album.

I don't pick sides based on which era was better; I pick sides based on who can innovate pop the most and influence a generation. (politics, styles, way of thinking, you name it.) Just imagine if nothing influenced anything, we wouldn't have society or anything that was different. it would be all conformity.

Anybody claiming to be born in the wrong generation is delusional. There is no such thing as a wrong generation; every generation has it's sound but each generation has it's downsides. You wouldn't want to be living in a segregated 50's or a treacherous 80's would you. Despite it's lack of appealing music, we have come so far in technological advancements that it's impossible to live without them.

I don't know. Sounds a bit like a case of the grass is always greener. I'm sure the previous generation moaned just as much about the pop music of yesteryear the same way we do now.

People do have a tendency to remember the past as better than it was with hindsight and nostalgia

I'll always have a thing for 1983. It is worth noting that every generation has its bad music, my pet decades included.

If you rip enough pages, you get a bunch of screaming trees, and they get together and form a band.

Screaming Trees - Nearly Lost You

I'll go with 1984, only because I have a compilation from 1984 and it has some crackers on it. Crackers like this:

John Waite - Missing You



Oh yeah.


And this:


Madonna - Borderline