lastdecember said:

Harlepolis said:

I know thats right.

Because the indie scene is booming, and you won't find ANY of their artist squeezed between that 12 songs playlist anytime soon,,,,again, this is where the internet come in.

its even more than that, take radio and whats its been for the last almost 20 years, no more playlists, at least the way the were allowed back then. If u think that a DJ can play an album cut a B side a mix or a track not on the agenda then we are crazy, the freedom is gone, so if you apply this to what was say in the 80's 70's and 60's you wouldnt have half or more of the artists we treasure. So many cuts that they had and were hits or at least got exposure, got the exposure because their labels had BRAVE people that stuck up for them, and the radio DJ's had balls to break the mold, now everyone is HYPE monster everyone dresses the same in music, same BS has been going on for over 2 decades which is why the US is not even the top of the list in markets to focus on by artists

Yep, Popular music has been in a rut since....well let's just say, for a long time. Hype, money, propaganda is what drives this industry and market today.

Hell, it's been in a rut since the early to mid 1990s when dance music (house music) died out and everything became adult contemporary and shit hop. This rut ain't nothing new. It's been here for almost 20 years.

Timmy84 said:

silverchild said:

And that's a good thing! Modern music in its totality needs a rebirth. But I'm glad we have revival soul music, even though that's beginning to deteriorate also.

You mean that "neo soul" music? I've hardly listened to it in recent years.

Oh Lord, neo stool is for folks that like to put on airs and act like they are all "elite" and saditty and "cultured"......."Oh, I'm listening to stuff that's artsy and some of it even has jazzy roots. La di da and my shit don't stink".

Honey, put down that damn cheap ass champagne that you're pretending is expensive, go to the store and get you a damn 12 pack of Budweiser, and throw on some low down dirty funk! Stop the posin' and fakin' and get on with some ass shakin'!

lol, this is an ever-returning and never-ending debate/issue/topic.

The irony is that the current generation of listeners will complain the same way in one or a few decades.

Thing is that you're growing up with a specific sound which can be attached to good memories of your past,

so that connection will always be strong. Once that genre changes or disappears you might feel abandoned.

As MickyDolenz pointed out earlier in this topic, a great variety of genres being offered on mainstream radio

isn't indeed so much the case anymore, with a few exceptions maybe. Good alternatives for me are internet

radio stations in the UK, such as Solar Radio and Starpoint Radio . What a number of their dj's do is that they

explore regularly on CDBaby | Urban/R&B where various independent artists represent their work.

Maybe they still search on MySpace as well, but i guess that many artists have concentrated their

showcase on Facebook, where multi-media possibilities have been added to the updated page-options.

And the finds which those dj's eventually spin in their shows can be surprising and interesting.

For example, some good years ago they were airing various tracks of Liv Warfield's debut-album.

Way before her name got more attention when she hooked up with Prince. And so on.

These dj's do a lot of fieldwork for you in advance, because these days you have to work a little mo' to find what you're looking for.

You can't rely on Clear Channel's program if you're expecting some new interesting sounds.

And recently there were excellent topics started by paisleypark4 : New r&b, funk, dance ...es anyone? , MickyDolenz : Current traditional R&B ,

paligap : In Flight : an ethereally...on trip... , and no doubt some more if ya look around.

[Edited 4/3/11 6:45am]

I do YouTube nowadays. If I'm lazy, I usually stick to the older stuff but if I want to explore - WHICH I DID THIS WEEK THANKS TO THAT NEW R&B/FUNK/DANCE THREAD - then there you go. I don't really focus on what's going wrong. I think I know what's wrong: people are still tuning into radio to see if something will STICK. I partially blame us - the consumers - for thinking what's going on with "urban music" is mainly on the part of the record labels (and even the artists themselves), but sometimes, we have to point the fingers at ourselves.

Timmy84 said:

I do YouTube nowadays. If I'm lazy, I usually stick to the older stuff but if I want to explore - WHICH I DID THIS WEEK THANKS TO THAT NEW R&B/FUNK/DANCE THREAD - then there you go. I don't really focus on what's going wrong. I think I know what's wrong: people are still tuning into radio to see if something will STICK. I partially blame us - the consumers - for thinking what's going on with "urban music" is mainly on the part of the record labels (and even the artists themselves), but sometimes, we have to point the fingers at ourselves.

Your right.. most of the problem IS on consumers. We, the public do not have to feed into what the media shoves down our ears and calls "good music". I remember getting so heated by the over glorification of these mainstream artists as well as the music. Ive growned to realize like so many people in this thread have stated that the only thing that matters is the music YOU like and exploring new talents especially a true talent, something which wont be on the mainstream radio and one has to put forth the effort in seeking but there IS good music out there just got to find it.

I think there is no passion like it use to be.

Plus Im young and i still believe the artist these days just don't have as much talent like they use to

it more about how much you can change your image rather than how much you and SANG and perform.

mjscarousal said:

Timmy84 said:

I do YouTube nowadays. If I'm lazy, I usually stick to the older stuff but if I want to explore - WHICH I DID THIS WEEK THANKS TO THAT NEW R&B/FUNK/DANCE THREAD - then there you go. I don't really focus on what's going wrong. I think I know what's wrong: people are still tuning into radio to see if something will STICK. I partially blame us - the consumers - for thinking what's going on with "urban music" is mainly on the part of the record labels (and even the artists themselves), but sometimes, we have to point the fingers at ourselves.

Your right.. most of the problem IS on consumers. We, the public do not have to feed into what the media shoves down our ears and calls "good music". I remember getting so heated by the over glorification of these mainstream artists as well as the music. Ive growned to realize like so many people in this thread have stated that the only thing that matters is the music YOU like and exploring new talents especially a true talent, something which wont be on the mainstream radio and one has to put forth the effort in seeking but there IS good music out there just got to find it.

yes, people need to stop watching and listening to crap

formallypickles said:

it more about how much you can change your image rather than how much you and SANG and perform.

It depends on what type of music you listen to as to what you look for as far as singing or performing goes. People who listen to Bob Dylan, are not as likely to be interested in a Barbra Streisand or Whitney Houston type of singer. Someone who listens to folk don't go to a concert to see dance routines, giant pig props, pyro, costumes, etc. But someone who goes to an arena rock concert like Pink Floyd, KISS, Styx, or David Bowie would expect that. Image and style always been a factor.

formallypickles said:

I think there is no passion like it use to be.

Plus Im young and i still believe the artist these days just don't have as much talent like they use to

it more about how much you can change your image rather than how much you and SANG and perform.

I think if you're gonna be in an industry, music, Hollywood or what not, image IS everything. Always had been since the beginning of Hollywood. If you're gonna listen to pop or R&B, expect that the image of someone was always more important than if the person had talent. Sure some got through (and continue to get through whatever obstacles some felt they thought they wouldn't overcome but did) but I'm beginning to believe it hasn't been that drastic.

I said in early threads about this issue that I feel those who prefer "real music" were spoiled as if to think the mainstream push of it "won't end". The so-called great music was always independent anyway (Motown, Stax, Philly International, United Artists, Atlantic, etc).

[Edited 4/3/11 9:36am]

I think ALL music sounds much better when you have good memories to associate with the songs. I think much of the music made today that people complain about will sound much better to them in 20 or 30 years. And the music that the kids will be listening to in the 2040's will be unrecognizable as music at all (...as we know it today).

But I think EVERYONE will always have access to music they enjoy; whether it's old, new, or something they've created themselves. Though at some point, "Music" will probably come back around to the unprocessed sound of the human voice and the beat of a single drum.

q

[Edited 6/17/13 17:56pm]

PDogz said:

I think ALL music sounds much better when you have good memories to associate with the songs. I think much of the music made today that people complain about will sound much better to them in 20 or 30 years. And the music that the kids will be listening to in the 2040's will be unrecognizable as music at all (...as we know it today).

But I think EVERYONE will always have access to music they enjoy; whether it's old, new, or something they've created themselves. Though at some point, "Music" will probably come back around to the unprocessed sound of the human voice and the beat of a single drum.

Yeah it's weird how life progress as time goes on. You can't always pinpoint an era where it was "real music" because, like Micky said a while ago, then you have to go back decades ago. I think the most of us who cry about "contemporary music" these days mainly because we have memories with the songs (for me, the mid-to-late 1980s and throughout the 1990s and through the early '00s, and some moments every now and then) and then songs that came out before my time that I feel a personal connection with. If the music from THIS generation sucks however, don't expect me to talk about it unless I've heard the song. I've learned to refrain from even posting about it. I was not so good about it in the past.

PDogz said:

I think ALL music sounds much better when you have good memories to associate with the songs. I think much of the music made today that people complain about will sound much better to them in 20 or 30 years. And the music that the kids will be listening to in the 2040's will be unrecognizable as music at all (...as we know it today).

But I think EVERYONE will always have access to music they enjoy; whether it's old, new, or something they've created themselves. Though at some point, "Music" will probably come back around to the unprocessed sound of the human voice and the beat of a single drum.

I don't its so much the nostalgia factor. The problem is hard to hear the melodies with all that autotune crap going on.

Now I can appreciate music that artists like Adele bring. That is what real music truly is.

[Edited 4/3/11 10:09am]

Timmy84 said:

PDogz said:

I think ALL music sounds much better when you have good memories to associate with the songs. I think much of the music made today that people complain about will sound much better to them in 20 or 30 years. And the music that the kids will be listening to in the 2040's will be unrecognizable as music at all (...as we know it today).

But I think EVERYONE will always have access to music they enjoy; whether it's old, new, or something they've created themselves. Though at some point, "Music" will probably come back around to the unprocessed sound of the human voice and the beat of a single drum.

Yeah it's weird how life progress as time goes on. You can't always pinpoint an era where it was "real music" because, like Micky said a while ago, then you have to go back decades ago. I think the most of us who cry about "contemporary music" these days mainly because we have memories with the songs (for me, the mid-to-late 1980s and throughout the 1990s and through the early '00s, and some moments every now and then) and then songs that came out before my time that I feel a personal connection with. If the music from THIS generation sucks however, don't expect me to talk about it unless I've heard the song. I've learned to refrain from even posting about it. I was not so good about it in the past.

i look back at the music from this era and it still sucks

i didnt like the songs then and still dont...

[Edited 4/3/11 10:08am]

^ I don't even KNOW the music from this era that well so I can't really critique. And why should I? Even if I do hear it it's not the end of the world. I think we come off sounding like some of our parents especially those that couldn't understand the grunge, metal and hip-hop movements of the '90s and they go "that ain't real music, that's just garbage." Now here we are two decades later acting just like them!

suga10 said:

PDogz said:

I think ALL music sounds much better when you have good memories to associate with the songs. I think much of the music made today that people complain about will sound much better to them in 20 or 30 years. And the music that the kids will be listening to in the 2040's will be unrecognizable as music at all (...as we know it today).

But I think EVERYONE will always have access to music they enjoy; whether it's old, new, or something they've created themselves. Though at some point, "Music" will probably come back around to the unprocessed sound of the human voice and the beat of a single drum.

I don't its so much the nostalgia factor. The problem is hard to hear the melodies with all that autotune crap going on.

Now I can appreciate music that artists like Adele bring. That is what real music truly is.

yes , good sounding music and artist is drowned out by crap

BUT, and here's something I've noticed in this board...

Whenever someone does have no autotune and is a musician, it's either boring or they're trying too hard.

I've been guilty of this too (Alicia Keys? ). So it all depends on preferences. Some folks find joy in listening to autotune. More power to them. I'll just have my talk box/vocoder.

Autotune is not necessarily all bad, some use it to good effect like this dude:

There's those that abuse it but if you use it right, it can be as creative as strings or horns or an actual voice.

And the songs that become hits for the most part- are the ones which abuse the autotune like crazy

Timmy84 said:

^ I don't even KNOW the music from this era that well so I can't really critique. And why should I? Even if I do hear it it's not the end of the world. I think we come off sounding like some of our parents especially those that couldn't understand the grunge, metal and hip-hop movements of the '90s and they go "that ain't real music, that's just garbage." Now here we are two decades later acting just like them!

That's essentially the point I'm making. Seems to me that cycle will just continue, until there's nothing left to "evolve" to, at which point there'll be no where to go but back to the basics. And at THAT point, the basics will sound brand new and fresh.

PDogz said:

Timmy84 said:

^ I don't even KNOW the music from this era that well so I can't really critique. And why should I? Even if I do hear it it's not the end of the world. I think we come off sounding like some of our parents especially those that couldn't understand the grunge, metal and hip-hop movements of the '90s and they go "that ain't real music, that's just garbage." Now here we are two decades later acting just like them!

That's essentially the point I'm making. Seems to me that cycle will just continue, until there's nothing left to "evolve" to, at which point there'll be no where to go but back to the basics. And at THAT point, the basics will sound brand new and fresh.

True. And I'm actually finding out that "real music" is not that hard to search for in this day and age anyways.

It's just we've settled back in our laziness to just focus on music from either our childhood or music we think it's good because there's a real voice and real instruments behind it.

Timmy84 said:

^ I don't even KNOW the music from this era that well so I can't really critique. And why should I? Even if I do hear it it's not the end of the world. I think we come off sounding like some of our parents especially those that couldn't understand the grunge, metal and hip-hop movements of the '90s and they go "that ain't real music, that's just garbage." Now here we are two decades later acting just like them!

[Edited 6/17/13 17:57pm]

suga10 said:

The problem is hard to hear the melodies with all that autotune crap going on.

There are thousands of albums released each year, and you're saying they all have autotune?

formallypickles said:

Timmy84 said:

^ I don't even KNOW the music from this era that well so I can't really critique. And why should I? Even if I do hear it it's not the end of the world. I think we come off sounding like some of our parents especially those that couldn't understand the grunge, metal and hip-hop movements of the '90s and they go "that ain't real music, that's just garbage." Now here we are two decades later acting just like them!

yep

but its not really that the music sucks but its talent to me..

the music suck in early 00s but i really did question the artist talent till now

like rihanna no disrespect.. i like her songs but i cant with her live voice and performaces

kesha ..ole god do i have to

I think the problem is you're being fed those artists or you think that's all there is. It's like what lastdecember said, get out of the mainstream. The mainstream always had sucked IMHO. Stop searching for it on MTV or even YouTube with its preferences. It just makes us sound more bitter than we appear to be.

Just read the comments on YouTube!

"This was real music now we have this Lady Gaga/Kesha crap!" NOW TELL ME THAT DOESN'T SOUND BITTER TO YOU!

Timmy84 said:

formallypickles said:

yep

but its not really that the music sucks but its talent to me..

the music suck in early 00s but i really did question the artist talent till now

like rihanna no disrespect.. i like her songs but i cant with her live voice and performaces

kesha ..ole god do i have to

I think the problem is you're being fed those artists or you think that's all there is. It's like what lastdecember said, get out of the mainstream. The mainstream always had sucked IMHO. Stop searching for it on MTV or even YouTube with its preferences. It just makes us sound more bitter than we appear to be.

Just read the comments on YouTube!

"This was real music now we have this Lady Gaga/Kesha crap!" NOW TELL ME THAT DOESN'T SOUND BITTER TO YOU!

but i really dont complain with mainstream music...

i dont like gaga all that much but i respect that there is talent there

same with justin beiber i dont really care for him but i can see his talent

alot of people no adays cant separate talent between personal preference

just because you dont like the artist music doesnt mean they dont have talent or are less talented

MickyDolenz said:

suga10 said:

The problem is hard to hear the melodies with all that autotune crap going on.

There are thousands of albums released each year, and you're saying they all have autotune?

I"m talking about our mainstream music here.

The good artists are not promoted.

suga10 said:

MickyDolenz said:

There are thousands of albums released each year, and you're saying they all have autotune?

I"m talking about our mainstream music here.

The good artists are not promoted.

"Our"???

Uh it's not yours if you don't like it.

I don't claim KESHA to be MY mainstream music.

Most "good artists" just refuse to sell out. THAT'S why you're not hearing them...or think it's hard to hear them (it really ain't, YouTube has some hidden treasures).

So right there I have a problem with that statement.

Bitter maybe?

[Edited 4/3/11 10:39am]

Timmy84 said:

formallypickles said:

yep

but its not really that the music sucks but its talent to me..

the music suck in early 00s but i really did question the artist talent till now

like rihanna no disrespect.. i like her songs but i cant with her live voice and performaces

kesha ..ole god do i have to

I think the problem is you're being fed those artists or you think that's all there is. It's like what lastdecember said, get out of the mainstream. The mainstream always had sucked IMHO. Stop searching for it on MTV or even YouTube with its preferences. It just makes us sound more bitter than we appear to be.

Just read the comments on YouTube!

"This was real music now we have this Lady Gaga/Kesha crap!" NOW TELL ME THAT DOESN'T SOUND BITTER TO YOU!

i do get out of the mainstream and yes mainstrean has always sucked but the talent was aleast consistent

Na I disagree, I mean you had Sarah Mclachlan and Alanis Morissette who didn't really sell themselves out- and they were quite successful in thier own right with the general public.

[Edited 4/3/11 10:44am]

formallypickles said:

Timmy84 said:

I think the problem is you're being fed those artists or you think that's all there is. It's like what lastdecember said, get out of the mainstream. The mainstream always had sucked IMHO. Stop searching for it on MTV or even YouTube with its preferences. It just makes us sound more bitter than we appear to be.

Just read the comments on YouTube!

"This was real music now we have this Lady Gaga/Kesha crap!" NOW TELL ME THAT DOESN'T SOUND BITTER TO YOU!

but i really dont complain with mainstream music...

i dont like gaga all that much but i respect that there is talent there

same with justin beiber i dont really care for him but i can see his talent

alot of people no adays cant separate talent between personal preference

just because you dont like the artist music doesnt mean they dont have talent or are less talented

I avoid Bieber...he bores me. Gaga bores me with her antics. Why would I even wanna give my undivided attention to it? And they don't really get me to the point of wanting to strangle them. They both serve a purpose as do all the artists we claim DON'T have talent. But yet we still give them attention that is really unwarranted. So we do come off as bitter. I know some times I came off bitter talking about these artists especially if the music is not that good to my ears and they're not favorable. That's why some folks shake their head to why they keep getting discussed...and bashed.