uPtoWnNY said:

kpowers said:

When todays generation becomes old farts (and they will ) they will be saying the same thing. They be saying "Today music sucks!!! We grew up on great music like Justin Bieber, BTS, Ariana Grande, Cardi B. and Doja Cat!!!!!!!!!! Now that was great music"

A few years ago, they were playing Cardi B at my cousin's Sweet 16 party. After 30 seconds, I had to step outside....I'm like, WTF is that shit????

It was shit

By the way, this album is fantastic. A few of the songs made me think of something Prince did in later years.



It was Album of the Year for a reason.

Many of the pople here understandably idealize the music from the 70s and 80s here, but even back then I would look at the pop charts and only find a handful at best of really good songs. Some of the other songs that weren't great get elevated in people's mind in the light on nostalgia but really most of the songs were just corporate rock, soul, and disco (c.g., lets copy other hits to get a big hit rather than something that arises more artistitically and organically). I agree that much of modern music purposely has gone away from classic song structure and purposely strays away from melody, which isn't a plus for me. However, I still do add approximately a new release each week to listen to like I have always done. Much of this is not on radio, but it it there for the taking. Now if my interests were mainly confined to R&B and funk, then I would have great difficulty finding enough new good music. Many of the most creative Black artists are more into rap, which I can appreciate when it is creative but it is just not my cup of tea. However, it is easy for people to put the whole genre down by just saying how bad Drake or other ones who somehow who are popular without much artistic merit. I do think that people like Kendrick Lemar, Tyler the Creator, Common, and even the earlier work of Kanye havw artistic merit even though I don't have any of this on repeat.

gandorb said:

Many of the pople here understandably idealize the music from the 70s and 80s here, but even back then I would look at the pop charts and only find a handful at best of really good songs. Some of the other songs that weren't great get elevated in people's mind in the light on nostalgia but really most of the songs were just corporate rock, soul, and disco (c.g., lets copy other hits to get a big hit rather than something that arises more artistitically and organically). I agree that much of modern music purposely has gone away from classic song structure and purposely strays away from melody, which isn't a plus for me. However, I still do add approximately a new release each week to listen to like I have always done. Much of this is not on radio, but it it there for the taking. Now if my interests were mainly confined to R&B and funk, then I would have great difficulty finding enough new good music. Many of the most creative Black artists are more into rap, which I can appreciate when it is creative but it is just not my cup of tea. However, it is easy for people to put the whole genre down by just saying how bad Drake or other ones who somehow who are popular without much artistic merit. I do think that people like Kendrick Lemar, Tyler the Creator, Common, and even the earlier work of Kanye havw artistic merit even though I don't have any of this on repeat.

Don't forget the 60s, those were my growing up years, lol. My dad had all kinds of great music on vinyl (Motown, Stax/Atlantic, Blue Note, Verve, Capitol, etc.). It was huge influence on me and my brother.

Most of my tastes lie with classic R&B/Soul/Funk, especially the bands (along with Classic Rock, 90s Grunge/Alt Rock & Old School Hip Hop).

I love when people throw up Motown and utterly fail to realize almost all Motown songs were based on probably a half-dozen songs. Berry Gordy practically invented corporate music. Michael Jackson and others in their respective autobiographies have talked about how all those songs were just rewritten in a different key, or a melody was rearranged, or one chord was changed, but it was 90% the same song someone else recorded.

"Corporate rock" isn't new, by any stretch.

TrivialPursuit said:

I love when people throw up Motown and utterly fail to realize almost all Motown songs were based on probably a half-dozen songs.

I don't hear any relation between the music of Boyz II Men, T.G. Sheppard, Paula Greer, Rare Earth, Pat Boone, Rick James, Zhané, Mandré, & Gladys Knight And The Pips. They have all been signed to Motown at some time.

MickyDolenz said:

TrivialPursuit said:

I love when people throw up Motown and utterly fail to realize almost all Motown songs were based on probably a half-dozen songs.

I don't hear any relation between the music of Boyz II Men, T.G. Sheppard, Paula Greer, Rare Earth, Pat Boone, Rick James, Zhané, Mandré, & Gladys Knight And The Pips. They have all been signed to Motown at some time.

You know damn well what I mean.

TrivialPursuit said:

phunkdaddy said:

You didn't clarify yourself. I take that you're referring to the early 60's Motown stuff. Music styles changed in the 70's and Motown changed with it. Stevie, The Temps, then new acts like The Commodores, Rick, Teena Marie,etc well into the 80's

The sound changed before the 1970s. Psychedelic Shack doesn't sound like Please Mr. Postman. Even the 2 versions of I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Gladys Knight And The Pips & Marvin Gaye had different arrangements and they were only released about a year apart and both became hit singles.