Has anything new happened in music lately?

I would be totally amazed if the kind of music I play ever became popular. But everything we do is new every time we play. I’d have to say it’s an acquired taste—not one that’s every likely to be acquired by many people.

The reason why everything seems like a rehash is that people like music that makes them comfortable. They are made comfortable by music that is familiar to them. You can only go so far from what they are comfortable with before they won’t like it or listen to it. Crossover stuff helps move people from one genre to another, but that doesn’t really happen that often.

I don’t think most people can be amazed because I don’t think they want to be amazed. They are not looking for amazement. They want something that feels good; something comfortable, like a favorite t-shirt or like mac and cheese.

I’m still waiting to be amazed. There has to be people who will make a new sound that is nothing like anything we’ve heard before and be popular with the masses. When rock and roll was coming into play, it was the new sound and it really took off. I’m thinking it may have to be music from extra terrestrials to come up with something so good and different it will be all we talk about.

Rock and roll didn’t come from nowhere. It was a combination of many forms of music and new technology that it came from. There is lots of new music being developed all the time. Some of it gets pretty big—rap and hiphop and rave and techno and who knows what else. But none of it has been quite as big as rock. A lot of new stuff you have to actively look for to find.

Maybe one day there will be something new that has the effect of rock and roll and the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, etc. Maybe it won’t happen too far down the road. But while there are new technical developments all the time, I think that may actually go against something new. People are too used to change.

No, it seems like originality and uniqueness have gone out the window. The British New Wave invasion in the 1980s was the last time something new and amazing hit the music scene.

All the “new stuff” you hear on the radio now is so boring and unmelodic. Even the “melodic” stuff like Cold Play’s “Viva La Vida” is boring and repetitive to my ears. The song is actually quite annoying.

I am looking forward to another music revolution, but I doubt there will be another. It seems as if “artists” these days have run out of ideas and creativity, and are relying on old notes.

Was Flock of Seagulls one of those BNW invaders?

Anyhoo, I’ve pretty much stopped buying music unless it is old music because yeah,the new stuff just plain sucks so might as well stay in a holding pattern until that new sound happens or I die…whichever comes first.

I’m thinking of groups like The Eurythmics, The Pet Shop Boys, Tears for Fears, Nik Kershaw, China Crisis, Bronski Beat, and Frankie Goes To Hollywood.

I only listen to “old music”, music from 1980s and before. I like the Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Carpenters, etc., and most of the British New Wave artists of the 80s. A lot of good stuff seems to come out of Great Britain. If there were ever another amazing revolution, it would most likely come out of that country. However, there is a lot of original talent that has come out of Asia (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan) within the last 30 years too——it’s only because of the language barriers that these songs are unknown or unheard of here in America. Artists like Sammy Hui, Pink Lady, Teresa Teng, Leslie Cheung, etc., all big talents with great voices and great music.

Even Michael Jackson had more originality than most of the artists you hear on the radio today.

Yeah, it started sucking real hard.

These days it’s harder for artists to become sensations because the competition is so much tougher. Thanks to the internet, people aren’t limited to what’s on commercial radio anymore. Add to that the fact that, to stay popular, artists can’t release an album every couple of years: to stay in the public mind they have to be constantly releasing new material, touring, and guest judging on reality tv shows.

If everything sounds the same to you, it’s probably just because you’re not interested in it. I listen to my brother’s indie music and get so bored, but clearly he finds it ‘new’ enough to listen to it for hours on end. People are still amazed by music: people like Adele, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, etc, have huge followings. It’s just that you don’t like it. (disclaimer: I’m not a huge fan either)

Well, if someone invents a unique sound I’m pretty sure it’s going to be noticed. I hold out hope that it will catch on. Todays music is boring. It isn’t bad on the whole, but not really worth paying for. I would really like to start listening to radio someday but for now it’s the same-o, same-o.

Last times I was amazed was when Nevermind by Nirvana came out and the grunge period as a whole.
After that, only some occasional songs did it for me…

I am occasionally amazed by a piece of music. Usually it is music from another country in an unfamiliar style played on unfamiliar instruments. Folk music and jazz interpretations of traditional tunes can sound original and fresh. I like listening to Late Junction on the BBC.

@rebbel Ya, Nevermind was good stuff. Still is, but Cobain is dead dammit. I picked up Badmotorfinger by Soundgarden the same day, so to me the two go together for that time period although I don’t think SG is grunge really.