[gnulinux]

> music is "bad these days"

Exactly, music is absolutely incredible these days. In any genre you pick, you will find very inspired, innovative and beautiful examples.

Some people who say "music is bad these days" try to contrast pop music with 18th/19th century Western classical music. But that makes absolutely no sense because there are heaps over heaps of beautiful classical music composed in 21st century. You just need to go out there and find them. E.g. there are Unsuk Chin, Jennifer Higdon, Fred Lerdahl, Michael Torke, James Yannatos etc... There is no shortage of beautiful classical music produced today, if you care to look outside of household names.

Similarly, when people contrast pop music with classic rock (e.g. mid-to-late 20th century Rock and Hard Rock), I think they're once again failing to find the right kind of aesthetics. There are Greta Van Fleet, Heart, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club etc... All kinds of artists who make great Rock music. But since they're not mainstream anymore, they're not exposed to masses as much as Rolling Stones, Queen, Led Zeppelin etc...

[sdwr]

Beyond the "good ol days", there's something to be said for mass popularity. When something has its moment, there's a magic in the air. A lightning in a bottle feeling coming from shared attention and excitement.

Sure, modern rock might be technically as good as classic rock, but rock doesn't rule the music world anymore. Honestly music doesn't really rule the entertainment world either.

[thefringthing]

People in the developed world usually point to the Internet and mobile phones as the most prominent example of big societal changes in their lifetime, and those are obvious picks, but I think the end of rock as the dominant (super-)genre of popular music is overlooked.