[robwilliams]

Assuming that this isn't a troll "le wrong generation" post...

> I guess I can't really be sure, but I don't get the feeling people care about music like that anymore.

People in high schools still define themselves around the bands they listen to, don't be so sure to write off the younger generation as apathetic towards music.

> At the worst I wonder if the golden age of music as a popular art form is behind us. How many people follow sculpture or painting? There's plenty of work being done, but only aficionados of those forms follow it.

Music has been around as long if not longer than sculpture and painting. Art and music are still very popular, even if they're constantly changing.

As for your other comments about music today being "spineless and trite," we're currently in a second golden age of hip-hop and I'm sure fans of other genres will also tell you their music is alive and well.