Gen-X, let's talk music for a moment

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LSX3399@reddit

The point used to be to NOT sell out to the man....now the point is TO sell out. Hard to be counterculture and sell out.

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Mach5Driver@reddit (OP)

I've been waiting my whole adult life for someone to sell out to.

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Fancy-Firefighter-28@reddit

About 11 years ago, Lana Del Rey shocked my smug Gen X opinion that "all this music today sucks". Unfortunately she has been in a slow decline since about 2020.

But her 2010-2018 outout is really incredible. Oh, and during this time she recorded like 300 songs. Yep.

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22Shattered@reddit

That’s MY GIRL !!! Was about to say about 10 years ago Lana rocked my world!! ✨✨✨✨💛🌺

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The crazy thing is I am so not a typical fan. I am a Dad that listens to a lot of grandpa metal and strange obscure stuff no one likes or has heard of. But her music was so good, lile a lot of different genres and styles. Totally became a Lana addict.

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22Shattered@reddit

Hiiiii!!! You sound very cool! I wouldn’t say I’m a “typical” fan, I was like 34 already when a coworker showed me her music and was like “it’s over”. I’ve been hooked on her music since 2013 (give or take). :))

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Fancy-Firefighter-28@reddit

Thanks! I wasn't much older than that when I discovered her by accident actually. It was a while ago.

I went to see her twice in concert and it was a bit surreal to be surrounded by much younger fans. And here I am literally sticking out like a tall straight guy. Like who is this guy?? Move outta the way, you're too tall! 😂

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22Shattered@reddit

Haha - u sound awesome, doing you. I diggg! :) I’ve yet to see her in concert. Almost got tickets in 2023 but I was like “it’s a new album, don’t know songs, also too many (younger fans) (not that I have a problem with it, but the shrieking can become a bit much” I’ve taken my youngest daughter to k pop concert and that’s what I sorta pictured in my mind and was like “I’m good” I guess I should’ve just gone, but I’ll be okay.

Nice speaking to u :)) have an awesome day!!

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Fancy-Firefighter-28@reddit

Thx... have a great one. Also, be sure to check out Elysian Fields. They have been around since 1995 and their singer sounds just like Lana 🤩

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22Shattered@reddit

Thankksss!! And checking them out like right now - ty!! 🙏🫂🫂✨✨✨💛

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Fancy-Firefighter-28@reddit

gif

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22Shattered@reddit

Oh TOO COOL :))

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threedogdad@reddit

to each their own, but I'd use her as the opposite example. I'll have to give her another shot and try the time period you mention.

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Fancy-Firefighter-28@reddit

There was a lot of backlash against her in 2011-12 with the SNL performance and even SNL themselves cruelly making fun of her afterwards.

Are you one of those that jumped on the Hater wagon at that time?😂

FWIW I am now a hater of her 2025 music so, now we're kind of both haters. 👿

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threedogdad@reddit

my understanding was that her career was bought and paid for, not earned and since my family is life long musicians I just have no respect for that. admittedly I don’t follow the pop scene so I don’t know how true that was.

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Fancy-Firefighter-28@reddit

She's not really pop music. She did some pop in her unreleased music but the majority of her music is a mix of indie, rock, trap, hip hop, etc. Pop music is Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, Bieber, Ke$ha, stuff like that. Corporate music.

The other point here is that her early music is actually very different and is quite creative and better quality than anyone else at the time. On her 2nd album as "Lana Del Rey" she worked with Dan Auerbach from the Black Keys and the music ventures into hard rock. And it was great. But that was 2014.

I have less faith in her output in 2025, so I am starting to realize her music depends on the co-writer she chose. And her stuff in 2025 is awful. Because of a bad co-writer. And because maybe she's ran out of ideas. So maybe there was a man behind the curtain all this time.

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Fancy-Firefighter-28@reddit

Try this album (before she was famous)

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threedogdad@reddit

Will do, thanks!

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Mach5Driver@reddit (OP)

Finally, an actual answer, thank you!

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bigheadstrikesagain@reddit

Also try out They Can't Kill Us All and Bill Collectors Theme Song by Apes of the State to start your folk punk rabbit hole.

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PagingDrTobaggan@reddit

This take is bad. Theres fucking fantastic music out there today. Brilliant hip hop, metal, alt/indie. Sure, pop music is … questionable … these days. But open your mind to new stuff, actively search it out, and I think you’ll find as much or more brilliance out there as we ever had.

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RussellAlden@reddit

We had the monoculture but with the Internet everything is fractured and niche. It’s out there you’re just not going to find it on a Clear Channel station. There is plenty of rebellion and speaking truth to power in alt country/Americana but you got to know where to look.

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WingZombie@reddit

This. The internet has democratized music so that anyone can produce and distribute. The result is that there is so much more content out there to be sorted through to find the goodness. There is a lot of amazing music being created today, it's just a bit more challenging to find.

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BasicPainter8154@reddit

Yeah. I’m genx and loved the music, but anyone who says there isn’t great music today is just lazy. There is more good music now and it’s so much more accessible than music ever was in the 90s. Shows are easier to go to and generally cheaper as well. We are living in a golden age of music right now.

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SubstanceNo1544@reddit

I disagree but hey, at least I wasn't too lazy to reply!

wink-nudge

Everything is more expensive nowadays. Sure there's a metric ton of different stuff to go see but its going to set you back like 3 paychecks of "fun money" to do it.

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Primary_Afternoon_10@reddit

I'm lucky enough to live in a town that gets dates for mid level artists on weekdays as they're driving through. 15 bucks max for a cover, many times free. My first concert was the who at a gigantic arena. I've seen at least five shows this summer within cycling distance that blew that experience out of the water. Total cost of admission combined was less in today's dollars than what I paid for that ticket in 1980s dollars.

As for big dollar shows and artists: I've had such dramatically different experiences! We live within driving distance of red rocks. Don't love the drive, don't love the cost, but some of the shows we've seen there, even if I try to subtract the location: amazing. Lord Huron, Watchouse, others.... Some really talented musicians and lyricists making music today.

Jon Baptiste? Some of these people just blow me away with multi instrumentalist skills! There's a million more on my list, hoping you find some near you, whether it's the lower draw but still incredibly talented folks or the big names: our problem is making time for it all. And of course he was before our time, but as a child of a huge Steve Goodman fan, for my money John Prine frankly surpassed any of our era musicians. Point being: I hope the boomers didn't say the same about the music of our youth, though with prine in their midst, they'd have had a good argument!

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QuiJon70@reddit

And honestly the ai manufactured bullshit isn't about music. It's about selling an image on youtube and selling that image for clicks.

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Sorry_Lecture5578@reddit

Its the same with movies and shows. Now that there are 50 different streaming services with their own proprietary shows/movies there are very few that would actually bring the majority of a generation together.

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Primary_Afternoon_10@reddit

I was going to throw this genre out there too. And as far as rebellion, hoooooo boy. There are some very outspoken artists out there. Carsie Blanton comes to mind since she's recently been in Israeli jail! Not saying her style is for everyone, but compared to the radio played music of my youth (small midterm City so ymmv), the Internet has a lot more rebellious musicians out there!

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BradfordGalt@reddit

everything is fractured and niche

For the life of me I still don't know wtf "shoegaze" is.

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Honest_Road17@reddit

Or Google apparently.

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RussellAlden@reddit

Loud guitar distortion made with a myriad of pedals hence why they look like they are gazing at their shoes.

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hermitzen@reddit

I disagree. For our generation, the pop side of things was kind of monoculture, and kids still clinging to disco, but we had many rebellious, alternative subcultures. We had punk, goth, rap, DIY underground rock, skateboard culture, prog rock, hair bands, and later, grunge and alternative. Probably lots of others if you knew where to look.

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BasicPainter8154@reddit

You are missing the industrial scene, which was huge in the 90s. Front242, Skinny Puppy, Thrill Kill Kult, KMFDM, Front Line Assembly, not to mention the true mainstream ones like Nine Inch Nails and Ministry

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hermitzen@reddit

OMG how could I forget??? I loved MLWTTKK, Ministry and NIN! And I forgot to mention the Electronica flavors of music in our time: House, Techno, Trance, etc...

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dudes_rug@reddit

Came here to say this- and only commenting as a fellow alt country/americana lover. It’s out there babe.

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mdesantis999@reddit

Yes you are missing plenty of music being made today that speaks truth to power. It’s harder to find because there are more channels than just radio and MTV (when it played music). You have to spend more time and effort looking for it and listening to find something you like. If you’re like me, you have less of that time because you’re busier with work, supporting your kids, and maybe taking care of your parents than you were in your teens and twenties.

Here’s something to get you started. You might not like folk music, but this guy has some great songs (like this): https://youtu.be/e9LJh81n_zA?si=51gPwpbCTVtJwT9f

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lotus_ink@reddit

I make it a point to listen to whatever my teenager is listening to. Then I go back and listen to Van Halen.

Hey, I try.

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CyberCrud@reddit

Despite what others say, you're right. GenX music is timeless. Go to any football game. What plays? GenX songs. Nobody plays 2000s music. Even the rap that gets played in public is old school GenX rap. Or today's monotone rap. But nothing in between.

Every time I go to a sporting event, the loud speakers play basically my playlist. Timeless is the best description for it.

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Mach5Driver@reddit (OP)

Down the street from me, there's a gym that the Gen Z young adults go to. I can hear the music playing there when I walk my dog by it, and it's the monotone rap. And I think to myself, "What kind of hype music is THAT??" I'd never go there.

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CyberCrud@reddit

There's literally zero talent these days. I told my kids that I feel sorry for them because I can still go see my favorite bands and they sound great.

But they won't be able to at my age because all their music is just flash in the pan fad music that's autotuned and just background music piped in... no bands.

I mean the best they might have is a geriatric Taylor Swift.

About 6 years ago I took my daughter to her first concert. REO Speedwagon. She said they sounded just like on the radio. Exactly... that's talent.

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Mach5Driver@reddit (OP)

When my daughter was in high school, I was driving her and her friends while listening to my music (my car, my music), which my daughter has been listening to all her life. Her friends started busting my chops and mocking my music (they're all great, funny kids). My daughter turned around and said, "I LOVE THIS MUSIC!"

One of my proudest moments. She worships Stevie Nicks.

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trukkd@reddit

OP, is your playlist called "Get Off My Lawn"?

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Mach5Driver@reddit (OP)

Name me a top act from today, and I'll give you a better one from my generation.

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BorisTheHangman@reddit

While I do believe that music is much more manufactured for profit rather than inspired by a musician, there is still plenty of great music today. I’ve been on a Mt. Joy kick for many years and they always have a fantastic opening act in concert. Check out these examples if you like:

https://youtu.be/cv7-qdvYht8?si=oZyXMV7pk1eaGfqq

https://youtu.be/SOY9JzVFW3A?si=hrgTRNC7w4bjDFVD

https://youtu.be/Hns-HYU2Gxw?si=omzOOP83L5FGGxbM

Also add in Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and Nathaniel Rateliff.

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Mach5Driver@reddit (OP)

I appreciate your response! Are these big contemporary acts? Or are they acts that you had to go looking for? I was talking about music that influences a generation.

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17Girl4Life@reddit

So what great Gen X influencing our generation bands are you talking about? The big contemporary bands of the 80’s mostly sucked. It was the weird music that you had to seek out that was good. Unless you’re into hair metal, Debbie Gibson, and Air Supply. Good stuff on top 40 radio was scarce.

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Mach5Driver@reddit (OP)

Journey, U2, 38 Special, Genesis, AC/DC, Van Halen, Go Gos, Yes, Chicago, Tears for Fears, Thompson Twins, Foreigner, Pretenders, Eagles, Rush, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Jefferson Starship, Toto, REO Speedwagon, Meatloaf, Pat Benatar, Madonna, Green Day...Jesus, are you kidding me???

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Maccadawg@reddit

Yes, but the point is, there is no singular music that influences a generation anymore like there was in the 50s - 90s. You DO have to look for music in a way you didn't in the past.

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MarcooseOnTheLoose@reddit

There is great, very relevant music being recorded by young artists. But you need to dig deeper.

I don’t do Spotify and the like. I buy and curate my own playlists. I spend countless hours ‘kissing frogs’ searching good music. It’s there. But they live outside the algorithm.

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Mach5Driver@reddit (OP)

Right, but I was talking about big acts today that influence today's generation.

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MarcooseOnTheLoose@reddit

If by big acts you mean Swift, Mars, Adele, Sheeran, etc, indeed, it’s empty of message. I don’t listen to Beyoncé, but it seems she has things to say. In the lower tier, Price, Tedeschi, Church, Crockett, etc, have poignant stories.

But to be fair, our generation big acts like Madonna, Turner, AC/DC, Led Zep, etc, was mostly ‘boy meets girl’ music. (Nothing wrong with that.)

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rimshot99@reddit

Who would you say was today’s equivalent of Freddy Mercury or Pink Floyd? Are there artists today that will have a similar legacy?

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MarcooseOnTheLoose@reddit

Of that magnitude, none, I’m afraid. But there are equally good music being recorded today by less known acts. Govt Mule and Tedeschi & Trucks have terrific records. Par with Queen and Pink Floyd. Just not as famous.

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rimshot99@reddit

I’ll give them a listen!

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Unique_Anteater5667@reddit

Broadly speaking I think there’s more good music now than there was in the 80’s and 90’s. I just think the best music from the 80’s and 90’s was probably better than the best music coming out now. In other words, there’s more A-/B+ music now. But not as much A+ music as there was then.

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threedogdad@reddit

reading the comments it seems like people are missing a key point - in our generation and before you could listen to b sides of popular artists you didn't even like and it would still be levels above what you hear from most of the popular artists today.

sure, if you dig there's some good stuff out there, but if you don't you're served a giant turd. it didn't used to be like that.

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17Girl4Life@reddit

I thought the popular artists of our day blew chunks. Foreigner, Journey, Air Supply, hair metal, top 40 radio was mostly crap

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17Girl4Life@reddit

Oh shit! There’s sooooo much good music coming out now. It’s not the stuff you hear everywhere, but that was the same in the 80’s and 90’s. But for real, dig deeper and keep listening. Go to shows. This is a really strong era for good music

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walter_grimsley@reddit

I dislike modern commercial pop, but embrace music of all decades. I dig classical, jazz, NWOBHM, OG rap, freestyle, techno, etc. Im sure there are good modern songs out there, but like alien life Im sure not convinced

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scarier-derriere@reddit

Dude, no. Culture doesn’t work like that. Every era has rebellion, romance, intelligence, stubbornness, violence, ignorance, invention, innovation, sorrow, EVERY aspect of the human condition reflected in art and culture. You just aren’t tuned into it.

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Pretend_Flamingo3405@reddit

That's not true. There is a ton of aggressively rebellious music being released these days. Culture is different now...so are the means of expression.

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OhSusannah@reddit

I'm sure diss tracks are cool and all, but they're so temporary, when no one will remember the disser or the dissed twenty years from now. Our music is practically eternal.

It's been almost 40 years but that excellent diss track "The Real Roxanne" lives on, at least in my memory.

These days, there's no rebellion. No speaking truth to power. Am I missing an important artist of today with this kind of voice? What contemporary artist will be recognized as culturally important to kids of today?

[My America Is Not Your America]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twsHcfR23E0

This song is roughly 5 years old. I don't know if the kids are listening to this topical Mexican Institute of Sound track but I sure am. It does speak truth to power.

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model563@reddit

While I do mostly listen to X era stuff, I find new music every now and then. I recommend Brutus for sure, also 40 Watt Sun. For something more extreme Im a big fan of Body Void and Gost (yes Gost, not Ghost). Also some great modern hip hop w/ Run the Jewels, The Siege, Jidenna.

There was a time when the internet made it easier to find cool music, but then it got so oversaturated it got tough again. So I follow a few online magazines on social media and just Shazam if something good pops up in a show or movie.

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azrolator@reddit

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=7XnkTZ1p6Z0&si=FcegEE1eFqqJcfOp

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=0HNBj1rhPRQ&si=UogmUsM83fRA6Vxu

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=j2-S2Lb7aF4&si=w85n3A8G1QBRMYAn

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dstarpro@reddit

Okay Grandpa, let's get you to bed.

Every generation has had diss tracks, and nonsense songs. And every generation has had rebellion and quality lyrics.

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Mach5Driver@reddit (OP)

Name today's, please.

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Western-Calendar-352@reddit

Kneecap, Bob Vylan, Amyl and the Sniffers, Wet Leg, Viagra Boys, Lambrini Girls, Idles, Turnstile.

Plenty of bands out there with something real to say and breaking through to the Coachella generation.

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azrolator@reddit

Thanks for these. I have heard of amyl but haven't listened to them. I'm going to check them all out. First real names to answer the question I saw just scrolling through. Kids today are very diverse in music culture.

I have one older and 3 still college age and down. Those 3, they don't seem to have much in common musically. Everything is just spread out so much. Then I'm driving one home from college with the whole fam, kids in the back, taking turns playing songs from YouTube music. Then my youngest says she wants insane clown posse and I'm like "what!?!", and the back row starts talking about their favorite icp songs. Not a single one of them I would have pegged for icp listeners at all. So there is still music out there that is shared, even if it doesn't seem like it all the time.

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evilthales@reddit

Panda Bear, Hannah Cohen, Foxwarren, Juana Molina

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throwawayanylogic@reddit

Quality lyrics? Sleep Token brings me to tears with the raw emotion of their writing. Listen to "gethsemane" and check back with us.

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dstarpro@reddit

That depends upon what you consider to be today's music. Talking 20 years ago, 10 years ago or just released?

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Suspicious_Time7239@reddit

Gotta get away from industry planted corporate garbage music

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kattrup@reddit

So I think what happened here for me is like what happened when my network television became cable television. Instead of having five things that I could choose from, I had 100 things I could choose from. It took a while to get used to looking through all of those things to decide what I wanted to watch. But, eventually it became easy for me to look at the 100 things that were available and pick which one I wanted to watch so when cable TV turned into Netflix I was just spoiled for choice. It gave me choice paralysis for a while. I just wished that we had cable TV again so that somebody would tell me what to watch. The same thing happened for music. There was all that music that I was familiar with that. I loved from when I was younger, but in order to stay fresh and continue to find new music, I needed to tap into different sources. I do credit the radio station KEXP for giving me access to lots of great music. I also have a couple of friends who keep their finger on the pulse of the new music coming out. Not all genres obviously like I don't really care what's going on with EDM or pop. The Internet has made me spoiled for choice when it comes to music, but I am refusing to accept choice paralysis and I'm just gonna keep on truckin.

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Alex_Plode@reddit

There is lots of of good music being released today. I'll be banging Todd Rundgren's drum all day long on this take.

You've got the world's jukebox in your pocket. Use it. I promise you that you will find something that speaks to you.

There are dozens of new artists releasing music with a heavy nod to 80s rock, post-punk, dreampop feel and even more artists with a huge 90s alt-rock and grunge influence.

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SnowflakeSWorker@reddit

I remember Guns N’ Roses singing Get in the Ring, that was quite a diss track 😂

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RustyDingleberries@reddit

I remember a few diss tracks from wayyyy back….. Top ones that come to mind are: “The Bridge” by MC Shan and the retort of “The Bridge is Over” by BDP, “Roxanne, Roxanne” by UTFO followed by “Roxanne’s Revenge” by Roxanne Shante’

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Shoehorse13@reddit

Sturgil Simpson comes to mind, but it's also worth noting that he's one of us so it's not like Gen X is no longer culturally relevant.

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OreoSpeedwaggon@reddit

It sounds like you just need to broaden your musical interests and listen to more modern-day songs as well. There's plenty of contemporary rebellious music out there speaking truth to power like we had in our younger days (Kendrick Lamar, Chappell Roan, and Run the Jewels, just to name a few), but you e just got a go seek it out.

Additionally, we had popular diss tracks when we were younger too. "Hotel California," anyone? "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Silly Love Songs" as well. Or what about Ice Cube's "No Vaseline," one of the hardest-hitting diss tracks ever recorded?

The music of our youth really isn't all that different than music being made today if you really think about it. Some of the technical aspects and lyrical composition may have changed, but that doesn't automatically make it better or worse. It's just different than what we grew up with.

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allothernamestaken@reddit

What was Hotel California a diss of?

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OreoSpeedwaggon@reddit

It wasn't really the whole song, but The Eagles did take a deliberate jab at Steely Dan.

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allothernamestaken@reddit

Really? What part of the song?

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OreoSpeedwaggon@reddit

"They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast."

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speed_of_chill@reddit

Add these to your algorithm to hopefully mix it up a bit and give you more of what you’re looking for (rebellion, speaking truth to power):

Lambrini Girls; Amyl and The Sniffers; Die Spitz; Bob Vylan; Viagra Boys; Fontaines D.C.; Wet Leg;

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Nashvillebitch@reddit

I was gen x and I absolutely hate when people of my generation say there isn't good news music anymore.

Stupid people don't expand.

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Beneficial_Run9511@reddit

I think you’re just old. Didn’t your parents unfavorably compare their music to yours? We all prefer the music of our youth.

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ScarletPriestess@reddit

I remember my dad saying the same thing to me about the music he grew up with. That it was the best time for music and that there will never be music like that again. I have seen younger generations saying the same thing about music from their youth. I think every generation feels this way about the music they grew up listening to.

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MyriVerse2@reddit

You need to get out more.

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_higgs_@reddit

Agreed. So so so much good music nowadays. The hard part is finding it. Or finding the time to find it.

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Mach5Driver@reddit (OP)

But I'm not talking about hard to find music. I'm talking about what is culturally important to today's kids.

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seasleeplessttle@reddit

You have to find it now.

The terrestrial air waves were taken decades ago.

If you don't have satellite radio, you can search the top xm one's on Spotify. Truly the only place now unless you're area still has an independent FM station.

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threedogdad@reddit

it's hard to find because it's not as popular as all the crap. things are much more fractured which doesn't help, but the music you tend to hear about most is generally awful compared to previous generations. auto-tuned, algorithmically generic, throwaway songs.

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Mach5Driver@reddit (OP)

Yeah, but you didn't answer my questions, did ya?

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Beneficial-Front6305@reddit

We had very few sources of music, which was why alternative landed so squarely with our generation- it felt like something different than the FM monoculture. Now there are just soooo many streams from where the music originated that the cultural importance you’re looking for is different for each of a hundred different groups of people.

But you are not wrong to like what you like and feel what you feel. I just think lamenting the loss of what you miss is not the best use of your time- things are really different now and music distribution is simply too fragmented.

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Alternative-Way-8753@reddit

With all the great music we remember, it's easy to forget all the forgettable music we also listened to back then.

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Mach5Driver@reddit (OP)

That's a fact, LOL!

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BulljiveBots@reddit

I love the music I grew up on and I also love discovering new music. There's still rebellion out there. Just harder to find since it's not the most popular stuff. Corporations don't want the people thinking too much these days..

Anyway...I'm just too much of a music junkie to stick to the 1000 songs I've already memorized..

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DraftRich9177@reddit

I think REN will only increase his significance and will have deep, long lasting roots. In addition to his musicianship, rapping and singing, his creative vision is unlike anything I’ve seen and he surrounds himself and collaborates with other creative superstars. Most importantly, he has created a connection with people through his art that has changed people’s lives, many dramatically and many forever.

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NetJnkie@reddit

Sure there is. You're just not looking for it. Way more options today than ever before. We aren't tied to the radio or what the record store carries.

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OtakuTacos@reddit

I use Apple Music for me and my family. There is this Discovery Station that I like to tune into and save songs to a playlist I made of new stuff that I enjoy. I also have a family shared playlist that my kids add music to that they think I will like. Great way to find new stuff.

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niagara-nature@reddit

I am picky with my music and love my 90s CDs but I’m still discovering new artists. Some are even older, like Caro Emerald - she’s 44 but she wasn’t popular in the 90s.

I’m stuck on a few artists though - I love Lisa Loeb and fulfilled a dream by doing some design work for her (I even have a credit!) and meeting her after a concert. I relive those glory days.

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Maccadawg@reddit

As for diss tracks, Lennon and McCartney spent a good portion of the 70s writing diss tracks to each other.

"Instant Karma" was a hell of a song -- but it was also a diss track.

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Sea_Machine4580@reddit

Most people key on the music from when they were about 15 to 25. (1987 to 1997 for me) I decided to push myself and be open minded to new music. Spotify has been great for this, so much music I never would have come across otherwise.

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CardMeHD@reddit

Generally speaking, people of every age and generation believe that most things peaked when they were a teenager or young adult, and the feeling is most powerful when it comes to music.

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Mixednutbag@reddit

I don't know. But we have Gen X musicians still putting out great music. Pixies and Dinosaur Jr. have put out great stuff recently. But there is still really good new music out there. Some of my favorite new artists: Khruangbin, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Jungle...Lots of good stuff from new artists out there.

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Mrfixit729@reddit

You’re just not being exposed to countercultural music anymore.

Go back and look at the top 40 in the 80s and 90s. That’s the equivalent of the music being made right now, that you’re aware of.

There is some commercially successful stuff coming out right now that I enjoy. But most modern shit that resonates with me is on small independent labels.

If you’re interested I will happily give you a list of artists you should look into.

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Kwyjibo68@reddit

I don’t listen to music much anymore, but not long ago as I was reading before going to sleep, I put in some 80s music to listen to in the background. I think I sobbed for a solid 15 minutes. Not even sappy love songs, just regular tunes.

I also recently started watching some videos of vintage general hospital (my favorite soap back in the day) and while the nostalgia was nice, it’s made me cry more than once.

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edasto42@reddit

This explains why some people feel this way. If you stop seeking new music at around 33, that’s an average person.

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ACorania@reddit

I think the big thing now is the availability of a much wider variety of music. So if you find yourself liking folk alternative or something there is far more to choose from. We had a couple of radio stations and if stuff didn't make it there you never heard about it. Tons larger breadth now... Which kind of means more I don't like too, but I tailor my own experience.

Also, it's survivorship bias. The best of two or three decades in a curated list against whatever you happen to find today.

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JuJu_Wirehead@reddit

These days, there's no rebellion. No speaking truth to power. Am I missing an important artist of today with this kind of voice? What contemporary artist will be recognized as culturally important to kids of today?

Culturally important? Hard to say. But there are plenty of bands voicing rebellion. Look up Hardcore and Post-Hardcore. Look up Hardcore Punk, Look up new Thrash Metal. Lots of new Post-Punk bands out there speaking their minds. Lots of new music. But there is no cultural zeitgeist happening anymore in this fractured society.

If you live in an algorithm then you're going to be fed the same shit all the time.

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hoIygrail@reddit

Cyndi Lauper coyly sang about masturbation. Taylor Swift suggests Travis Kelce has a satisfying dick. Is it really all that different?

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Mach5Driver@reddit (OP)

It's different when one becomes a cultural phenom and one does not.

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hoIygrail@reddit

Lauper speaks of Swift in a pretty positive light, so I’m not sure where you’re going with that.

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SackBadger2024@reddit

My go to metal is Iron Maiden - Who else gives you history lessons while bringing the house down.

Then Depeche Mode - been around forever and still making solid music.

Thank God for Spotify, I can listen to all of the best on mixed playlists. I have stumped Spotify a couple of times though.

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Savafan1@reddit

If you want history lessons, listen to Sabaton

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chinstrap@reddit

People still remember "Hit 'Em Up", which surely counts as a diss track.

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ServoWHU42@reddit

Music overall isn't that different. What is different is the likelihood of finding something good on the radio/in the mainstream. By no means am I saying there wasn't shitty music on the radio and MTV in the 80s/90s, but good luck finding anything not shitty on the radio now. Corporate pop, hick hop, and butt rock is all that seems to get mainstream attention these days.

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RunRunRabbitRunovich@reddit

50 and by chance I discovered Joji. Absolutely love his music.

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frettbe@reddit

Still waiting a tsunami likegrung (Nirvana, PJ, soundgarden, rhcp, etc) in response of today's garbage

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EPCreep@reddit

I liked lots of Gen X alternative. Then I got into Millenial emo like MCR, the Used, Pierce the Veil, Underoath, Circa Survive. Then there’s modern alternative like Arcade Fire, the National, Wolf Parade. There’s new acts like Poppy, Wet Leg, Health, Wisp, Kim Dracula… there’s tons of good stuff out there, you just gotta look.

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TheRealCabbageJack@reddit

I got a "spotify recommends" of Wet Leg a few months ago and, damn! They are good!

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EPCreep@reddit

If you ever get the chance, see them live! I just saw them a couple days ago, they rock so hard live. Definitely recommend.

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kunk75@reddit

the national, father john misty and wet leg live can all change your life

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YepThatSal@reddit

tell me you’ve never listened to Jack White without telling me you've never listened to Jack White.

there'a good music out there, but you need to stop being what you supposedly hate and actually find it.

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HighBiased@reddit

Check out King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. Prolific, Eclectic, Multigenric, Amazingness. 27 albums in 14yrs. So you won't get bored. They have albums that protest climate change and the uber-rich and speak truth to power, etc... as well as crazy sci-fi stuff and goofy tracks.

They also practice what they preach and try to be as eco-conscious and politically sound. (Just took all their music off Spotify) And do it all their own way.

If you're interested...

Maybe start with Omnium Gatherum to get an idea of their eclecticness. (Magenta Mountain is probably one of their more easily accessible tracks.)

Nonagon Infinity opens the door

Polygondwanaland moves you through the Gizzverse

Infest the Rats Nest will pump you up

Butterfly 3000 shows light in darkness

Changes lights another way

PetroDragonic Apocalypse will melt your brain

Then check out https://get-into-gizz.com/ to help you down the rabbit hole.

🐊🤘🔥

(Bonus: seeing them live is another level)

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TreasonalDepression@reddit

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.

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AHippieDude@reddit

We grew up with "dis tracks" too.

Remember, the beastie boys called out Jimmy Page specifically for his, err... sexual preferences

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Valuable-Homework332@reddit

Sounds like your view is way to narrow and your missing out and have missed out on a lot of killer music . Usually see that with metal heads , they would rather listen to the same Iron Maiden , Ozzy , and Metallica over and over , I dig the shit out of them but also listen to most other genres also .

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TheRealCabbageJack@reddit

Don't forget, we're 40 years on so all we still listen to are the absolute bangers from our youth. There's good music and shitty music being made today, and in 40 years all the Zoomers and Alpha folks will just listen to the bangers, forget the shitty cuts and be like "man, we had the best music."

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fightswithC@reddit

Lots of older folks have your same opinion, and it makes me sad. There’s so much good new music coming out all the time that it would take several lifetimes to hear it all. I won’t start listing great current music acts. One of the ways I discover great new music (and old music) is by listening to radioparadise.com. Your welcome

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timothypjr@reddit

I think you need to look deeper. After a summer of seeing small shows, I’ve stumbled into several new, small bands that I’ve come to truly enjoy. It’s authentic, well played, and truly enjoyable.

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Top_Professor_8260@reddit

“no one will remember the disser or the dissed twenty years from now.”- the Roxanne War was for real, I’ll never forget.

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mlmaas@reddit

I listen to a few independent and college radio stations via app: 90.5 The Night, out of Brookdale, NJ, is an amazing station for new rock and pop music. WERU out of Maine is another fun one. And of course, Smooth Sailing Radio on TuneIn, which specializes in Yacht Rock and "Yacht Rock Adjacent" music, both classic and contemporary.

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KingPabloo@reddit

Get off my lawn! No thanks, I love my 80’s and a lot of the 90’s, but I also like the music of the last 25 years.

The accessibility of music now is incredible, all the rabbit holes to go down. I’m still finding new music from back then taking deeper cuts on artist I only knew the popular songs from.

We were blessed to grow up when we did but have an even bigger music library to choose from now.

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kennikus@reddit

CMAT is a new one but has some doozies for Ireland/Irish politics.

I teach undergrad: never seen so many Nirvana t-shirts in my life. (Their parents are us). They love REM, Alice In Chains, Led Zeppelin, Public Enemy, the Clash, etc.

Also, they can go from quiet to standing up very fiercely for someone on a dime. FWIW.

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Bartlaus@reddit

I never stopped checking out new stuff. Primarily a metalhead since the late 80s but am generally open-minded.

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kunk75@reddit

Plenty of great music these days, stop pining for the good ole days that weren't that great

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No_Hovercraft_821@reddit

I don't think there is a lot of rebellion in pop music today (not that I listen to it) but there is a bit of decent stuff still being pressed. The problem is you have to dig for it. Thankfully SXM has stations that cater to Gen X tastes.

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shackspirit@reddit

Like Duran Duran and Kaja Googoo?

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worldofsimulacra@reddit

Some of our peers are still kicking it out hard as ever. The title track from the new Propagandhi record:

https://youtu.be/IaczEDfTE3M?si=-Ghk3z0k4kqkbAw5

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RedditWidow@reddit

Jesse Welles is a modern day Woody Guthrie who makes a lot of rebellious music, if that's what you're looking for. He has a ton of YouTube videos. Or have you heard of Bo Burnham?

I've liked some 21st century stuff, a lot of video game soundtracks, Durry, Justin Johnson, Dimmu Borgir, Lordi, Rise Against, Evanescence, Jack White/White Stripes/Raconteurs, Jack Black, Weezer, Elle King, Aurelio Voltaire, My Chemical Romance, Dead South... There's a lot of good stuff out there, just gotta find it.

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round_a_squared@reddit

If you like Jesse Welles you'll probably also like Carsie Blanton

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stuck_behind_a_truck@reddit

I honestly like watching reaction videos because then I appreciate just how good musicians had to be through the 90s. There was no auto tune and people played their instruments.

My favorite group of reactors is a channel called Trybals. A group of Sindh tribesmen react to all sorts of music, but much of it GenX. One of them, Abdul, is a poet and he just gets the songs. He’s also calm and wise and so interesting.

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zeldasusername@reddit

The music I liked in when I was younger, everyone decided until it got popular

What are your local musos doing? Do you see much live music?

You're not going to find what you're looking for on the radio anymore

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YourGuyK@reddit

I'm a late Xer, so I was enjoying discovering new music well into the 2010s. I even found a local musician in the last few weeks I like, and I'm not even seeking out new music anymore.

The 90s are my touchstone, but I grew up on 60s music from my dad and was really into the alternative scene in the aughts. I can't hold to any sort of "One era was the Pinnacle of music" mindset.

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cg325is@reddit

We had great music in our youth, but it’s not the only music out there. I love music from so many eras and it would be silly to just pick one as the leader.

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Miserable_Jacket_129@reddit

Depends on the genre. Hardcore is still pretty rebellious, but it’s definitely not a “popular” genre.