[Bemopti123]

Since about 7 years ago, I have noticed that I began hearing less and less standard pop radio than before, due to this circumstances, I have "inexperienced" in what is on top of the charts or what is worth listening to.

Once in a while, I get to listen to some track here and there, but my fears are confirmed, that the present pop rock or pop musical scene is very much lacking in quality or style.

To make matters worse, I remember listening to a Jazz radio station in NYC, but it played awful West Coast or modern "pop" jazz, that brings me cold chills when I listen to it.

So, what do I listen to now?  I go back into my early adolescence and I search by memory all the groups, bands and musicians that I thought were fun to listen to. 

Anyone into New Wave from the early 1980s to 1990?

Furthermore, I have turned into mid century jazz, as well as classical music to satisfy my hunger for music. 

I have gone to the extent of importing old LPs from foreign European pop acts, as well as unknown instrumental tango LPs from Argentina, to play in my record player.

The most contemporary music that I consume in the present is not American pop, but foreign acts that I get via the internet, through mail order.

Of course, I am also into some modern jazz vocalists, which I listen exclusively in LP. 

The only radio station I listen to is set to NPR, which does talk shows, Jazz, classical or other more obscure artists. 

Has ANYONE here experienced the same sort of alienation from the music scene today?  If that is the case, what music do you listen to?

[fiveoclockfriday]

Absolutely! I'm only 23 so I notice it even worse. I have eclectic tastes like most people in these forums -- tons of jazz new and old, blues, rock, more avant garde instrumental stuff, Brazilian dance/samba music, etc etc the list goes on. I've had tastes like this for probably 5 or 6 years, but back when it started I listened to the radio all the time. Over time, I just found myself switching off more and more of the songs and artists that would come up. When the best new "rock" on most stations is Nickelback, it's time to turn that station off. Radio pop, hip hop and dance music, which while commercial for a long time used to still be fun, are just annoying to me now: terribly produced, redundant, void of creativity save for a few rare examples.
I listen to NPR as well. Also look for college radio stations or any local independent station. They're harder to find and the quality of reception can be hit or miss, but they play tons of new and interesting music all the time.
Basically, the Billboard charts and that whole business are dead to me. I still buy CDs all the time, but it's about 90% used or direct from the artists themselves. RIAA lawsuits, terrible pricing (when compared to something like dvds), and most importantly as you conveyed a terrible commercial music scene...does anyone really wonder why music sales are falling like crazy?

[woodsyi]

I never feel alienated because I was never with the pop scene in the first place to be alienated from it.    This happens when you love Opera.  I still do. 

[sts9fan]

Its called getting old.  Your tastes have stayed the same while pop evolves or cycles back.  When new wave came out I am sure there was tons of people looking for "regular" rock music.  When rock started what did parents think of it?  There is good music out there even on the radio you just have to look for it.  Lots of trash too but thats nothing new either.    

[rockadanny]

sts95fan - I'll have to disagree. It has nothing to do with age and everything to do with self (interest, open-mindedness), exposure, and commercialism. I was born in the 50's, discovered music in the 60's, played music in the 70's, despised most music made in the 80's, enjoyed the "alternative" and cross-over explosion of the 90's, and discovered high-end audio in the 00's. Throughout all of this time I've pursued and enjoyed music written since forever, and recorded from the 1920's through today. "Pursued" is the operative word here. If you simply followed the masses and only listened to music played on commercial radio or TV you might think it has to do with age. But if you pursued other sources of music and actually enjoy music in general, I think you'd realize that there is, and always has been, good music written/played/performed as well as bad, subjectively speaking. We're not moving in an ever distancing gap away from music we like, it's just that sometimes an entire genre of music appears (such as, IMO, easy listening, disco, rap, new age) that makes us (me) want to puke. And when a new genre appears it takes over the commercial air waves ($$$$$). For example, I HATED the music I was exposed to as a child (AM radio geck) back in the late 50's and early 60's, but today I own a tremendous amount of music recorded during that time. Obviously, music one did not normally hear on AM radio nor TV, my only sources of exposure at that time. Had I not pursued the FM stations, particularly college produced ones, read about different types of music, attended live shows of "unknowns" (to me), and pursued internet music threads, I too may have ended up agreeing with your opinion. IMO if you are not open-minded towards music, then your taste will likely stay the same regardless, as so many of my friends' has. Such as the ones who declined going with me to see Weather Report (with Jaco) because they "never heard of them before". They are doomed to enjoy only groups such as Boston, Journey, and Aerosmith for the rest of their lives. And they alone (fear and apathy) are to blame for that - not their age.

[Bemopti123]

They are doomed to enjoy only groups such as Boston, Journey, and Aerosmith for the rest of their lives. And they alone (fear and apathy) are to blame for that - not their age.

Looking at the state of the commercial music scene today, Boston and Journey seem high brow type of music.

BTW:  I despise Aerosmith.

[nathanm]

I probably felt more alienated when I was younger than I do now.  Music was so much more of an intense love\hate thing then but now I've mellowed out.  Music can also be more of a social thing when you're younger where like-minded fans tend to hang out with each other and bitch about outsiders\poseurs\genre classification or whatever it might be.  Technology and access also helps a ton.  There's nothing stopping anyone from hearing what they want to hear when they want to hear it.  You don't have to bitch about crappy radio stations anymore, you can just go out and get what you want.  It's all good.  But there is also some nostalgia for the more passionate days of yore, which seems to be pretty much a field-issued thing as one becomes an old coot.

[JoshK]

One thing I realized is just how big the "indie" scene is right now.  If you go to any of the music swapping sites, indie is by far the most in demand.  Indie is the hot releases by and large too.  Whether this music is truely indie is another story, but I think it is a reflection of where music has gone with advent of so much new mediums of exposure. 

I do not know of any station on the radio that dedicates any real airplay to any of this music however.  I don't have cable, so I couldn't tell you what VH1 & MTV are playing, but I thought they abandoned playing music a long while ago anyway. 

[SET Man]

I don't have cable, so I couldn't tell you what VH1 & MTV are playing, but I thought they abandoned playing music a long while ago anyway. 

Hey!

    Josh you didn't miss much. MTV is no longer Music Television. They just show craps now these days. I remembered that back than must be 10 years ago when I use to stay up late sometime... well I still do  And discover new stuffs there. Oh! yeah VH1 too they are just showing craps but aimed for an older audience than MTV 

   Oh! BTW... VH1 now have a sister channel called VH1 Classic where they show many of the classic MVs and other music related show. Not bad to revisit the '80s sometime  Well, there more than that of course. I think you might like this one if you got cable.

Take care,
Buddy

[ecramer]

i must agree while i never played my musical journey parallels  his. I am always looking for something new to listen to. thankfully i have a very good local music store and the people who work there are always happy to recommend something something. aA lot of timwes they will have a couple of cd's that come on on trade waiting for me when i pop in

ed

They are doomed to enjoy only groups such as Boston, Journey, and Aerosmith for the rest of their lives. And they alone (fear and apathy) are to blame for that - not their age.

Looking at the state of the commercial music scene today, Boston and Journey seem high brow type of music.

BTW:  I despise Aerosmith.

[sts9fan]

I will agree I was wrong to put age into it.  Its more of your tastes not being in sync with the current trends.

Looking at the state of the commercial music scene today, Boston and Journey seem high brow type of music.
quote]

I don't think this is true at all.  There is some very good popular music out there right now.  One example is The White Stripes.  I admit the 90% of my collection will/was never on the radio but I am always pleased when something good makes it "big". 

[Wayner]

I know what I like and I like what I know...

Actually, there are a lot of bands from my era that I ignored. Now I am discovering them 30 years late. I never thought I would like Billy Idol. I love Idol. There is just so much music from the 70-80-90's that didn't get much (if any) airplay. Frankly, if I heard another Led Zepplin song, I might puke. Not that I hate them, it's just the band was ruined by too much air play. I too listen to NPR until Garrison stupid comes on or when they become political. Otherwise, it's rock and roll.

W

[low.pfile]

My response will bounce around just like Bemopti123's original set of questions....

Has ANYONE here experienced the same sort of alienation from the music scene today?  If that is the case, what music do you listen to?

No. Not at all. I am 41 and listen to much more music than I did when I was 20. And there is much more variety in my tastes today than there was then.

Started out listening to pop music (top 40 and rock) when I was in my teens. I had no big brother, or musical parents exposing to me the gamut of music out there. In my twenties, in college, though new friends, some travel and new environments I widened my exposure and tastes.

Today's music offerings are extremely abundant and the modes of exposure and distribution are mind boggling-this applies to all genres. eg. online streaming, peer to peer, youtube, myspace, concert mailing lists, fan clubs, music sites, e-stores. There's no way I can keep up with everything out there but that amount of availability I would be hard-pressed not to find something that appeals to me. But I am always looking (listening).

Feel connected? Sure. I do not feel alienated because I am one of the few 40-something at a show with mainly 20-somethings listening to some new band. I get near the front row and enjoy. I agree with rockadanny that it related more to personal I think some of the music I listen to is Pop because of the amount of accessibility and fan following but it isn't the traditional Pop. More on that later.

So, what do I listen to now?  I go back into my early adolescence and I search by memory all the groups, bands and musicians that I thought were fun to listen to.
Anyone into New Wave from the early 1980s to 1990?
I have gone to the extent of importing old LPs from foreign European pop acts, as well as unknown instrumental tango LPs from Argentina, to play in my record player.
The most contemporary music that I consume in the present is not American pop, but foreign acts that I get via the internet, through mail order.

Pop vs Pop? Bemopti123 writes specifically of Pop music. Pop could be is what is on the top 40 charts: Maroon 5 , Timbaland, Narles Barkley, Christina Aguilara, Mariah, White Stripes. The quality varies and the definition of pop is debateable. I won't even offer a

But I do feel Pop music is more easy to digest once it has passed it peak playtime. Did everyone really love that song from their 20's when it was on the radio? I contribute the acceptance to nostalgia. Yes. 15 year olds absolutely love what they love that week and can't be convinced that this isn't the (substitute latest regional slang word for "best") music on the planet.

Or is Pop music the contemporary music that is mostly listened to by your inner circle, peers(including online), and friends? I think it is a bit of a combination of both. So much non-Pop indie, modern (electronica,house,rap) seems to make its way into movie soundtracks and commercials, making it Pop. I feel that if it's in the popular culture then it's Pop. Of course there are exceptions. My point is how to define Pop? And why do we need to anyway?

Anyone into New Wave from the early 1980s to 1990?

If you count Depeche Mode as New Wave then yes I was and am still into them.

I also listen to this..... music.