Are you really that disappointed with what the current stable of record executives have concocted to fill your radio with this year?
I turned off my radio around when you mentioned. I'm not sure why anyone turns it on to be honest. If I have the mood I will listen to the community supported jazz station sometimes, and also the 2 or 3 college radio stations we have. Other than that, nothing. Oh, and AM radio for the baseball or hockey game sometimes.
I love music, therefore I hate the radio. Why keep looking for good music there?
I think what you saw happen in 1996 is music evolve into something you lost touch with, as you said.
Like if you were into techno, you'd know all about the great DJ's and producers, who put out what records, there's anthems and classics you've probably never heard.. Yet if you were into techno, it would all be clear.
I think music got splintered, and with lack of general recognition for each sub-genre, you just end up lost if you haven't spent the time to be part of that subculture.
It's like we all know the Sex Pistols because they got famous. But do we know all the other great punk bands that a real punk fan knows about? We only know of the ones that got famous or notorious - and nobody gets famous anymore outside of the bad music club.
I'm a big hiphop fan. I mean I love all music, and my dad exposed me to a lot of jazz, blues, 80's rock, classic rock, classical, etc. He has a big collection. When I found hiphop in the early 90's, I could finally listen to music in real time.. NEW stuff was coming out.... I can't tell you how cool that was for someone who just listened to older stuff. The collecting gene was passed on, and now I have a massive library of lots of music, but certainly mostly hiphop.
You're right though. When I find someone else that listens to hiphop music, I'm obviously excited to have a common interest, but 9 times out of 10 they listen to garbage.. I mean shit that I wouldn't poke with a stick. It's just background music for them. They just don't listen.
Then there's the people who ARE into music, but refuse to venture outside of what "they like". That's just as bad I think. I can appreciate almost any kind of music, even experimental jazz and that IDM industrial experimental synthesizer stuff.. I may not love it, but I can listen and appreciate it.
So I think those ? marks you write should make you happy, because it means you have a lot of space to fill and "new" music to "find"
Also if I know anything about music, it's that depressed, angry, and generally sad people make GREAT fucking music. Maybe these economic times will trigger some creativity!
