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i dont think that the music in general of 8 years ago was better or worse than it is now--what you think of it depends upon what you manage to find out about, what you listen to. there are many types of music then and now that are really interesting, powerful even.
but you do not hear any of it on commerical radio in the states.
broadcast radio is one of the strongest arguments against privatization i can think of (well that and the fate of the new england fishing industry, but that is a different story)--it absolutely gives the lie to the illusion that markets are "rational", that the best of anything surfaces in a commercial environment. with a commerically dominated broadcast spectrum, you get less diversity of programming, not more: within formats, playlists are more rigid, not less; concentration of ownership is increasing, not decreasing.
there will always be bands willing to shill for accountants' visions of what popular music should be.
now you have videos to construct mythologies around these nonentities as well.
pirate radio should be encouraged.
if net radio did not so often mimic the worst features of broadcast radio, i would be a cheerleader for it as such--as it is i listen to a sequence of netradio outlets i have found that i enjoy when i do listen to radio for music.
the best way around radio seems to be to be part of a community of people who care about music, who search out what they find interesting and who turn you onto stuff.
but yes, commercial radio is bullshit.
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a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear
it make you sick.
-kamau brathwaite
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