I have some friends my age still listening to the same bands they used to 20 years ago, complaining about how music today sounds all the same. However I discover something new almost every day and I’m not kidding.
It’s true that some of my discoveries are bands from decades before I was born, so they can’t be considered new, although they are new to me if that makes sense.
What about you? Still listening to the same tunes you used to listen to when you were a teenager?
I actively seek new music (and discover older music that I previously didn’t listen to, just like you described) but also have bands that I’ve been a fan of since I was a kid that I still listen to. I exclusively listened to 60s and 70s rock when I was growing up, Zeppelin and The Beatles are still two of my favorite bands, but I have definitely expanded my palette since then. I agree that the “music these days” take is a tired one; if your only source of new music is the hits radio, of course, it will all sound the same.
I have this beef with people who say new country music sucks (or any genre for that matter) - sure there are bro-country singers that only sing about trucks and beer, but there are also insanely talented country musicians and songwriters out there right now.
Yeah! So many music available that it’s impossible to get bored. I am not the biggest Beatles fan, but I really cringe when somebody says they are not that good, they are still copied!
I have this beef with people who say new country music sucks
Aren’t the decent guys calling themselves “Americana” nowadays? Coulter Wall, Tyler Childers, etc? The pop-with-fiddles they play on Country radio is mostly terrible.
Honestly, I think most musicians don’t care about the categorization or genre labels. Country and Americana could be interchangeable for the most part, but Americana seems a little broader to me. Per your example, Childers has more of a bluegrass influence, while Wall has more of a cowboy/western country influence. Both of those genres are certainly under the country and americana umbrellas.
Fair enough. I feel like people (me) want to differentiate between “guy with a guitar on his porch” music and the highly produced big-stadium-show stuff. Bluegrass, folk, and outlaw country on one side vs top40 Country on the other.
Yes I definitely try and seek out new bands and sub-genres. Just the act of searching is fun.
Also, Reign in Blood on repeat for 35 years
Reign in Blood
I see you are a man of culture. I’m not really into the thrash metal scene beyond some albums from Testament or Machine Head, but that album is amazing. What Rick Rubin achieved there was wonderful.
Both honestly. There are plenty of bands that I used to listen to as a teenager that I still listen to now, both their old stuff and new stuff. I also have found new bands making new music and old bands making new music with a great back catalogue.
I actively seek out new bands or releases in my favorite genres, but I still absolutely listen to the same things as I did 10, or even 20, years ago.
Of course! Both things are still compatible. The main point here is to keep enjoying music.
I still listen to everything I did 10 years ago, but I’ve added a lot of new music too since then. The rate I’ve been finding new music at has skyrocketed since I discovered bandcamp a few years ago.
@randomnick@beehaw.org @music@beehaw.org Why can’t it be both? Classic albums are classic for a reason, and there is a ton of new music to get into. I hope I don’t get into the rut of a fixed playlist, though most of my new music comes from online discovery, whereas it used to mates / social.
Also nothing wrong with exploring the long tail of music history.
Yeah both options are the best, I am not even able to pick one or the other. Actually, why would you do that? So many great music that’s it’s impossible to pick just one.
I was opening the question due to some people saying music “it’s not the same anymore”, when they actually mean “I still listen to the same music I used to”. Nothing wrong with that either, but my point is there is still good music to be discovered.
It’s very hard for me to find new music these days. I can’t pin it down to any one thing, lots of things have changed over the last 10 years that make it harder.
Adulting is hard, less time to explore new music. What do you like?
eh, various kinds of rock, jazz, some pop and singer/songwriters. you?
I also started making an effort to discover new music to me, no necessarily new music, simply because my tastes shifted quite a bit and I realised it by noticing I almost stopped listening to music. I just started following some very nice YouTube music album channels that introduced me to some great music that I’d never learn about otherwise.
Another thing I didn’t realise I was doing was that I wasn’t keeping up with the artists I enjoyed, I kept listening to the old stuff, but I didn’t listen to the new material to see if liked where they were going.
I am constantly on the lookout for new metal/metalcore/deathcore bands! As I have gotten older, I am enjoying more and more genres of music.
Personally I have found that Pandora’s algorithm for suggesting new music is the best when I am on the hunt.
Don’t be too hard on your friends. This is actually scientifically proven. https://neurosciencenews.com/music-youth-17765/ You love the music that you “grew up with as you were forming an identity” You can always change but it is more work to create new memories and nostalgia based on different or “new” songs.
Of course not 😅 I’m not judging them at all, I finished years ago that phase where I thought my music taste what better than theirs
now I just know it is/s
Not new bands but new to me. I managed to be a mild metalhead my whole life yet never listened to Iron Maiden. I started on their music a few months ago. I can’t believe I waited until I was in my forties to pick them up. Amazing guitar work and great vocals.
I rented their Live After Death from Lovefilm about 15 years ago, and that’s what got me into them. Couldn’t believe I’d written them off as an 80s band I wouldn’t like.
I have to admit that I don’t actively seek out new music as such anymore.
But I usually welcome suggestions and follow a few reaction channels on YT. So I feel well-covered for my own need of new stuff.
Just got into ‘Sicksense’ for an example. Pretty neat band so far.
Ive struggled a lot with getting into new music. Its just too easy to be in a comfortable loop of what you know and are used to, I guess.
This year I’ve started a personal project where i listen to at least one unique album a day, normally 2 or 3. I’ve discovered so much music, both old stuff thats ‘new to me’, and recent releases. Its got me into a few genres that i never listened too, as well.
Plus, theres so many bands that I ‘liked’ but had actually really only known the hits, like AC/DC for example, and its fun to actually listen through an album for once and get to know them better!
So yeah thats for sure something I’d recommend if you have the time for it
I’m doing something similar following this project https://1001albumsgenerator.com you don’t need to register with an email, although it helps. A new album is suggested everyday, and even if they are not they kind of music you usually like, I am sure you will be able to appreciate why it was included in the list.
Yooo thanks for posting that link, I’ll be using that for sure!
I used to be that way, but recently I’ve been only listening to bands I’d never heard of before. I’ve had Spotify for about 10 years and only recently started using the Discovery Weekly playlist. It was only ok at first, but now I heart about 50% of the songs each week.
I have discovered so many great bands using Discovery Weekly! Not all the suggestions are the best, but I usually can understand why they were suggested.
I mostly still listen to the same stuff I used to. Most of my favorite bands are still coming out with albums, so every time something new drops I get to add that into the mix. Occasionally I’ll add in a new song, whether I hear it in a videogame (my husband loves videogame music, so I’ve added some great tracks as a result) or the radio or with a friend, but I haven’t had a new artist grab me the way my favorites did once upon a time. In that way, I might just be resistant to change.
I definitely don’t necessarily have the time to look for new stuff, so I usually stumble upon it. I don’t agree that all music today sounds the same - at least, not anymore “the same” than what was coming out ten years ago. Sure, some things within a genre might be similar, but I don’t think it’s any more “same-y” now than it used to be. If you’re finding new stuff you enjoy, past or present, I think that’s awesome.
Some internet radios can be great to find out new bands, but I agree with you: things can get a bit same-y if always listening to the same genre.
